@@MattsPlanet Wirkkala was one of the Finnish design's golden age's great ones. E.g. in 1951 Triennale Milano he won Grand Prix in glass works, veneer items and exhibit display. His wooden dish made out of aircraft plywood was titled as the world's most beautiful item in 1954. A video on that: "Object of the Day: Dishes designed by Tapio Wirkkala". Here's a documentary of him and his works: "The World of Tapio Wirkkala".
I've flown Finnair a lot, these seats are great as beds - if you can get over the idea of putting your face where thousands of hours of farts have been deposited - but as a seat there is no lumbar support, it's lousy for eating, the 3 point belt throttles me on takeoff and landing, and the logic of putting a sharp metal death-lamp right where your head should go ... as seen at 08:48? Whoever designed that is a weapons grade idiot.
I've been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. Shame you had so little sleep before. No matter what class you're flying, being tired at an airport is never a fun experience. That being said, what a seat to collapse into, absolutely love the look of it. And I must say I like how narrow the entrance to the seat is, makes it like a little den to hide away in, would love to try it one day. I thought your dinner looked incredible too! Cheers Mate
A den is a good description actually - with the cushions you can also make a sort of fort, like you may have done as a kid!!! Steve's adventures in Finland next??? Helsinki pub crawl??? Take out an extra mortgage if you try it....
For me, this is my best Business-class seat; the bed part is basically a 1st class bed in terms of space and the fact the sleeping surface is completely flat with no lumps or dips. The seat also feels so cosy, and I think the padding all around helps make the cabin feel so quiet that it always feels like you are the only one there. Glad Finnair took the risk with adding this.
I appreciate that many flight reviewers mention their height lately in their videos. This gives me a good sense and awareness of what to expect in these seats when in lie flat position.
Thanks so much for this great video. We booked Finnair and these seats on Friday and I was a little nervous but your video has helped me look forward to it now!
Thank you Matt - this is the first video I have seen which really demonstrates and explains the seat - thanks. Better than Q-Suite - wow. Hope you are keeping well.
It took a while to script this one and I hope I got across the pros and cons. I really like the Qsuite but find it a little claustrophobic when the door is closed. The difference is 9.7 out of 10 versus 9.8 out of 10!!!
@@MattsPlanetfirst world problems 🤣🤣. With you on Q-Suite over hype - although had pleasure of flying their Double Suite on overnight flight from ICN with my wife recently and found that a great product (not referring to my wife btw 😂😂)
I flew Finnair business for the first time yesterday SEA-HEL. I loved it, being 6ft 5 I had heaps of room. The blueberry juice is the cherry on the cake (as are the chocolates to be fair).
Last week whilst returning from the Baltics, had the nice surprise of an op-upgrade at the gate on the HEL-LHR route which operates the A350, due to an oversold econ/PE cabin. Lovely comfortable seat (kind of made me wish that flight was longer than 2h30!)
Great video and great review, Matt! I agree with your evaluation. I flew AY's new business class last year from both DFW and BKK to HEL. It's quite unusual in the beginning and takes a while to convince oneself to get used to the different way of sitting/lounging/chilling. But it's been two fantastic flight experiences - also because of the service, the food, and the delicious blueberry juice! I'm applauding you for stressing the importance of the pillows/cushions that come with the seat. Without them, the seat would be a potentially backaching nightmare for such a long flight. But then again, there is rarely a couch that is comfy without a few cushions ... crazy how such a minor item can make a flight a yay or nay. Chapeau to Finnair for being so adventurous, progressive and courageous and try something so out of the box!
I think I say in the video that people who fly this seat between London and Helsinki probably don't have long enough to get through that "get to know you" phase!
Another great video Matt, thanks for sharing. I know I’ve mentioned it before but I’m still going to be cheeky and say I really hope you’ll reconsider and film a video on the multi partner redemption for this trip. All the best and looking forward to the next sector!
Excellent report, and well explained. I tried it on an HEL-LHR and also didn’t really know what I was getting into. However the moment I began ‘lounging’, I instantly understood it. Can’t wait to try it on long haul!
Hi Matt, Great review!! The seat looks very " let's get comfortable and do some flying". I love how they did not follow the masses in opting for an off the shelf seat, but created a new experience. Rare these days, Stay well, Thomas
Indeed - its brave of them to have gone their own way and it seems like its paying off.... Still waiting for the next airline to adopt this seat to prove it is a winner!
Matt, I snagged a great deal OSL HEL BKK return next year on Finnair in business class. Thanks for your ever thorough review of what's in store. Can't wait to try out the seat and I have sufficient connection time at HEL to do the Platinum Wing justice.
Great video as always Matt and completely agree with your assessment of the seat! It’s such a great place to relax on a long flight. I’ve got to challenge that point that no in flight breakfast has ever been outstanding though; I’d generally agree, but the French toast that Finnair served me on my flight back from Doha was absolutely delicious!
I am booked to fly on finnair next April from Bangkok to Helsinki. Thanks for the thumbs, good to know as this will be the first time I've flown business class. It's a 70th birthday present to me from me 😅 I am flying on a codeshare route from Sydney to Barcelona with a very long 14-hour layover in Bangkok, where I've booked accommodation.
I can think of no better person to spend your money on - well done and have a great trip! 14 hours is long enough to get into BKK or are you going to stay at the airport? Very nice Novotel there if you decide to stay there
@MattsPlanet Thank you. I am very excited about my travels next year. I am booked to stay at the Phoenix Hotel, Bangkok airport, and on the way back, I have an overnight layover in Helsinki, so I am staying at the Comfort Hotel. 💃💃💃
@@aigidh My advice to a first-timer is that its a marathon not a sprint.... Its tempting (and easy!) to go crazy in the lounge which can mean you sleep through a lot of the flight. Striking a balance between lounge and plane is the key, and if in doubt save it for the plane as you'll be on it for a lot longer than you'll be in the lounge.... And this goes for food and drinks.... Except overnight flights back - if there's an arrival lounge the food will almost certainly be better in the lounge than it is on the plane!
Nice video Matt! I'm a big fan of flying with Finnair, I've only flown the older product in the A330/A350s but I have a flight from Helsinki to Singapore in this business class, I'm looking forward to trying it out! - Tyler
@@MattsPlanet The old A350 seats were always a pleasure on my LHR-HEL flights, the A330 I was on appeared a little dated and tired, but still ideal on the HEL-LHR flight I did.
Flew FA end of 2019 to Asia and really enjoyed the service and food in business class. It was the cheapest option on that particular route with bonus they fly from EDI which is my start point. I look forward to trying that seat next time out to Asia. Great review 👍🏻
Great video Matt. I agree it's an awesome seat and is amazing for sleeping. The only issue I had recently on a flight from BKK-HEL was the cabin being incredibly hot (1st row middle seats).
Great review Matt, and high praise indeed for this seat. It looks like a much improved version of the Singapore Airlines long haul seat (wide, straight backed, with offset foot cubby). Wouldn’t mind a little trip to Helsinki, Tallin and surrounds so will see if I can give it a try in or out of LHR. Also, I reckon you picked the right time of day to visit that lounge in Delhi - I was there last year to catch the late evening SQ flight and I was anything but encalmed. Was still preferable to the Air India lounge though…
Thanks Nick. That older Singapore seat has a traditional back and flips forward to convert so is actually really rather different. Very easy and pleasant to get a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn so you can cover both easily in one trip.
