Finnair

CDG to RVN via HEL. Flights on time crew pleasant and efficient but food was not good. All we got was a sandwich for a 3 hr flight. Instead I got the feeling tI was on a low cost airline I was expecting more.

Singapore to HEL and on to Copenhagen. IFE entertainment tired and barely working. Service was below par. Food was of a poor standard but flight was on time and ground staff friendly.

JFK-HEL-VNO-HEL-JFK. Aibus A330 and Embraer 190 aircraft. Overall a very good experience. All flights left and arrived on time. Economy class seats comfortable if slightly cramped. Plane interiors painted in very attractive shades of blue. Inflight entertainment screens available with very good flight map graphics. Frequent updates from the pilot kept us well informed. Flight attendants were helpful and not too obtrusive. Online check-in process and the boarding of planes was reasonably smooth though it was not clear during the boarding process which rows were actually supposed to be boarding at any given moment. Connection process in Helsinki was also not too bad.

VIE-HEL-TAL return. On-board service is definitely above average on the Vienna-Helsinki flight all the announcements and instructions were made in 4 languages and the catering was also suitable. On the other hand the price reflects it and you cannot feel comfortable when your flight is 1.5 hrs late and you miss your connecting flight. But I got a reasonable accommodation and arriving to Tallinn late morning instead of late night was no problem for me.

HEL-MUC return. Hadn't flown Finnair short haul for a while and was pleasantly surprised. Pushed back early on the outbound flight and only a short wait before takeoff despite morning rush hour at HEL. Standard chicken sandwich offered with rounds of coffee and soft drinks. Adequate for a short flight - the taste was quite good they've apparently responded to the critique. Seating in A319 Economy is sufficient for a short run. On the inbound leg a sandwich again very nice in taste. Had a few drinks I think 5€ is a reasonable price for them. E190 seating is ok the seats are a little hard though. A lovely older purser very service-minded and smiling. All in all a pleasant change from a few years back. No frills but gets the job done. An ok alternative intra-Europe depending on the fare.

BKK-HEL-DUS-HEL-HKG after connecting from/to SYD with Qantas. Long-haul new planes (A330/ A340) in excellent condition. In Europe A319 and E70 slightly older but no problem. Long-haul the entertainment system was okay providing an acceptable size for in-seat screens but with a somewhat limited selection. Headphones were inadequate. Service level without issues if a bit on the colder side. Meal sizes smallish but sufficient. It was disappointing to see that breakfast on the Helsinki-Hong Kong sector only contained a small bread roll which was not sufficient at the end of a 9 hr+ flight. We were told that additional snacks could be purchased. Legroom no problem for 180 cms not overly generous but I have experienced a lot worse. In Europe catering below-average especially in terms of size. IFE through overhead monitor but no drama on relatively short (2 hours) flights. Due to status I could make use of Finnair's lounge in Helsinki and the lounge is very well-presented. The detour via Helsinki is not as time-consuming as one might think so avoiding LHR or FRA to connect to other destinations Helsinki is a great transit airport. Overall good value for money and acceptable service but nothing spectacular.

Malaga (AGP) to Helsinki (HEL). Unfortunately the flight was delayed about 1.5hr due to some problems with one of the brakes on the aircraft. The crew however was very professional and offered candies and water to all the passengers while waiting they also showed a Disney cartoon while we were still waiting on the ground. When we were in the air the food service started very quickly and went by very smoothly. The meal was a sandwich which actually was just enough for a night flight. Drinks were complimentary. The only thing that I can complain about is that the cabin was very worn including the toilet. It felt quite dirty and shabby for example the armrests were very loose. But still the crew were very professional.

Zurich-Helsinki one way on A320 Business Class. The Business Class seats were the same as in Economy but the middle seat was blocked. The seat was a bit hard but ok for a 2hr 20min flight. No meal choices but a tasty hot meal was offered with a wide selection of drinks. Finnish and international newspapers available. Attentive service and the crew gave a professional image. The lounge they use at ZRH is rather modest and does not really match the rest of the product.

HEL-HKG on an Airbus A340 which was new and in good condition. The flight departed and arrived on time. The Business Class lounge in Helsinki is almost new and amongst the best in the world. The angled flat beds on this overnight flight were very roomy but a little hard after a few hours. I managed to get about 5hrs sleep. The quality of the food was very good as was the wine which was freely available. The outstanding feature of this flight was the attentive and professional service. The flight attendants were mature experienced professionals who did not have the charm and warmth of some of the Asian attendants but provided a high level of service. I have used Finnair many times and have always felt confident that the more mature Finnair crew would handle any major problems far more capably than the young glamorous attendants on some of the highly rated airlines. In summary a great flight.

HEL-SVO return. Online checkin from Helsinki and easy baggage drop. E-mail to remind me of my flight and destination details. HEL-SVO clean Airbus319. SVO-HEL new Embraer190. Flights were on time. Both ways had excellent cabin service. Tasty sandwiches and crew friendly and efficient. For me flying with Finnair is always very good experience.