Off to Stockholm Bromma, AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa
Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore
Time for a rather compressed segment, as I head off to a new airport (to me) and an ATR flight. Thus, get compressed people.
In this adventure
- I needed a break
- 02:40 on the coach? Nothing changes, with Heathrow Terminal 5 and British Airways South Lounge
- BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (Club Europe)
- An afternoon in Stockholm featuring ABBA The Museum
- Off to Stockholm Bromma, AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- A Rapid Helsinki Transit and The Finnair Lounge
- AY099 Helsinki Vantaa to Hong Kong International with Finnair (Business Class)
- Transiting Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Lounge
- CX715 (AY5855) Hong Kong International to Singapore Changi Terminal 4 with Cathay Pacific (Business Class)
- Into Singapore, IBIS Budget Crystal
- The Mercure Hotel, Bugis
- Boating around the Singapore River
- Exploring Hawker Markets and random fooding around Singapore
- The Best Camera is the One You Have With You – Exploring The Gardens by the Bay
- Up to the Marina Bay Sands Skypark…
- …and the fallout of a stolen and returned iPhone
- Back to Changi Airport the Pokemon Centre at the Jewel and Terminal 4
- 3K513 (AY6379) Singapore Changi to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Jetstar Asia Economy Class)
- One night in Bangkok and the Avagard Capsule Hotel, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
- An early morning at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and The Miracle Lounge, D Pier
- AY142 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Helsinki Vantaa with Finnair in Business Class
- Out of Vantaa Airport and into Helsinki… and a little beyond
- Holiday Inn, Helsinki Airport
- Early morning at Helsinki Vantaa Airport and The Finnair Schengen Lounge
- AY841 Helsinki Vantaa to Stockholm Bromma with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- The slow return to Arlanda Airport (with a military band)
- D84459 Stockholm Arlanda to London Gatwick with Norweigan Air Shuttle
- How to get home… coach or train?
- Sometimes, Simple Isn’t Needed… Or Wanted
With me fully Abba’d out (as well as exhausted from walking around in the city sun, hunting down a Lidl for water and so on), I made it to back Stockholm City/T-Centralen Station. In addition to the heat, I was fast hitting a tiredness level – as I had a poor night’s sleep beforehand.
Thus, my brain went into homing pigeon mode – and it wanted to head to Bromma Airport.
Off we go.
Sure, I would be arriving a was a good few hours early, but I had a feeling I might need more than a hand on this trip – and if I gave myself extra time, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Thankfully, I paid attention to the SL app, as opposed to Google Maps, which doesn’t handle trams well for some reason. This told me to catch Tunnelbana Numbers 17, 18 or 19 to a stop called Alvik, then change for the 31 tram to the airport.
Simple enough.
Except for one small thing – the signage for onward trams at Alvik station is pretty awful. By chance, I found out how to get the 31.
For those of you who are trapped doing this, exit the train and head to the bottom of the platform heading away from the city (don’t head upstairs with the exit facing the city), then either take the stairs or elevator downstairs to the lower street level.
Or a HISS.
Once on the ground floor head out of the Tunnelbana station, turn left and the tram line will be in front of you.
The tram service to Bromma Airport operates every 15 minutes – although unless you’re desperately late for a plane, you won’t be waiting long,
The route of the tram goes over some pretty city scenery, turning into an industrial/shopping park.
Bromma Airport is at the end of the line, with easy access to the shopping park.
I exited the tram and worked my way around, If Bromma airport reminded me of anything – it was London City Airport -but a lot smaller…. and at a much greater risk of seeing it shuttered, with Braathens Regional Airlines planning to draw back from the airport at the end of 2024.
That’s it, kids.
Arrivals and Departures are split into two buildings. Thus, I followed the signs for departures past WH Smith and the departure hall.
And it’s small.
That’s the expanse of it.
Whilst the Finnair desks weren’t open, I was able to use the self-check kiosk.
This successfully printed out all three boarding passes for the outbound trip – although I had a feeling I would need to get a replacement in Hong Kong (as you normally would need a lounge invitation for those places).
That would be another problem for when I landed at the Fragrant Harbour.
With no bags to check, I went through the security lane – one of which was open. Given there was one person in front of me, I was processed quickly.
Seven Check-in desks, and a very quiet security hall at around 6 pm.
Once through the security hall, the concourse opens out a little, with a bar, a WH Smith (they get everywhere) and plenty of workspaces… as well as a lounge.
Pretty empty.
I camped out at some desks with power on them, taking my time writing a few things.
I then checked if I could use a lounge – I had conflicting information if the lounge was ground or airside. After an hour of writing, I tried my luck at the lounge… and was let in.
Braathens Regional Aviation Lounge
Access: Via Finnair Ticket
I was welcome when I entered the lounge. My boarding pass was checked, and I was allowed through with them confirming they handle for Finnair here.