I'd missed this video when it first came out but followed the link from your recent Oman visit and glad I did. Another entertaining review and looking forward to my HEL-HND on Finnair later in the year. Could those have been boysenberries in the G&T?
Thank you for this terrific and useful review. I've been both intrigued but baffled by this product and your video seems to have explained it well. Thumbs up for Roku gin ! I have noticed some incredibly cheap deals in recent months involving Finnair business class to Bangkok. All quite cheap but also depending where you position from.
@@MattsPlanet By the way I noticed the other day from Flightconnections, that BA have resumed BKK service with Gatwick 777s on a partial week basis. Must be brutal in economy. At least on ( LHR ) Thai Airways flights I believe their 777s are still 9 abreast. A nice way is with EVA's PE class, which used to be affordable and might at least become more reasonable since BA has returned to BKK.
I can agree with all your points. I tried this seat on a 12-hour flight and it was surprisingly enjoyable, only thing I would add is a proper headrest. I know you are supposed to use the pillows for that, but I would prefer a fixed headrest that doesn't fall down when you are moving around.
For Australian and Kiwi viewers, or those based in that part of the world, Qantas have wetleased x4 A330 configured like this and serve SYD-SIN and SYD-BKK - with AY crew but serve food/pjs/amenities from Qantas.
Thanks for that - I had seen reports of people being a bit surprised (and ultimately delighted!!!) about turning up for a QF flight and finding one of these parked at the gate!
I recently flew with Finnair from LAX to HEL as part of a tier point run from and to Madrid. Like you I was really impressed with the seat and found it very comfortable to lounge in but can also understand why it’s very much a marmite arrangement.
This is a seat that I have a lot of questions about and likely wont have them fully answered until I fly in it at some point! I'm 100% in the lounging category when flying and like the ability to adjust, so that's my big worry. Looked like a great flight and Finnair are defo on my "to do" list - thanks for another great review.
Even spending hours and hours finessing this script, you still can't really describe it properly. It really needs to get the personal bum test to understand what I mean!
I’ve had the privilege of flying this seat from Bangkok to London a few times now. I love it. The Bangkok based crew are always fantastic too. Only problem is the Bangkok flight got retimed this year so you don’t get to join a long haul sized connection down to London anymore (unless you fancy waiting 15+ hours overnight in a very closed Helsinki airport 😆).
Sorry, I have to argue the "no breakfast served on a plane" thing. Back in the 90's BMI had a great full English/Irish on the LHR-DUB-LHR route up front, the one in the back was a good version. It's good to see that there is plenty of foot room, as someone of very similar size, there have been plenty of times where it would have been easier and more comfortable to just have my feet removed at the door. As someone who owns a Lovesac couch (is that a thing in the UK?), the seat reminds me of it a lot, though the padding on a Lovesac is way way WAY better, I actually wish a seat manufacturer would team up with Lovesac, making it the most comfortable seat in the air.
Never had the experience of a BMI full English so I would be happy to be corrected! As this seat is so good, hopefully other airlines will look to go that way - time to buy shares in Lovesac!!!
Looks very Scandanavian efficiency and minimalist design👌. Looks like even I would find the foot cubby acceptable😂 Oppenheimer is really great. Watched it recently on an Emirates flight from Johannesburg to Riyadh😊🇿🇦💚
Cheers Peet. Diverting into film criticism, Oppenheimer really held my attention but I kind of forgot what the story was that was underpinning it all.... Seemed a little contrived but I think I need to watch it again to work it all out.
Hi Matt, great content and very interesting description. looking at the cost of finnair for the occasional traveller the costs are quite expensive compared to other business class seats when booking without avios etc...
Not sure when or if I would ever be able to try out those seats, but they look nice. I am not as tall as you, but I think I'm wider - and don't comfortably fit in most business class seats in lie flat mode. My shoulders are too wide and my feet don't fit in the cubby hole. Good info and as always, safe travels.
I flew this seat last summer and agree, it is a truly groundbreaking seat and just feels so spacious and comfy while somehow being minimalist. Just a shame finnair have taken unbundling to the extreme with business class - I almost booked with them to Japan this year but after seat selection and hold luggage fees it added a huge amount of unexpected cost onto the ticket and I went for etihad which is all in instead.
6:48 Their blueberry juice is hands down the best drink I've had in my life. (and it was complimentary in short haul economy between London and Helsinki, I spent a while trying to see if I could buy it here)
That's a big statement!!! The Hennessy Paradis cognac I had on Emirates in First Class recently was quite nice!!!! That video will be along in a few weeks....
I guess I don't tend to drink alcohol as much these days, especially when flying (I get dehydrated very easily and get headaches) and Im not a whiskey lover or wine connoisseur, but as far as soft drinks go, I cannot think of any airline where I've had a better juice or mocktail!
Wonderful review as always, thank you Matt and I hope this finds you well. I was a tad, nay, VERY surprised that you opted for three, YES three softies, instead of bubbles or cognac. Did you see your GP about this on your return???? The Finnair seat/suite does look out of the norm yet you have sold it to all watching this I fear, because as you mention to another commentator, this will drive up the prices. But you have done your bit, so rest easy. How would this flight fall into a tier point run would you say, and more importantly, when was this filmed? I know it is Finland but there was snow on the ground and we are in July! lol Keep 'em coming and stay safe.
Cheers Olly. Doing good! I really did feel rough at the start of this and "hair of the dog" has never really worked for me! You can work this into a West Coast tier point run by adding HEL-JFK - although you have to be aware of the maximum permitted mileage so its not always simple to do so... Heading East is always tricky to incorporate these flights into runs as the cash fare is high and its tricky to add lots of hops. This was filmed in very late April
We tried this from Doha to Stockholm; having repositioned (on your advice) on our way to and from London-Auckland. Loved the seat and it was excellent. As with you, we found the service a bit wooden; and that, as well as food and drink, are not as good a Qatar or Emirates. But still v good and v good value.
I've read in other travel sites ( sorry Matt for not being loyal 😀) some people complaining about these seats because when sleeping or lying your head is in the approximation of the previous passenger rear end. Personally, I think it looked really comfortable would try it in a minute. Also, that main course you had looked wonderful.
People have worked hard to come up with that complaint!! Technically its true, but there's a mattress topper and a pillow (or two) separating you so I'm not going to worry
I was looking at Finnair as a potential option because BA cancelled a couple of my upcoming flights yesterday (one to DOH and one to KUL). On paper, they initially look good, but in reality after some digging, I find out that I need to pay for checked bags in Business Class (between £62 and £92 depending on weight from memory). In addition, the lack of amenities, suite door etc allows me to understand why the tickets are cheaper. I cannot fault them on the number of tier points available though and this is the only advantage I can see (for me anyway).
Those KUL cancellations are a bit of a pain... If you are rebooked by BA the bag fees should be irrelevant as they'll rebook like for like.... I wouldn't place any value on there not being a sliding door....
