Finnair’s UNIQUE BUSINESS Class with NO RECLINE | Helsinki - Seoul 

My view on Finnair is that they are struggling with their business model, which was almost perfect just before 2022... but things have changed a lot for them. Not being able to fly over Russia hurts them a lot, more than most other European airlines, which is why we see them continually discounting these flights and cutting some services on these routes to preserve margins. Unfortunately, they are also hurt on their west flights due to sanctions against Russians (who were their major market), and due to SAS revival. I'm not saying Finnair risks to file for bankruptcy, but I doubt very much it makes sense for them to open new destinations. Current market conditions make no sense for them to expand.

Great content! Just to clarify and correct a little: Finnair’s new Schengen lounge opened for travelers only a few months ago, not last year. It surely was long awaited, though!

Dude how havent i seen this channel before. At this point i look forward to all your reviews man. Keep up!

Stunning golden hour views! Looking forward to fly with AY again in a few months!

When I saw your teaser on IG, I was like, "YESSSS, FINALLY! Patrick got to try Finnair's unique business class seat!" 🥳

Thanks Patrick, great vlog as always and enjoy of what you do Patrick.

It's interesting that SAS left the Star Alliance for Skyteam. Their flight from Copenhagen to Atlanta should provide them with connections to just about anywhere in the US via Delta

Appreciate the history, tysm! Edit: from a Finnish perspective, I feel like Finns don't know how to "do" luxury. From hotels to transportations, everything is sufficient enough on economy level but the more expensive options are not worth the money. A while ago some local opened a luxury hotel in the heart of Helsinki; it featured plastic plants in the spa, and sofabeds in the 6000€/night suite. 😅 So if anyone reading this is visiting us, I'd highly recommend not splurging on hotels or trainrides. The basic economy level is fine, you will not get your money's worth when upgrading. The cheapest room will have a minibar, tv, desk etc. and the ones above it might just have a few m2 of added space in higher floors.

So timely… I’ll be flying HEL-ICN in their lounge seat in exactly 4 weeks 😁.. thanks for the review

A350 in finnair paint scheme looks so sexy

I Love The Blueberry Juice Aboard And The Cabin.Great Video And Info

We Australians want to see Finnair expand into our neighbourhood. Using Singapore as a short stopover/hub. We note Qantas is using a couple of leased aircraft and crew on a short contract. Proving very popular it seems!

Qantas currently wet lease a number of their aircraft for flights from south east Asia to Sydney and Brisbane. I did hear that Finnair was thinking of adding some kind of flight to Australia via an Asian destination as Finnair is quite popular with Australians as they offer good deals into Europe.

Very impressed. Amenity kits are a huge waste because I believe many would end up in the bin. The cabin exudes style and looked immaculate.

the cone slide at 14:00 was clean tho

Finnair looks amazing , those seats have a lot of good reviews . Certainly looks better than Lufthansa , thanks for the video.

I used them this weekend from London. They do a flight each way each day on the A350, that I used for the return flight. I'm not sure I'd like it for long haul without being able to recline as I don't want to be upright or lay flat. Service was superb in both directions.

That Finnair glassware is iconic. It was introduced with Finnair’s first intercontinental service in 1969…HEL-CPH-AMS-JFK, and has endured all these years. The design is called Ultima Thule. With the NY inauguration, Finnair assigned a specially trained hostess called the Finn Hostess. Probably akin to the Purser position on other airlines. The Finn Hostess wore a special uniform with a floor-length skirt, the design of which was changed annually. Finnair took great pride in their first intercontinental offering. The AMS and CPH stops lasted on some of their JFK flights well into the 1980s…with some nonstops, some 1-stops and some 2-stops.

Favorite airline hands down. From Europe to Asia there is nobody else. You're going to need to connect somewhere, so why not Helsinki. Helsinki airport is a PLEASURE compared to any major European airport that you may connect through, such as London or Paris. Both are truly horrible. Love this seat. Also love the fact the Finnair partners with Marimekko and Ittala, two top Finnish designers, to give their hard product real Finnish identity. Food in Finnair business is usually very good. Service is always exceptional. If you are planning a trip in the near future, check to see if Finnair can get you there.

Another fantastic video. I love a simple sleek cabin.

Great review, so thorough and complete. Add a little more of yourself in the video.

What I like about your videos is how informative they are. Also like the added historical backgrounds (I never knew the origins of the 'AY' code ; Never knew AY is 6th oldest airline...etc.). Unlike the other YT travel 'authors', where it seems to be ONLY all about videoing themselves and their contrived dramas.

31:01, Yes, but the improvement is to install universal power outlet and air vent on Airbus A350-900's economy class, in order to be the best airline in Finland in economy class, they don't install universal power outlet, which is a bummer and no air vent, making the cabin quite warm on a long haul flight. Even China Southern, Airbus A350-900's economy class also don't have universal power outlet, which is a bummer, but still a good airline to fly besides AIr China and Hainan. 33:52, I agree with you, Finnair needs to resume flights to some places, including San Francisco.

As a Helsinki resident, I detest what the airport has become! was once a unique nordic gem when once you landed you knew you had arrived home, to a now a soulless maze of corporate greed and long walks!

"pre-depature piss?" Dude, find a better word for it. LOL. Great video. I love the seat. Very cool design.

wonderful flight review.This no recline seat surely is a bit strange feature in their business class

Hi Patrick, thank you for another Awesome flight report. I watch every of your reports. I enjoyed Finnair Longhaul Business Class seat. I loved it as I just raised the leg rest to become a simple bed. For European airlines, they only serve a simple breakfast before arrival. You were fortunate that the breakfast was not Continental Breakfast. Looking forward to your next flight report.

