[norbert2008]

I booked a prem economy ticket on Finnair in January for Feb, best fare LHR – BKK, asked if I could upgrade nearer the flight told yes that maybe possible check online. I kept checking and was told maybe later all the time. I checked with chat and they said no I had no miles and cannot join upgrade list try at check-in. I had chosen one of London’s rare fog days Feb 14th. At check in they said the flight was fully booked even though they were still selling Biz class seats the day before! I had booked and paid for a window seat one behind bulkhead but I was told if I wanted the free bulkhead seat I needed to pay E41.00 even at check-in. I had no idea airlines did this? We were delayed by 1 then 1.5 hours making my connection impossible. At the gate a very nice woman did change my seat for free to bulkhead.

Internal flight was ok in economy helped by films, no service as such I had the cheese box but over priced and rather dull. I was told they would hold the flight for me, there were two of us connecting. I was rushed off minus my laptop. Gate was opposite so perfect, boarded and took off. Service was quick (too quick for a 12 hour flight). No welcome drink…Drinks in plastic cups, then a sort of weird meal of starter had no idea what it was, fish over cooked and mash a cookie, more drinks in plastic cups, economy fair on many other flights. The neck pillow seems like a good idea but its not, a real pillow is much better. Long horrid flight of baby screaming, full plane. A strange hot box of some egg and nothing more for breakfast I presume same as economy. Coffee in a cardboard cup. I was sitting next to a man who said he had been downgraded from Biz as they had oversold the flight which they keep doing!

Obviously no bag on arrival and no laptop. Bag took 36 hours to arrive, compensation is still an ongoing thing as they want receipts, I don’t have. Lost property looked like a scam pay E5 to see if you lost your laptop? Heard nothing in 3 weeks. Do BA do the same?

Trying for an upgrade on the way back was just as bad the CHAT was down most days at a reasonable time in Europe. In one chat they asked if I wanted to delete my BA card I had no idea it was on the booking as one cannot use BA points for Fin flights. One agent changed my flight to Biz but didn’t send payment and as I was talking to PR in London thought it had been upgraded free as showed on booking it was now in Biz.

Come check in I was told I hadn’t paid for the ticket change. So no free upgrade as London PR had said, I had offered to pay all along but not a new ticket. I got a window seat however and again a full flight. Check in was SO slow two people in front of me but took 20 mins to sort them out. Very poor lounge, wonder if they used BA’s when they were flying the route as they have 2 flights a day. (Come on BA come back to BKK please). The seat was as BT have reviewed a game changer, cosy, private and good for sleeping. The meal service was not up to much, one tray thing, very small starters and main although main cold once you had finished starters. Cheese nice but small and very good choc pudding. Interesting desert wine with that. Attentive very nice Thai crew. Very nice sandwiches half way through flight, good film selection a bit dated though. Nice light meal before landing.

An hour in the lounge which like the airport is very stark, looked like a pop up in a industrial unit. Flight to London was on A320 so no nice seat, no selection of main like BA’s 3 choices. Luggage arrived almost first. All in all I am not impressed with Finnair back office. I got a reply to a message about upgrade today 7 days after my arrival, still no compensation, still no news of laptop.

The seat is a game changer now sort catering and back office, it could be a great way to celebrate 100 years of Finnair.

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