Hi again!
Another translation to have some AY European flights in the English database :)
We flew to HEL with my parents and some friends, Sky Team offered the best price, 180€ with a return on AY codeshare AF.
We also took advantage of an upgrade offer for 80€ for the AMS/HEL leg. As three of my friends did not have access to the lounge, this would grant them lounge access in Amsterdam and priority for security and boarding. Furthermore, there is a hotmeal service in J on that flight…
That would then be the routing:
Flight routing
- 1
- 2AMS - HEL / KLM / 738 / J
- 3HEL - CDG / AY / 321 / Y
- 4CDG - BSL / HOP! / E90 / Y
As we have a two hours layover we head over to the KL Schengen Lounge.
klm schengen lounge
We had a very warm welcome at the entrance and had no problems in finding seats for us six together.
There are two buffets, one smaller and the regular one. The small buffet was kind of disappointing as almost usual. I noticed a beetroot juice that kind of intrigued me and I dared to try it. Never again: not for me. Simply awful for my taste.

Processed cheese and cold cuts. Not impressed here. There is also a cake and if you wonder what is behind the cheese and the cold cuts, it is … different kind of chocolates.


We decided to check what was on offer on the main buffet:

They changed the cutlery:

The fruit stand is pretty nice.


Hot offer with omelettes, bacon, pancakes and mushrooms:

Two kind of soups:

No, but thank you.

Quark and Yogurt:


Good looking pastries and breads:


I was pleasantly surprised by that buffet with a nice offer and well presented. This is my morning selection that was pretty good:

to the gate
We had a good time at the lounge, I was happy to see it being better from one visit to another.
Shortly before boarding we made our way to the gate.


Ready to board :)

Our plane:

UA 763:

Automated boarding today:

the flight
Boarding was launched on time, priorities were enforced. The jetty was pretty long :)


Aircraft door:

Very nice welcome, this is the euro-business style cabin:

My seat was already reclined :)

The seat covers are black in J and Y+ and blue in the rest of the cabin:

The recline when fully back is great.

On the 738 when seated in 1A you can follow the boarding process:

737-700 next door:

Safety card:



The bulkhead limits the legroom:

KLM logo:

PSU:

Front galley:

The jetty goes away right on time:

Still the same aircraft next door:

We should be good:


767-400ER Delta, I really like the -400 version, sad that bird wasn't successful.



Line up and take off:

Off we go:


The best place to be on earth is in the sky:

Toilets are clean but I might also be the first to use them :)


Still climbing:

The service starts with a hot towel:


Followed by juice or water:

Then menus:

Breakfast offer:

And lunch / dinner. I was much more tempted by the breakfast offer.



My mother was the only one to try the sweet item and she loved it:


The egg option was really good also, it only missed a small sausage.


Cutlery:

It was one of the best breakfast I had on board a plane. Fresh and high quality. The crew came three times with more breads.
Breakfast with a view:


We all rounded of the flight with a Baileys:

Top of descent:

HEL with lots of snow! Love it :)


White landcape:


Almost there:


Short final:


And landed:

Terminal building:


A bit of snow here :)


AY is the king here:

We parked next to this A320:

Warm farewell and we made our way to the terminal.
hel - arrivals
The terminal is really bright:

Exit 2A for us:


Luggage delivery hall:


Our driver was waiting for us and in no time we are in a van to HEL.