Another wonderful vid. I really enjoy your journeys ✈️🌎.. And Finnair looks really good 👌

How many hours did you sleep on the plane and how's your trip to Seoul, did you enjoy your trip, even though it's rainy?

Wow, it looks like one of those retro egg chairs - no recline LOL! I've flown Finnair long-haul a couple of times and always via Chicago. Seems I was able to catch it within season. Their lounge at HEL offers interesting goodies.

HEL is my favorite transiting airport in Europe. It beats CDG, LHR, AMS, FRA by a mile.

Great report, thanks! One note 2:26: Actually you were leaving the passport-free Schengen zone, the EU and the Schengen zone are not 1:1. There are EU-member states who are outside the Schengen (Ireland, Cyprus) and non-EU countries who are in the Schengen (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland)

One of your best vlogs… I’m flying Finnair from London to Helsinki to Prague next month with the first flight on the A350 and the last in an A330 in Business Class. Oh and the European Entry Scheme has been pushed back again so EU stamps continue until further notice.

I flew finnair from dxb to hel last december, and it was on their old a330's in the business class layout, and I was surprisingly in a throne seat! The service was mid and so was the food, so I'll have to try out this product

That plane off to the side at 31:48 is bizarre. Looks like a mash up of a DC 10 and a 747

Looking forward to trying the seats in Jan as part of Qantas wet-lease agreement with Finnair

Nice review. I have not experienced this seat yet; however, looking at the bed setup, it reminds me of SQ's business class with the offset footwell (of course minus flipping the seatback into a bed). Do you think its similar?

I've never flown AY's new business class, but the seats look like they came from IKEA. They just lack that plush, luxurious look that a good business class seat has. I've heard great things about their catering and HEL's lounges though. You're lucky you can look out the window when you take a whiz in that loo...the other 50% aren't so lucky hahaha

It's a love it or hate it design. It's one of the more comfortable that I have tried in the lie flat position.

lol, I thought they gave a sleeping option just by sitting. I was a bit perplexed.

Apparently, you liked the seat and you didn’t find it difficult to find a relaxing seat position. That sounds good. The flight path to Seoul looked quite odd, during the Cold War when Russian airspace was closed as well, planes flew over the North Pole to Seoul or Tokyo, no this strange southern route.

10:59 Yaaaasss!

Finnair still has excess capacity. They wet lease 2 A330s to Qantas for Sydney to Singapore and Bangkok services. After 2 and a half years the lease will be for the aircraft only for a further 2 years. The business class seat will certainly confuse regular Qantas passengers.

How did you find the A350s with the most usage?

Before covid and Russia closing it's airspace, Asia was huge market for Finnair. Yes, there are many airlines who fly to Tokyo, Osaka, Soul, Beijing, Shanghai... But Finland had several unique destinations too. That made Finland great operator for Europeans, who were flying to Asian destinations. It is always the best option to end your flights with the longest one, so flying from Helsinki to Chongqing, Guangzhou, Nanjing or Xi'an, after a short hop inside Europe was suitable for many. It is very stressful to first fly a long flight, then spend some time in Asian large airport trying easily to find your next flight, lets say a domestic China flight. Not fun. Way easier to first fly to Helsinki, navigate through a smaller and simpler European airport, and then fly to your final destination. Not many, if any European airline offered flights to those cities in China. Atleast not in same manner as Finnair did. Now the same business model benefits other airlines more, since through Finland it takes not a lot longer to fly to Asia, since Finnair has to fly so much longer routes to get around Russian air space.

Video Perfecto 👌gracias .

That's my cousin heyyy it's jackson

What’s the military jet seen at 31:49??

Is that a boeing 747 trijet at 31:50 !?!?!

wow, definitely very unique among business class products. the design looks very sleek and clean, makes me want to try this out someday

Cost cutting all over the place - one tray service, no choice of appetisers, one option only for breakfast (“yes” or “no” lol). Replate all the food into economy trays and you won’t see the difference.

I truly do not like that seat , I flew it Dallas to Helsinki. The service however was nice.

Hey. What had put me off to fly Finnair it has been their stupid hand luggage policy and the stupid restructuring of the fares, business lite light and god knows what all to confuse customers. I am British airways silver membership one world saphire. Do I get lounge access on the cheaper business fare? what would it be the luggage allowance? extra than the light fare? So annoying because they could be good option but they really screw it up. I even called customers service on them before buying a flight and they couldn't answer this same basic questions and them website wouldn't either in QUA questions. All this makes Finnair look like LCC sorry for them they could be much better.Also one only breakfast option for breakfast and not even vegetarian option. I hope one of FINNAIR director or managers get in contact with me so I can give a customer perpective. Until them sorry better off flying Ba Quatar alliance.

Imagine comparing Finnair to Emirates cabin....two very different takes on luxury

Another banger trip report! Absolutely hope to do this myself one day!

finnair is getting genuinely worse especially for economy class passengers on both western and eastern markets. the prices are way out of touch since the closure of russian airspace, so i would really prefer a layover in china or even paris and amsterdam instead of finnair long haul economy

I’d hate that. I like the seat to be almost lie flat, but at an angle. And no recline? No thanks

One of your best Patrick. I think the AY new business seat is a fantastic innovation.

28:19 Wow that's quite the detour around Ukraine and Russia.

I just cant get over the seat! Mainly cuz I like the cradle zero G position

Tell me you sat and swielled in those egg 🥚 chairs Pat? 😅

👍

Tried it, didn't like it.

How does one turn off the Wikipedia talk?

2 mins early

Bro , we all know what a hot towel looks like 😂😅, and this flight you featured it twice.

Patrick - you have voice candy...

I used to fly finnair but now never again because there business class seats 💺 suck save your money