All you Finnair Plus members, some hot news from HEL

[Skyring]

Nothing to get too alarmed about but with a return to more normal demand post-pandemic, Finnair is revising some of its baggage rules and points charges. In a surprise twist to the usual enhancement announcement, none of the changes add up to good news for passengers.

A run-down here.
I haven't flown Finnair since the volcano thing - when they upped the missus and me to J, KIX to HEL, very nice of them, thank you - and I'm looking forward to flying again with them next month, albeit in Business Light with non-reclining seats and no baggage or lounge access included in the fare, ay?

 

[docjames]

It’s fairly damning that those enhancements are an actual (positive) enhancement - coming off a low base sadly……

 

[Captain Halliday]

Going down the LCC path of charging for seat selection, including in premium cabins, is a significant and unwelcome enhancement.

It will apply to award bookings.

Only the most expensive revenue fare buckets will escape the accountant’s wrath.

 

[Skyring]

Going down the LCC path of charging for seat selection, including in premium cabins, is a significant and unwelcome enhancement.

It will apply to award bookings.

Only the most expensive revenue fare buckets will escape the accountant’s wrath.

My upcoming flight is their business light fare. No bags, no seat selection, no lounge access. I paid for a bag all the way there and back, and a lounge access in HEL but be damned if I was going to spend $250 each way to select my seat. I'll take what they give me and be happy with it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Such bull!

If the airline was *really* interested in an on time departure they could schedule a longer turn around, or start boarding five minutes earlier.

Clamping down on cabin baggage is simply money grabbing.

 

[dajop]

Clamping down on cabin baggage is simply money grabbing.

It's aligning with the competition such as EasyJet. Best way to deal with this, from a customer viewpoint, is take backpacks as cabin bags ("small bags") rather than wheelaboards.

What you see in Easyjet, etc is the separate yield management of three different prices ... passenger (inc. small bag), cabin bag (wheelaboard) and checked bag. These vary on flight and demand, no relation to distance like is for example with Jetstar. Cabin bags are often very expensive on peak business flights. I suspect Finnair may do the same.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's aligning with the competition such as EasyJet. Best way to deal with this, from a customer viewpoint, is take backpacks as cabin bags ("small bags") rather than wheelaboards.

What you see in Easyjet, etc is the separate yield management of three different prices ... passenger (inc. small bag), cabin bag (wheelaboard) and checked bag. These vary on flight and demand, no relation to distance like is for example with Jetstar. Cabin bags are often very expensive on peak business flights. I suspect Finnair may do the same.

Exactly! Nothing to do with striving for in time departures.

 

[SydneySwan]

No doubt this will mean higher fees & charges when we are booking an OWA that includes AY.

 

[jpp42]

damned if I was going to spend $250 each way to select my seat.

Did I miss something ... FinnAir charges the equivalent of AUD $250 for seat selection in business? What length flight is that? Crazy.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Did I miss something ... FinnAir charges the equivalent of AUD $250 for seat selection in business? What length flight is that? Crazy.

Yes they do unless you are on a flexible ticket or have One World Sapphire status or higher.

Similar policy to that which BA has for J

 

[Skyring]

Did I miss something ... FinnAir charges the equivalent of AUD $250 for seat selection in business? What length flight is that? Crazy.

I'm on a Business Light fare. Seat selection, luggage, lounge access, priority boarding not included.

That's okay. I paid for a bag and one lounge access in Helsinki. What I really want is the seat. At least meals and grog are included.