Never actually flown on a Finnair flight, but had one of the wet leases that BA hired on a flight to Rome from LHR, and found the service very good. Loved the FA outfits, with their white gloves. All felt very scandi On the topic of the Japanese airlines, I've flown ANA's 'the room' which was incredible, imo significantly better than the Qsuite. Have never flown this finnair suite though so can't comment on that. Nor have I flown in JAL's new J seat
As I say in the video, I really need to get to Japan. Probably twice actually as JAL and ANA are both highly rated... When I run out of seats to sit in I run out of videos to make so I'm not too bothered that I haven't flown these yet!
I love a formal wingback armchair and I bet I'd love this seat. I sit in the former with feet on the chair and my back against one of the wings and I'm guessing I could achieve a similar position in the Finnair Business class seat.
@@MattsPlanet thanks Matt for the update - we have booked seats on the same side you sat for the best views. Looking forward to our flight. BTW - keep up the great work, love the vids.
I was hoping to check that seat out flying Finnair from Dubai to London via Helsinki in December - but neither of A350s I was on were equipped with it. Other than that, I thought the Finnair experience was pretty average. The crews were OK, but very hands off - dinner took well over an hour to arrive on leaving Dubai (at midnight), and nothing could be served for an hour and a half before landing in London, for no very obvious reason. But I do hope to try out that seat sometime, and perhaps have a better crew experience too.
Thanks. I know Finnair operated a Euro service on the flights from Dubai for a while - I don't know if your trip coincided with that as it was widely regarded as being quite poor....
Another great video! I dislike many business class lie flats (especially the BA 2-3-2 ones, (that middle seat where u have to climb over the person next to you 🙈) this seat looks intriguing but is it soft? Else looks like a hard bench with zero incline/recline options
Good question - it is firm... There is some gentle give to the back of the seat but the base that becomes the bed is firm. That matress topper is essential to giving some comfort when lying down
@@MattsPlanet so you need to get up to make the bed, like the old virgin upper class seats, i like to doze off while holding down the lie flat button 😜
It may take less! But I couldn't really work out how to position myself to be comfortable - the seat is so wide you can position in 100 different ways.... When I worked out that the 2 cushions need to from a sort of pyramid shape behind you to support the back then it sank into the seat and loved
FWIW Matt, my experience connecting in Delhi (and also Mumbai) matches yours, and that was on Star Alliance (Lufthansa & Swiss connecting with Thai). Lounges (quality, access & overcrowding) plus friction with transit visas is enough to encourage me not to transit in Delhi or Mumbai in future. I'm going to beg to differ on the seat! On the plus side, it's excellent for sleeping, and really spacious for a biz seat. On the downside, I found it really uncomfortable when sitting, and after a long flight I ended up with lower back ache for a couple of weeks afterwards on two occasions on trips to and from TYO. The problem is that I couldn't find a comfortable way to sit straight in front of the table and screen. The "shimmy" thing is most certainly going to be a problem for the mobility impaired. It was difficult enough for me, such that with that and the back ache, I'll make efforts to avoid in future. Regarding food on Finnair, I've been singularly and universally unimpressed, so much so that I resorted to taking my own food on recent flights. Propping up the Platinum bar in HEL glugging down their local gin is a worthy pastime though.
Just booked up with Avios to Japan and back from Amsterdam. Way less cost and what I feel is a way better hard product than BA. Helsinki is a beautiful example of Finnish design. Tip. Book award seats as separate one way tickets for better choice. Cost us the same.
There's something a bit minimalistic about Finnair's aesthetic, similar to that of SAS. Planning my next Europe trip again (to buy more records!) and I might actually step inside a Finnair plane :)
Really nice video! - I have to say I liked the old seat better - somehow I feel i get "twisted" in this new seat. I dont know maybe I need more practice - too bad out of points aaaand out of €€ xD
Never tried Business Class (not counting inter European short haul planes), so I'm looking forward to next year to give it a go. Luckily a couple of Japan holidays in Premium Economy is enough to get sufficient points for an upgrade coupled together with a sale they had for the Tokyo return flight that cut Business Class by a lot. I should be well prepared for the seat given that's how I sit at home on the sofa anyway. :D
I for one love this seat. The trick is to forget that it is an aircraft seat and treat it as a lounge sofa. However, I have found the crews (Finnish) to be a little formal/distant. Also, I have found the food to be somewhat limited and Finnish focused (not particularly my choice). Overall I agree with Matt that Finnair business is a great seat paired with an ordinary soft product.
Thanks - I agree with all of that and hope I got that across in the video. This was an Indian based crew and I'd love to experience the seat with the full Finnish service experience
A Finnish person here, expressing sort of an offtopic opinion. Some of commenters, as well as the reviewer, have made quite positive comments regarding the glassware presented. Indeed, the Ultima Thule series of glasses (designed by Tapio Wirkkala and made by Iittala) is quite pleasant. However, I personally prefer the Aarne series (designed by Göran Hongel, also made by Iittala, but sadly discontinued a few years ago) or Tapio series (also Wirkkala & Iittala) over the Ultima Thule. Just google the series of glassware I have been referring to, and you will understand why they are quite gorgeous! It would be, in my honest opinion, an absolute banger should the Finnair ever make a contract with Iittala by ordering Aarne series for business class, and relaunching the production.
Thanks so much for that - really interesting. I did google the glassware, and found a pic of Tapio Wirkkala - a hairy dude with a pipe!!! You Finns are just too cool for the rest of us!!!!
Having just experienced the AirLounge between Singapore and Helsinki (at an amazing 62500 avios and £50 via BA) I too believe this is a better seat than Qatar's QSuite. I didn't like the matress topper (got a little hot) and like everyone else, it took me a little while to find that sweet spot in comfort, but when I did it knocked the QSuite into touch. Service was a little disappointing and the IFE could see some more content loaded, but the seat itself made up for it. Despite their currently long flight times, some long connections, and slightly less tier points over an itinerary with QR, the seat, the HEL experience and the fact my BA Gold supercedes the missing elements of their business light tickets, Finnair will now be my first choice between Europe and Asia....
Thanks James. I'd have to do some sums but Finnair bypassing Russia may not be that different in flight times from travelling via Doha to Asia as Qatar is a long way off the great circle route... But Finnair will never outdo Qatar on tier points!
It is a good seat indeed. Will be in it 4 times later this year 😀 but yes the Russian airspace closure adds 2-3 hours to the flight plus nice to use the Cathay 1st lounge at T3 when flying to Helsinki
big props to the airline for the complete seat refresh even after such a short time of the old seat being in use. an airline who cares 👍 thanks for the video Matt.
Window seats in first rows of each section have a much larger foot cubby and free to select for OWE. I wish AY gave J passengers a small bottle of their blueberry juice to take home as part of their otherwise underwhelming amenity kit.
Interesting - I was in the front row 12A I believe as there's a half row 11 offset in front - and I didn't detect a larger foot cubby... Takeaway blueberry juice would be cool!
@@MattsPlanet on the low density A350s 2A/L and 9L & 10A should have the bigger cubbies. In fact 1D/H and 10D/H also do but I never fancy middle seats, even when travelling with someone. Also 1D has the baby bassinet there. In my view the best seat is 2L, one will always have first pick of any menu and the further away from the back the less likely one is disturbed by screaming children.
