Finnair’s Business Class AirLounge seat

[VC10]

Two weeks back from a 5 week European trip. Flew AY HKG to HEL and HEL/HKG in J at the beginning and end of the trip, both overnight flights. QF to HK on the way up (poor) and CX on the way back (excellent). I could not get comfortable in these seats and only got about 4 hours sleep each time. Crew was very efficient but food so/so. No espresso coffee despite it being on the menu ("the machine is broken"). Platinum non Shengen lounge at HEL was excellent for an 8 hour wait on the way back, but the CX First lounge at the Pier was the icing on the cake. CX J class seats much better IMO on the same aircraft (A350).

 

[PERLHR]

No espresso coffee despite it being on the menu ("the machine is broken").

That, sadly, is what they always say. Either get it or take it away from the menu. They have been saying that for years!!

 

[Emkay]

.... only got about 4 hours sleep each time. ,,,,

Hi VC10 - can you pin the blame for your limited sleep on any particular aspect? Form the earlier posts to this thread, I guess it could be the hardness of the seat base, a preference for some angle to the bed rather than completely flat, the 'mattress' getting tangled up or falling off the seat during sleep, the seatbelt continually over-tightening itself as you slept, or (if in front row/s) light or noise from the J toilets, or a combination of the above - or something not previously mentioned by anyone??

 

[VC10]

Hi VC10 - can you pin the blame for your limited sleep on any particular aspect? Form the earlier posts to this thread, I guess it could be the hardness of the seat base, a preference for some angle to the bed rather than completely flat, the 'mattress' getting tangled up or falling off the seat during sleep, the seatbelt continually over-tightening itself as you slept, or (if in front row/s) light or noise from the J toilets, or a combination of the above - or something not previously mentioned by anyone??

Sure - you have picked a couple of the issues I had. I generally like to be not quite flat and this is not possible on this seat unless you want a stiff neck. The "fill in" section which swings up to fill the gap is a bit difficult to negotiate if you need to get up. The "mattress" was really not thick enough and did tend to get a bit tangled up. I found it a bit claustrophobic at times as well. On the positive side the bathrooms were always spotless. These seats would be fine on a daytime flight.

 

[luckypierre]

I could not get comfortable in these seats and only got about 4 hours sleep each time.

My recent experience SIN-HEL, a little different. I slept quite comfortably in seat 2A, though the mattress topper ended up one side to me, it didn’t stay in position. I don’t recall any issue with the self tensioning belt. However, as others have reported, I found the seating position less comfortable. I needed to use both pillows for head/neck and back support. And of course every time you moved the pillows moved and had to be placed back into the optimal comfort position.

 

[RooFlyer]

SIN-HEL, a little different. I slept quite comfortably in seat 2A

Bulkhead. Footwell bigger.

 

[clifford]

I've never had a problem with these seats, but then after flying well over 4 million miles with various airlines (3M with UA), I know what the alternatives might be.

 

[OZDUCK]

What I find interesting is that these seats have been around since 2022 and I am unable to locate any other airline that has ordered them. I also can't find any indication that they are subject to Finnair copyright.

It must be said that I have only researched this on my phone with my fat fingers

 

[Seat0B]

I've never had a problem with these seats, but then after flying well over 4 million miles with various airlines (3M with UA), I know what the alternatives might be.

Let’s add UL Y on an A330 red eye to those alternatives, shall we

 

[Myrna]

Sure - you have picked a couple of the issues I had. I generally like to be not quite flat and this is not possible on this seat unless you want a stiff neck. The "fill in" section which swings up to fill the gap is a bit difficult to negotiate if you need to get up. The "mattress" was really not thick enough and did tend to get a bit tangled up. I found it a bit claustrophobic at times as well. On the positive side the bathrooms were always spotless. These seats would be fine on a daytime flight.

Flown it last Thursday, and agree that the seats were ok for a daytime flight. Maybe uncomfortable for an overnight flight.

 

[SYD]

Flown it last Thursday, and agree that the seats were ok for a daytime flight. Maybe uncomfortable for an overnight flight.

If you’re planning on sleeping, they’re very good for o/n (the key complaint is the seatbelt location but I found just leaving it slightly loose was ok).

 

[BD1959]

If you’re planning on sleeping, they’re very good for o/n (the key complaint is the seatbelt location but I found just leaving it slightly loose was ok).

I’ve flown this seat overnight on 5 occasions (plus a couple of SH sectors to/from LHR). I question how you keep the sleeping seat-belt loose - it’s self retracting …

The other major issue is the firmness of the seat which the “self-moving mattress” does little to alleviate.

