This premium economy is a worthwhile step-up from cattle class

The airline: Finnair

• Route Helsinki to Singapore, flight AY131
• Frequency Daily
• Aircraft Airbus A350-900
• Class Premium economy, seat 21H
• Flight time 12 hours 50 minutes. We left bang on time and arrived in Singapore 15 minutes early.

A Finnair Airbus A350. The airline is part of the oneworld alliance, which includes Qantas.Credit: iStock

Checking in

I would not recommend arriving five minutes before bag drop closes on an international flight. But if you do find yourself hurtling across the empty linoleum of Helsinki airport terminal at 11.20pm for a 12.25am flight when a TV broadcast you’re working on runs overtime, I can report the process is mercifully smooth.

The two female attendants smile like it’s completely normal when I find the Finnair desk and madly throw my passport at them. They even offer to move my frazzled husband, who is travelling in economy behind me, to an emergency exit row. Meanwhile, I’m shooting looks back at the sliding automatic doors of departures where our rental car is stationed with hazard lights on (we didn’t have time to drop it off first).

After returning the car, we have 15 minutes before our gate closes to race through security and passport control. We make it to the cabin door in seven without seeing a single line. Heart rates have reached cruising altitude, but otherwise it might be my easiest check-in experience ever.

Baggage

Premium economy passengers can take one checked bag weighing 23kg and two carry-on items with total weight of 8kg, the same as economy. It’s enough for us but it might become an issue for winter travellers with heavy coats chasing the northern lights in Finland.

The loyalty scheme

Finnair Plus is free to join and it is a member of the oneworld alliance, which includes Qantas and Qatar. Qantas frequent flyers will earn at least 9000 Qantas points and 85 status credits in premium economy on this route.

The seat

Sleek Nordic interiors: Finnair’s premium economy.

Finnair unveiled sleek new Nordic interiors in its revamped fleet in June, making them among the most modern in Europe. The navy seat cushions are designed by Finnish brand Marimekko; they are made of memory foam and arranged in a 2-4-2 layout. Curtains divide our section from economy behind and business in front.

My seat is 18 inches (45cm) wide with a 38 inch (96.5cm) pitch, seven inches more than the economy seats. There’s an extendable footrest that pops out to cushion my calves, and I’m in the front row, where there’s additional legroom. I can position my backpack to extend the footrest and prop up my heels into a decadent sleeping position.

An amenities pouch contains eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste. But it’s the clip-around neck pillow that delights most, sending me into a dozy haze. It’s suddenly baffling that other airlines haven’t also thought to evolve from standard rectangular plane pillows.

Entertainment + tech

The Finnair premium economy cabin.

Finnair addresses the major drawback of the exit row by placing a large 40cm screen on the wall in front of me rather than stowed in the armrest, so I can continue to watch during take-off and landing. There’s the usual plethora of choices of movies and TV. Plenty of international movies, although fewer new releases than native English-speaking airlines seem to have.

Wi-Fi in premium and economy costs €7.95 ($13) an hour, €15 for three hours and €25 for the full flight. It’s free in business for the first hour.

One genius surprise is the “flight overview” timeline, which shows when and what meals will be served in time zones of both destination and departure. I’m never left wondering when the next meal will be and I know exactly what I’ll choose from the menu when attendants come around.

Service

Available and responsive, with Nordic efficiency. Perhaps lacking the warmth that my check-in saviours at Helsinki radiated but it is hard to fault. When I ask if there are any spare dinners (having not eaten since lunchtime, it’s now 2am) my attendant delivers one in a few minutes.

Food

Finnair fare.

Dinner is a vegetarian nasi goreng in a cardboard box with disposable cutlery, served soon after take-off. It looks a bit like regular economy mush but it packs a satay-spiced punch with oozy soft pumpkin, scrambled egg bits, edamame, capsicum, thick mushrooms and rice. It’s remarkably moreish, hence my bid for seconds.

Breakfast is served two hours before landing and is a more premium encounter utilising metal cutlery on ceramic-look plates. I choose the omelette with spinach, blistered tomatoes and herb-cream sauce. It’s fluffy and delicious and comes with a Scandinavian cold platter featuring slices of ham and cheese and pickles, plus a rye bread roll and a high-protein yoghurt.

Finnish beers, wines (except sparkling) and spirits are included in premium economy. The cloudberry dessert wine, which is unique to Finland, has won awards across Europe.

Carbon emissions

0.99 tonnes one-way. Finnair has committed to going carbon neutral by 2045 and across its fleet it uses a large proportion of sustainable aviation fuel, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 per cent. It also invests in reforestation and offsetting initiatives.

One more thing

Separation from the crowd in economy is an unspoken but absolute perk of flying premium. Bring a pair of slip-on shoes; you still have to tread back there for the toilets.

The price

From about $4800 return, Sydney to Helsinki via Singapore (Sydney to Singapore leg codeshare with Qantas).*

Verdict

Premium economy risks being double the price and not very different to regular economy, but Finnair is a worthwhile step-up. Despite boarding the flight totally wired, the extra space and comfort means I sleep like a baby most of the way.

Our rating out of five

★★★★½

The writer flew as a guest of Finnair.

*Fares are based on those available for travel three to four months from the time of publication and subject to change.

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