My view on Finnair is that they are struggling with their business model, which was almost perfect just before 2022... but things have changed a lot for them. Not being able to fly over Russia hurts them a lot, more than most other European airlines, which is why we see them continually discounting these flights and cutting some services on these routes to preserve margins. Unfortunately, they are also hurt on their west flights due to sanctions against Russians (who were their major market), and due to SAS revival. I'm not saying Finnair risks to file for bankruptcy, but I doubt very much it makes sense for them to open new destinations. Current market conditions make no sense for them to expand.
They are definitely now in tough spot given the geopolitical situation. They had a good thing going that sustained them with the Asia routes, and now that's a lot more difficult.
I hear ya. That's part of the reason I see their growth happening in the West. Honestly even with the airspace issues, the Asian markets seem to remain lucrative for Finnair, so hopefully it doesn't screw them over too bad. I mean at the very least, they're one of the few carriers that isn't dumping all their East Asia routes at the moment. Maybe we will see a resurgence of Anchorage!
@@PatrickSheaAviation Without Russian market there is not enough constant traffic for Finnair on flights to the west, especially with SAS/LOT fairly aggressive pricing on NA routes, so my prediction is that they will remain in this survival mode for now without opening new destinations.
Finnair, which is one of the oldest carriers still operating, has taken the attitude of a low cost carrier in their service. What remains though, are the ticket prices of a legacy carrier.
Finnair is currently barely surviving. Not being able to fly over Russia was huge blow. It seems to have survived without a bankruptcy, but definitely struggling.
I still remember before war in Ukraine I often flew with FinnAir from Asia (Seoul, Singapore, etc). Helsinki Airport was so busy & very crowded at that time. So many passengers from Asia flew to European Cities via Helsinki with FinnAir. Things have changed since then. They have lost competitive advantages 😢😢😢
Yes they have to fly all the way around Russia now. I went to the non-EU area and it was way emptier than is supposed to be. Hopefully they can recover after the war.
new favorite airline YTer! I'm currently planning a trip from the US to HEL in J and came here to see how Finnair stacks up against the other cabins I've been looking at. keep up the good work! Love the narration.
Great content! Just to clarify and correct a little: Finnair’s new Schengen lounge opened for travelers only a few months ago, not last year. It surely was long awaited, though!
What I like about your videos is how informative they are. Also like the added historical backgrounds (I never knew the origins of the 'AY' code ; Never knew AY is 6th oldest airline...etc.). Unlike the other YT travel 'authors', where it seems to be ONLY all about videoing themselves and their contrived dramas.
Favorite airline hands down. From Europe to Asia there is nobody else. You're going to need to connect somewhere, so why not Helsinki. Helsinki airport is a PLEASURE compared to any major European airport that you may connect through, such as London or Paris. Both are truly horrible. Love this seat. Also love the fact the Finnair partners with Marimekko and Ittala, two top Finnish designers, to give their hard product real Finnish identity. Food in Finnair business is usually very good. Service is always exceptional. If you are planning a trip in the near future, check to see if Finnair can get you there.
Totally agree about the Helsinki airport. Not only is it quite beautiful, there's a Hilton within walking distance and great train service directly to the Helsinki central train station.
That Finnair glassware is iconic. It was introduced with Finnair’s first intercontinental service in 1969…HEL-CPH-AMS-JFK, and has endured all these years. The design is called Ultima Thule. With the NY inauguration, Finnair assigned a specially trained hostess called the Finn Hostess. Probably akin to the Purser position on other airlines. The Finn Hostess wore a special uniform with a floor-length skirt, the design of which was changed annually. Finnair took great pride in their first intercontinental offering. The AMS and CPH stops lasted on some of their JFK flights well into the 1980s…with some nonstops, some 1-stops and some 2-stops.
I enjoyed the seat on a recent trip to Helsinki from Dallas. Enjoyed the lounge after clearing customs out of the country. Great bartender with wonderful cocktails.
I flew on a Finnair A350 in one of those business class seats last year and I was initially confused about how to recline the seat. I was kinda shocked when a flight attendant told me it didn't recline but the length and roominess of the bed made the whole arrangement a no-brainer. I liked the seat. And ditto on asking Finnair to re-establish its SFO route.
I'm a Finn who have never flown Finnair (shame on me) but the a350 is such an icon, and I always need myself this exact view of the wing and engine! Will need to take an AY business trip to HND or ICN
Hi Patrick, thank you for another Awesome flight report. I watch every of your reports. I enjoyed Finnair Longhaul Business Class seat. I loved it as I just raised the leg rest to become a simple bed. For European airlines, they only serve a simple breakfast before arrival. You were fortunate that the breakfast was not Continental Breakfast. Looking forward to your next flight report.
Great report, thanks! One note 2:26: Actually you were leaving the passport-free Schengen zone, the EU and the Schengen zone are not 1:1. There are EU-member states who are outside the Schengen (Ireland, Cyprus) and non-EU countries who are in the Schengen (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland)
Before covid and Russia closing it's airspace, Asia was huge market for Finnair. Yes, there are many airlines who fly to Tokyo, Osaka, Soul, Beijing, Shanghai... But Finland had several unique destinations too. That made Finland great operator for Europeans, who were flying to Asian destinations. It is always the best option to end your flights with the longest one, so flying from Helsinki to Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing or Xi'an, after a short hop inside Europe was suitable for many. It is very stressful to first fly a long flight, then spend some time in Asian large airport trying easily to find your next flight, lets say a domestic China flight. Not fun. Way easier to first fly to Helsinki, navigate through a smaller and simpler European airport, and then fly to your final destination. Not many, if any European airline offered flights to those cities in China. Atleast not in same manner as Finnair did. Now the same business model benefits other airlines more, since through Finland it takes not a lot longer to fly to Asia, since Finnair has to fly so much longer routes to get around Russian air space.
