While our flight was “Go to gate”, we left the lounge at the initial boarding time whereas it was still not announced.
As a reminder, here is the itinerary followed:
Boarding
It’s a pretty long walk from the Cathay Pacific First lounge to gate 36 where our flight to Helsinki leaves today.
Nevertheless, after a good 10 minutes walk to the gate, the boarding has still not started and we will wait 5 more minutes before the boarding starts.
The procedure is simple and the boarding of the group 1 begins, and we proceed to the latter which will be carried out in a very courteous way.
Cabin and reception
As always at Heathrow, the jetways are blind, and we quickly arrive at the gate.
The flight attendant shows us the way to the left in the first aisle, where the window seats are located.
I’m surprised because I thought I’d see the new cabin deployed by Finnair right now, but it’s the old Business Class cabin, which is already very good, configured with Cirrus seats similar to those deployed on Air France on their Boeing 777-300ERs and their BEST cabins.
But I prefer the tones and colors of the Finnair cabin.
While boarding is underway, there will be no welcome service.
The cabin is equipped for a medium-haul aircraft, so no comfort kit or blanket but a large comfortable pillow.
We will leave about ten minutes behind schedule, but the taxi will be short and we will be in the air quickly.
After the takeoff, I will benefit from the Wifi, the connection is simple.
Service and catering
A few minutes after takeoff, the service begins.
A first service of aperitif is proposed. I’ll have a blueberry juice, a Finnish specialty, and a mignonette of Joseph Perrier. No small snack with the aperitif, surprising.
Once this stage is over, comes the meal itself. A meal, common to all passengers, is proposed.
There will be no paper menu on this flight, nor even a presentation of the items on the tray.
I will have my meal with Joseph Perrier and Perrier but without Joseph!
As a starter, a potato salad accompanies a roasted meat (which I assume is pork).
For the main course, excellent beef cheek lasagna will be served, a real treat.
Warm bread is offered, I’ll use it with butter and sauce on my lasagna.
The dessert will be very basic since it will be a chocolate cookie in plastic that I will take on the next flight.
At the end of the meal, I will decline the offer of coffee or tea so as not to prevent me from sleeping on the next flight.
Arrival and disembarkation
We arrive at the gate a few minutes ahead of schedule. Even though the jetway takes a few minutes to set up, we are perfectly on time in the terminal.
London being considered as a “safe” destination, we can disembark directly in the non-Schengen boarding lounge, avoiding an additional security check.
Bottom line
An excellent flight for my first time on Finnair. Even if the crew is a bit robotic in its service and the interactions are cold and unsmiling, the service is very well done, and what a pleasure to have a wide-body aircraft for a medium-haul flight!
Finnair Business, Londres Heathrow - Helsinki Vantaa, Airbus A350-900 : Propre !
Siège et cabine
Catering
Service
Ponctualité
Rapport Expérience / Prix
Très bien
Un excellent vol pour ma première fois sur Finnair. Même si l’équipage est un peu robotique dans son service et que les interactions sont froides et peu souriantes, le service est très bien fait, et quel plaisir d’avoir un appareil wide-body pour un vol moyen courrier !