20161108: JL414: HELsinki » NaRiTa

Date: 2016/11/08
Flight: JL414
Aircraft/Registration: 787-8/JA844J
Class: Business (award travel)
Seat: JAL SKY SUITE 787

DEP/Actual Push Back/Full Throttle: 1725EET/1811EET/1856EET

ARR/Touch Down: 1010JST/1101JST

Prologue

This is the return flight from Helsinki.

Pre-boarding

Check-in, Security

The only business class check-in counter was helping economy class passengers when I got there.  The main cabin seemed to be full on this flight.  Upon seeing me, a Finnair personnel opened up an counter for me and check in was completed shortly.

As a first time visitor a took me a few minutes to figure out where to go to clear security.  When I found it, there was a long line.  But it kept moving and didn't take long to clear.

It was rush hour in Vantaa, around 16:00.

There were long lines at the automated immigration lines as people had difficulties getting their passports scanned.  I went to the empty manned-immigration counters where there were close to zero wait-time.

Lounge

Finnair Lounge Coffee Machine

JAL passengers were directed to the Finnair lounge. It was spacious though busy. Plenty of hot food, salads, soft drinks, and alcohol were on offer. Napkins, and ceramic tableware were by Marimekko. Knowing that passengers are tempted to steal those Marimekko, there was a sign on the wall informing customers that those items are for sale can be purchased online.

Finnair Lounge Dinner Menu

Boarding

According to historical data from flightaware.com, this flight had used a bus-gate for the last few days. Today, it was at gate 34. Boarding was scheduled to start at 1655, but for whatever reason, was delayed till 1700. 

On Board

Before Takeoff

Doors were closed by 17:19 for our scheduled 17:25 departure.  We were still at the gate when the captain announced at 17:50 that according to ATC, he had permission to depart at 18:10.  At 18:05, Japanese green tea were offered in paper cups.

Deicing

Push-back was at 18:11.  Taxied to the queue for de-icing.  De-icing started at 18:30 and was completed at 18:41.  We rolled onto RWY04R   Snow was falling horizontally by this time.  We were on the runway for a minute or two and nothing happened.  At 18:48, the captain announced that wind-shear was detected and we rolled off the runway.

At 18:55, we were back on the runway and full-throttle was at 18:56.  The captain could have explained the initial delay, i.e. there was a back-log of aircraft getting de-iced, and thus we were stuck at the gate for 50 minutes.

Meals

Western Menu

Maybe because of the delay, welcome drinks were skipped and dinner service started soon after seat-belt signs were turned off.

Dinner

Tried the western meal, with "Beef Tenderloin with Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce" as the main course.   Though bread was supplied, I asked for, and got steamed rice to go with the meal.  The beef was OK, not as good as the beef on the flight over from Narita.  

Beef Tenderlion

Anytime Japanese Meal

Finlan Don

After the first meal, one can order "Anytime Meal" from the IFE controller. I'd tried the Japanese meal, with the main dish being Simmered Halibut with Soy Starch Sauce. 

Later, I had the the Finlan Don: Finnish Pork & Vegetable Mini Bowl Both of these very tasty and satisfying.

Service

No complaints.  Flight attendants were generally attentive.  Sometimes too attentive, e.g. they tried to start a conversation and I felt obliged to chat with them.

Epilogue

Total flight time was 9 hours and 5 minutes. Time flew by.  I wish the captain had explained about the initial delay, why we were stuck at the gate for so long.

Bibliography

https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/services/lounges/long-haul-lounge-finnair/
http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/business/seat/skysuite.html

Helsinki » Vantaa

Introduction

There are several ways to to go from central Helsinki to Vantaa airport.  This is what I did on 2016/11/08, when day time high was -5°C.  Your mileage will vary.  All prices shown in this entry are from 2016.

Tram/Subway/Train

2-day Ticket

The 2-day, 1-zone tram/subway/bus pass (€12) I'd purchased was still valid. I'd planned to use it to catch the tram from Hilton Helsinki Strand to the Central Station from . But no trams were present when I got to the closest tram stop ~200 meters away.  Also, dragging my suitcase through the few centimeters of snow wasn't that much fun. So, I caught the subway. It turned out to be a better choice as the subway station was connected to Central Station underground. No need to go outside at all.

Central Station Ticketing Office

Ticket to Vannta

At the Central Station, went to the grand looking ticketing office and bought a regional, one-hour ticket (€5.50) for the I train. The I train went counter-clockwise and was a few minutes faster than the P train which went clockwise.

