27 September 2026
3:00… Noooo… No no no no… What was that song… Turn Around… 6:00, much better. An OK night’s sleep. Two hours before I’d planned, but since I’m awake I can go down for breakfast.
That’s a disappointment for the price I paid. Very basic, and compared to cheaper hotels at OSL, not even waffles or pancakes on a Sunday. Good to remember for next time.
That’s a disappointment for the price I paid. Very basic, and compared to cheaper hotels at OSL, not even waffles or pancakes on a Sunday. Good to remember for next time.
Time to finalise packing my luggage, check what’s in the backpack for easy access during my flights.
Off to the terminal across the street. Check-in is fast and easy, self-service. Security control is fast too, they just had to do an extra scan of my ass, seems like there’s metal there. 😂
Three hours to departure. Or better, three hours eight minutes, as I told the lady at the OSL lounge when she recited the rule of only getting access three hours before departure. She waived the eight minutes.
Not pure luxury. Paper plates and one-time cutlery, but a nice place to sit in silence before a flight. Free drinks and snacks. I hadn’t used any of my five free visits from my credit card this year.
Time to go to gate E9. Plane is landing on time, Finnair Embraer 190, fully booked today. Amazing legroom on this plane. Flight a little over one hour. I preordered a small pepperoni pizza snack. We’re arriving early at Helsinki.
Going through passport control is fast, no person controlling, just automated booths. Just remember to take off your glasses. It literally spat out my passport twice before I remembered to take them off.
Two hours waiting at the gate for boarding. Everything very orderly. The flight attendants going into the gate turn and bow to the passengers before going in. Boarding is 20 minutes delayed due to standard preparation time for the flight.
Boarding by groups, very efficient. Boeing 777-300, a large plane. My seat 20D, an aisle seat in the middle section of the 2-4-2 configuration. Nice space with legroom and easy to get out if needed.
Our flight came in from the North Pole route, but we’re leaving south, flying around Russia and Ukraine. 12 hours 50 minutes.
One hour before they start food service. First drinks and snacks, a plum wine and some water. Dinner is beef meatballs with ratatouille and pilaf rice, a small portion of bacon potato salad, Japanese soba noodles with soy broth jelly (I think there was some horseradish or wasabi on it, not my favorite taste), fresh salad and fruit, and vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Watching a Japanese movie, “My Own Quiz,” afterwards. They serve tea and a muffin that’s saved for later.
After the movie it’s time to try sleeping. I’m not a good sleeper on planes. The cabin is warm. Earplugs in, eye mask on, and I manage a few hours of napping, not deep sleep. Up to get a drink at some point. Breakfast is served at 4 in the morning Finnish time, more like lunch.
I told the flight attendant at dinner that I don’t much care for pasta with tuna and shrimp. So I got some rice noodles, a little bland but better than the alternative. With a dry roll, fruit, and a yoghurt.
Let’s end Day 2 here, since I’m officially in Day 3. Two hours to arrival.