It seems their China market hasn't fully recovered, but the rest of their Asian markets seem to be thriving again which is great to see. I guess we will see if it continues as things start to add up over time
AMS isn't terrible unless your connection is in/out of Schengen. HEL and AMS otherwise are both examples where you don't have any extra security checks. Basically like a domestic connection
It's interesting that SAS left the Star Alliance for Skyteam. Their flight from Copenhagen to Atlanta should provide them with connections to just about anywhere in the US via Delta
I flew Finnair in the opposite direction, from Seoul to Helsinki, a few weeks ago. That route goes over the top of Russia rather than under it. It was a 13 hours 40 minute flight, and it was a bit surreal flying in the opposite direction so we could fly over the Bering Strait between Russia and the USA. We got a certificate and a sticker at the end to say we'd flown over the North Pole, which was a nice touch.
Qantas currently wet lease a number of their aircraft for flights from south east Asia to Sydney and Brisbane. I did hear that Finnair was thinking of adding some kind of flight to Australia via an Asian destination as Finnair is quite popular with Australians as they offer good deals into Europe.
😂 Hahaha! Thank you for sharing you trip here. Your meal selections looked nice and yes, I notice on the breakfast service there was no tray table white lining service. Also, I heard your comments as the bed was set up. Me, being 6'2" with big feet I wonder how I would feel! Hmm! Well, I am glad you could see how the bedding was made. Thanks and fly safe.😊
We Australians want to see Finnair expand into our neighbourhood. Using Singapore as a short stopover/hub. We note Qantas is using a couple of leased aircraft and crew on a short contract. Proving very popular it seems!
@@PatrickSheaAviation Qantas has 2x A330 on wet-lease that are used SYD-SIN / SYD-BKK, I flew on these in May and they have the lounge seat exactly as shown in the video. The wet-lease is only until the end of 2025 but then they go to a dry lease out to 2028.
Thank you for this review. This seat is so innovative. No competitor today offers seats that don't recline in business class. This is unique. You also have a headrest made of spongy fabric that can collect residue from the previous passenger's greasy scalp. And when in bed position, your head is right where the rear end of the previous passenger was. No other airline connects you so closely to the bottom of their other customers. Also, I can't believe how much space you have for your feet (23:49). I want the same "feet box" at home because I love the feeling of being locked in place. This is really amazing. Congratulations to Finnair, they really did think out of the box to create this fantastic seat. Many reviewers have said that this is the best business class seat in the world, and I am now convinced that it is true.
31:01, Yes, but the improvement is to install universal power outlet and air vent on Airbus A350-900's economy class, in order to be the best airline in Finland in economy class, they don't install universal power outlet, which is a bummer and no air vent, making the cabin quite warm on a long haul flight. Even China Southern, Airbus A350-900's economy class also don't have universal power outlet, which is a bummer, but still a good airline to fly besides AIr China and Hainan. 33:52, I agree with you, Finnair needs to resume flights to some places, including San Francisco.
Qantas have wet leashed 2 Finnair A330’s for routes between Syd to BKK and SIN. I have flown the route a few times. It’s a Finnair Asian based cabin crew. Great service. I have always been a Finnair fanboy since being located in Singapore for many years.
I've had the opportunity to fly several with Finnair between HEL and Asia. Globally the seat in business class is good. But i should point out that the stange shape of the lie flat area can be tricky, depending how you sleep, on your left or right side, with your leg squeezed against the sides. You just need to find the right position.
I used them this weekend from London. They do a flight each way each day on the A350, that I used for the return flight. I'm not sure I'd like it for long haul without being able to recline as I don't want to be upright or lay flat. Service was superb in both directions.
The lounge is after you clear customs out of Finland. Non-schengen I believe. We went to the other lounge and we're directed to the non-schengen lounge.
I flew Finnair Business Class from Heathrow to Rome a year and a half ago. It was an A320. It was the first several rows and all they did is take regular economy rows and block off the middle one on each side. The food service was good though.
Wow, it looks like one of those retro egg chairs - no recline LOL! I've flown Finnair long-haul a couple of times and always via Chicago. Seems I was able to catch it within season. Their lounge at HEL offers interesting goodies.
Currently they have entered into a wet-lease arrangement with oneworld partner Qantas and operate Qantas’ Sydney / Singapore and Sydney/Bangkok services - they are extremely popular as Finnair aircraft have a premium economy cabin on their A330 something Qantas does not have on their own metal - great video Patrick and I love their seat having flown on it to Tokyo - I asked about the breakfast option and they said it covers everyone’s “general” requests either the European cold cuts or more of the Western egg variations - ok I said
Interesting that the starters and the main were one 1 tray. I flew Finnair HEL-ORD in biz class a little over a year ago and they were separate courses, still on a tray tho. Unfortunately, my product was swapped to the old biz class product on the a350 after booking it in the new business class but it was still a great flight!
Enjoyed this video. I have noticed that some flight reviews done by others on different channels can be a bit whiny or overly jubilant. Your style is easier to listen to for the duration.
Appreciate the history, tysm! Edit: from a Finnish perspective, I feel like Finns don't know how to "do" luxury. From hotels to transportations, everything is sufficient enough on economy level but the more expensive options are not worth the money. A while ago some local opened a luxury hotel in the heart of Helsinki; it featured plastic plants in the spa, and sofabeds in the 6000€/night suite. 😅 So if anyone reading this is visiting us, I'd highly recommend not splurging on hotels or trainrides. The basic economy level is fine, you will not get your money's worth when upgrading. The cheapest room will have a minibar, tv, desk etc. and the ones above it might just have a few m2 of added space in higher floors.
