Review: American Airlines Business Class Helsinki to Chicago

Really nice pictures. What kind of camera are you using?

I love a handful of warm nuts in my mouth when flying.

Funny you mention the strange security questions...had a similar interaction in Copenhagen this week and another last month leaving Reykjavik. The security "official" actually had a list of questions in front of her, and immediately after reading the question, she would snap her head up to awkwardly stare at me right in the eyes as I answered. After each question, she would then look back down to find out what the next question was...El Al can teach these people some proper security techniques

To compare, Finnair does nothing like what you experienced at HEL for its flight to JFK. They do have secndary screening set up, but no interviews. Seems like typical AA overkill at a foreign outstation.

Thanks for pointing out that clearing immigration has become remarkably "less painful" lately at ORD with those automated systems. On our return from FRA 3 weeks ago we cleared passport control, got our luggage AND cleared customs in about 5 minutes. Granted, I think our timing was "perfect" on that trip. However, I still kept looking around to see if we did something wrong 😉

@WanderingEntrepreneur;

I agree that El Al has great security but sometimes they do overextend their interview. I am an Israeli citizen, traveling to see my mother in Israel (inside the recognized borders), go there every year and the last time I was questioned for 15 minutes for no reason on the way out of TLV; it was basically the same stuff Ben got in HEL.
I doubt there was anything suspicious in my history or travel pattern except they wanted to be a pain.
At the end of the "interview" I was visibly upset with the interviewer and they let me proceed.

Am I the only one who prefers crab cakes hot? That appetizer could actually be good heated up, but cold they're no better than week's leftovers.

As for the "security" questioning at check-in, it seems as though the routine has been stepped up at LHR as well. Will be curious how it is flying US-bound out of CDG in a couple of weeks. They've always been punctilious, I hope it hasn't gotten worse.

I remember flying out of CDG on TWA (yeah, old school) and the security guy asked me a dozen questions in a staccato, intensely angry fashion, and I was comprehending nothing of what he was saying. I finally stopped him and said, "You have to speak english", to which he replied, even more angry, "I AM SPEAKING ENGLISH".
End scene at Security Theatre playhouse.

Speaking of JAL's 787, when will your first 787 TR appear? Or are you waiting to see if they remain safe?

Great pics and report!

@ Vivek K -- Thanks, I use a Canon S95.

@ Peter -- Hah! Previously I was intentionally seeking out the 787. Now I'm neither seeking it or nor avoiding it, but I do prefer redeeming miles for first class, and no 787s have first class as of now.

Gotcha! But we are curious about the 787 so when it's safe, you may need to suffer through business class for us. You did say you need to do paid runs soon for elite status preservation. (JAL = AA; I know your hestitation--their flat neo seats aren't flat!) 😉

Oh shoot, that was a security interview? I thought she was just trying to flirt with me. 😛

@Rami, I completely understand what you're saying. I'm sure that the majority of the behavioral questioning goes too far, but it's also hard to beat El Al's security record. They definitely aren't known for their friendliness though, even on the plane.

@Ryan, this does seem to be more of a contract agent issue than with local carriers who have local staffing. I mostly fly Delta internationally, and only when I am speaking to a Delta contract agent in a foreign airport do I get these inane questions. Flying Air France out of CDG or KLM out of AMS never seems to present the same questioning.

CDG has the worst team in my opinion. They go on forever and are very rude.

A few months ago, and next to me, was an old Chinese woman with her daughter who spoke English. The daughter tried to translate for her mother who does not speak English or French and was scolded and asked to step aside. Well, in Paris they only do the interview in French or English and you can imagine the scene that followed, to the point they were looking for a security employee at CDG who spoke Chinese. This was beyond ridiculous in my opinion. Gladly I saw the old and charming Chinese old lady on board. What a bunch of idiots !

By the way, those Finnair planes look horrible. Who decided to paint them with that ugly livery ?

Lucky,
Is the train between terminals at ORD inside or outside of security? I'm connecting at ORD from UA (Term 1) to Asiana (Term 5) and wanted to know if I will have to exit security then clear again at T5. Thanks for another great trip report!

@ Greg -- It's landside unfortunately, so you do have to exit security and clear again.

I will never forget waiting to board a KLM flight AMS-DTW in 1996 at the age of 15 with my school group. Two Schiphol security agents (with large rifles) took me and the only other non-white classmate of mine aside and brusquely interrogated us for 15 minutes in full view of everyone at the gate. We were just kids, for heaven's sake. Very disturbing. And this was in the age before 9/11!