I've flown with Finnair twice now, and the first time was a real treat. The ticket prices were super reasonable, and Finnair's reputation as one of Europe's top airlines made me feel confident. The flight itself was smooth sailing, with no hiccups to speak of - not even when I found out they'd stopped offering free meals on board (it's just drinks now).
So, when I booked my second trip with Finnair, I figured it would be just as great. But boy, was I wrong...
I'd opted for a flight from Europe to Russia with a layover in Helsinki - just a one-hour wait, which I thought was a great perk. And it was - the whole journey took just six hours, and I was home in no time.
Things started to go downhill in the departure airport, though. Our flight was delayed - or so the board said, with a 15-minute wait listed. But that was just the beginning. The delay kept getting bumped up by 15 minutes, and before I knew it, we'd been held up for an hour. That's when we finally took off.
The reason for the delay? The plane from the previous flight had arrived late. No explanation was given, but I'm guessing it's not exactly ideal to have planes showing up behind schedule.
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Thanks to Finnair, I ended up missing my connecting flight
As I watched the flight attendants checking off passengers with connecting flights, I was starting to get anxious. They seemed to be handling everything with ease, but I was worried I'd get left behind. I had to flag them down and remind them I was in the same boat - and even then, it took them a while to find me in the list.
When they finally did, the flight attendant told me I'd missed my connecting flight and would have to wait another 24 hours for the next one. They'd provide me with accommodation and food, but I was devastated - I had a big event to get to that evening, and I really couldn't afford to miss it.
They even made an announcement over the intercom, calling out my name and telling me to report to the airline rep in the airport when I arrived.
When I landed at Helsinki's Vantaa airport, I approached the representative, who offered me an alternative: I'd be flying to my own city with another layover at Sheremetyevo. So, I'd be arriving in my own city on the same day, but with a huge delay.
I happily agreed to this option, not even thinking about the fact that I'd have to wait two hours for my flight to Moscow, and then another four hours for my flight to my own city.
The Finnair representative handed me a €8 meal voucher so I could grab a bite to eat at the airport. I was thrilled, as I was starving, but it turned out to be a waste.
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THE MEAL VOUCHER IN THE AIRPORT
It was already nighttime, and most of the airport's restaurants were closed. There were only two cafes left, and they were almost empty. The food selection was incredibly limited.
But the real kicker was the prices! With the €8 voucher, I couldn't even buy anything to eat. Salads were €11-12, sandwiches were €8.50.
I ended up buying the cheapest sandwich for €8.50 and had to pay an extra €4 for a coffee, as I couldn't eat dry bread.
€8.50 sandwich and €4 coffee
So, Finnair didn't exactly pay for my meal, but they actually made me spend more money.xa0
Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Finland
I waited for my flight to Sheremetyevo. I have to say that waiting for a flight at Vantaa airport is a pleasant experience. There are comfortable seating areas, Wi-Fi, charging stations, and even a water fountain. That night, I was almost the only person in the entire massive airport.
Vantaa airport
I flew with Aeroflot to Sheremetyevo. Then, I got bored and hungry for another four hours before my flight. Sheremetyevo was a completely different story – no comfort whatsoever.xa0
IN-FLIGHT MEAL ON AEROFLOT
Aeroflot treats its passengers way better than Finnair. Despite the super short flight from Helsinki to Moscow (1.5 hours), they offered both hot and cold drinks, as well as tasty sandwiches with salmon and olives.
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MISSING LUGGAGE
The last unpleasant surprise from Finnair awaited me upon arrival in my hometown.
They lost my luggage! Just didn't send it from Helsinki! Not to Moscow with me, not to my hometown. My luggage wasn't even showing up on the computer!
I spent hours at the local airport filling out documents about the lost luggage, writing down what was inside, the color of the suitcase, and so on. It took about an hour and a half because there were five of us who didn't get our luggage on the belt.
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So, I ended up without my prepared-in-advance clothes on a very important day for me. I went to the event in what I was wearing (jeans and a sweater).
Ugh. And I arrived in my hometown not in the morning as I had planned, but at 5 pm. I didn't even get to rest after the trip.
My luggage arrived in my hometown a day later, and it was delivered by a courier to my home.
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Saying I was shocked by this flight is an understatement. So many problems.
I understand that Finnair would have made more sense to rebook me on a different flight and give me a €8 voucher instead of paying for accommodation and meals.
Maybe I made a mistake too, not knowing my rights and not fighting for better conditions. But I couldn't afford to be late by a day and grabbed the offer to fly through Moscow like a lifeline.
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What was supposed to be a comfortable 6-hour flight turned into a 16-hour hungry nightmare with a €8 compensation that wasn't even enough for a sandwich.
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My advice to you: research your rights before a flight delay. Don't get caught off guard like I did. It's better to be safe than sorry.
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My reviews of other airlines:
AirBerlin
Ryanair
Turkish Airlines
Air Moldova
Alitalia