Finnair Airlines?

[CFonde]

Since we briefly inquired about & discussed LOT Polish Airlines a few posts below, I thought I would take this opportunity to inquire about Finnair Airlines. I'm traveling from JFK to St. Petersburg in late April via Finnair, and my connection time in Helsinki is just under an hour. Can anyone attest to the on-time reliability of Finnair from New York to Helsinki? Is the airport in Helsinki about the same size as in Warsaw? As someone who doesn't speak a word of Finnish (but my Russian is improving), will I have difficulty making my connections in Helsinki? I realize that English is spoken in International airports, as some kind of regulation ( per "LP"). I've heard good things about Finnair, and didn't hesitate to book with them, and I allowed myself much more time making my domestic connections in the U.S.  However, my connection in Helsinki is beyond my control. Do I need to start thinking about making train reservations from Helsinki to St. Petersburg? (lol)

[juio99]

... in response to Finnair Airlines?, posted by CFonde on Mar 13, 2002

I have flown your route twice on Finnair.  They are the greatest.  Flight attendants very efficient and they furnish enough food that you might gain weight.  The terminal is spotless and brightly lit.  However, the food and everything else once you are in Finland is extremely expensive.  I had a light snack at airport.  It cost somewhere over $9 for something that would cost about $3-4 in US.  The flight to St. Pete takes about one hour.  The counter ladies at the airport are some of the most beautiful women in the world.  I doubt very much that they need to have anything to do with lonely AM though.  Perfect English spoken all over the airport.

Once, I took a trip downtown and to the sea port.  There I found many people who did not speak English and it got a little dicy to find my way back to the airport in time.

JR

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Finnair Airlines?, posted by CFonde on Mar 13, 2002

I flew from JFK to St. Petersburg through Helsinki on Finn Air, November 1999.  No problems what so ever.  Food was passable, stewardesses were not too good looking.  More importantly the flight was right on time both ways.  No need to worry about Finnish.  Everything was said in English and Finnish.  Good luck.  You get American frequent flyer miles with them.

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Finnair Airlines?, posted by CFonde on Mar 13, 2002

Finland is a really nice country.  Many people speak English.  I had to stay in Helsinki on my way back from St Petersburg.  You don't want to stay in Helsinki though unless you have plenty of money.  Hotels and restaurants are expensive.  I stayed at the Intercontenental which was really outstanding and the food was some of the best I've every had.  

When you get off at St Petersburg, if you have to go to the rest room, do it before you pass through customs.  The rest rooms in the terminal were nice but the other one outside the terminal was disgusting.  

The flight from Helsinki to St Petersburg is pretty short.  I don't think it was more than an hour.  

[Quasimoto]

... in response to Finnair Airlines?, posted by CFonde on Mar 13, 2002

I flew Finnair in December to Kyiv. The Helsinki airport is really small, smaller than Warsaw, and it is a 5 minute jaunt to the next gate, all located on the same concourse, as I recall. Most of the people at the airport spoke English. I would avoid the Russian if possible. No love lost! I had 40 minutes between flights. No problem! Also, both my Finnair flights landed about 10 and 20 minutes early.

Steve

[RfB]

... in response to Finnair Airlines?, posted by CFonde on Mar 13, 2002

If you look at it, AA has code sharing with Finnair on that route from LED to JFK, and the fares (for the same seats/same flight) were a lot less than the quoted Finnair rates.

[micha1]

... in response to Finnair Airlines?, posted by CFonde on Mar 13, 2002

I would not have a worry in the world about going with FinnAir.
It is one of the best airline in the whole world, better than most us airline.
You will also find out that the finn speak better english than most american.
While it is quite true that the airport is not as large as one would think,  it is a small country.  But small does not
mean that they are not up in this world,  they are and have not much to learn from us in North America.
It is the only way to go.  You will be quite surprise and happy of your choice.
Have a good trip and if you do have the time, if the time permit you.  Check the girls out in Helsinski, you will
be going back, take my word.

[LP]

... in response to Re: Finnair Airlines?, posted by micha1 on Mar 13, 2002

...pretty good outfit with a decent safety record. Their on time performance is OK too, most of the problems associated with them are due to the wacky ATC system in Europe anyway.

I was taxiing past one of their DC9s once. It was loading PAX through the rear air-stairs so I turned to the other pilot and said: "Hey, look at all those people disappearing into Finair".  (Rikkada-boom!)

[Jeff S]

... in response to They're a ....., posted by LP on Mar 14, 2002


. . . young flight attendant who asked the grey haired captain how long it had been since he'd had any.

"1955," he answered.

She responded with "Gee, that's a LOOONG time ago!"

He said, looking at his watch, "I dunno, it's only 2130 now."

[Del]

... in response to They're a ....., posted by LP on Mar 14, 2002

.

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Re: Finnair Airlines?, posted by micha1 on Mar 13, 2002

While Texans speak perfect english some other regions of the country near you are pretty hard to understand.  I think you would have an easier time understanding english from someone in Finland since they would have learned the right way to speak.

[Reagan]

... in response to Re: Finnair Airlines?, posted by micha1 on Mar 13, 2002

Saying that Finns speak better English than most Americans is absurd. They speak better English than most Canadians from Quebec for sure. Your posts are living proof of that.

[Ryan]

... in response to you are wrong., posted by Reagan on Mar 13, 2002

I am a Finnish American (Last name with the NEN) from the U.P. (The Soo) of Michigan (You know, where natural beauty and history merge).  My Great grandpa came to this country to work in the copper mines and brought most his family along.  My grandma likes to use Finnair (Mostly because of the name) she has never told me of any problems.  Sorry but my English is terrible and I speak little to no Finnish…

[Ryan]

... in response to Flyin Finn...., posted by Ryan on Mar 14, 2002

Oh ya and to prove it.. I am eating a pastie right now...  Really...

[KenC]

... in response to Re: Flyin Finn...., posted by Ryan on Mar 14, 2002

n/t