The space needed to have all kinds of breakfast availble for passengers if you don't choose when you order your flight and there then make your choice of what you wanna eat
Well, now I know that I won't travel by plane until I have saved up enough to afford the business class at Finnair. This is pretty much exactly how I would like to travel. Just have to look up where they fly to and pick where to visit.
One of your best vlogs… I’m flying Finnair from London to Helsinki to Prague next month with the first flight on the A350 and the last in an A330 in Business Class. Oh and the European Entry Scheme has been pushed back again so EU stamps continue until further notice.
As a Helsinki resident, I detest what the airport has become! was once a unique nordic gem when once you landed you knew you had arrived home, to a now a soulless maze of corporate greed and long walks!
I flew finnair from dxb to hel last december, and it was on their old a330's in the business class layout, and I was surprisingly in a throne seat! The service was mid and so was the food, so I'll have to try out this product
I love the unique-ness of the seat. Still a fairly new design but it's so synonymous with Finnair at this point that an airline would have to do some real rebranding with it to make it their own
Nice review. I have not experienced this seat yet; however, looking at the bed setup, it reminds me of SQ's business class with the offset footwell (of course minus flipping the seatback into a bed). Do you think its similar?
Thank you for doing this. I have wondered about it for my needs uk/eu to asia and now its confirmed for me, never will i ever do their route. I am just done with all the nonsense designs for biz class alternative that amounts to flying caskets. I think the industry needs to go back in time to the mid 90's and start offering true business class versitality and services again. Chair lounger flat beds that are spacious enough for strangers to get around each other.
I‘m flying to BKK next year and I’m not exactly sure which airline to take. I’m based in FRA and I originally planned to fly with QR, because I really want to enjoy the QSuite experience. However, I’m afraid of getting Qatar’d, since QR seems to be only operating the 787-8 and 787-9 on the FRA-DOH leg at the moment. I don’t mind the 787-9, but the 787-8 would be a downgrade. This wouldn’t even be a problem, if I can enjoy the QSuite from DOH to BKK. But since they are also operating old 777 there, this could become a real nightmare for me being an introvert and 6’5“ (1.96m) tall. TL;DR: I‘m thinking about flying AY (FRA-HEL-BKK), because of the well-designed business class being available on all long-haul flights. Plus, there will be more time to sleep between HEL-BKK. I guess the experience with QR would be better overall (Service, on-board Menu, DOH Airport + Lounge,…). I mean, AY didn’t have wine or Champagne on the Menu or did I overlooked it on the menu you showed? Any thoughts?
Well personally, I’d choose based on when I booked it. Closer to departure you’ll have a better idea of aircraft for Qatar and can make a better bet on the Q Suites or not. If you get it, it’s the best business class out there for sure. That being said, Finnair was honestly incredible and I’d love to fly it again… plus they have the same product on all long hauls
Finnair still has excess capacity. They wet lease 2 A330s to Qantas for Sydney to Singapore and Bangkok services. After 2 and a half years the lease will be for the aircraft only for a further 2 years. The business class seat will certainly confuse regular Qantas passengers.
This makes me so happy that my upcoming Finnair flight is a codeshare with Qatar. Non reclining seat is a deal breaker for me. I spend most of the flight reclined, but not flat. For some reason your flat configuration looked shorter than with a reclining seat, so I suspect this was done to fit another row of business class instead of giving you more room. I agree with another comment here about how us here in the nordics do not really do luxury in a good way. Like SAS is the most atrocious business class I have tried. I felt robbed walking off the plane. If you are paying 4-7 times the regular price I feel the airline should make the experience feel special, but we do not do that in the nordic countries. Often a business ticket will only get you a reserved seat between you an the passenger in the same seat group when flying within Europe, meaning you are two in a three seat row. This is not good when you are paying a serious premium. So you get a bus seat and a newspaper for €800 and everyone else gets a bus seat an no newspaper for €150.
I have found out how polarizing these seats are since posting this video. Honestly I loved it and it became one of my favorite seats... it seems like half the people hate it however. To each their own I guess
@@PatrickSheaAviation One of the other reasons I dislike them is because when you have a totally flat bed that is not adjustable, because the plane does not fly completely flat, your head ends up being lower than your feet. I learned this in the old business class seats on the Singapore Airlines A380. There you could recline a bit, but for sleep they would fold the seat down into a lay flat bed. I found it hard falling asleep with the added blood pressure in my head.
@@anneofgreengables1619 Some people, on paid business travel, can't handle being away from their "home". For them, HAVING TO adapt to other nutrition, even for a very short while, is perceived as terror on their well-being. Living to a very strict timetable, their inner clock will let them know the dread of jetlag. Mixing these 2 aspects, unknown food and time warp, can throw them out of tune in mega unpleasant dimensions. Just check the vlogs of those self-appointed commercial aviation testers and one is wondering whether they are "playing up" for wanting of clicks or if they are spoiled humans, living out their tantrums. Any real adventurer wouldn't mind even standing up while flying, just for getting to some locations we were dreaming about as kids in the 1960, these "armchair brats" are taking for so granted.
@ Finnair used to have flight number AY666 from Amsterdam to Helsinki. You had to fly it the Friday the 13th. Now they don’t have that number anymore 😕 So flying from the Singapore to Helsinki is the only option 🥳
finnair is getting genuinely worse especially for economy class passengers on both western and eastern markets. the prices are way out of touch since the closure of russian airspace, so i would really prefer a layover in china or even paris and amsterdam instead of finnair long haul economy
Well, it is not because Finnair is getting more expensive because they want to... It is the elements of todays world that hits Finnair hard due to Finlands location.
