Finnair to launch Melbourne-Helsinki flights

[MELso]

Launch fares are out for economy class… MEL to:

LHR $1448
DUB $1205
Scandinavia $1500 upwards
HEL and CDG $1780

Those are for economy light, no checked baggage, non-changeable, non refundable. For travel off peak in November.

Looking at Dublin as the lead-in, economy fares with checked bags around $1980 return.

London is $1727 return

PEY for just under $4000 return.

Those fares seem a little uncompetitive for the level of service provided.

When I was looking a couple of days ago, the J fares were crazy cheap - think $4.5k to AMS on OTAs. It seems they've now been fixed up as the same days now look to be almost $10k! Quite the hike over even their normal rates (possibly because the fares have only been released, but even so...).

Totally agree that the fares are not that good given the service (minimal food, paid booze, spartan amenities, 2 stops if not going to HEL itself etc).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

When I was looking a couple of days ago, the J fares were crazy cheap - think $4.5k to AMS on OTAs. It seems they've now been fixed up as the same days now look to be almost $10k! Quite the hike over even their normal rates (possibly because the fares have only been released, but even so...).

Totally agree that the fares are not that good given the service (minimal food, paid booze, spartan amenities, 2 stops if not going to HEL itself etc).

I would expect heavy discounting… unless their market is Finland and they’re not really interested in connecting traffic?

Pax can get pretty much any major legacy carrier for the same prices or cheaper, cutting out one stop, and with all the expected amenities.

Unless… the likes of BA and QR are sending AY into the market to test the ‘basic’ economy proposition?

 

[am0985]

I can find $8300ish on OTAs for MEL - BKK - HEL - LHR r/t.

Not particularly competitive TBH, Malaysia is one stop only and is around $1000 cheaper. Given they're both OW can't see a reason to book Finnair at these prices.

 

[Saab34]

Give it time, launch fares on many new starters are some of the worst fares you will ever see. Come back in say 1-2 months.

 

[RooFlyer]

Always good for more competition and as probably the only one left on AFF who hasn’t tried out their J seats I’ll have to look at using some Avios to on our next trip to Asia

Lot of talk here how bad economy is ... but I found J to be excellent; even with a 'bad back' the seat was good. However ... I think you said you don't like, or eat fish? May struggle with the menu - all my flights were fish heavy, which I loved, but others may not. If a major issue, may wish to enquire about special meals? Sounds odd, I know, depends on the strength of your aversion (if I have it right).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Lot of talk here how bad economy is ... but I found J to be excellent; even with a 'bad back' the seat was good. However ... I think you said you don't like, or eat fish? May struggle with the menu - all my flights were fish heavy, which I loved, but others may not. If a major issue, may wish to enquire about special meals? Sounds odd, I know, depends on the strength of your aversion (if I have it right).

you can view the menus up to six months in advance and choose your main. one of the starters should also be non-fish.

 

[jase05]

Lot of talk here how bad economy is ... but I found J to be excellent; even with a 'bad back' the seat was good. However ... I think you said you don't like, or eat fish? May struggle with the menu - all my flights were fish heavy, which I loved, but others may not. If a major issue, may wish to enquire about special meals? Sounds odd, I know, depends on the strength of your aversion (if I have it right).

Mrs Jase and I both don’t eat seafood so that is something I would definitely have to consider

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Mrs Jase and I both don’t eat seafood so that is something I would definitely have to consider

The menus are posted here: Business Class menus on long-haul flights

You get both small plates, only one of them is fish (sometimes neither are). And the rest of the menu you can select non-fish.

 

[nomadscientist]

This is so cool! I really like Finnair and more options for flying them is great. I can see business and economy award availability loaded if using Avios, but haven't seen any show up for Qantas yet.

It seems that HEL-MEL direct is starting from 25 Oct 2026 with daily flights. However, as of today still no Qantas reward availability yet. (At least for me as a Bronze flyer.) It may take... a while.

