Summer Trip Flying EVA Air Business Class on 777 & Hello Kitty Jet, Singapore Airlines Suites & Cathay Pacific First Class
Last summer, I travelled to the Philippines for the 70th birthday celebration of my father. It was a very short visit since I needed to be back home for work. I've always wanted to try EVA Air's Hello Kitty Jet so I booked my flight from Stockholm to Fukuoka using Avianca Lifemiles. From Fukuoka, I flew on a budget carrier to Tokyo, and from Tokyo I flew on Singapore Airlines Suites to Singapore, and then first class to Manila using my Kris Flyer Miles. On my way back to Stockholm, I flew on Cathay Pacific First Class and Finnair Business Class using my AA Advantage Miles. This trip allowed me to test EVA Air Hello Kitty, Singapore Suites and Cathay Pacific First Class all for the first time and I couldn't be more satisfied.
SAS Summer Pop Up Lounge, Arlanda T5 (ARN)
SAS Plus Stocholm-London
Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge, London (LHR)
United Club, London Heathrow (LHR)
EVA Air Royal Laurel Class, London-Bangkok
New EVA Air Lounge, Bangkok (BKK)
EVA Air Royal Laurel Class, Bangkok-Taipei
Hotel Novotel Taipei Taoyuan Airport
EVA Air The Infinity Lounge Taipei (TPE)
EVA Air Premium Laurel Class Hello Kitty Jet, Taipei-Fukuoka
Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk
ANA Suite Lounge Satellite 5 T1 Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class, Tokyo-Singapore
Singapore Airlines The Private Room, Changi Airport (SIN)
Singapore Airlines First Class, Singapore-Manila
Top Attractions in the Philippines
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge, NAIA (MNL)
Cathay Pacific Business Class, Manila-Hongkong
Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge, Hongkong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific The Wing First Class Lounge, Hongkong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific First Class, Hongkong-Frankfurt
Air France-KLM Lounge, Frankfurt (FRA)
Finnair Business Class, Frankfurt-Helsinki
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
Top Attractions in Finland
Finnair Premium Lounge, Helsinki Airport (HEL)
Finnair Business Class, Helsinki-Stockholm
Finnair Airbus 319 at Frankfurt Airport
Flight: AY 822
Departure in Frankfurt: 11:45 (actual 11:50)
Arrival in Helsinki: 15:10 (actual 15:19)
Equipment: Airbus A319
Flight duration: 2h 25m (actual 2h 29m)
Date of flight: July 15, 2015
Seat: 1A
*This is an award travel, Business class flight #88
Lounge
After a long flight on Cathay Pacific in first class from Hongkong, I thought I needed a shower and headed directly to the Cathay Pacific First and Business Class Lounge. This is actually the same departure lounge that they are advertising on their website as their Arrivals Lounge.
Boarding, Gate D26 (Terminal 2)
As a business class passenger flying on Finnair, I had access to the Air France Lounge which was where I stayed until it was time for boarding. At around 11:10, I headed to Gate D26 which was the boarding gate for my flight to Helsinki.
The aircraft was in a remote area so we had to take a bus and on the way there, saw these beautiful aircraft.
Finnair Airbus A319 bound for Helsinki
Cabin
The business class cabin has a 3-3 configuration with the middle seat being left vacant as is the norm on flights within Europe. 5 of the 14 seats were occupied on that noon flight to Helsinki.
Seat
My seat, 1A was a window seat which is actually one of my favorite seats when flying intra Europe.
Finnair Business Class legroom
Unfortunately, the reading materials pocket was not properly cleaned although it wasn't really a big deal for me.
Finnair Business Class menu card, inflight magazine and safety instructions card
Shortly after settling in, I was offered some newspapers and took Financial Times which had the economic situation in Greece as the headline.
Finnair Business Class monitor
I was also offered some hot towels as well as a blanket and a pillow.
Dining
A few minutes after we were airborne, the meal service started beginning with some snacks which consisted of Cloud Hoppers and a glass of apple juice. As there was a chip in the glass, I asked one of the flight attendants if I could have another one. She was very apologetic when she saw the chipped glass and moments later was back with a new glass of apple juice.
Then it was time for the main meal. I was given the whole tray consisting of the appetizer, bread and butter, main course and dessert. As there was no menu card (unlike Lufthansa which offers one), I had to ask what the main course was. It was chicken curry with rice and spinach and it actually tasted very good and not as spicy as I thought it would be.