Can you do a video of Revoluts recent avios Collab and compare to the Avios estore / all avios earning payment cards? For example, the revolut metal plan is twice as beneficial in earning avios (2eur per avios on spend) than the bank of Ireland credit card (4 EUR per avios on spend) They also Collab with flying blue.
Hello! Some people in my whatsapp group have been chatting about this and it is interesting, although there's mixed opinions on whether its worth it given you need a fairly expensive version of the revolut account to get the most benefit.... I will look at it but it may not be for a while sadly...
@@MattsPlanet Yeah, I pay for the metal plan (upfront capex as you save the most), which after 2 months has paid for itself with just the increase in savings interest rates. Personally I don't think Revolut Ultra is worth it. Premium is, and I was a bit iffy on Metal until I did my sums (and my need for frequent retail FX). I will freely admit I'm a unique, if somewhat basket, case
@MattsPlanet yeah, I get it from a business perspective. But as a retail consumer, paying what is the equivalent of a decent second hand car kind of money for two tickets, and then having my wife and I (perhaps) sitting apart is just ludicrous. I've been flying Finnair business for almost 10 years and have seen a decline in the product and service, even before covid. Booked already for December this year - hopefully it's fine. Heading between SYD and HEL it is still the best option.
Blueberry- and Orange juice, I thought Matt is going for the vegetarian option of the main course. But fortunately a gin tonic and Bordeaux showed up. I was about to leave the clip...
I didn't think it was out of line with other airlines - the crew was Delhi based so this was their outbound leg and I thought they were quiet good.... Sample of 1 flight though so always dangerous to draw broad conclusion
For some reason, Finnair has operated flights between Doha and other Scandinavian hubs. But for some reason again, I now see only flights between the same points on Qatar Airways only (summer 2025). I'm planning a trip to that region via Qatar Airways or Finnair. Anyone has a backstory on why Finnair was permitted to operate flights between Doha and Scandinavia and if possibly, why they have somewhat retreated on that_
Finnair had spare planes and Qatar needed planes.... And Finnair had Euro landing rights so it was a match made in heaven... There were even Finnair planes operating for Qantas for a while....
A very uncomfortable seat. Quite hard seat and if you are older and stiffer it is really hard to stretch out and to get up. Only one armrest, you have to use a cushion for a second armrest. Went from Bkk to Hel recently, sitting upright for 12 hours. Needless to say I felt bugged on arrival. Never again, give me a normal wide padded relining seat any time
Blueberry juice in Ultima Thule is an oft-overlooked staple of Finnish culture.
Finland is growing on me....
6:51 that glass is Iittala Ultima Thule designed by Tapio Wirkkala, and yes everyboddy loves those!
I'm not usually one to use the words "beautiful" and "object" in the same sentence but I'll make an exception for that glassware!
@@MattsPlanet Icecicles. That's the beauty of that glass.
@@MattsPlanet Wirkkala was one of the Finnish design's golden age's great ones. E.g. in 1951 Triennale Milano he won Grand Prix in glass works, veneer items and exhibit display. His wooden dish made out of aircraft plywood was titled as the world's most beautiful item in 1954. A video on that: "Object of the Day: Dishes designed by Tapio Wirkkala". Here's a documentary of him and his works: "The World of Tapio Wirkkala".
I've flown Finnair a lot, these seats are great as beds - if you can get over the idea of putting your face where thousands of hours of farts have been deposited - but as a seat there is no lumbar support, it's lousy for eating, the 3 point belt throttles me on takeoff and landing, and the logic of putting a sharp metal death-lamp right where your head should go ... as seen at 08:48? Whoever designed that is a weapons grade idiot.
I've been looking forward to this one and it didn't disappoint. Shame you had so little sleep before. No matter what class you're flying, being tired at an airport is never a fun experience. That being said, what a seat to collapse into, absolutely love the look of it. And I must say I like how narrow the entrance to the seat is, makes it like a little den to hide away in, would love to try it one day. I thought your dinner looked incredible too! Cheers Mate
A den is a good description actually - with the cushions you can also make a sort of fort, like you may have done as a kid!!! Steve's adventures in Finland next??? Helsinki pub crawl??? Take out an extra mortgage if you try it....
The seat looks big enough for both you and Alicja to share ! She could just sit on your knee, curled up like a cat.
edit : And meow the whole flight.
For me, this is my best Business-class seat; the bed part is basically a 1st class bed in terms of space and the fact the sleeping surface is completely flat with no lumps or dips. The seat also feels so cosy, and I think the padding all around helps make the cabin feel so quiet that it always feels like you are the only one there. Glad Finnair took the risk with adding this.
Thanks - I'm annoyed I didn't mention the noise-deadening effect of the seat in the video as it is another major plus!
I appreciate that many flight reviewers mention their height lately in their videos. This gives me a good sense and awareness of what to expect in these seats when in lie flat position.
A lot of us are unusually tall as it turns out!!! Knowing I'm 6'4" is very helpful when I completely fill the space available to the passenger!
Thanks so much for this great video. We booked Finnair and these seats on Friday and I was a little nervous but your video has helped me look forward to it now!
Nothing to worry about - happy I could help!
Thank you Matt - this is the first video I have seen which really demonstrates and explains the seat - thanks. Better than Q-Suite - wow. Hope you are keeping well.
It took a while to script this one and I hope I got across the pros and cons. I really like the Qsuite but find it a little claustrophobic when the door is closed. The difference is 9.7 out of 10 versus 9.8 out of 10!!!
@@MattsPlanetfirst world problems 🤣🤣. With you on Q-Suite over hype - although had pleasure of flying their Double Suite on overnight flight from ICN with my wife recently and found that a great product (not referring to my wife btw 😂😂)
Good video thanks! I’m excited as I’m booked to Australia in October with the Helsinki/ Singapore legs in this seat. Cheers
HEL - SIN is really long so will be a fantastic experience!
My fav business class seat. I fly to Asia deliberately now via Helsinki for this, total game changer. Thanks for bringing it to light!
Thanks for the comment, but you may not thank me for publicising it if demand spikes up and the seats get more expensive!!!
HEL airport is fantastic
Video about it coming next weekend!
Amazing, enjoyed this video! Looking forward to this even more now. Thanks again. 😁
Have a great trip!
Thanks
Thanks so much!!
You really pack in the detail in a short time: great video.
Nearly booked a LHR-DXB via HEL but not quite, but your video wets the appetite.
Its well worth considering!
Very nice review Matt. I would love to visit Finland one day.
That seat is a good reason to visit!
9:47 YUM. Love aeroplane food especially those breakfasts
I didn't want to kick off the bean juice argument....
I flew Finnair business for the first time yesterday SEA-HEL. I loved it, being 6ft 5 I had heaps of room. The blueberry juice is the cherry on the cake (as are the chocolates to be fair).
Its a great seat for the taller traveller for sure. Not sure we had chocolates on our flight!!!
Last week whilst returning from the Baltics, had the nice surprise of an op-upgrade at the gate on the HEL-LHR route which operates the A350, due to an oversold econ/PE cabin. Lovely comfortable seat (kind of made me wish that flight was longer than 2h30!)
It's wonderful when that happens... Cracking seat to be upgraded to!
I am so looking forward to my DFW-Hel flight in this seat. Great video. Liked and subscribed!
