Finnair to launch Melbourne-Helsinki flights

[Flyfrequently]

I will call Qantas next week and report back.
Interestingly booking J through Finnair in July is sub $4k return
Not sure if I am a fan of their non-reclining bed though - need to do more research.

 

[Saab34]

Seat fees seem stupid. $130-$150 to select a Y seat on a MEL-BKK.

 

[Bofter]

Interestingly booking J through Finnair in July is sub $4k return
Not sure if I am a fan of their non-reclining bed though - need to do more research.

I have flown on the air lounge and was happy enough that I have booked to do so again.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I will call Qantas next week and report back.
Interestingly booking J through Finnair in July is sub $4k return
Not sure if I am a fan of their non-reclining bed though - need to do more research.

The only research you can really do is to fly it. Anything else won’t cut the mustard!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Will be tagging onto AY146 tomorrow from BKK, will be interesting to see how many aboard are continuing from MEL onto HEL.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Cute signage up at HEL

 

[FlyingFiona]

The only research you can really do is to fly it. Anything else won’t cut the mustard!

Agreed. I thought I'd hate it but after flying it I think it's one of the best!

 

[Mwenenzi]

Finnair article 17 Oct 2026 (from a FT post)

How the Helsinki–Melbourne route is flown

Behind the scenes of Finnair’s 22-hour Melbourne flight: how the service is designed, what happens in Bangkok and how much blueberry juice we need.

www.finnair.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Finnair article 17 Oct 2026 (from a FT post)

How the Helsinki–Melbourne route is flown

Behind the scenes of Finnair’s 22-hour Melbourne flight: how the service is designed, what happens in Bangkok and how much blueberry juice we need.

www.finnair.com

So stoopid… quote from the article around ‘when are meals served?’

We aim to serve meals when passengers are most likely to want to eat, and to offer as many peaceful moments as possible for sleeping on the flight. ​

Errr… they serve a meal after takeoff, and a snack before landing

I would have liked to have seen the answer to the question ‘how do I sleep when you don’t provide pillows in economy?’

 

[Bofter]

So stoopid… quote from the article around ‘when are meals served?’

We aim to serve meals when passengers are most likely to want to eat, and to offer as many peaceful moments as possible for sleeping on the flight. ​

Errr… they serve a meal after takeoff, and a snack before landing

I would have liked to have seen the answer to the question ‘how do I sleep when you don’t provide pillows in economy?’

Or what proportion of the cabin crew (not tech crew) on the BKK-MEL-BKK flights have their home base in HEL. Some announcements make me suspect the number is not high, perhaps just enough to cover off on having at least someone Finnish speaking. Such arrangements would not be unique to Finnair, but the way the article talks about hotels for cabin crew doesn't fit other announcements about their BKK crew base.

Sometimes PR articles contain a few interesting bits hidden amongst the PR slop. I think their consumption rate of blueberry juice was about as close as this one got, sadly. I am happy the article was shared, but wish they had actually said something more in it.