Cost cutting all over the place - one tray service, no choice of appetisers, one option only for breakfast (“yes” or “no” lol). Replate all the food into economy trays and you won’t see the difference.
@@PatrickSheaAviation no pjamas, cheap amenity kits, no substantial snack items in between meals, the list goes on. I mean however you want to spin it offering just a single option for breakfast on a 14 hour flight is just sad. They have the exact same menu quantity for the return 14 hour day flights from asia (i.e BKK) - a single option (‘quiche’ for breakfast) then no food for 12 hours not even a substantial anytime snack option. I don’t know how that’s not called being cheap if your customers are starving.
@@turpasaunathat’s another cost cutting from last year I believe, they argued that passengers in economy don’t need it because they have the headrest - I kid you not that’s what they wrote in their marketing materials.
@@UKabroad1967 No no, I fully believe it. Finnish companies, private or public, pull this s**t everywhere. They justify the most stupid changes with the most laughable excuses when even a literal idiot can see it's just about cutting costs. Ps. Finnair no longer requires that its staff speaks any Finnish, so there goes the only reason for pensioners/elderly to fly with them. You know, the same group of people who've been their loyal customers for their whole lifes. 😂
My view on Finnair is that they are struggling with their business model, which was almost perfect just before 2022... but things have changed a lot for them. Not being able to fly over Russia hurts them a lot, more than most other European airlines, which is why we see them continually discounting these flights and cutting some services on these routes to preserve margins. Unfortunately, they are also hurt on their west flights due to sanctions against Russians (who were their major market), and due to SAS revival. I'm not saying Finnair risks to file for bankruptcy, but I doubt very much it makes sense for them to open new destinations. Current market conditions make no sense for them to expand.
They are definitely now in tough spot given the geopolitical situation. They had a good thing going that sustained them with the Asia routes, and now that's a lot more difficult.
I hear ya. That's part of the reason I see their growth happening in the West. Honestly even with the airspace issues, the Asian markets seem to remain lucrative for Finnair, so hopefully it doesn't screw them over too bad. I mean at the very least, they're one of the few carriers that isn't dumping all their East Asia routes at the moment. Maybe we will see a resurgence of Anchorage!
@@PatrickSheaAviation Without Russian market there is not enough constant traffic for Finnair on flights to the west, especially with SAS/LOT fairly aggressive pricing on NA routes, so my prediction is that they will remain in this survival mode for now without opening new destinations.
And all this right after Corona hurts a lot
All self inflicted wounds by Biden and other western war mongers.
Stunning golden hour views! Looking forward to fly with AY again in a few months!
100%!! Safe travels!
Finnair, which is one of the oldest carriers still operating, has taken the attitude of a low cost carrier in their service. What remains though, are the ticket prices of a legacy carrier.
Dude how havent i seen this channel before. At this point i look forward to all your reviews man. Keep up!
Thanks dude! ... I say dude
Another well done video. Informative and entertaining. Must try Finnair. Thanks Patrick.
Finnair is currently barely surviving. Not being able to fly over Russia was huge blow. It seems to have survived without a bankruptcy, but definitely struggling.
I still remember before war in Ukraine I often flew with FinnAir from Asia (Seoul, Singapore, etc). Helsinki Airport was so busy & very crowded at that time. So many passengers from Asia flew to European Cities via Helsinki with FinnAir. Things have changed since then. They have lost competitive advantages 😢😢😢
Interesting. It's definitely a challenge. Part of the reason so many carriers are shedding east asia routes
Yes they have to fly all the way around Russia now. I went to the non-EU area and it was way emptier than is supposed to be. Hopefully they can recover after the war.
new favorite airline YTer! I'm currently planning a trip from the US to HEL in J and came here to see how Finnair stacks up against the other cabins I've been looking at. keep up the good work! Love the narration.
Great content! Just to clarify and correct a little: Finnair’s new Schengen lounge opened for travelers only a few months ago, not last year. It surely was long awaited, though!
Thanks Patrick, great vlog as always and enjoy of what you do Patrick.
Thanks a ton!
So timely… I’ll be flying HEL-ICN in their lounge seat in exactly 4 weeks 😁.. thanks for the review
Awesome! It should be a great flight! Safe travels
the cone slide at 14:00 was clean tho
I used this seat in 2 flight from Bangkok. I very like this design. It also avoids the noise of conventional seats.
What I like about your videos is how informative they are. Also like the added historical backgrounds (I never knew the origins of the 'AY' code ; Never knew AY is 6th oldest airline...etc.). Unlike the other YT travel 'authors', where it seems to be ONLY all about videoing themselves and their contrived dramas.
Love to hear it! Thanks a ton man!
It's also one of the safest Airlines.
Favorite airline hands down. From Europe to Asia there is nobody else. You're going to need to connect somewhere, so why not Helsinki. Helsinki airport is a PLEASURE compared to any major European airport that you may connect through, such as London or Paris. Both are truly horrible. Love this seat. Also love the fact the Finnair partners with Marimekko and Ittala, two top Finnish designers, to give their hard product real Finnish identity. Food in Finnair business is usually very good. Service is always exceptional. If you are planning a trip in the near future, check to see if Finnair can get you there.
Well put! They've got a ton of great stuff going for them at Finnair, and I'd love to fly with them again!
Totally agree about the Helsinki airport. Not only is it quite beautiful, there's a Hilton within walking distance and great train service directly to the Helsinki central train station.
That Finnair glassware is iconic. It was introduced with Finnair’s first intercontinental service in 1969…HEL-CPH-AMS-JFK, and has endured all these years. The design is called Ultima Thule.
With the NY inauguration, Finnair assigned a specially trained hostess called the Finn Hostess. Probably akin to the Purser position on other airlines. The Finn Hostess wore a special uniform with a floor-length skirt, the design of which was changed annually.