Thanks - I hope its a great experience
Great video and great review, Matt! I agree with your evaluation. I flew AY's new business class last year from both DFW and BKK to HEL. It's quite unusual in the beginning and takes a while to convince oneself to get used to the different way of sitting/lounging/chilling. But it's been two fantastic flight experiences - also because of the service, the food, and the delicious blueberry juice! I'm applauding you for stressing the importance of the pillows/cushions that come with the seat. Without them, the seat would be a potentially backaching nightmare for such a long flight. But then again, there is rarely a couch that is comfy without a few cushions ... crazy how such a minor item can make a flight a yay or nay. Chapeau to Finnair for being so adventurous, progressive and courageous and try something so out of the box!
I think I say in the video that people who fly this seat between London and Helsinki probably don't have long enough to get through that "get to know you" phase!
Another great video Matt, thanks for sharing. I know I’ve mentioned it before but I’m still going to be cheeky and say I really hope you’ll reconsider and film a video on the multi partner redemption for this trip. All the best and looking forward to the next sector!
I have made a video for my Patrons and I will talk about it a little more in the last video to this series which is coming in a week or two....
@@MattsPlanet Amazing, thanks a lot Matt. Will on the rest of the series. All the best, take care.
Excellent report, and well explained. I tried it on an HEL-LHR and also didn’t really know what I was getting into. However the moment I began ‘lounging’, I instantly understood it. Can’t wait to try it on long haul!
It takes a while to get the hang of it!
@@MattsPlanet100% agree. Was lucky enough and surprised to experience this recently flying LHR-HEL. The lounge outbound from HEL is very good btw
Entertaining and informative video! Definitely subscribed and adding your channel to my flight review UA-cam playlist! 😊
Thanks! Welcome aboard
Hi Matt,
Great review!! The seat looks very " let's get comfortable and do some flying".
I love how they did not follow the masses in opting for an off the shelf seat, but created a new experience. Rare these days,
Stay well,
Thomas
Indeed - its brave of them to have gone their own way and it seems like its paying off.... Still waiting for the next airline to adopt this seat to prove it is a winner!
Matt, I snagged a great deal OSL HEL BKK return next year on Finnair in business class. Thanks for your ever thorough review of what's in store. Can't wait to try out the seat and I have sufficient connection time at HEL to do the Platinum Wing justice.
Superb! I'm jealous....
I love your review!
Thanks for watching it!
Flying this route in biz class in September.. Great review.. Looking forward for it
Have a great flight!
@@MattsPlanet Thanks Mate
Thanks for the info + video!
Thanks for watching + commenting!!!!
Great video as always Matt and completely agree with your assessment of the seat! It’s such a great place to relax on a long flight. I’ve got to challenge that point that no in flight breakfast has ever been outstanding though; I’d generally agree, but the French toast that Finnair served me on my flight back from Doha was absolutely delicious!
French toast.... That does indeed sound good! Still not lobster, steak or caviar though!!!
Looks grrrreat, I'm a lounger ! As always, great review, food, service, the works!
Thanks - I hope I got the experience across well
I am booked to fly on finnair next April from Bangkok to Helsinki. Thanks for the thumbs, good to know as this will be the first time I've flown business class. It's a 70th birthday present to me from me 😅 I am flying on a codeshare route from Sydney to Barcelona with a very long 14-hour layover in Bangkok, where I've booked accommodation.
I can think of no better person to spend your money on - well done and have a great trip! 14 hours is long enough to get into BKK or are you going to stay at the airport? Very nice Novotel there if you decide to stay there
@MattsPlanet Thank you. I am very excited about my travels next year. I am booked to stay at the Phoenix Hotel, Bangkok airport, and on the way back, I have an overnight layover in Helsinki, so I am staying at the Comfort Hotel. 💃💃💃
@@aigidh My advice to a first-timer is that its a marathon not a sprint.... Its tempting (and easy!) to go crazy in the lounge which can mean you sleep through a lot of the flight. Striking a balance between lounge and plane is the key, and if in doubt save it for the plane as you'll be on it for a lot longer than you'll be in the lounge.... And this goes for food and drinks.... Except overnight flights back - if there's an arrival lounge the food will almost certainly be better in the lounge than it is on the plane!
@@MattsPlanet thank you 🙏
Just skip the food at Delhi and reserve a lot of Imodium for the trip lol.
Awesome content, to share with us. Cheers!
Cheers mate
Nice video Matt! I'm a big fan of flying with Finnair, I've only flown the older product in the A330/A350s but I have a flight from Helsinki to Singapore in this business class, I'm looking forward to trying it out!
- Tyler
Thank Tyler - have a good flight. Never made it onto the old seats to be able to compare them but I think you'll like the new ones!
@@MattsPlanet The old A350 seats were always a pleasure on my LHR-HEL flights, the A330 I was on appeared a little dated and tired, but still ideal on the HEL-LHR flight I did.
Looks good !!! Can't wait to spend some avios with Finnair
Make it happen!
Flew FA end of 2019 to Asia and really enjoyed the service and food in business class. It was the cheapest option on that particular route with bonus they fly from EDI which is my start point. I look forward to trying that seat next time out to Asia. Great review 👍🏻
Cheapest option from the most convenient airport with a great service? That never happens!!!
10:26 don't know why this made me crack up 😂DEL to HELL! I enjoyed the video, you have a very captivating way of speaking and presenting!
Thank you!!! Once your realise its DEL to HEL its an easy joke to make!!!
Great video Matt. I agree it's an awesome seat and is amazing for sleeping. The only issue I had recently on a flight from BKK-HEL was the cabin being incredibly hot (1st row middle seats).
Thanks Jack - I like it hot so I probably don't notice that as much as I should!
Great review Matt, and high praise indeed for this seat. It looks like a much improved version of the Singapore Airlines long haul seat (wide, straight backed, with offset foot cubby). Wouldn’t mind a little trip to Helsinki, Tallin and surrounds so will see if I can give it a try in or out of LHR. Also, I reckon you picked the right time of day to visit that lounge in Delhi - I was there last year to catch the late evening SQ flight and I was anything but encalmed. Was still preferable to the Air India lounge though…
Thanks Nick. That older Singapore seat has a traditional back and flips forward to convert so is actually really rather different. Very easy and pleasant to get a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn so you can cover both easily in one trip.
I'd missed this video when it first came out but followed the link from your recent Oman visit and glad I did. Another entertaining review and looking forward to my HEL-HND on Finnair later in the year. Could those have been boysenberries in the G&T?
My berry knowledge is still sadly lacking!!!!
Thank you for this terrific and useful review. I've been both intrigued but baffled by this product and your video seems to have explained it well. Thumbs up for Roku gin !
I have noticed some incredibly cheap deals in recent months involving Finnair business class to Bangkok. All quite cheap but also depending where you position from.
There are some deals through Helsinki off season for sure.... And not that many Euro airlines serve Bangkok these days to its a really good option!
@@MattsPlanet By the way I noticed the other day from Flightconnections, that BA have resumed BKK service with Gatwick 777s on a partial week basis. Must be brutal in economy. At least on ( LHR ) Thai Airways flights I believe their 777s are still 9 abreast. A nice way is with EVA's PE class, which used to be affordable and might at least become more reasonable since BA has returned to BKK.