 

[Mr_Tee]

Considering this new development of Finnair flying into Australia would it be worthwhile to add a new Finnair sub-forum under the "Airlines & their Loyalty Programs" sub-forum heading?

I suspect there will be a lot of new commentary and activity about the airline and their loyalty program etc. now that they have made the great decision to enter the Australian market.

Something for @AFF Editor to consider?

 

[RooFlyer]

The menus are posted here: Business Class menus on long-haul flights

You get both small plates, only one of them is fish (sometimes neither are). And the rest of the menu you can select non-fish.

Right, of course. My memory clouded by the deliciousness of the seafood options.

Christmas markets in Europe and Caribbean cruise (RTW)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Considering this new development of Finnair flying into Australia would it be worthwhile to add a new Finnair sub-forum under the "Airlines & their Loyalty Programs" sub-forum heading?

I suspect there will be a lot of new commentary and activity about the airline and their loyalty program etc. now that they have made the great decision to enter the Australian market.

Something for @AFF Editor to consider?

Agree… which reminded me that Finnair has a really bad reputation when it comes to consumer law and the EU261 scheme. They even pursued an AFFer for thousands of euros in costs after an EU261 claim went to court.

So the forum is likely to get some use!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My prediction… they will end up cancelling one of the (now 3x daily HEL-BKK flights. The one that continues through to MEL will focus on the 5th freedom traffic, trying to capture the LCC market between BKK and MEL/HEL.

Business class will be the icing on the cake for them if they can get the traffic all the way from MEL a commanding just under $9k. Cause they can’t get anywhere near that ex BKK.

 

[PERLHR]

I was actually looking at pricing it the other way...ex UK or CDG as example to Melbourne in J. Comes in at just over 8,000 odd in AUD. From my search it seems to priced in that direction on par with TK.

 

[Oubline]

It seems that HEL-MEL direct is starting from 25 Oct 2026 with daily flights. However, as of today still no Qantas reward availability yet. (At least for me as a Bronze flyer.) It may take... a while.

It was mentioned earlier in the thread by am0985, but according to Finnair’s website they say they’ll release Avios seats from 23 December. I reckon midnight GMT that day will be the next milestone, until then (or later) I’m not thinking we’ll see any Qantas availability.

From past (anecdotal) experience, I’m guessing we’ll only see whatever seats Finnair releases above and beyond their minimum seat guarantee which Avios programs get first access to.

Use Avios on Finnair award flights

Use Avios to pay for award flights or reduce the flight price by combining Avios with money. Put the miles flown and Avios collected to good use.

www.finnair.com

 

[elanshin]

I wouldn't really consider the current pricing too much. They'll be promos and campaigns to push awareness as well as to entice people to try Finnair at some point.

 

[jlw]

Don't hold your breath for being able to travel MEL-BKK & V.V, the Finnair website lists BKK as a tech stop.

 

[elanshin]

Don't hold your breath for being able to travel MEL-BKK & V.V, the Finnair website lists BKK as a tech stop.View attachment 486007

They had MEL<>BKK on sale before they got MEL<> HEL working yesterday. Tickets are on sale.

I've just out some random dates in.

 

[jlw]

They had MEL<>BKK on sale before they got MEL<> HEL working yesterday. Tickets are on sale.

I've just out some random dates in.

View attachment 486008

Intresting as the booking engine listed LHR-MEL as 1 stop service, maybe don't have traffic rights yet for HEL_BKK extra flight?

 

[drron]

Is it? Assuming its market share has remained constant, that's not what Flight Centre claimed recently in a media article I read: IIRC, its word to describe selling airfares to Europe was 'challenging'. The article concentrated on booming sales ex-Oz to Asia.

Though part of that may be because the Punters know more than we assume and are getting a cheap Aust - Asia flight and buying their Asia == Europe flights elsewhere. That would explain party a booming Asia market and a difficult European market.