Finnair took great pride in their first intercontinental offering.
The AMS and CPH stops lasted on some of their JFK flights well into the 1980s…with some nonstops, some 1-stops and some 2-stops.
I've stolen a whole set over the years that are in my cabinet as I type this..lol..sad but true.
Great stuff! I do love the stuff they've done specifically for that NY route since it's launch
When I saw your teaser on IG, I was like, "YESSSS, FINALLY! Patrick got to try Finnair's unique business class seat!" 🥳
Ha! Yeaaaa! It was a great time
I got to try it in 2019
I Love The Blueberry Juice Aboard And The Cabin.Great Video And Info
Thanks! The blueberry juice is definitely special!
Finnair looks amazing , those seats have a lot of good reviews . Certainly looks better than Lufthansa , thanks for the video.
Thanks! It's definitely one of, if not my favorite cabin in Europe at this point
@@PatrickSheaAviationIs it better than BA business class?
I enjoyed the seat on a recent trip to Helsinki from Dallas. Enjoyed the lounge after clearing customs out of the country. Great bartender with wonderful cocktails.
Awesome! I’ve heard their Dallas flights have CRAZY load factors!
Another wonderful vid. I really enjoy your journeys ✈️🌎.. And Finnair looks really good 👌
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
I flew on a Finnair A350 in one of those business class seats last year and I was initially confused about how to recline the seat. I was kinda shocked when a flight attendant told me it didn't recline but the length and roominess of the bed made the whole arrangement a no-brainer. I liked the seat. And ditto on asking Finnair to re-establish its SFO route.
WOW what a Smooth Landing ....
Respect to the pilots ....
I am just gonna say that I have had the smoothest landings always with finnair.
Yeah, I don't know what is the reason, that all finnair pilots have smoother landings then any other airline.
A350 in finnair paint scheme looks so sexy
YEAH LIKE A BAD PORN MOVIE SEXY GROSS
I'm a Finn who have never flown Finnair (shame on me) but the a350 is such an icon, and I always need myself this exact view of the wing and engine! Will need to take an AY business trip to HND or ICN
Hi Patrick, thank you for another Awesome flight report. I watch every of your reports.
I enjoyed Finnair Longhaul Business Class seat. I loved it as I just raised the leg rest to become a simple bed.
For European airlines, they only serve a simple breakfast before arrival. You were fortunate that the breakfast was not Continental Breakfast.
Looking forward to your next flight report.
Thanks man! I appreciate it! Breakfast still was tasty... even if it was the only option
Great report, thanks! One note 2:26: Actually you were leaving the passport-free Schengen zone, the EU and the Schengen zone are not 1:1. There are EU-member states who are outside the Schengen (Ireland, Cyprus) and non-EU countries who are in the Schengen (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland)
Before covid and Russia closing it's airspace, Asia was huge market for Finnair. Yes, there are many airlines who fly to Tokyo, Osaka, Soul, Beijing, Shanghai... But Finland had several unique destinations too. That made Finland great operator for Europeans, who were flying to Asian destinations.
It is always the best option to end your flights with the longest one, so flying from Helsinki to Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing or Xi'an, after a short hop inside Europe was suitable for many. It is very stressful to first fly a long flight, then spend some time in Asian large airport trying easily to find your next flight, lets say a domestic China flight. Not fun. Way easier to first fly to Helsinki, navigate through a smaller and simpler European airport, and then fly to your final destination. Not many, if any European airline offered flights to those cities in China. Atleast not in same manner as Finnair did.
Now the same business model benefits other airlines more, since through Finland it takes not a lot longer to fly to Asia, since Finnair has to fly so much longer routes to get around Russian air space.
It seems their China market hasn't fully recovered, but the rest of their Asian markets seem to be thriving again which is great to see. I guess we will see if it continues as things start to add up over time
HEL is my favorite transiting airport in Europe. It beats CDG, LHR, AMS, FRA by a mile.
AMS isn't terrible unless your connection is in/out of Schengen. HEL and AMS otherwise are both examples where you don't have any extra security checks. Basically like a domestic connection
but not FCO 🙂
Because it's a fraction of the size
It's interesting that SAS left the Star Alliance for Skyteam. Their flight from Copenhagen to Atlanta should provide them with connections to just about anywhere in the US via Delta
Star wasn't giving them any business. They didn't even codeshare with UA to the US.
It'll be intereting to see how it affects their profitability and load factors with different connecting itineraries now
@@PatrickSheaAviation Just read that the Atlanta flights have a 90% load factor, so if they can keep that up it will be good for them.
Another fantastic video. I love a simple sleek cabin.
Totally! Thanks!
I flew Finnair in the opposite direction, from Seoul to Helsinki, a few weeks ago.
That route goes over the top of Russia rather than under it. It was a 13 hours 40 minute flight, and it was a bit surreal flying in the opposite direction so we could fly over the Bering Strait between Russia and the USA.
We got a certificate and a sticker at the end to say we'd flown over the North Pole, which was a nice touch.
Qantas currently wet lease a number of their aircraft for flights from south east Asia to Sydney and Brisbane. I did hear that Finnair was thinking of adding some kind of flight to Australia via an Asian destination as Finnair is quite popular with Australians as they offer good deals into Europe.
That would be really interesting to see. I'm pretty sure that's similar to what they've got going on with Qatar
Not BNE, only SYD sees these Finnair Aircraft.
😂 Hahaha! Thank you for sharing you trip here. Your meal selections looked nice and yes, I notice on the breakfast service there was no tray table white lining service. Also, I heard your comments as the bed was set up. Me, being 6'2" with big feet I wonder how I would feel! Hmm! Well, I am glad you could see how the bedding was made. Thanks and fly safe.😊
We Australians want to see Finnair expand into our neighbourhood. Using Singapore as a short stopover/hub. We note Qantas is using a couple of leased aircraft and crew on a short contract. Proving very popular it seems!
