What it’s like to fly in Finnair’s non-reclining business class seats

There’s no need to find the lie flat button when you fly AirLounge style.

The first airline in the world to introduce Collins’ Aerospace AirLounge seats, Finnair has completed a €200 million ($352 million) renewal of their long haul cabins to feature their new Business Class AirLounge cabin plus a new travel class in Premium Economy. On flights from Stockholm to Sydney I receive an upgrade from Helsinki to Hong Kong to try AirLounge life.

Check in 

Business class passengers are invited to use priority check in lines and can bring two pieces of checked baggage up to 32kg each plus a carry on bag and a small bag with a combined weight of 12kg. 

Lounge 

Finnair has two lounges in Helsinki airport for Schengen and non-Schengen flight options, the latter with a platinum wing. Sadly my tight connection doesn’t allow time to lounge around, but I’m reliably informed that the non-Schengen lounge features an open kitchen to watch chefs preparing meals, shower suites with Finnish SEES products, sound-proof phone booths for private calls and a family zone for the kids. 

The Finnair Business Class cabin.

Seat and cabin 

The cabin has a 1-2-1 configuration with full height privacy screens between the middle seats that can be lowered for people travelling together.  Rather than reclining, the new AirLounge seats add connecting pieces between your seat and footrest to create a fully flat bed where you can snuggle down. It’s said the non-reclining seats will be less prone to malfunction, and as someone who has flown in faulty business class seats before that sounds like a fine plan to me. 

The bed is around 2-metres long with almost 60cm of room across the shoulders. At the widest point it’s over a metre so you can sit cross-legged, with the designers inspired by Nordic and Japanese culture, and the seat’s high back and sides makes it feel nice and private.  There’s a mattress topper and super soft pillow and duvet by Finnish design house Marimekko, a decent sized cubby with built-in USB A and C sockets, plus more storage and PC power options. 

The super-comfy Finnair Business Class pod.

 

Food 

It’s not often that I wish I could eat the same thing again tomorrow when I’m on a flight, but if I could have I would. cIn Finnair’s business class Nordic inspired dishes are joined by international fare, and includes reindeer quiche with meatballs and salmon with Swedish creamed potatoes. My tortellini with tomato and Provolone, Mornay sauce and pine nuts was flavour packed deliciousness after take off, while my sweet apple crêpe with vanilla sauce, roasted almonds and cranberries before landing made it all the harder to say goodbye. 

Beverages include their signature blueberry juice that is so popular they serve nearly one million litres a year, sweet wine made from Finnish raspberries known as Vaapukka, plus champagne by Joseph Perrier and a wine selection that includes French, Italian and Spanish drops. You can also try a Northern Blush cocktail with gin, ligonberries, orange peel and bitters, as well as beers, soft drinks, coffee and tea including a blueberry rooibos. 

The well-packed snack station includes cinnamon buns, caramel popcorn and the addictive BisBis soft salted-liquorice treats, while the glass-wear and cutlery by another great Finnish design house, Iitalla, are so lovely I wonder how many ‘Iittala for Finnair’ sets end up in people’s homes. 

The Finnair breakfast is a standout.

Service 

Before take-off blueberry juice, champagne and water are offered and I say yes to the trinity. And while I may be front row in seat 1D I’m still impressed when a crew member is by my side to take my meal order in under a minute of the seat belt sign being turned off.  Throughout the flight service is attentive and friendly and the crew led by purser Elena are so lovely I have to resist hugging them goodbye. 

Amenity kit 

A sleek Marimekko designer pouch made from 100% recycled polyester comes with matching eye mask, earplugs, and a Humble Co. dental kit with a bamboo toothbrush. Other items are available on request including socks, combs, shaving kits and my new favourite lip balm SEES Forest Kiss, which includes forest microbiome extract from Finnish nature. 

The Marimekko amenities kit is a cute Finnish touch.

Entertainment  

The 18-inch touchscreen includes entertainment with movies, shows, games, and music, as well as a handy flight time guide including when meals will be served.  You can use your own device to connect to the Nordic Sky portal for free access to audiobooks, newspapers and magazines with no internet required. Wi-Fi is complimentary for one hour for business passengers, with purchase options from €7.95 ($14) for an hour to €24.95 ($44) for the whole flight. 

Loyalty

Finnair is part of the oneworld Alliance so you can earn Qantas points and status credits on eligible flights with the AY airline code. 

The menu on the touch screen is an innovative idea.

Verdict: 9/10

If the pilot had told us we had to circle Hong Kong for eight hours before landing I wouldn’t have minded one bit. Finnair’s AirLonge is a very happy place to be in the sky. 

At the time of writing Sydney to Helsinki return trips start from $5,192, including taxes. 

Prices are determined by supply and demand, as well as other factors including special fares on occasion.

The writer travelled as a guest of Viking Cruises with an upgrade from Finnair.

Originally published as What it’s like to fly in Finnair’s non-reclining business class seats