Finnair to launch Melbourne-Helsinki flights

[elanshin]

I think Finnair needs a new ad . This just showed up on Facebook for me.

 

[Melburnian1]

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.

This airline got only a middling review on a competitor website to AFF.

There's much criticism in accompanying comments about the non-reclining J seat, and how uncomfortable it apparently is after a few hours, especially for taller people.

The lack of choice in Y and limitation to one alcoholic drink (and only during meal service) was also widely panned.

The overall impression was AY is poorer than many Asian and European airlines.

I'll avoid it, as often cheaper to fly via MNL, using separate airlines and PNRs MEL/SYD-MNL and then MNL-UK or Europe open jaw. The bonuses: far better J seating, and very good to excellent service on board.

 

[PERLHR]

I think the biz seat is certainly a personal choice of comfort ...but is it not the same for most carriers? Personally I like it. I can get comfortable...and slouch well but can also go into flat mode. Yes it's different....quite unique. If it does not work for some (and I'm sure that is the case) then for sure a different operator for long haul is the best way to go.

 

[RooFlyer]

Apologies, because I’ve said it up thread, but I’m another fan of AY in business. In my experience both recently and a few years ago ( BKK to HEL and return once, one way once, within Europe a number of times and HEL to MIA) good attentive service, comfortable seat, great food (I like seafood).

As a bonus they have their “round the world“ fares which can be excellent value.

 

[frodo]

There's much criticism in accompanying comments about the non-reclining J seat, and how uncomfortable it apparently is after a few hours, especially for taller people.

See this thread for people's thoughts on the J seat. It is divisive, but for sleeping, opinion seems to be mostly positive.

Haven't flown Y but from the reviews I've seen, it seems worse than other full service airlines.

 

[Mr_Tee]

Apologies, because I’ve said it up thread, but I’m another fan of AY in business. In my experience both recently and a few years ago ( BKK to HEL and return once, one way once, within Europe a number of times and HEL to MIA) good attentive service, comfortable seat, great food (I like seafood).

As a bonus they have their “round the world“ fares which can be excellent value.

@RooFlyer these are my sentiments exactly. I'm a fan for all the same reasons. I'm quite happy that they are making the full trek from HEL to MEL. I think they will get a lot of support out of Melbourne and surrounds. I know that I am already thinking of where I want to go to book a flight with them.

 

[justinbrett]

I took a few AY flights (J and Y) a few months ago. I found short haul J really good, Yes the seat is literally the same as Y without even going to the effort of the middle seat tray like BA. But I found their service top notch (to the point of watching the FA time my tea bag infusion with her watch before serving it).

The Schengen lounge in HEL is pretty bad IMO, the “Platinum Corner” has nothing the main lounge doesn’t have. It’s basically Admirals Club level. Inferior even to a Qantas Club IMO (and that’s a low bar). Speaking of bars, no spirits.

Flying Y they are basically a LCC with free blueberry juice.

I haven’t flown long haul with them but I think they’d definitely be a few steps below BA in Y based on my short haul experiences and reviews I’ve seen on YouTube. J however will be an attractive option.

 

[elanshin]

In some sense if i think about it. Finnair kind of serves BKK correctly. In Y you're hoping to catch the leisure travellers to BKK (maybe if the price is right to EU, but the extra stop vs QR, SQ and EK is already a deterrent). It'll be JQ but slightly better. We'll see how they play with QF and QFF as for OW benefits.

They have a good J product which turns MEL - HEL - EU a solid proposition. I'm more ok showing up to Europe 6-12h slower if its a full J journey for a holiday. Work trips, you're likely looking at the best timing solution anyways which will inevitably be between QF, SQ, EK, QR and maybe CX out of MEL.

I'm hoping they do some good promotional launches once all the kinks are out of the way. I reckon late Jan and early Feb we might see some action in that front.