One can hope! Would be great to see them reach Australia with the new Qantas deal
@@PatrickSheaAviation Qantas has 2x A330 on wet-lease that are used SYD-SIN / SYD-BKK, I flew on these in May and they have the lounge seat exactly as shown in the video. The wet-lease is only until the end of 2025 but then they go to a dry lease out to 2028.
such a great video you've made, thank you Patrick.
Thanks man!
Thank you for this review. This seat is so innovative. No competitor today offers seats that don't recline in business class. This is unique.
You also have a headrest made of spongy fabric that can collect residue from the previous passenger's greasy scalp. And when in bed position, your head is right where the rear end of the previous passenger was. No other airline connects you so closely to the bottom of their other customers.
Also, I can't believe how much space you have for your feet (23:49). I want the same "feet box" at home because I love the feeling of being locked in place.
This is really amazing. Congratulations to Finnair, they really did think out of the box to create this fantastic seat. Many reviewers have said that this is the best business class seat in the world, and I am now convinced that it is true.
The video is so chill and relaxing.
Recently travelled their economy….became a fan of their seats and entertainment system 🎉
I've been wondering about this seat. Thank you for this detailed review.
Awesome! Thanks! Glad you liked it
31:01, Yes, but the improvement is to install universal power outlet and air vent on Airbus A350-900's economy class, in order to be the best airline in Finland in economy class, they don't install universal power outlet, which is a bummer and no air vent, making the cabin quite warm on a long haul flight. Even China Southern, Airbus A350-900's economy class also don't have universal power outlet, which is a bummer, but still a good airline to fly besides AIr China and Hainan.
33:52, I agree with you, Finnair needs to resume flights to some places, including San Francisco.
Nice rythym and quality in Your video. 👍
Qantas have wet leashed 2 Finnair A330’s for routes between Syd to BKK and SIN. I have flown the route a few times. It’s a Finnair Asian based cabin crew. Great service. I have always been a Finnair fanboy since being located in Singapore for many years.
Great review, so thorough and complete. Add a little more of yourself in the video.
I've had the opportunity to fly several with Finnair between HEL and Asia. Globally the seat in business class is good. But i should point out that the stange shape of the lie flat area can be tricky, depending how you sleep, on your left or right side, with your leg squeezed against the sides. You just need to find the right position.
It took me a minute to find the right angle to lie at, but granted once I found it I loved it
Looking forward to trying the seats in Jan as part of Qantas wet-lease agreement with Finnair
Nice! Should be a great flight!
I used them this weekend from London. They do a flight each way each day on the A350, that I used for the return flight. I'm not sure I'd like it for long haul without being able to recline as I don't want to be upright or lay flat. Service was superb in both directions.
That London service is a GREAT way to try out this product (and some world class lounges)
They have a new lounge, before immigration not sure you visited, as well Plat ones with sit down meals on the Int'l side
The lounge is after you clear customs out of Finland. Non-schengen I believe. We went to the other lounge and we're directed to the non-schengen lounge.
They’re pretty strict about non-Schengen passengers going to the one after security but I HAVE heard good things about that lounge for sure
I flew Finnair Business Class from Heathrow to Rome a year and a half ago. It was an A320. It was the first several rows and all they did is take regular economy rows and block off the middle one on each side. The food service was good though.
Sounds like the classic European business class… makes north America’s regional business class look like emirates lol
That's what the call business class on domestic European flights
Wow, it looks like one of those retro egg chairs - no recline LOL! I've flown Finnair long-haul a couple of times and always via Chicago. Seems I was able to catch it within season. Their lounge at HEL offers interesting goodies.
Those US routes are great... I just haven't found them at a price that was worth it just yet. Hopefully soon enough
Love your videos. Keep it up 🙂
Currently they have entered into a wet-lease arrangement with oneworld partner Qantas and operate Qantas’ Sydney / Singapore and Sydney/Bangkok services - they are extremely popular as Finnair aircraft have a premium economy cabin on their A330 something Qantas does not have on their own metal - great video Patrick and I love their seat having flown on it to Tokyo - I asked about the breakfast option and they said it covers everyone’s “general” requests either the European cold cuts or more of the Western egg variations - ok I said
Finnair is also one of the safest airlines in the world! However I miss the good old days of DC8, DC9, DC10, MD80 and MD11...
I'm going to Finnair myself to Peru on Friday. A mix of Finnair, Iberia, LATAM (local flight in Peru).
I can't wait to try this seat, im flying it Singapore to Budapest
Awesome! Enjoy!
That plane off to the side at 31:48 is bizarre. Looks like a mash up of a DC 10 and a 747
Is the new MD-11-8i SP
That must be just an empty frame, used to training for airport security and fire department.
@@RoyalMela Sounds just about right
wonderful flight review.This no recline seat surely is a bit strange feature in their business class
Honestly it sketched me out, but it's surprisingly comfortable the whole flight to the point that I never found myself wanting more recline
Interesting that the starters and the main were one 1 tray. I flew Finnair HEL-ORD in biz class a little over a year ago and they were separate courses, still on a tray tho. Unfortunately, my product was swapped to the old biz class product on the a350 after booking it in the new business class but it was still a great flight!
That’s interesting about the food for sure. I wonder what variable they’re using for it, or if it’s up to the crew 🤷♂️
Enjoyed this video. I have noticed that some flight reviews done by others on different channels can be a bit whiny or overly jubilant. Your style is easier to listen to for the duration.