If you’re paying for Priority Pass access… this could be one skip.
If there’s a lounge that screams “It’s slightly better as a room than in the terminal”, this is it.
There was a kitchen area (that was self-service, as well as self-clean-up), and a darkened lounge area. Onto the food and beverage section – if you’re thinking of pre-fight dining here… oh, what dreams you have of my sweet summer child.
It’s cosy but basic.
For me, it was a place to relax and continue editing away whilst the flight racked up a short delay. It was not that important in itself – however, the 5-10 minutes could be interesting – given the hike required when I would get to Helsinki, and that I needed to clear the airport, fast.
With boarding nearing, I was called forward pre-boarding for a boarding pass and identity check. With that done, there was another short delay.
Boarding was conducted in groups. With my pass in Group 1, I had my boarding pass blipped.
It was time to go Tier Point hunting.
AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa
AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa
NoRRA for Finnair
ATR 72-500
Seat 1A, Economy Class253 Miles flown
20 Tier Points 575 Avios Earned.
Exiting the terminal into the walkway, it’s a corrugated steel special, separating the gates and the flight lines – so passengers are kept away from the aircraft until the last minute. Our ATR would depart from Stand 4.
In front of me was an ATR72-500, which NoRRA operates for Finnair.
Heading aboard the ATR 72-500, this aircraft felt…fresh and cared for – a major step forward when I was last aboard one of the aircraft lounges.
The seats have been swapped from the Geven Regional seating to Series 3 ST+ seats. These are fixed-back seats, which are pre-reclined.
They’re perfectly functional for the mission – with reasonably enough padding in them. Considering that aircraft are used for missions up to 1 and a half hours, that’s more than enough.
I was sitting at the front of the aircraft – whilst in the last row to get off, it alleged a jet bridge compatible at Helsinki Airport (although I’ve never seen it used).
The crew seat goes here.
Of course, we boarded and disembarked at the back of the aircraft – not that it helped.
The boarding process was carried out quickly. And soon enough, the door was shut.
It seemed the aircraft would be nowhere near capacity tonight – with plenty of empty rows, and even the seat next to me free.
The ATR 72-500 taxied out of Bromma Airport and pootled along to the runway, with the safety demonstration carried out by hand.
With a roar, the Turboprops came to full power and propelled us from Stockholm Bromma Airport.
This being a night flight, there wasn’t much to see, other than the blinking lights of the outside world.
Stockholm from the air
I just sat back and watched the world go by.
Shortly after take off the crew conducted their inflight service. Whilst this flight was operated by NoRRA, the Finnair rules still applied. As such, an economy class “Buy-on-board” service was offered, which was supplemented with free Blueberry Juice and Water.
And that Blueberry Juice, I swear, is one of the nicest things in the sky.
As I was in row 1, the trays were stowed on the side of the seat, as opposed to the bulkhead or the seat in front. This is great in theory – in practice, it needed more than a little persuading for the tray table to slide back into its seat hole when stowed.
Given that this ATR 72-500 was pretty empty, I had both seats to myself – as well as the cabin crew member who sat at the front during the safety-critical periods of the flight.
As for the seat itself, it was fine. The segment length doesn’t give too much time to be fidgety or desperate to be connected to the internet (although given some of the Low-Earth Orbit solutions around), installing connectivity on an ATR is not outside the boundaries of possibilities.
I’ve seen worse in row 1.
Eventually, the aircraft started to slow, as it made its descent into the dark heart that is Helsinki Airport. I was hoping that the taxi would be short – as I had a race across the airport once the aircraft parked.
Coming onto the stand
Parking up at Gate 9
Thankfully, from landing to pulling up outside a gate, it was under five minutes. That was good to see. With the seatbelt signs turned off I grabbed both of my bags from the overhead bin and started to make my way down the cabin.
There was a race to win.
I thanked the crew and headed off into the dark of a Helsinki night.
Overall
I worry about Bromma Airport – especially since BRA has announced that they are planning to pull out of the airport as they become a SAS Partner – but given the traffic there… I’m not overly surprised. I am sure it has its rush periods, but it felt underutilised. Whilst Embraer or even an A220 could help add serious traffic, I suspect that there are very few routes that are viable in the future, that couldn’t fill an ATR72.
Even the Bromma-Helsinki route, I’m surprised this exists other than to ferry a few people who don’t want to deal with Arlanda. Loads were low (in both directions). I suspect on peak days it can be busy, but it felt… underutilised.
As for the flight, it was functional – it got me A to B, with a business-friendly crew. Whilst Finnair has cut its product to the bone in Economy Class, at least they have the effort to serve some liquid to keep passengers going.
Next:
A rushed Helsinki Transit. For I ride, like the wind, ride like the wind.
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