Flying the Nordic Way: Finnair Business Class

Have you noticed how some Business Class sections are eager to dazzle you with shiny surfaces and clever gadgets – features you’re unlikely to use? Finnair Business Class takes another route. And honestly, that’s why it’s just right.

Finnair’s upscale offering is about simplicity, comfort, and subtle self-assurance. Picture Scandinavian design principles coming alive at 35,000 feet. Clean lines. Gentle fabrics. Spaces that make sense. Food that feels genuine rather than overthought.

It isn’t luxury shouting; it’s luxury that reflects. And once you’ve tried it, you find it surprisingly hard to fancy anything else.

Helsinki Airport & Lounge Life

It all starts well, doesn’t it? This is how Finnair rolls. And if you’re lucky enough to set off from Helsinki Airport, you’ll have the added bonus of experiencing an efficient yet welcoming Nordic gateway to your travels.

Think calm city-center cafe rather than bustling international hub. Small but perfectly formed. Check-in, security, and boarding all happen without delay or stress, while priority access actually feels that way.

Then there are the lounges. Visit them, and you’ll see they set exactly the right tone for what’s to come.

In business class? Your pass will grant you entry to one too. And these communal spaces epitomize understated style. You’ll find ample seating, plus soft lighting that feels cool on the eye.

Perhaps most importantly, there’s plenty for your tummy to enjoy. Finnair doesn’t do mediocre with its eats. In fact, rather than settling for average airport grub, why not treat yourself at this self-serve buffet? It also has an à la carte menu – dishes are simple but tasty. They are cooked well, too.

The house wines and cocktails seem to reinforce this image. Should you wish to feel as fresh as possible before a long flight, there are showers available. If you’re a holder of Finnair Plus Platinum or oneworld Emerald status, you’ll be very familiar with this.

The Platinum Wing at Helsinki delivers something a little bit different – and more personal. Taking off somewhere else? Passengers on Finnair Business Class tickets can make themselves comfortable in any oneworld Business Class lounge worldwide, too.

 It means their time spent waiting for flights maintains that same high standard, whatever continent they find themselves on – be it in Asia, Europe, or North America.

The Seat That Changed the Rules

The seat is what truly distinguishes Finnair, so let us now discuss it. The new Business Class presented by Finnair across the Airbus A350 and A330 fleets in 2022 featured a seat from Collins Aerospace called AirLounge.

If you have heard anything about this, it is probably because the arguments online sound too bitter for people not to mean one thing: that it really is different. This isn’t one of those seats that turn into beds when you recline. The AirLounge is a fixed shell seat that has been given a wider design.

It’s more like a sofa or chair than an aircraft seat. Rather than pressing a button to recline, you move your body. Think of it as hugging comfort. The seat back doesn’t sit flush with the shell, so you can stretch out, curl up, or lie back as though in a sofa with an open top.

Sleeping on the AirLounge seat in Finnair business class is a great experience. Folding down into a 78-inch bed, which includes a mattress topper and duvet, it’s fully flat and measures longer than 78 inches because there are no mechanism disruptions. The seat is a single slab of foam.

And the way that the lounges are arranged creates enough isolation for passengers to feel private, but not lonely. They all have high shells, and in the middle seats, there’s an option to raise a divider. Take it down if you want to chat with someone in the seat next to you (or traveling alone), put it up for… well, privacy.

Storage not only delivers function but also a sense that designers considered passengers’ needs. Side compartments are big enough for books. Soft mood lights are placed exactly where you might want them.

From a technical standpoint, everything is clean and functional. You get large HD touchscreens, USB-A and USB-C ports, AC power, and customizable lighting – all here without needless tinsel. The entire cabin conveys serenity and coherence. It is refreshingly ergonomic.

Dining the Nordic Way

One thing Finnair does really well is its food. And this goes for design too. There is a certain art to taking a simple idea and turning it into something very attractive, with no need for over-the-top gimmicks.

Finnair gets this right by focusing on quality rather than quantity. So its food and drink menus concentrate on authentic Nordic ingredients and flavors. All of the items on the menu fall into one of these two categories. No need for a fancy French restaurant.

For those who like food with a bit of character, this is good news. It means there are plenty of dishes made using local produce that have been chosen because they taste great, and now they feel nostalgic.

So don’t be surprised if you are offered salmon, potato soup, and rye bread with butter for supper, or a dessert based on berries that has been allowed to cool and to ripen rather than having been covered up with sugar.

Meals are served over several courses on simple crockery and reflect a restrained aesthetic. Finnair does not pretend its service is “fine dining.” But passengers can eat when they want rather than when airline schedules dictate.

Blueberry juice also fits better in a Scandinavian story than drinks like Coca-Cola. And don’t forget neat and elegant cocktails with a clear botanical twist.

Entertainment & Connectivity

It doesn’t need to be overly complex. Things just work seamlessly with Finnair’s in-flight entertainment system.

A good mix of European and Hollywood films, documentaries, TV box sets, and movies for all ages is there for your viewing pleasure. And it is a pleasure. The screens are sizable with good resolution. Put simply, they are easy on the eye.

Combined with low background noise from the cabin, this creates an environment where you can really watch and enjoy what you’ve chosen. There are Wi-Fi-enabled long-haul planes, too, if browsing is vital (with pricing to match).

So if you want to stay offline or fully immersed, either way feels valid with Finnair.

Amenities with Personality

In place of the typical, everyday amenity kits, Finnair has teamed up with the truly iconic Finnish design house Marimekko. The result? Kits that showcase the company’s trademark bold, playful patterns.

These are bags that feel like keepsakes rather than something you just throw away after one use. And they’re filled with everything you need.

Socks to keep your feet warm, skincare products, an eye mask, and a dental kit are presented simply and elegantly in containers that are also eco-friendly.

The bedding is excellent with a mattress topper as well as a thick duvet and pillow that fit comfortably inside the AirLounge seat’s distinctive sleeping cocoon.

On long-haul overnight flights, changing into provided pajamas adds another layer of coziness. Meanwhile, the lavatories include thoughtful items such as facial mists, and the cabin is softly lit with mood lighting that changes gently from dining to rest and then sleep.

Bottom Line

The purpose of Finnair Business Class is not to cater to everyone. And this is exactly what makes it special. In a world full of complexity and noise, it provides a calm oasis.

While other airlines may confuse passengers with too much technology, Finnair’s approach is straightforward and intuitive. Carefully considered design informs every decision. But this does not make the experience cold or impersonal.

If you appreciate comfort, aesthetics, and harmony, then you will find it difficult not to enjoy your journey with Finnair.

And here is a really great point: when you book via Simply Business Class, there are often savings of up to 50% on the published tariff for Finnair Business Class.