Impressed with AY, and their new J class seat

[MAN Flyer]

I flew BKK-HEL-MAN on AY a couple of weeks ago and the BKK-HEL leg was on an A330 with their new flat bed J class seat. I have to say I was impressed with the seat and enjoyed the service. HEL is a very easy place to transit as well.

I know they start flying to SIN in a few months but I think they may only be putting their A340's on the route (BKK gets both) in which case it will mean no new flat bed J for the time being, if what I have read is correct. Shame.

[SilverChris]

Thanks for the tip. Flying them in a few weeks time on their A330s, looking forward How's the IFE compared to say, SQ?

Btw, are the A330s the -300 or -200? IIRC, they ordered the -300Es but do they have enough range for BKk-HEL?

[sqdazz]

They are A330-300E's so obviously they do have the range

[SilverChris]

Oh right I forgot HEL is a bit closer, sorry.

[dj_jay_smith]

Oh right I forgot HEL is a bit closer, sorry.

Indeed, HELL is closer than we all think!

[jhm]

I know they start flying to SIN in a few months

Is this a tag on to BKK like before ? A few years ago, I flew SIN-BKK(stayed on the plane)-HEL-LHR and was exhausted by the time I got home. It was the old slopey J seat which was actually pretty comfortable along with IIRC a nice pillow, duvet, good food and service which I felt was between the usual F and J offerings. As you mention, HEL is a joy to transit through.

[Carfield]

Nonstop to SIN this time

No I think it will be a nonstop flight this time!

http://airlineroute.net/2010/07/01/ay-helsin-s1/

Giving the affordable discounted J fares offered by AY, Finnair is really not a bad choice to Europe! They offer a reliable product! Nothing fancy like SQ or TK, but a decent product! Helsinki is really a nice hub, and the airport is okay!

Carfield

[jhm]

Very late departures as well which I always like!

AY081
HEL 23:40
SIN 16:10+1

AY082
SIN 23:30
HEL 06:25+1

[milehighj]

Particularly since they are not coming with the latest lie-flat J product, i just hope they get their pricing right against TG, TK, QR, et al. Would be nice to have a competitive oneworld option to Europe.

[jhm]

Would be nice to have a competitive oneworld option to Europe.

Possibly RJ ? I'm thinking of trying them to HKG with their competitive fare:

LHR-AMM-BKK-HKG r/t; D class; about £1,744 all inclusive; 480 TPs too with BAEC

Posts on FT gushing about RJ's service and food, e.g. 6 courses "with a choice of starters, a soup, salad, main course served chair-side from a trolley who will offer you a choice of 2 meats, fish, a pasta dish and a selection of potato dishes, rice and vegetables, which you select from, followed by fresh fruit and/or cheeses, followed by a choice of cakes".

The only issue seems to be instability affecting AMM but that hopefully shouldn't be a long term thing.

[milehighj]

Possibly RJ ?

Thanks for the tip jhm.

At first checking, RJ seems uncompetitive when travelling from SIN. http://www.airfares.com.sg/airfares/rj/index.htm

Journeys originate ex-BKK and with the added inconvenience and cost of tacking on the SIN-BKK vv. sector, it doesn't really make sense. IIRC, EK, EY, QR, TK & AY are all in the same broad price range, ex-BKK.

[N_Architect]

As a general comment, I've flown them locally here, and they're pretty good.

Although I have yet to take a long haul with them, they seem like a carrier that values their passengers, unlike some 'new era' airlines that charge you Eur 3 for a bottle of water on board and Eur 15 for one piece of check-in luggage on a 40' flight (RIX-HEL)...

[jhm]

Particularly since they are not coming with the latest lie-flat J product, i just hope they get their pricing right against TG, TK, QR, et al. Would be nice to have a competitive oneworld option to Europe.

e.g. I class:

 1 AY  82I 10NOV Q SINHEL*SS1  1150P  615A  11NOV F /DCAY /E    
 2 AY 831I 11NOV F HELLHR*SS1   800A  910A /DCAY /E             
 3 AY 834I 25NOV F LHRHEL*SS1   605P 1100P /DCAY /E             
 4 AY  81I 25NOV F HELSIN*SS1  1140P  505P  26NOV J /DCAY /E

10NOV DEPARTURE DATE-----LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 03NOV/2359        
       BASE FARE                     TAXES             TOTAL    
 1-   SGD4219.00                    834.20XT      [b]SGD5053.20ADT[/b] 
    XT    377.00YR      13.90SG       8.00OO       6.10OP       
           12.60DQ      19.80WL     348.80GB      48.00UB       
         4219.00                    834.20           5053.20TTL 
ADT-01  IFLEXFE                                                 
 SIN AY X/HEL AY LON1611.40IFLEXFE AY X/HEL AY SIN1611.40       
 IFLEXFE NUC3222.80END ROE1.30911                               
VALIDATING CARRIER - AY

How does the pricing compare ?

[SQflyergirl]

e.g. I class:

 1 AY  82I 10NOV Q SINHEL*SS1  1150P  615A  11NOV F /DCAY /E    
 2 AY 831I 11NOV F HELLHR*SS1   800A  910A /DCAY /E             
 3 AY 834I 25NOV F LHRHEL*SS1   605P 1100P /DCAY /E             
 4 AY  81I 25NOV F HELSIN*SS1  1140P  505P  26NOV J /DCAY /E

10NOV DEPARTURE DATE-----LAST DAY TO PURCHASE 03NOV/2359        
       BASE FARE                     TAXES             TOTAL    
 1-   SGD4219.00                    834.20XT      [b]SGD5053.20ADT[/b] 
    XT    377.00YR      13.90SG       8.00OO       6.10OP       
           12.60DQ      19.80WL     348.80GB      48.00UB       
         4219.00                    834.20           5053.20TTL 
ADT-01  IFLEXFE                                                 
 SIN AY X/HEL AY LON1611.40IFLEXFE AY X/HEL AY SIN1611.40       
 IFLEXFE NUC3222.80END ROE1.30911                               
VALIDATING CARRIER - AY

How does the pricing compare ?

That's pretty keen pricing I have to say!

[milehighj]

How does the pricing compare ?

Looks pretty good indeed.

Lower than the current advertised prices for TG, LH, QR...

http://www.airfares.com.sg/flights/business_class.htm