Today was the proper start of the TP run

Today is the start of the TP run proper.

Slept fairly well, not a fan of air conditioned rooms, this this was surprisingly quiet, and not drying

up early, for a quick walk over to the airport, was thinking of putting on shorts to Helsinki, but as this is a business class trip thought i'd better be fairly smart - scrub that idea, clearly they let anybody on nowadays :)

it will be shorts from now on.

the lounge at Schipol is a little under welling, just a few snacks and coffee, and no windows - though it does seen to have a few plants and power points - in fact Schipol have really got that the modern traveller needs power points - they're everywhere

Highlight of the lounge imho - (the ball does move, if hit)

Finnair don't have an app, so its web based e-ticketing - seems to be if you loose the web, then you loose your ticket - i printed off a paper version as a back up.

I love the flights announcements (in English anyway) at Schipol. They're fairly brusk when it comes to telling you to hurry up otherwise they're going to chuck you and your luggage off the aircraft - that’s basically how the put it :)

AMS - HEL

Finnair - AY842

OH-LXI

A320

1155(L) - 1515(L)

Seat 2A

Tried the Finnair SMS e-ticketing system, but this only seems to work if you have an internet connection  - so got a back up paper version from the yellow check-in machines that seem to serve quite a few airlines.

Flight got announced, and unlike the UK, there was no mad rush, no pre pre-queues developed, and everyone took note of the “please sit down” part of the announcement

Managed to get on board 1st :) nice small business section, 4 rows, which had about 8 people in it in the end. plenty of room, until the guy in front reclined his chair. Seats are 3 across, but the middle seat is kept empty.

After take off, the drinks service started (and basically didn’t stop) I had a bottle of champers - Nicole Feuillatte Brut Grande Reserve  - went down very well

George has had too much champagne

Then lunch (see the pic for the menu - tasted delicious, and was just the right amount, without filling me up.

The cabin crew were really lovely, they were attentive, friendly and engaging, without being intrusive - I was explaining what a TP run was, and where i was going and also explained about “George the Gnome” - one of the crew will even be reading this, as i gave them the blog address.

I love the Finnair glasses

Whilst waiting for my flight back to the UK, i wandered around the airport - there’s a lot of walking to do - no wonder all the Fins look so fit. Used the e-passport gates - in and out of passport control in like 30 seconds. 

The lounge is new, and has only been open a few days - managed a shower, and wanted to have a sauna, but that’s not open until next week - plenty of loganberry shampoo and body lotion (very Scandinavian)

 

Panoramic view of non-schengen lounge at HEL

The toiletries

the black vertical strip, is the sensor for the shower to work, there's no on/off button - pull the silver knob towards you to change to the overhead shower head - by default it seems to be the hand held shower head that is on

As i’m with Three i was able to use my home data allowance, as if i was in the UK, which was handy, but the free wifi was quite quick - There’s plenty of power sockets - ask at the Lounge check in if you need a EU/UK socket plug adapter. The iMac’s in the lounge even had wireless chargers built into the tables

HEL-LHR

Finnair - BA6035

OH-LXK

A320

1930(L) - 2040(L)

Seat 5A


The flight back, was basically a repeat of the AMS - HEL flight, the cabin crew were equally as attentive, and after arriving at LHR 30 minutes early, they had a nice touch of offering chocolates on disembarkation

Evening Meal - Couldn't eat the pasta - it was unpalatable imho

Highlight of the flight, was seeing "The Bridge" between Denmark and Sweden

Greenwich Naval College

LHR tower as the sun set