The Ins & Outs of Flying Finnair Business Class.

Disclosure: I was invited by Finnair for my flight from Frankfurt to Tokyo. 

I still remember my first time flying Finnair Business Class. It was also my first trip to China and couldn’t have been more excited. The fact that I never heard of the city I was going to (Chongqing, a metropolis with over 30 million people) speaks for my lack of geographic knowledge and the fact that Finnair flies to some pretty cool destinations in Asia. 

I also remember the amazing food we got served which started this culinary journey on the right note. All in all, I was thrilled to repeat the experience if only to get another Marimekko amenity kit… 

My wish became a reality when I recently got to fly with Finnair to Tokyo. It was also my first trip to Japan and I was thrilled to kick it off with a very comfy flight and hopefully some decent shut-eye. 

How did it go? I will share it all with you in this Finnair Business Class review and tell you why this is the airline (you may not have thought about) to take you to Asia in style. 

FINNAIR BUSINESS CLASS REVIEW

FINNAIR BUSINESS CLASS SEATS

The seats in the new Finnair Business Class are truly one of a kind. With a 1-2-1 configuration Finnair is the first airline to introduce Collins’ AirLounge seats. While they are not quite pods with a door to close the shell design offers maximum privacy. And if you choose the middle seats and are traveling with your partner you can take down the divider between the seats. 

Unlike other business class seats you cannot recline but simply add connecting pieces (with the push of a few buttons) to turn your seat into a full lay-flat bed. There is enough space for people up to 1,95 m to lay completely flat with a mattress that is also super wide and cozy. 

To make it extra comfy, you get a mattress pad and the best and softest Marimekko pillow and duvet. I was very tempted to see if they could fit in my backpack. Not only was the design great but they were just incredibly snuggly unlike most airline blankets that turn you into a static monster. 

The seatbelt works much like a car seatbelt unless you lay down. For sleeping you have a separate strap that just goes across your waist.

In addition there is plenty of storage space right in your shell, a table available with the press of a button, reading light as well as various chargers including a USB C socket. The latter was something I very much appreciated considering that I had forgotten my USB cable at home.

For now, these new seats are only available on long-haul flights in the A350 and A330.

FINNAIR BUSINESS CLASS FOOD

One of the thing I love most about flying Finnair Business Class is that you can view your menu before you even leave the house. On their website, you can see the menus for the various routes. As someone who studies menus religiously before going to any restaurant this was such a treat. It got me even more excited for the trip!

Once I was settled in my seat, I of course started my trip with a glass of bubbles (Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Brut NV). All glasses are from the Finnish manufacturer Iittala and the current collection is the Ultima Thule. They are so stunning that they are even sold on Finnair’s website. In addition, I got the yummiest smokey roasted almonds.

In case you have forgotten what’s to eat there is a printed Finnair Business Class menu at your seat including a very comprehensive wine list. There are three whites, three reds as well as dessert wine and port to choose from. 

A cute extra: you can see what is happening when on your screen. Meal times as well as sleeping times are shown for your flight so you can prepare accordingly (or let the flight attendants know not to wake you). 

My dinner came with two starters as well as three different mains and two dessert options or cheese. On my flight I could choose between lamb, fish, and chicken. If you want a vegetarian or special meal you will need to order it in advance. 

I started with a salmon tataki which was a lovely nod to my Japanese adventure about to start and ordered the fish for my main. I was once told to never order fish on a plane but Finnair really knows what they are doing – it was delicious as was the fish dish I ordered on my way home when I was flying Finnair Premium Economy. 

My one tiny regret: both starters and the main were all served together. I wish it would have been brought out one after the other. The apple pie was brought after though and was accompanied by a generous glass of dessert wine. 

A couple of hours before landing we got breakfast – luckily no choosing needed: continental breakfast and eggs. In addition to coffee this is the perfect time to try Finnair’s signature blueberry juice. 

FLYING BUSINESS CLASS WITH FINNAIR – AMENITIES

Of course, you are not flying Business Class to drink free champagne. At least not only. There are some other perks in the air when booking a Finnair Business Class flight. 

Amenities KIT

Do I need yet another airline amenity kit? Probably not. Do I absolutely want it? Definitely if it is made by Marimekko! The cute bag comes with an eyemask, earplugs, toothbrush, and toothpaste. The best thing: the bag and eyemask are made from recycled polyester and the toothbrush is bamboo.

That’s it? I can see your face. Yes, that is it. However, I like this smart concept as you can get lip balm, socks, comb, or razor from the crew. Since most of us travel with our own amenities why waste all these products just because you are in Business Class?!

In addition, you get cozy felt slippers that were comfy enough for me to take them. And the Marimekko bag will definitely accompany me on my next trips.

