Ever since Helsinki came in 3D with 24.3, I’ve been wanting to do this route, but only got around to doing it in the last week. Overall it was a pretty unique one.
Server: Solo
Airline: Finnair
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Origin: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Aviapolis, Finland (HEL)
Destination: Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California (LAX)
Flight Number: AY1
Route: EFHK-KLAX
Seat: 11L (Business)
Time En Route: 11 Hours 3 Minutes
Boarding in Helsinki in a classic late fall Finnish sunset. It’s getting dark out early, especially at these northern latitudes.
Pushing back while getting comfortable in our new, non-reclining business class seat. Yes, you read that right, non-reclining. The way it works is that the footrest extends almost to the entire length of the suite, allowing for any number of relaxing ways to sleep. Also, the seats are huge. Like comfortable for someone 6’6" huge. The result is easily one of the best business-class products on the market today.
Taking off
Our route takes us north enough to where the sun has almost completely slipped below the horizon, but not quite, producing some dramatic effects on the clouds
Over the vast icy expanse of Greenland
Somewhere over southern Canada
Final descent into a foggy Los Angeles
Evening arrival in LA
Taxiing across Runway 24L
Parked and disembarked at the Tom Bradley International Terminal