Without a doubt this seat is an upgrade on the old AY J but if it wasn’t for the price - which used to be a good differentiator on a paid RTW - I’d shy away from this product … even moreso with the decline of the Nordic feel of the service between Asia and HEL.

Regards,

BD

 

[docjames]

Big fan of the fixed AY seat - flew MEL-SIN-HEL and vv recently. Had seat 3A FWIW both times on both aircraft (A350 of AY, A330 of QF).

AY were way better. Crew friendlier, more interested. The seat is miles better (the retracting seatbelt didn't bother me). The food was better (to start with, the salad far surpassed the NP weeds that Qantas has served inJ for the last seemingly thousand years). Let alone the rest of the food!

I agree the mattress/topper on AY could be a bit better (about the only thing in need of improvement) - but even then overall the AY J seat was considerably more comfortable than the "better fitting" QF seat cover (on a less comfortable seat).

If i was changing anything on AY, it would be to have a third pillow on request for lounging (not needed for sleeping), and a better topper.

The list of things to change on QF would be significantly longer....

 

[Cessna 180]

Not seat related, but hopefully a quick one. (and not worth a new thread)
Do any of the regular long haul travelers know roughly what part of HKG AY99 arrives at? I am connecting on to MEL with QF this w-end but am hoping to have a little bit of time at The Pier, and perhaps the new Bridge/Deck or whatever it is?

From Memory QF depart up at the opposite end near the QF lounge. Although that may not always be the case.

I could not find this info on google but perhaps I did not look properly.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Bulkhead. Footwell bigger.

I was in 2J specifically because it was a bulkhead, and yet when I walked up the aisle to look at other seats' footwells I couldn't see a difference. Does anyone have photos of the two side by side? Is it possible that not all of their fleet have the same bulkhead-seat config?

 

[RooFlyer]

I was in 2J specifically because it was a bulkhead, and yet when I walked up the aisle to look at other seats' footwells I couldn't see a difference. Does anyone have photos of the two side by side? Is it possible that not all of their fleet have the same bulkhead-seat config?

Most of the footwells have an upright strut in them which is annoying and limits movement. Bulkhead ones do not have this.

 

[luckypierre]

I was in 2J specifically because it was a bulkhead, and yet when I walked up the aisle to look at other seats' footwells I couldn't see a difference. Does anyone have photos of the two side by side? Is it possible that not all of their fleet have the same bulkhead-seat config?

One of our recent flights was on a A330, where I sat in 1H bulkhead seat ( photos attached). To me this seat appeared to have more legroom than 2A bulkhead seat on the A350

 

[Emkay]

Most of the footwells have an upright strut in them which is annoying and limits movement. Bulkhead ones do not have this.

The upright is clearly visible at 1:31 into this review video:

I guess it might be less bothersome to those with shorter legs.

Being 185 cm tall I was keen to select a bulkhead seat to avoid the upright, but was disappointed to find that seat selection for these AY flights was not available to me on the QF Manage My Booking page. This will be because I got the seats as Classic Rewards, rather than on paid tickets. But I found I could get around that problem on the Finnair site, and have secured bulkhead seats 2A and 2L for my wife and I. Now quite looking forward to the SIN-HEL-LHR Airlounge experience!

 

[Cessna 180]

Not seat related, but hopefully a quick one. (and not worth a new thread)
Do any of the regular long haul travelers know roughly what part of HKG AY99 arrives at? I am connecting on to MEL with QF this w-end but am hoping to have a little bit of time at The Pier, and perhaps the new Bridge/Deck or whatever it is?

From Memory QF depart up at the opposite end near the QF lounge. Although that may not always be the case.

I could not find this info on google but perhaps I did not look properly.

Oh well I will answer my own question

99 spat me out right near the transfer security under The Pier with a solid two hours to kill before the 30.

Also re the seat.
I really liked it. Found it very level and comfy and easy to get in and out of for a few pit stops.

Honestly cannot understand people’s gripes.

Catering a bit average but still quite acceptable.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The upright is clearly visible at 1:31 into this review video:

I guess it might be less bothersome to those with shorter legs.

Being 185 cm tall I was keen to select a bulkhead seat to avoid the upright, but was disappointed to find that seat selection for these AY flights was not available to me on the QF Manage My Booking page. This will be because I got the seats as Classic Rewards, rather than on paid tickets. But I found I could get around that problem on the Finnair site, and have secured bulkhead seats 2A and 2L for my wife and I. Now quite looking forward to the SIN-HEL-LHR Airlounge experience!

when is your flight? I too secured the seats via the AY app… it says those bulkheads are supposed to be ‘for a fee’, which seems to be waived for some reason for QF issued awards.

I’d be interested to hear if the bulkhead seats stick and whether or not you get moved!