2:37 they delayed the digital passport stamps indefinitely since Germany, France and Netherlands needed more time to set up the system.
Appreciate the history, tysm! Edit: from a Finnish perspective, I feel like Finns don't know how to "do" luxury. From hotels to transportations, everything is sufficient enough on economy level but the more expensive options are not worth the money. A while ago some local opened a luxury hotel in the heart of Helsinki; it featured plastic plants in the spa, and sofabeds in the 6000€/night suite. 😅 So if anyone reading this is visiting us, I'd highly recommend not splurging on hotels or trainrides. The basic economy level is fine, you will not get your money's worth when upgrading. The cheapest room will have a minibar, tv, desk etc. and the ones above it might just have a few m2 of added space in higher floors.
Ha, well put and fun input! Thanks a ton!
Comfortable is the key word. We Finnish don’t care about gold. It’s tacky.
Can’t I just stay in an Ikea store? 😂
The space needed to have all kinds of breakfast availble for passengers if you don't choose when you order your flight and there then make your choice of what you wanna eat
Well, now I know that I won't travel by plane until I have saved up enough to afford the business class at Finnair. This is pretty much exactly how I would like to travel. Just have to look up where they fly to and pick where to visit.
👍💯See you there✔👍👍 Great upload Thanks for sharing great filmed there my friend, big thumbs up👍👋
Thanks! Glad you liked it!
Very impressed. Amenity kits are a huge waste because I believe many would end up in the bin. The cabin exudes style and looked immaculate.
I personally love amenity kits and re-use them all the time, but I could be in the minority with that
One of your best vlogs… I’m flying Finnair from London to Helsinki to Prague next month with the first flight on the A350 and the last in an A330 in Business Class. Oh and the European Entry Scheme has been pushed back again so EU stamps continue until further notice.
Enjoy the flight man! And cheers to more passport stamps!
The Blueberry Rooibos tea is a South African tea. Rooibos meaning red bush in the Afrikaans language.
Great info
As a Helsinki resident, I detest what the airport has become! was once a unique nordic gem when once you landed you knew you had arrived home, to a now a soulless maze of corporate greed and long walks!
Interesting. I thought it was a very welcoming environment, but to be fair this was my first time there
Àgreed. They've ruined it & turned it into a shopping mall. I miss the old style 😢
@@PatrickSheaAviationit has changed a lot in the last 10 years.
I am a complete sucker. I am so hooked with these new camera views and satellite views that I don’t watch movies anymore 🙄
lol it really is the best inflight entertainment
You should try the Finnair lounge in Stockholm
I flew finnair from dxb to hel last december, and it was on their old a330's in the business class layout, and I was surprisingly in a throne seat! The service was mid and so was the food, so I'll have to try out this product
Dang that sucks! You definitely gotta give it another shot and see what you think!
thanks for sharing greetings from the netherlands
Thanks!
10:59 Yaaaasss!
One of your best Patrick. I think the AY new business seat is a fantastic innovation.
Wasn't impressed at all when i flew it and notice no airline is copying it.
I love the unique-ness of the seat. Still a fairly new design but it's so synonymous with Finnair at this point that an airline would have to do some real rebranding with it to make it their own
Another banger trip report! Absolutely hope to do this myself one day!
Thanks bro!
Try Air India JFK Delhi A350
lol, I thought they gave a sleeping option just by sitting. I was a bit perplexed.
How many hours did you sleep on the plane and how's your trip to Seoul, did you enjoy your trip, even though it's rainy?
Nice review. I have not experienced this seat yet; however, looking at the bed setup, it reminds me of SQ's business class with the offset footwell (of course minus flipping the seatback into a bed). Do you think its similar?
Its been a while since I flew with SQ, but it's a similar feel when sleeping
Thank you for doing this. I have wondered about it for my needs uk/eu to asia and now its confirmed for me, never will i ever do their route. I am just done with all the nonsense designs for biz class alternative that amounts to flying caskets. I think the industry needs to go back in time to the mid 90's and start offering true business class versitality and services again. Chair lounger flat beds that are spacious enough for strangers to get around each other.
Video Perfecto 👌gracias .
Thanks g!
If I plan my outfit correctly I could match a Finnair plane while flying on it 😂
I‘m flying to BKK next year and I’m not exactly sure which airline to take. I’m based in FRA and I originally planned to fly with QR, because I really want to enjoy the QSuite experience. However, I’m afraid of getting Qatar’d, since QR seems to be only operating the 787-8 and 787-9 on the FRA-DOH leg at the moment. I don’t mind the 787-9, but the 787-8 would be a downgrade. This wouldn’t even be a problem, if I can enjoy the QSuite from DOH to BKK. But since they are also operating old 777 there, this could become a real nightmare for me being an introvert and 6’5“ (1.96m) tall.
TL;DR: I‘m thinking about flying AY (FRA-HEL-BKK), because of the well-designed business class being available on all long-haul flights. Plus, there will be more time to sleep between HEL-BKK. I guess the experience with QR would be better overall (Service, on-board Menu, DOH Airport + Lounge,…). I mean, AY didn’t have wine or Champagne on the Menu or did I overlooked it on the menu you showed?
Any thoughts?
Well personally, I’d choose based on when I booked it. Closer to departure you’ll have a better idea of aircraft for Qatar and can make a better bet on the Q Suites or not. If you get it, it’s the best business class out there for sure. That being said, Finnair was honestly incredible and I’d love to fly it again… plus they have the same product on all long hauls
Finnair still has excess capacity. They wet lease 2 A330s to Qantas for Sydney to Singapore and Bangkok services. After 2 and a half years the lease will be for the aircraft only for a further 2 years.
The business class seat will certainly confuse regular Qantas passengers.
