Flight Report: AY0092 Finnair BKK-HKG Service

BKK-HKG Service (AY0091)

Carrier: Finnair

Plane Model: MD11

Flight Class: Business

Sleeper Seat: No

Best Seat in Business Class: 1E/H

Duration of Flight: 2 Hours and 20 Minutes

Date of Travel: Dec 29, 2005



I had never paid for an actual business class ticket before. I had always used my points or my transfer upgrade certificates to fly business class. I purchased my very first business class ticket however for this trip. After all, who could resist a US$300 deal for a roundtrip business class ticket between Bangkok and Hong Kong?

Check in for Business Class at Bangkok International Airport was smooth and easy. I was looking forward to trying the new sleeper seat on Finnair but was told that the seats had yet to be installed on this flight (the airline is installing sleeper seats on all their MD-11s from Dec ’05 to Apr ’06). By the way, Finnair has got to be one of the very few airlines that are still using MD-11s for long haul flights.

Finnair enables its business class and premium frequent flyers to access the Qantas Lounge (since they are part of One World) at the Bangkok International Airport. The interior design of this lounge was really chic. They also offered a great selection of refreshments here. I ran into a really friendly Aussie (Rob) from Melbourne who was heading to India for the first time and we chatted for a few hours and exchanged business card as usual. I was telling him how great living in New York City was. Just doing my bit to promote the Big Apple.

Like check-in, boarding was smooth and easy as well. Even though I was told at check-in that the new seats were not installed on this flight yet, I was still disappointed to come across the old seats. The standard pre-boarding drinks were handed out as well as a wine and dinner menu. The meal selections were as follow:


Appetizer:

Grilled marinated prawns with coriander vinaigerette and green papaya salald



Main Course:

Fried red snapper with mustard butter roasted potato and ratatouille

Or

Roasted breast of duck with oyster sauce stir-fried noodles



Dessert:

Baked ricotta raisin cake and chantilly cream

Coffee, cappucino, espresso and tea

They have a good wine list as well considering the short duration of the flight. I opted for the roasted breast of duck and it tasted great.

The inflight entertainment selection was only moderate compared to other carriers that I had flown on. There were a few channels of documentary, sitcoms and cartoons available. The inflight service was good but not really personable. The service on Finnair reminded me of the American carriers like United and Delta. The flight attendants were more senior than their Asian counterparts.

We arrived a little earlier than scheduled. All was good save baggage handling. They forgot to stick a priority tag on my luggage so it was probably the last few ones that came out. I had to wait for almost half an hour for my checked luggage.