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You are here: Home / Trips / Helsinki 2 / TRIP REPORT: Doing it for the Tier Points – Trains, Boats and Trams – Into Helsinki and slightly beyond

TRIP REPORT: Doing it for the Tier Points – Trains, Boats and Trams – Into Helsinki and slightly beyond

28/09/2022 by Kevincm

Trains, Boats and Trams – Into Helsinki and slightly beyond
Doing it for the Tier Points

Doing it for the tier points cover image

  • And once again, welcome to the Tier Point Enrichment Centre
  • What can you do with about three hours and a bit of sleep? (Coach, Heathrow Airport and Lounge)
  • Finnair AY1332 London Heathrow to Helsinki (Business Class/A350)
  • Planes, Trains, Boats and Trams – Into Helsinki and slightly beyond
  • Crowne Plaza Helsinki
  • A Morning walk around Helsinki 
  • Back to Vantaa, Finnair Non-Schengen Lounge
  • Finnair AY1337 Helsinki to London Heathrow (Business Class/A350)
  • Heathrow wows, Euston moans, and Rugby looks pretty
  • 320 Tier Points, Done

Apologies that I am a bit behind on this trip report – things have been a little chaotic in Kevin Land. I’ll aim to publish a couple more segments this week – all things being equal. 

Whilst there didn’t seem to be many people connecting for onward flights, the passenger flow of the aircraft was pretty slow.

It also helped that the gate had connected both jetbridges to the aircraft.

a walkway with glass windows
That’s a rare sight. 

an airplane parked at an airport
Thank you plane. 

a glass wall with signs and a wooden shelf in front of a building
Connections

As we had come in on the far end of the 40s Pier, it was a fair walk from Gate 49 to the central area and down towards Passport Control, Non-Schengen and the exit.

And it was as simple as that – if a little bit of a hike because of where the aircraft had docked.

a man walking in a building
Moomin Coffee time

a person in a sleigh with a stuffed animal
It’s always Christmas

a moving walkway in a building
Down the ramp to Schengen

I cleared the queue for Schengen quickly enough and was admitted into Finland, after some gentle probing by the immigration authorities.

a group of people walking in a hallway  people walking in a terminal

With that done, I headed down the escalator and through the baggage collection area.

a group of people in a terminal people walking in a terminal
Luggage and exit

From plane to ground side, around 20 minutes in total.

After a quick look at the Moomin shop and the supermarket at the airport, I headed for the train station.

a statue of a hippo on a grey and yellow wall
It’s a cult here.

a group of people in a store
Always helpful to have a 24 hour supermarket

a store front with people walking around
What I should call the flat. 

This time, I took the lift down, rather than the escalator. I also took the time to buy a 1-day (24-hour ticket for all the transit services in Helsinki.

people in a large airport
To the station!

That’s an interesting point – the day tickets are not measured from start to finish of service – rather in 24 hours. Considering I was in the city for less than that – this turned the €11 ticket from a good deal to an absolute steal.

With me down on the platform, there was a two-minute wait and a train into the city had turned up.

a man standing in a train station a train tracks in a tunnela sign on a platform
Still a fan of this mapping solution

a train at a station
Lets FLIRT.

Maybe the transit gods finally smiled at me for this trip. Of course, the transit gods are good at giving as well as taking – as I would find out later on.

As expected a Stadler Flirt would take me into Central Helsinki. This train has a mixture of 3-2 and 2-2 seating, as well as seating over the middle part of the train too, resulting in humps in the carriage.

a red and grey seats in a train

There were also power outlets at some seats too.

a close up of a grey surface
Mains outlet underneath. 

The journey into Helsinki was a reasonably busy one, with the train loading well for its trip to the Central Station.

a train with a cartoon character on it
Geese and a Mole. 

Upon arrival, the train terminated at Platform 1 – which is on the far right side of Helsinki station. I followed the exit, then took my own route out of the station – mainly as I was heading out and about.

a train tracks with power lines and trees in the background

Whilst I could have checked into the hotel and dropped my bag off, I knew that if I did, I would be asleep within minutes. That wasn’t going to happen. I, therefore, decided to walk down to Esplandi and Market Square and onto a boat to Suomenlinna.

Why? Fresh air. After being cooped up on an aircraft, a little fresh air would have been a good idea.

a group of people standing around a fountain

And I didn’t take the tram – I walked towards Market Square at my own speed.

Reaching the ferry terminal to Suomenlinna, it was obvious people were heading out for an afternoon walk or picnics, with the queues to board. Nonetheless, I lined up in the queue as a ferry came in, pondering if I would make it aboard or not.

a cruise ship in the water
Silja Line heading off 

No ticket check was carried out, but I made it aboard. I found an outside spot facing away from the city and sat back, and enjoyed the ride over to the island, with the fresh sea air.

a large cruise ship in the water
A cruiser and a Viking Line ferry 

a large ship in the water
Viking is going to Viking

a large body of water with a boat in the distance
Slija Line roundiing a corner  a body of water with a body of water and a boat in the distance

a large body of water with a large ship in the distance
and tucking in behind 

a small island with trees in the middle of the water
An island mansion

a group of people on a boat a body of water with trees and a building in the background a body of water with trees and buildings
Closing in on Suomenlinna

a dock with people walking on it
All hands to docking stations.

Unlike last time when I walked my back off, this time I just had a stroll around Iso Mustasarri… not to get away from people, but to slow down after the day that I’ve had of travel and early starts.

a group of people walking under a tunnel

a group of people walking in a park

a group of people standing in a dirt area with trees and a building in the background

Sometimes, we forget to do that when rushing around – to take the time to stop and reflect, or just stop and watch the world go by for a bit.

a group of people walking on a cobblestone road

a group of people walking on a dirt road with cars and a building

And even I forget to stop and marvel at the world now and again.

 

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A post shared by Kevin @ Economy Class & Beyond (@economybeyond)

 

Eventually, I saw a ferry heading toward the island – I took the opportunity to board it for the ride back to Market Square

I tried to find a seat on the open deck, but it was pretty crammed up front facing Helsinki. I however found some steps that were blocked by a closed door and settled there.

I mostly spent the journey back playing Pokemon Go (catching up on the community day that had long since finished) and just… well, slowing down.

a group of people standing in front of a large ship

a group of people on a boat

Sometimes, it’s just nice to slow down completely.

Getting off the ferry was a little bit of a mad dash, as a car was waiting to depart, as well as everyone else behind me.

a group of people standing next to a boat

Once off, I walked through Market Square, noting that most of the stores had packed up for the evening. I grabbed the tram from the far end of the square and headed straight to the hotel.

a group of people standing in a car

So just a modal check today, coach, bus, plane, train, boat and tram. Who says getting to a hotel can’t be interesting?

Next: Crowne Plaza Helsinki 


Welcome to Economy Class and Beyond. Your no-nonsense guide to network news, honest reviews, featuring in-depth coverage, unique research, as well as the humour and madness I only know how to deliver.

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