Ha! It'll be a happy surprise for QF pax hopefully at least!
Finnair is now the 5th oldest airline after Czech Airlines flew its last flight!
Oh, Czech Airlines is done ?
This makes me so happy that my upcoming Finnair flight is a codeshare with Qatar. Non reclining seat is a deal breaker for me. I spend most of the flight reclined, but not flat. For some reason your flat configuration looked shorter than with a reclining seat, so I suspect this was done to fit another row of business class instead of giving you more room. I agree with another comment here about how us here in the nordics do not really do luxury in a good way. Like SAS is the most atrocious business class I have tried. I felt robbed walking off the plane. If you are paying 4-7 times the regular price I feel the airline should make the experience feel special, but we do not do that in the nordic countries. Often a business ticket will only get you a reserved seat between you an the passenger in the same seat group when flying within Europe, meaning you are two in a three seat row. This is not good when you are paying a serious premium. So you get a bus seat and a newspaper for €800 and everyone else gets a bus seat an no newspaper for €150.
I have found out how polarizing these seats are since posting this video. Honestly I loved it and it became one of my favorite seats... it seems like half the people hate it however. To each their own I guess
@@PatrickSheaAviation One of the other reasons I dislike them is because when you have a totally flat bed that is not adjustable, because the plane does not fly completely flat, your head ends up being lower than your feet. I learned this in the old business class seats on the Singapore Airlines A380. There you could recline a bit, but for sleep they would fold the seat down into a lay flat bed. I found it hard falling asleep with the added blood pressure in my head.
You were going to Korea and there wasn’t any Korean food on the menu???? 😮😮😮
Definitely interesting....
There is a shortage of dog meat at the moment. I correct that: It should read dog food.
It's a Finnish carrier. Why would they serve Korean food? You can eat that when you get to Korea.
@@anneofgreengables1619 Some people, on paid business travel, can't handle being away from their "home". For them, HAVING TO adapt to other nutrition, even for a very short while, is perceived as terror on their well-being. Living to a very strict timetable, their inner clock will let them know the dread of jetlag. Mixing these 2 aspects, unknown food and time warp, can throw them out of tune in mega unpleasant dimensions. Just check the vlogs of those self-appointed commercial aviation testers and one is wondering whether they are "playing up" for wanting of clicks or if they are spoiled humans, living out their tantrums. Any real adventurer wouldn't mind even standing up while flying, just for getting to some locations we were dreaming about as kids in the 1960, these "armchair brats" are taking for so granted.
Every airline that I fly has a menu item of the destination country.
I need to fly from HEL to SIN and SIN to HEL ❤
"SIN to HEL" sounds like a Catholic dogma.
@ Finnair used to have flight number AY666 from Amsterdam to Helsinki. You had to fly it the Friday the 13th. Now they don’t have that number anymore 😕 So flying from the Singapore to Helsinki is the only option 🥳
wow, definitely very unique among business class products. the design looks very sleek and clean, makes me want to try this out someday
Totally! Definitely worth trying out if you find it at the right price
Ibera Express does the same.
finnair is getting genuinely worse especially for economy class passengers on both western and eastern markets. the prices are way out of touch since the closure of russian airspace, so i would really prefer a layover in china or even paris and amsterdam instead of finnair long haul economy
Well, it is not because Finnair is getting more expensive because they want to... It is the elements of todays world that hits Finnair hard due to Finlands location.
That is interesting considering the asian routes in business class are MUCH lower than the other (unaffected) routes
Is that a boeing 747 trijet at 31:50 !?!?!
Empty frame for all airport trainings.
Yep. Used largely for fire fighting training
Finnair is a great airline, even in economy. And I love - L O V E - Helsinki airport.
Totally! I loved it!
What’s the military jet seen at 31:49??
Just an empty frame for all kinds of airport training.
How did you find the A350s with the most usage?
There's a bunch of public data out there, and previous reports, especially by aviation outlets
Review was great. You could kill that music though….
Why does not Virgin use this seat, with their colors?
That would be interesting to see to replace the weird seats in their 787s. Virgin's A350s honestly have a good looking cabin already in my opinion
Cost cutting all over the place - one tray service, no choice of appetisers, one option only for breakfast (“yes” or “no” lol). Replate all the food into economy trays and you won’t see the difference.
Idk. I mean the meal services were a bit of a bummer, but other than that there wasn't many cost cutting signs
@@PatrickSheaAviation no pjamas, cheap amenity kits, no substantial snack items in between meals, the list goes on. I mean however you want to spin it offering just a single option for breakfast on a 14 hour flight is just sad. They have the exact same menu quantity for the return 14 hour day flights from asia (i.e BKK) - a single option (‘quiche’ for breakfast) then no food for 12 hours not even a substantial anytime snack option. I don’t know how that’s not called being cheap if your customers are starving.
Also no pillows on economy. 🥲 Guess how I found out...
@@turpasaunathat’s another cost cutting from last year I believe, they argued that passengers in economy don’t need it because they have the headrest - I kid you not that’s what they wrote in their marketing materials.
@@UKabroad1967 No no, I fully believe it. Finnish companies, private or public, pull this s**t everywhere. They justify the most stupid changes with the most laughable excuses when even a literal idiot can see it's just about cutting costs. Ps. Finnair no longer requires that its staff speaks any Finnish, so there goes the only reason for pensioners/elderly to fly with them. You know, the same group of people who've been their loyal customers for their whole lifes. 😂
I’d hate that. I like the seat to be almost lie flat, but at an angle. And no recline? No thanks
Idk. I do too, but leaning against the seat shell I was plenty comfy when I wasnt asleep
"pre-depature piss?" Dude, find a better word for it. LOL.
Great video. I love the seat. Very cool design.