Beware Finnair Business Class

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dcd

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I recently booked return flights on Finnair "Business Class" from BNE-LHR through the Finnair website. After a few weeks I looked at each leg (BNE-SIN, SIN-HEL, HEL-LHR) for seating preferences and discovered the leg from BNE-SIN and return were in economy. After complaining to their Aussie office and through their website they explained that when booking a banner is displayed indicating some flights may not be available in business but the next available class would be used. I had incorrectly assumed that would be the smaller flight from HEL-LHR. I admit that I should have checked but to advertise a Business Class flight where 35% (one way) is in economy I think is really poor. What exactly is a "Business Class" flight?
 
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Can you cancel and re-book other flights? Probably not at the same price, if yes, then this really is a ripoff - I would have thought you would have picked it up during seat selection - personally I never complete a booking without doing selection.
 
Forgot to mention - I have seen good deals (business class on all legs) with a combination of LX or LH and SQ or CX. If you want to stick all One World then these would not appeal. These fares usually pop up when your final destination is not a major hub - e.g. DUB or VIE,...
 
This is why AYs "cheap" business deals aren't so great, fly half the distance in Y - especially if its via Tokyo!

For OW good value business class to Europe, QR is hard to beat or I actually like UL (minus the lounge in CMB)
 
This is why AYs "cheap" business deals aren't so great, fly half the distance in Y - especially if its via Tokyo!

For OW good value business class to Europe, QR is hard to beat or I actually like UL (minus the lounge in CMB)
QR pretty pricey currently
 
I recently booked return flights on Finnair "Business Class" from BNE-LHR through the Finnair website. After a few weeks I looked at each leg (BNE-SIN, SIN-HEL, HEL-LHR) for seating preferences and discovered the leg from BNE-SIN and return were in economy. After complaining to their Aussie office and through their website they explained that when booking a banner is displayed indicating some flights may not be available in business but the next available class would be used. I had incorrectly assumed that would be the smaller flight from HEL-LHR. I admit that I should have checked but to advertise a Business Class flight where 35% (one way) is in economy I think is really poor. What exactly is a "Business Class" flight?

Yeah - I've been 'almost' caught out by this before... fares that looked good, but something didn't feel quite right :( My further research was triggered by connecting flights via SIN and DPS that were on Jetstar, but not even Jetstar 'business'. Then I looked at their other offerings and many of them were also in economy. There is a sign saying those legs are in economy, but not easy to tell from the main results page IIRC.

This isnt unique to Finnair, happens on QF and other airlines too. You need to check the class for each leg before completing the purchase.

I know what you mean, but Finnair is particular in this regard. These are not award seats but paid fares where you select 'business class'. The results page includes things like Finnair connecting to Cathay, and there would be no reason to suspect the Cathay flight would be in economy as you have selected business class, and business class is available on Cathay.
 
Possibly easier to miss given that AY has a reputation for cheap Asia-Europe and RTW J fares
 
Have noticed that nearly all the good deals ex-AUS with AY have mixed class. The higher fares incorporate J all the way.
QR is incredibly expensive with J ex-AUS, but if you pick it up from SIN, for instance can get some extremely cheap fares.
 
Can you cancel and re-book other flights? Probably not at the same price, if yes, then this really is a ripoff - I would have thought you would have picked it up during seat selection - personally I never complete a booking without doing selection.
No cannot cancel. Seat selection at the time was another $200 odd dollars
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Yeah - I've been 'almost' caught out by this before... fares that looked good, but something didn't feel quite right :( My further research was triggered by connecting flights via SIN and DPS that were on Jetstar, but not even Jetstar 'business'. Then I looked at their other offerings and many of them were also in economy. There is a sign saying those legs are in economy, but not easy to tell from the main results page IIRC.



I know what you mean, but Finnair is particular in this regard. These are not award seats but paid fares where you select 'business class'. The results page includes things like Finnair connecting to Cathay, and there would be no reason to suspect the Cathay flight would be in economy as you have selected business class, and business class is available on Cathay.
Yes, the flight from BNE to SIN is with QANTAS and they have Business class available. So Finnair have not booked next available class
 
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