written by Investigator on 08/09/2011
This is the first transatlantic fligt that I ever experienced with such an intense pain. Here's why:
Finnair management took a very controversial decision to transform what used to be a charter flight, into a regular scheduled flight, by luring customers with a price that was a few hundred dollars better than the competition.
In doing so they decided to use some very outdated equipment such as the B757-200 airplane, that comes in an intesely packed layout.
As a consequence it was the first time, on a transatlantic flight, when I was asked to check in, also, my carry-on luggage.
The given explanation, for this, was that the flight was very crowded (indeed it was!), thus one could check-in only a small backpack or such. No whells carry-on briefcases were allowed (even if they complied with the cabin carry-on standards). Therefore I had to check in my carry-on and be left without my reading materials and music player for the whole flight.
The flight left late and the food and so-called entertainment were terrible. Some very limited choice of drinks were available, only, when the so-called food was served. Any beer or 2ml hard drinks costed 5 euros.
The biggest pain was the lack of legroom that is difficult to cope with on such long flight.
Intersting enough on shorter distances, in Europe, they fly with newer planes that do not apply any carry-on restrictions and have even better food. As it seems, the Canadian customers do not really matter, however their money is good (for Finnair) when they come packed as sardines.
To conclude I would never take Finnair on this route unless, possibly, a miracle would happen and they would get rid of these vetust planes that reached their end of life a few years back.
Please spare yourself from such an experience and better spend some extra money for a decent flight.
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