FINNAIR - new Business Class AirLounge seat

[Mattg]

While I am sceptical about the new J seats the PE seats looked pretty good for that class. I didn't see anywhere if you get any other benefits regarding food, boarding etc.

They will have dedicated catering for PE.

 

[SYD]

While I am sceptical about the new J seats the PE seats looked pretty good for that class. I didn't see anywhere if you get any other benefits regarding food, boarding etc.

Some of the articles mention two PE meal services. 1x 3 course and 1x light meal (or something like that). Similar to QF.

Don’t recall seeing priority boarding / checkin but you’d expect something extra. No lounge, but for those who can mix a JL PE connection to/from Oz will gets some lounge access along the way!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Some of the articles mention two PE meal services. 1x 3 course and 1x light meal (or something like that). Similar to QF.

Don’t recall seeing priority boarding / checkin but you’d expect something extra. No lounge, but for those who can mix a JL PE connection to/from Oz will gets some lounge access along the way!

I think you'd probably just stay on JL the whole way? Doesn't seem to be too much revolutionary about the finnair premium economy seat

 

[OZDUCK]

Some of the articles mention two PE meal services. 1x 3 course and 1x light meal (or something like that). Similar to QF.

Don’t recall seeing priority boarding / checkin but you’d expect something extra. No lounge, but for those who can mix a JL PE connection to/from Oz will gets some lounge access along the way!

I think you'd probably just stay on JL the whole way? Doesn't seem to be too much revolutionary about the finnair premium economy seat

Of course that does depend on you having access to JL out of Australia.

 

[SYD]

I think you'd probably just stay on JL the whole way? Doesn't seem to be too much revolutionary about the finnair premium economy seat

Quite true! It will be interesting to see how the pricing lands. At the mo, JL J is better value than AY (apart from layovers etc).

I personally won’t buy PE (over a bargain J fare) but those who do will hopefully get codeshare QF, CX (and even BA) PE - better still for status PAX. For the price conscious, those whY to Asia and then PE to HEL and into Europe could be quite interesting.

 

[PineappleSkip]

While I am sceptical about the new J seats the PE seats looked pretty good for that class. I didn't see anywhere if you get any other benefits regarding food, boarding etc.

Nothing about the J seat appealed much, but the 13 inch screens in Y+ caught my eye. Apart from that the hard Y+ product looked pretty standard. Some detail on Y+ inclusions on this page. Not much over Y, same 23kg luggage allowance, same "pay for" lounge access, no priority checkin, security or boarding, paid seat selection other than flex fares. Ticket sales start in a couple of weeks.

Cheers skip

 

[MELso]

Doesn't look like you get much more on PE compared to Y, except the better seat and food:

Finnair ticket types

Find the best ticket type for your travel needs. See what's included in our Superlight, Light, Classic and Flex tickets.

www.finnair.com

Finnair Premium Economy

Our brand-new Premium Economy Class offers you more choice, space and comfort with wide seats. Embrace the new sensation of flying with Finnair.

www.finnair.com

 

[PineappleSkip]

Well, better food is useful, even if you have to pay for champers. And an amenity kit to add to your collection. That's one better than BA Y+ IIRC.

Cheers skip

 

[MELso]

I think you'd probably just stay on JL the whole way? Doesn't seem to be too much revolutionary about the finnair premium economy seat

Not sure how familiar you are, but for a traveller from MEL, you used to be able to hop MEL-NRT-HEL, making it a brilliant way to get to Europe cheaply on as-comfy-as-Y-can-be JL 787 metal, with a piece of cake NRT transfer in the middle.

Unfortunately though, JL moved their flight to HEL from NRT to HND breaking this great way to get to Europe (I imagine transferring airports in Tokyo is not fun, and would take too long anyway), but if AY can offer a decently priced PE product, it may push the 'reindeer route' back into contention...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure how familiar you are, but for a traveller from MEL, you used to be able to hop MEL-NRT-HEL, making it a brilliant way to get to Europe cheaply on as-comfy-as-Y-can-be JL 787 metal, with a piece of cake NRT transfer in the middle.

Unfortunately though, JL moved their flight to HEL from NRT to HND breaking this great way to get to Europe (I imagine transferring airports in Tokyo is not fun, and would take too long anyway), but if AY can offer a decently priced PE product, it may push the 'reindeer route' back into contention...

I didn't realise about the change of airports in Tokyo.

But actually all things considered I probably would still take JL's PE over a competitor.