Track 2

The next I train was leaving from track #2 but I couldn't find track#2 for a while. Turned out it was at the uncovered part of the station.

The airport train was clean, smooth, and fast.  It took 27 minutes, just as it said it would, to reach Vantaa. This airport train opened in July 2015, i.e. about 1.5 years old when I rode it, thus everything looked new.

Helsinki Airport Station

Epilogue

Public transportation in Helsinki is top class. Ticketing system and fares are easy to understand and reasonable. For me, someone living in Tokyo, the fact that there weren't turnstiles at subway stations was most impressive.

Bibliography

https://www.hsl.fi/en/ringrailline

https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares
https://cfanreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/hilton-helsinki-strand.html

Vantaa to Town (Bus#615)

Prologue

One can take the bus, train, or a taxi to town.  I ended up with the bus.

Bus

Research (Googling) said there were shared-taxi services to town, and that the number 615 bus would take me to near Hilton.  After getting some cash, and a SIM card, I approached the Airport Taxi Yellow Line counter.  There was another shared-taxi counter next to it but the attendent wasn't there.  The cost to town was €29.9, I think, but just under €30.  The next car was in 30 minutes.  I asked the gentleman where I could get the bus to town and he said it's just outside.

There seemed to be many bus stops.  I wandered a bit and found the sign for the stop which included the #615.  There was an automated ticketing machine.  Chose English as the language and purchased a ticket to town for €5.5 with my credit card.

Bus Ticket

There were a few people there and I asked a gentleman if he was in the queue.  He told me there wasn't really a queue for this or that bus. When the bus arrives, people just get on.   After a minute or two, the #615 rolled up and we all piled on in an orderly fashion.  One can buy a ticket onboard from the driver with cash and quite a few people did that.

Thanks to my working cellphone with a working data SIM card, I kept checking Google Map.  My destination was Hakaniemi subway stop.  Feeling that I was close to where I was supposed to get off, I told the driver that I was looking to get off at Hakaniemi and would he please let me when I was supposed to get off.  He patiently pointed out that my stop was the second one from then.  I thanked him and got off a few meters from the McDonald's Hakaniemi.  The hotel was about 250 meters from there.  The bus departed the airport at 15:15 and I got off at 16:00. 

One can also take the train from the airport to the Central Railway Station for the same  €5.5.   For me, I would then have to catch the tram, or subway back to Hakaniemi, the nearest tram/subway stop to Hilton.

Epilogue

There were signs at the exit of the aiport building pointing to ground transportation.  But one needed to know where to find the stop for Bus 615.

Bibliography

https://cfanreviews.blogspot.jp/2016/11/data-helsinki_13.html
https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/services/parking-and-traffic/airport-taxi-yellow-line/
https://debconf5.debconf.org/about/from_the_airport_to_the_center.html
https://goo.gl/maps/mxLXD37gLDm
https://www.hsl.fi/en/timetables-and-routes/terminals/transport-links-helsinki-airport
https://www.hsl.fi/en/tickets-and-fares

Data SIM: Helsinki

As free WiFi is readily available all over Helsinki, you may not need to get local SIM card.  I'd wanted one for when I'm out and about for Google Maps etc.

What

The "Rajaton Prepaid" offered by DNA seemed to have the best value.  It has the face value of €7 but it was often on sale for €4.9.  Indeed, when I got in in early November 2016, it was still on sale for €4.9.  For €0.89/day, one gets unlimited local calls and data, i.e. should be good for your stay of ~1 week.  Rates and other details available on the DNA site.  At the point of sales, no ID-check, cash or credit cards accepted.  Instant activation. Hassle-free, fast data speed. 

Where

At the R-Kiosk convenience store located in the arrivals hall 2A (terminal 2,) Vantaa airport.

 

Note to Myself

To activate the SIM card, one needs to enter the "PIN1" code.  This is a 4-digit number.  I'm noting it here because once I'd scratched off the security screen, there were a bunch of numbers for PIN1, PIN2, PUK1, and PUK2.  Looks like PIN1 and PIN2 are 4-digit and PUK1, and PUK2 are 8-digit.  It wasn't obvious to me where the codes started/ended.  So, initially I'd entered 12 digits and failed.

Bibliography

http://toomanyadapters.com/buying-sim-card-finland/ 

http://tabi-recipes.com/archives/6311 (in Japanese)
https://corporate.dna.fi/en/dna-prepaid
https://www.finavia.fi/en/helsinki-airport/services/shops/kiosk-rkioski-2/