@@Fat_Cat_747 Indeed - I think reward seats instantaneously became rarer than hens teeth....
hi matt another good video ..... the seat looks very good .... how is your health hope you are well
Thanks Tony. All good here - update video coming along in the next few weeks but everything is under control here
I can agree with all your points. I tried this seat on a 12-hour flight and it was surprisingly enjoyable, only thing I would add is a proper headrest. I know you are supposed to use the pillows for that, but I would prefer a fixed headrest that doesn't fall down when you are moving around.
Good point - It certainly wouldn't get in the way when you're sleeping....
For Australian and Kiwi viewers, or those based in that part of the world, Qantas have wetleased x4 A330 configured like this and serve SYD-SIN and SYD-BKK - with AY crew but serve food/pjs/amenities from Qantas.
Thanks for that - I had seen reports of people being a bit surprised (and ultimately delighted!!!) about turning up for a QF flight and finding one of these parked at the gate!
I thought there are only two A330’s leased to Qantas
There are two A330 leased to Qantas. One for SYD-SIN and another for SYD-BKK
I recently flew with Finnair from LAX to HEL as part of a tier point run from and to Madrid. Like you I was really impressed with the seat and found it very comfortable to lounge in but can also understand why it’s very much a marmite arrangement.
A nice long flight too! Thanks for the report
I flew doha to copenhagen in this seat and it was really impressive. Finnair crew were great too
Another positive vote - thanks
Love this seat. I found it very comfortable
Been in one better?
This is a seat that I have a lot of questions about and likely wont have them fully answered until I fly in it at some point! I'm 100% in the lounging category when flying and like the ability to adjust, so that's my big worry. Looked like a great flight and Finnair are defo on my "to do" list - thanks for another great review.
Even spending hours and hours finessing this script, you still can't really describe it properly. It really needs to get the personal bum test to understand what I mean!
I’ve had the privilege of flying this seat from Bangkok to London a few times now. I love it. The Bangkok based crew are always fantastic too. Only problem is the Bangkok flight got retimed this year so you don’t get to join a long haul sized connection down to London anymore (unless you fancy waiting 15+ hours overnight in a very closed Helsinki airport 😆).
I can't imagine HEL overnight would be fun.... But after 12 hours in that seat up from BKK I suppose you can cope with another 3 in a regular seat?
@@MattsPlanet yeah it’s fine just was a real joy to be able to get the whole way home in this new long haul seat 😅
Sorry, I have to argue the "no breakfast served on a plane" thing. Back in the 90's BMI had a great full English/Irish on the LHR-DUB-LHR route up front, the one in the back was a good version.
It's good to see that there is plenty of foot room, as someone of very similar size, there have been plenty of times where it would have been easier and more comfortable to just have my feet removed at the door.
As someone who owns a Lovesac couch (is that a thing in the UK?), the seat reminds me of it a lot, though the padding on a Lovesac is way way WAY better, I actually wish a seat manufacturer would team up with Lovesac, making it the most comfortable seat in the air.
Never had the experience of a BMI full English so I would be happy to be corrected! As this seat is so good, hopefully other airlines will look to go that way - time to buy shares in Lovesac!!!
Looks very Scandanavian efficiency and minimalist design👌. Looks like even I would find the foot cubby acceptable😂 Oppenheimer is really great. Watched it recently on an Emirates flight from Johannesburg to Riyadh😊🇿🇦💚
Cheers Peet. Diverting into film criticism, Oppenheimer really held my attention but I kind of forgot what the story was that was underpinning it all.... Seemed a little contrived but I think I need to watch it again to work it all out.
Matt. Glad you enjoyed it and could sing it's praises, as to look at it from this angle it looks awful and uncomfortable.
Steve. C.
YNWA
Don't knock it until you sit in it!
Hi Matt, great content and very interesting description. looking at the cost of finnair for the occasional traveller the costs are quite expensive compared to other business class seats when booking without avios etc...
I have seen some promotional deals that are attractive, particularly starting outside the UK. That adds hassle, but can radically reduce the cost....
Not sure when or if I would ever be able to try out those seats, but they look nice. I am not as tall as you, but I think I'm wider - and don't comfortably fit in most business class seats in lie flat mode. My shoulders are too wide and my feet don't fit in the cubby hole. Good info and as always, safe travels.
Thanks - never say never! I would be surprised if other airlines don't use this seat.... And there is plenty of space for a traveller larger than me
I flew this seat last summer and agree, it is a truly groundbreaking seat and just feels so spacious and comfy while somehow being minimalist. Just a shame finnair have taken unbundling to the extreme with business class - I almost booked with them to Japan this year but after seat selection and hold luggage fees it added a huge amount of unexpected cost onto the ticket and I went for etihad which is all in instead.
Interesting perspective - this was a redemption so none of that was obvious....
6:48 Their blueberry juice is hands down the best drink I've had in my life.
(and it was complimentary in short haul economy between London and Helsinki, I spent a while trying to see if I could buy it here)
That's a big statement!!! The Hennessy Paradis cognac I had on Emirates in First Class recently was quite nice!!!! That video will be along in a few weeks....
I guess I don't tend to drink alcohol as much these days, especially when flying (I get dehydrated very easily and get headaches) and Im not a whiskey lover or wine connoisseur, but as far as soft drinks go, I cannot think of any airline where I've had a better juice or mocktail!
Wonderful review as always, thank you Matt and I hope this finds you well. I was a tad, nay, VERY surprised that you opted for three, YES three softies, instead of bubbles or cognac. Did you see your GP about this on your return???? The Finnair seat/suite does look out of the norm yet you have sold it to all watching this I fear, because as you mention to another commentator, this will drive up the prices. But you have done your bit, so rest easy.
How would this flight fall into a tier point run would you say, and more importantly, when was this filmed? I know it is Finland but there was snow on the ground and we are in July! lol Keep 'em coming and stay safe.
Cheers Olly. Doing good! I really did feel rough at the start of this and "hair of the dog" has never really worked for me! You can work this into a West Coast tier point run by adding HEL-JFK - although you have to be aware of the maximum permitted mileage so its not always simple to do so... Heading East is always tricky to incorporate these flights into runs as the cash fare is high and its tricky to add lots of hops. This was filmed in very late April
Thank You ✈️
Thanks for watching!
We tried this from Doha to Stockholm; having repositioned (on your advice) on our way to and from London-Auckland. Loved the seat and it was excellent. As with you, we found the service a bit wooden; and that, as well as food and drink, are not as good a Qatar or Emirates. But still v good and v good value.
Superb Charles - hope my advice helped!!! Some strong deals have been floating around lately too
That seat looks awesome
Its a delight!
I love Finnair
So do I!
I've read in other travel sites ( sorry Matt for not being loyal 😀) some people complaining about these seats because when sleeping or lying your head is in the approximation of the previous passenger rear end. Personally, I think it looked really comfortable would try it in a minute. Also, that main course you had looked wonderful.
People have worked hard to come up with that complaint!! Technically its true, but there's a mattress topper and a pillow (or two) separating you so I'm not going to worry
Excellent video Excellent seat . Tayberries or loganberry?
They may have been lingonberries but I googled them and they didn't look right.... Identifying fruit is not my mastermind subject....
@@MattsPlanet let's just enjoy the Gin Matt!!