JL's PE is much the same as Qantas' domestic business class... same size seat, champagne, lounge access all included. And for around $2700 return (some others are charging $1000 more for less substantial offerings). The transfer between airports in Tokyo is pretty seamless, and quick. I've done it a couple of times and it's quite fun/interesting. If I was doing this trip every year, without stopping in Japan, I might get over the transfer thin

 

[kelvedon]

…..but at the moment transferring from NRT to HND isn’t possible because of Covid19 restrictions

 

[jrfsp]

My seatmap for NRT-HEL in june as switched to the new seat.....not sure how i feel about it - especially as its a day flight /

 

[OATEK]

My seatmap for NRT-HEL in june as switched to the new seat.....not sure how i feel about it - especially as its a day flight /

It will be great for the rest of us to get a first hand report though!!

 

[OZDUCK]

My seatmap for NRT-HEL in june as switched to the new seat.....not sure how i feel about it - especially as its a day flight /

Just be proud that you get to take one for the team!

 

[aaa99]

It looks like SIN-HEL will be the first to get the AirLounge seat.
Traveling on the 1st on this flight from SIN, so we might just miss out on it. Although like above, not sure how I feel about it.

Finnair brings its new AirLounge Business Class to Singapore – daily VTL from April

You can be one of the first to sample Finnair’s new A350 AirLounge Business Class between Singapore and Helsinki from April 2022, with daily VTL flights loaded including award space from 70,0…

mainlymiles.com

 

[OATEK]

It looks like SIN-HEL will be the first to get the AirLounge seat.
Traveling on the 1st on this flight from SIN, so we might just miss out on it. Although like above, not sure how I feel about it.

Finnair brings its new AirLounge Business Class to Singapore – daily VTL from April

You can be one of the first to sample Finnair’s new A350 AirLounge Business Class between Singapore and Helsinki from April 2022, with daily VTL flights loaded including award space from 70,0…

mainlymiles.com

AY have had a good price differential in the past with other carriers (eg QF, SQ) and so I have been prepared to take on even their older J seats (A333/340s). But at present for SYD-xx_ in Europe, there has been little difference in price, which means I may not be interested in giving the new lounge seat a go for a while.

 

[OZDUCK]

AY have had a good price differential in the past with other carriers (eg QF, SQ) and so I have been prepared to take on even their older J seats (A333/340s). But at present for SYD-xx_ in Europe, there has been little difference in price, which means I may not be interested in giving the new lounge seat a go for a while.

I agree that the price difference has basically vanished or even gone the other way at the moment. We have done a number of trips to Europe by getting a 'cheap' flight to Singapore and picking up a J Flight, including on Finnair, from there. I just had a look for some dates in August/September when we are considering going to Germany for a family catch-up. A 'Classic' J return fare Singapore/Frankfurt is (Singapore Dollars) $5,825 on SQ and $4,332 on Finnair. But I could get a QR fare in Q Suites for $4,320 return.

Our 2020 cancelled trip to Berlin cost $4,151 per pax and was on QF J for the Perth/Singapore legs and then Finnair J for the German legs. This was at least $1,500 cheaper per pax than flying all the way from Perth on SQ, QR or QF.

 

[frodo]

JL's PE is much the same as Qantas' domestic business class... same size seat, champagne, lounge access all included. And for around $2700 return (some others are charging $1000 more for less substantial offerings). The transfer between airports in Tokyo is pretty seamless, and quick. I've done it a couple of times and it's quite fun/interesting. If I was doing this trip every year, without stopping in Japan, I might get over the transfer thin

I had a trip booked over Christmas 2020 in JL premium economy. SYD-HND-CDG and returning HEL-HND-SYD. It only cost $2300-2400, included lounge access, and they even provided me with free overnight accomodation in Tokyo on the outbound flight as arrival time into Tokyo was 5pm and the onward flight did not depart until 11am the next day.

So even with a long connection time, it is still an option worth looking at, especially with an added bonus of dinner in Tokyo.

Back on topic, I came across this new business class as youtube knows too much about me and suggested the finnair video. First impression is that the seat is a downgrade, the video angles deliberately hide the limited space the seat seems to have, and I can't imagine not having a recline on a long flight.

I would definitely choose other carriers if prices were similar.

 

[dajop]

AY have had a good price differential in the past with other carriers (eg QF, SQ) and so I have been prepared to take on even their older J seats (A333/340s). But at present for SYD-xx_ in Europe, there has been little difference in price, which means I may not be interested in giving the new lounge seat a go for a while.

The other thing to watch about AY is their lead in business class fares, "Business Light" do not come with luggage, nor priority check-in, nor lounges (presumably would still get these as benefit if OW Sapphire or higher). This is ex-SIN presume the same from other ports.

 

[PERLHR]

I kinda like it...even though not ofcourse been able to try it yet. I like Finnair and sometimes their forward thinking is a winner. Sauna and great lounge at Helsinki as examples. I hope this is a great success