Finnair Business Class chicken curry with rice and spinach
Later, I was also offered some coffee and tea which I declined.
Lavatory
Finnair Business Class lavatory
View before landing
Around 3pm, the captain came on the PA to advise us of our arrival time of 3:15pm.
Arrival in Helsinki Airport
We arrived at Helsinki Airport a few minutes delayed but nothing to be worried about since I was spending a night at the beautiful Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa in order to explore a bit of Helsinki.
CONCLUSION
I have flown on Finnair within Europe several times already so I knew what to expect on this flight. I loved the food specially the main course although it would have been better if the flight attendants could inform us of what they are serving. The chipped glass was a minor problem and which was immediately taken care of. The Marimekko glassware and china are very unique on Finnair so kudos to you guys. Of course, the service was also very friendly and efficient. Overall, this was a very nice intra Europe flight.
Last summer, I travelled to the Philippines for the 70th birthday celebration of my father. It was a very short visit since I needed to be back home for work. I've always wanted to try EVA Air's Hello Kitty Jet so I booked my flight from Stockholm to Fukuoka using Avianca Lifemiles. From Fukuoka, I flew on a budget carrier to Tokyo, and from Tokyo I flew on Singapore Airlines Suites to Singapore, and then first class to Manila using my Kris Flyer Miles. On my way back to Stockholm, I flew on Cathay Pacific First Class and Finnair Business Class using my AA Advantage Miles. This trip allowed me to test EVA Air Hello Kitty, Singapore Suites and Cathay Pacific First Class all for the first time and I couldn't be more satisfied.
SAS Summer Pop Up Lounge, Arlanda T5 (ARN)
SAS Plus Stocholm-London
Singapore Airlines Silver Kris Lounge, London (LHR)
United Club, London Heathrow (LHR)
EVA Air Royal Laurel Class, London-Bangkok
New EVA Air Lounge, Bangkok (BKK)
EVA Air Royal Laurel Class, Bangkok-Taipei
Hotel Novotel Taipei Taoyuan Airport
EVA Air The Infinity Lounge Taipei (TPE)
EVA Air Premium Laurel Class Hello Kitty Jet, Taipei-Fukuoka
Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk
ANA Suite Lounge Satellite 5 T1 Tokyo Narita (NRT)
Singapore Airlines A380 Suites Class, Tokyo-Singapore
Singapore Airlines The Private Room, Changi Airport (SIN)
Singapore Airlines First Class, Singapore-Manila
Top Attractions in the Philippines
Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila
Cathay Pacific First & Business Class Lounge, NAIA (MNL)
Cathay Pacific Business Class, Manila-Hongkong
Cathay Pacific The Pier First Class Lounge, Hongkong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific The Wing First Class Lounge, Hongkong (HKG)
Cathay Pacific First Class, Hongkong-Frankfurt
Air France-KLM Lounge, Frankfurt (FRA)
Finnair Business Class, Frankfurt-Helsinki
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
Top Attractions in Finland
Finnair Premium Lounge, Helsinki Airport (HEL)
Finnair Business Class, Helsinki-Stockholm
Flight: AY 822
Departure in Frankfurt: 11:45 (actual 11:50)
Arrival in Helsinki: 15:10 (actual 15:19)
Equipment: Airbus A319
Flight duration: 2h 25m (actual 2h 29m)
Date of flight: July 15, 2015
Seat: 1A
*This is an award travel, Business class flight #88
Lounge
Boarding, Gate D26 (Terminal 2)
Cabin
Seat
Unfortunately, the reading materials pocket was not properly cleaned although it wasn't really a big deal for me.
Dining
Later, I was also offered some coffee and tea which I declined.
Lavatory
Around 3pm, the captain came on the PA to advise us of our arrival time of 3:15pm.
Arrival in Helsinki Airport
CONCLUSION
I have flown on Finnair within Europe several times already so I knew what to expect on this flight. I loved the food specially the main course although it would have been better if the flight attendants could inform us of what they are serving. The chipped glass was a minor problem and which was immediately taken care of. The Marimekko glassware and china are very unique on Finnair so kudos to you guys. Of course, the service was also very friendly and efficient. Overall, this was a very nice intra Europe flight.