Love the video as always. Quite curious to try the seat. Shame (for me) that Finnair isn’t in Star Alliance.
Indeed - although there's so many airlines changing alliances at the moment that perhaps Finnair will move one day!!!
Love finnair❤
Sensible!
I was looking at Finnair as a potential option because BA cancelled a couple of my upcoming flights yesterday (one to DOH and one to KUL). On paper, they initially look good, but in reality after some digging, I find out that I need to pay for checked bags in Business Class (between £62 and £92 depending on weight from memory). In addition, the lack of amenities, suite door etc allows me to understand why the tickets are cheaper. I cannot fault them on the number of tier points available though and this is the only advantage I can see (for me anyway).
Those KUL cancellations are a bit of a pain... If you are rebooked by BA the bag fees should be irrelevant as they'll rebook like for like.... I wouldn't place any value on there not being a sliding door....
Never actually flown on a Finnair flight, but had one of the wet leases that BA hired on a flight to Rome from LHR, and found the service very good. Loved the FA outfits, with their white gloves. All felt very scandi
On the topic of the Japanese airlines, I've flown ANA's 'the room' which was incredible, imo significantly better than the Qsuite. Have never flown this finnair suite though so can't comment on that. Nor have I flown in JAL's new J seat
As I say in the video, I really need to get to Japan. Probably twice actually as JAL and ANA are both highly rated... When I run out of seats to sit in I run out of videos to make so I'm not too bothered that I haven't flown these yet!
I love a formal wingback armchair and I bet I'd love this seat. I sit in the former with feet on the chair and my back against one of the wings and I'm guessing I could achieve a similar position in the Finnair Business class seat.
You certainly could!
Hi Matt - when was the video filmed.? We are flying the same route in April 2025. Love to see snow as we are from Australia. Cheers David & Diane
This was April 24th - another commenter reported its not unusual to see laying snow into June up there
@@MattsPlanet thanks Matt for the update - we have booked seats on the same side you sat for the best views. Looking forward to our flight. BTW - keep up the great work, love the vids.
@@greynomadadventuresgna3648 Thanks!
would love to try that seat! interested to know what you got up to in Helsinki
I was only in transit this time sadly - about 3.5 hours, the bulk of which was reported in the lounge crawl video last week!
Finnish invention are most likely made bit drunk in sauna, or quite heavily drunk in sauna. That is why they are genius.
Sounds plausible!
I was hoping to check that seat out flying Finnair from Dubai to London via Helsinki in December - but neither of A350s I was on were equipped with it. Other than that, I thought the Finnair experience was pretty average. The crews were OK, but very hands off - dinner took well over an hour to arrive on leaving Dubai (at midnight), and nothing could be served for an hour and a half before landing in London, for no very obvious reason. But I do hope to try out that seat sometime, and perhaps have a better crew experience too.
Thanks. I know Finnair operated a Euro service on the flights from Dubai for a while - I don't know if your trip coincided with that as it was widely regarded as being quite poor....
Another great video!
I dislike many business class lie flats (especially the BA 2-3-2 ones, (that middle seat where u have to climb over the person next to you 🙈) this seat looks intriguing but is it soft? Else looks like a hard bench with zero incline/recline options
Good question - it is firm... There is some gentle give to the back of the seat but the base that becomes the bed is firm. That matress topper is essential to giving some comfort when lying down
@@MattsPlanet so you need to get up to make the bed, like the old virgin upper class seats, i like to doze off while holding down the lie flat button 😜
sooo looking forward to trying them in January (BKK to HEL to LHR). Why do you say it takes 2 hours or so to get used to?
It may take less! But I couldn't really work out how to position myself to be comfortable - the seat is so wide you can position in 100 different ways.... When I worked out that the 2 cushions need to from a sort of pyramid shape behind you to support the back then it sank into the seat and loved
FWIW Matt, my experience connecting in Delhi (and also Mumbai) matches yours, and that was on Star Alliance (Lufthansa & Swiss connecting with Thai). Lounges (quality, access & overcrowding) plus friction with transit visas is enough to encourage me not to transit in Delhi or Mumbai in future.
I'm going to beg to differ on the seat! On the plus side, it's excellent for sleeping, and really spacious for a biz seat. On the downside, I found it really uncomfortable when sitting, and after a long flight I ended up with lower back ache for a couple of weeks afterwards on two occasions on trips to and from TYO. The problem is that I couldn't find a comfortable way to sit straight in front of the table and screen. The "shimmy" thing is most certainly going to be a problem for the mobility impaired. It was difficult enough for me, such that with that and the back ache, I'll make efforts to avoid in future.
Regarding food on Finnair, I've been singularly and universally unimpressed, so much so that I resorted to taking my own food on recent flights.
Propping up the Platinum bar in HEL glugging down their local gin is a worthy pastime though.
I'm picturing you in that upright, wingback chair.... Just need to spend the whole flight sleeping...
Just booked up with Avios to Japan and back from Amsterdam. Way less cost and what I feel is a way better hard product than BA. Helsinki is a beautiful example of Finnish design.
Tip. Book award seats as separate one way tickets for better choice. Cost us the same.
Thanks - that one way booking tip is a really good one as it costs no more and gives you a lot of flexibility
@@MattsPlanet Ee used 2x one ways to arrive in Tokyo and exit from Osaka. Open jaw means we don't have to return back to Tokyo to come home.
There's something a bit minimalistic about Finnair's aesthetic, similar to that of SAS. Planning my next Europe trip again (to buy more records!) and I might actually step inside a Finnair plane :)
Oooooh! What a treat... Some good heavy metal bands from Finland...
Really nice video! - I have to say I liked the old seat better - somehow I feel i get "twisted" in this new seat. I dont know maybe I need more practice - too bad out of points aaaand out of €€ xD
"Twisted" is a good word - the vocabulary you need to describe this seat isn't the usual flying stuff!
DEL to HEL ! Very good
I got excited about saying that the very moment I booked that flight!
Never tried Business Class (not counting inter European short haul planes), so I'm looking forward to next year to give it a go. Luckily a couple of Japan holidays in Premium Economy is enough to get sufficient points for an upgrade coupled together with a sale they had for the Tokyo return flight that cut Business Class by a lot.
I should be well prepared for the seat given that's how I sit at home on the sofa anyway. :D
Fantastic - sounds like the training has already begun!
So if I go Heathrow to Helsinki I will get this business seat? Love all your videos Matt!
There's 2 flights a day operated by A350s - they will have these seats. The more common A320s will have regular euro-business seats
20k followers as the little bell thing? I remember the first iteration!
Looking forward to when I can do the next one... Its been 20k for quite a while now!
@@MattsPlanet I've been out for a bit!
I for one love this seat. The trick is to forget that it is an aircraft seat and treat it as a lounge sofa.
However, I have found the crews (Finnish) to be a little formal/distant. Also, I have found the food to be somewhat limited and Finnish focused (not particularly my choice).
Overall I agree with Matt that Finnair business is a great seat paired with an ordinary soft product.