FINNAIR BUSINESS CLASS BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Of course, flying Business Class comes with a generous luggage allowance. This always includes one piece of hand luggage and a small bag to take into the cabin. Both combined should weigh no more than 12 kg. 

Depending on your tariff and where you fly from you can take up to 3 pieces of check-in luggage on flights to Asia. Each can weigh up to 32 kg. This is the case for most flights when booking Business Classic and Flex and departing from Helsinki. If you are departing from other destinations in Europe you can take 2 pieces. You can find all the details here. 

ENTERTAINMENT WHEN FLYING FINNAIR

In Business Class you will find huge touch screens as well as a remote to change channels. I didn’t count but there was a big selection of movies (including the option of having an Oppenheimer/Barbie marathon and of course all the Harry Potter movies), series, documentaries, music, and much more. 

They also give you comfy noise-cancelling headphones. If you bring your own tablet you can access Finnair’s Nordic Sky-Portal with audiobooks, magazines, and travel guides. 

WIFI IN THE AIR

Yes, Finnair offers wifi in the air however it is not free. You can choose various packages for a long-haul flight for 1 hour, 3 hours, or the entire flight, starting at 7,95 Euros for 1 hour. Streaming is not supported. Finnair Plus members may get free packages depending on your membership tier.

A Business Class customer gets 1 hour of free internet access, a perk I somehow completely missed. Which is probably just as well – it is nice to know that my social media addiction can survive 13 hours.

FINNAIR AT THE AIRPORT

I flew from Frankfurt Airport and unfortunately found out too late that the Finnair counters were only open 2 hours before the flight. As I was early as per usual that meant a lot of sitting around, eating a stale pretzel. 

Once counters were open there was a bit of confusion as people didn’t realize that one was the line for priority check-in aka for me! As a priority customer you can usually use a fast lane for security but this being Frankfurt Airport there was no dedicated lane. This is of course not Finnair’s fault but rather our crummy airport’s, but still a pity if you want to make the most out of all of your Business Class perks. 

While there is no dedicated Finnair lounge in Frankfurt you get access to the Air France lounge. They have some good breakfast options and are quite close to the departure gate.

Once you land in Helsinki things look a lot different. Wow, this airport is beautiful and so quiet! Finnair has its own lounges at the airport and they are just as stunning. The Business Class Lounge is sleek, modern, and again wonderfully quiet and relaxing. Next to it is the Finnair Platinum Wing that also has showers but as the name implies you have to be a Finnair Platinum member to use it. Still, I was happy on my side of the lounge with snacks and a huge wine selection. 

Read more:

How to plan a stopover in Helsinki with Finnair

What’s a Finnair Business Class short-haul flight like? 

If you are flying from Europe chances are you will have a short-haul flight to Helsinki first. I boarded in Frankfurt and my first flight was just over 2,5 hours. While you get the front of the cabin all to yourself and separated with a curtain you have the regular 3-3 configuration. The middle seats in the Business Class are kept empty. 

That said, the service was incredible. I was promptly tempted with bubbles because as the flight attendant rightfully reminded me – it was Friday. What other reason would I need? In addition to sparkling wine I got one of the most incredible meals served and had a definite “Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore” moment. 

Yeah, so while I honestly wouldn’t book Business Class just for a short-haul flight ever this was a great start to my trip. And obviously I got off the plane first (always a perk in my eyes) and immediately into the lounge at Helsinki Airport. 

HOW MUCH DOES FINNAIR BUSINESS CLASS COST? 

I can see you reading with eyes wide open, maybe salivating a bit, credit card in hand ready to strike – here is the link to Finnair’s website. 

But now you pause and wonder: so how much does a Finnair Business Class ticket actually cost?

Like many airlines there are different tariffs available when booking Business Class with Finnair and they come with different advantages. With Finnair, you can usually choose between Light, Classic, and Business. 

For a roundtrip Frankfurt-Tokyo, you can currently (until the end of November 2024) get a ticket from 4164 Euro for Business Light, from 4363 Euro for Business Classic, and from 4762 Euro for Business Flex. 

Business Light doesn’t offer much except for your very comfy seat, so you will need to get at least Business Classic for check-in luggage, lounge access, etc. Since the price difference is not that big (at least for this price range) I would definitely go for that. If you want more miles and more flexibility when it comes to rebooking or changing, go for the Business Flex. 

You also have the option to upgrade your existing ticket before your flight online or through the Finnair app. I have not tried that yet but sometimes this is less expensive. Your last resort is an airport upgrade however, those usually don’t come with the additional luggage allowance or lounge access. 

As you can see, flying Business Class with Finnair is definitely a splurge (when is Business Class not?!) but one that is absolutely worth it in my opinion. Especially if you have to wake up refreshed to explore a city like Tokyo and need some extra luggage to bring back all the stuff you bought in Japan!

Is Business not in your budget yet? Check out Finnair’s Premium Economy and their other booking classes.