As part of a $44.5 million overhaul, Finnair is upgrading its international Airbus fleet of A330s and A340s with a new lie-flat Business Class seat. Instead of the old “angled lie-flat” seats, passengers will be able to get a proper night’s sleep on a completely flat sleeping surface.
The airline has gradually been rolling out the new Business Class on a number of intercontinental routes from Helsinki, including Tokyo and New York from 1st April 2014; Beijing and Seoul from 1 May 2014; Hanoi, Nagoya, Osaka and Shanghai from 1 June 2014; and Hong Kong during the winter season.
After the retrofit program is complete, all of Finnair’s long-haul Airbus fleet will have full-flat seats in Business Class with the exception of three older aircraft, which will still feature the old angled lie-flat seating. These three aircraft will be the first to be removed from the fleet as next-generation Airbus A350 XWBs begin arriving in 2015.
At the Airport
If you’re flying Business Class with Finnair you enjoy a number of perks, including priority check-in and boarding, priority security, access to the Business Class lounges and a generous baggage allowance of three pieces of luggage weighing up to 23kg each.
Onboard
The cabin itself has a light interior, with seats covered in a textured fabric in Finnair’s signature ice blue colour. The Zodiac Vantage seats are equipped with a massage function and convert into 2 metre-long fully-flat beds.
In front of you you’ll find ample legroom, with a sloping footrest, as well as your personal TV monitor. To the side of the TV screen, there’s a literature pocket with coat hooks above it. Next to your seat, parallel to your shoulder, there’s a reading light, a storage compartment and your audio/USB sockets. The entertainment controls and the foldaway table are in the console beside the seat.
Each aircraft is configured slightly differently- some are in a 1-2-1 layout, some are in a 2-2-2 layout and others are in a 1-2-2 layout. If you’re travelling alone the best seats are the single seats with direct aisle access. If you choose one of these, some have the table between the seat and the aisle, while others have the table next to the window. If you want more privacy, go for the seat with the table between you and the aisle.
In Business Class you’ll receive an amenity kit containing high-quality skincare products, plus complimentary meals, wines and snacks on demand.
Dining
The menus have been created by top Finnish chefs, who have combined the fresh, crisp tastes of Nordic cuisine with colourful, Mediterranean influences. Expect Finnish ingredients such as berries from the forests, wild mushrooms, game and freshwater fish, alongside Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oil, local cheeses, wine and pasta. All of this is complemented by high-quality wines and a selection of breads. On long-haul Business Class flights you’ll be served two meals; your main meal will consist of an appetizer or soup, main course (three alternatives), cheese and dessert.
The three main courses on long-haul flights change regularly and you can pre-order your meal online up to 24 hours before your flight. On intercontinental flights from Helsinki, you can pre-order one of our three ‘Meals designed for you’ options, which are Wellness and Energy, Food Lover’s Treat, and Chef’s Gourmet. Onboard the aircraft, you can dine whenever you like throughout the flight and everything is served on a ‘Marimekko for Finnair’ collection of tableware to make you feel like you’re dining in a top restaurant. If you’re feeling peckish, you can order snacks or sweets at any stage during the journey and the Business Class cabins on many of Finnair’s A340s and A330s feature a separate snack bar so you can help yourself.
Inflight Entertainment
The IFE system features a 12.1” touch screen TV, which isn’t as big as those seen on some of the other long-haul airlines. Still, it comes with a smart, modern interface and audio and video on demand. You’ll find a choice of 72 movies, 150 TV shows, extensive audio selection, books, newspapers, magazines, comics and games available in different languages.
Using the satellite telephone you can send messages to networks on the ground for 2 USD per message and call other passengers on the same flight free of charge. Plus, you can charge up electronic devices like laptops and iPads using the power socket at your seat.
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