Thanks - I agree with all of that and hope I got that across in the video. This was an Indian based crew and I'd love to experience the seat with the full Finnish service experience
A Finnish person here, expressing sort of an offtopic opinion. Some of commenters, as well as the reviewer, have made quite positive comments regarding the glassware presented. Indeed, the Ultima Thule series of glasses (designed by Tapio Wirkkala and made by Iittala) is quite pleasant. However, I personally prefer the Aarne series (designed by Göran Hongel, also made by Iittala, but sadly discontinued a few years ago) or Tapio series (also Wirkkala & Iittala) over the Ultima Thule. Just google the series of glassware I have been referring to, and you will understand why they are quite gorgeous!
It would be, in my honest opinion, an absolute banger should the Finnair ever make a contract with Iittala by ordering Aarne series for business class, and relaunching the production.
Thanks so much for that - really interesting. I did google the glassware, and found a pic of Tapio Wirkkala - a hairy dude with a pipe!!! You Finns are just too cool for the rest of us!!!!
Having just experienced the AirLounge between Singapore and Helsinki (at an amazing 62500 avios and £50 via BA) I too believe this is a better seat than Qatar's QSuite.
I didn't like the matress topper (got a little hot) and like everyone else, it took me a little while to find that sweet spot in comfort, but when I did it knocked the QSuite into touch.
Service was a little disappointing and the IFE could see some more content loaded, but the seat itself made up for it.
Despite their currently long flight times, some long connections, and slightly less tier points over an itinerary with QR, the seat, the HEL experience and the fact my BA Gold supercedes the missing elements of their business light tickets, Finnair will now be my first choice between Europe and Asia....
Thanks James. I'd have to do some sums but Finnair bypassing Russia may not be that different in flight times from travelling via Doha to Asia as Qatar is a long way off the great circle route... But Finnair will never outdo Qatar on tier points!
It is a good seat indeed. Will be in it 4 times later this year 😀 but yes the Russian airspace closure adds 2-3 hours to the flight plus nice to use the Cathay 1st lounge at T3 when flying to Helsinki
There's a lot going for Finnair, particularly if you like flying and see the extra flight time as a bonus!
@@MattsPlanet their Avios part payment rates are absolutely atrocious though 🤣
big props to the airline for the complete seat refresh even after such a short time of the old seat being in use. an airline who cares 👍
thanks for the video Matt.
Indeed - they must really, really love these new seats. As they should!
Ermm a couple of hours to get used to it ?
Indeed - 2nd time round I'd be bang on it from minute one....
I hope that was your camera moving about in the intro and not the building! 🤔
I am certain it was the camera!
12:25 yeah I’m not keen on this and I’m slim and mobile 😂
Its a balance - a narrow gap means more privacy as you're more enclosed, but it makes it trickier to get in and out
Window seats in first rows of each section have a much larger foot cubby and free to select for OWE. I wish AY gave J passengers a small bottle of their blueberry juice to take home as part of their otherwise underwhelming amenity kit.
Interesting - I was in the front row 12A I believe as there's a half row 11 offset in front - and I didn't detect a larger foot cubby... Takeaway blueberry juice would be cool!
@@MattsPlanet on the low density A350s 2A/L and 9L & 10A should have the bigger cubbies. In fact 1D/H and 10D/H also do but I never fancy middle seats, even when travelling with someone. Also 1D has the baby bassinet there. In my view the best seat is 2L, one will always have first pick of any menu and the further away from the back the less likely one is disturbed by screaming children.
3:38 wow that’s odd , I wonder if practical or not
I think it works!
you can buy the glassware in the HEL airport, but they will set you back £100 for 4
I might need to take larger hand baggage next time.... Plus some newspaper, perhaps....
Is this seat on the A330 as well as the 350?
I read that all 25 of Finnair's long haul aircraft have had this seat fitted so I'd say yes
There are some YT reviews of the seat on their A330s going back a while (eg Fly Man Yann), so it looks like they really went for it!
Can you do a video of Revoluts recent avios Collab and compare to the Avios estore / all avios earning payment cards?
For example, the revolut metal plan is twice as beneficial in earning avios (2eur per avios on spend) than the bank of Ireland credit card (4 EUR per avios on spend)
They also Collab with flying blue.
Hello! Some people in my whatsapp group have been chatting about this and it is interesting, although there's mixed opinions on whether its worth it given you need a fairly expensive version of the revolut account to get the most benefit.... I will look at it but it may not be for a while sadly...
@@MattsPlanet Yeah, I pay for the metal plan (upfront capex as you save the most), which after 2 months has paid for itself with just the increase in savings interest rates.
Personally I don't think Revolut Ultra is worth it. Premium is, and I was a bit iffy on Metal until I did my sums (and my need for frequent retail FX). I will freely admit I'm a unique, if somewhat basket, case
I can't believe that you have to pay for seat selection on certain J tickets with Finnair now. What a complete price gouge.
BA does as well - its a "perk" they reserve for their own loyalty members but it is really, really annoying
@MattsPlanet yeah, I get it from a business perspective. But as a retail consumer, paying what is the equivalent of a decent second hand car kind of money for two tickets, and then having my wife and I (perhaps) sitting apart is just ludicrous. I've been flying Finnair business for almost 10 years and have seen a decline in the product and service, even before covid. Booked already for December this year - hopefully it's fine. Heading between SYD and HEL it is still the best option.
Blueberry- and Orange juice, I thought Matt is going for the vegetarian option of the main course. But fortunately a gin tonic and Bordeaux showed up. I was about to leave the clip...
The day I take the veggie option you're all free to unsubscribe!!!
I flew with them their on board service is really poor compare to BA or even Iberia dont you think?
I didn't think it was out of line with other airlines - the crew was Delhi based so this was their outbound leg and I thought they were quiet good.... Sample of 1 flight though so always dangerous to draw broad conclusion
@@MattsPlanet but they meal presentation and everything its more like premium economy rather than business
@@robertgonzales3936 It wasn't up to the standards of some, but it tasted good!
For some reason, Finnair has operated flights between Doha and other Scandinavian hubs. But for some reason again, I now see only flights between the same points on Qatar Airways only (summer 2025). I'm planning a trip to that region via Qatar Airways or Finnair. Anyone has a backstory on why Finnair was permitted to operate flights between Doha and Scandinavia and if possibly, why they have somewhat retreated on that_
Finnair had spare planes and Qatar needed planes.... And Finnair had Euro landing rights so it was a match made in heaven... There were even Finnair planes operating for Qantas for a while....
@@MattsPlanet so this was a temporary solution when Qatar had a shortage driven partly by their spat with Airbus on A350s?
@@paololim3513 I believe so. Plus with Russian airspace issues Finnair lost traffic as its now no quicker to go through Helsinki
A very uncomfortable seat. Quite hard seat and if you are older and stiffer it is really hard to stretch out and to get up. Only one armrest, you have to use a cushion for a second armrest. Went from Bkk to Hel recently, sitting upright for 12 hours. Needless to say I felt bugged on arrival. Never again, give me a normal wide padded relining seat any time
Thanks for that perspective - hopefully I gave some warning in the video that this wasn't for everyone....
Finnair business class is extremely UNCOMFORTABLE. Just flew it yesterday and it's the worst I have ever tried.
I don't agree, but I can see why that can be a conclusion you could come to
Can you sleep there thinking that your head will be exactly where the ass of the previous passenger has been sitting for 12 hours?
There is a substantial pillow that provides a significant buffer!