SIN-HEL Finnair Premium Economy A350 - First Row Seat
Finnair Premium Economy seat on the A350 (first row seat)
An already great Premium Economy product made even better with a first row seat. An alternative to a Business class seat on Finnair if you are not able to snag any!
SIN-HEL Finnair Premium Economy A350 - First Row Seat
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After 3 months, it was time to be back in Helsinki, ready to complete the return leg of a round trip flight I had booked in June.
Sadly, despite my hopes to upgrade to the new Finnair Business Class seat using only 30,000 points, my request couldn't be fulfilled. This meant I missed out not only on experiencing this fantastic product but also on visiting the OneWorld Business Class lounges in Singapore, which were my primary motivation for seeking the upgrade.
Nevertheless, I opted to use 7,300 points to secure a front-row window seat, which at least will give me something novel to review.
I'm delighted to report that the decision was well worth it!
Damage: 7300 Finnair Points (worth S$130.41)
Boarding
Having received the notification the day before that my Finnair Business Class waitlist was unsuccessful, I minimized my time at Changi Airport, arriving nearly an hour before boarding. As expected, the check-in counter was empty, and the entire process went incredibly smoothly.
Since there was no lounge access, I had a quick coffee at the food court to perk myself up for the time difference!
I checked in for my overnight flight at D49, which was pretty unique since this gate, along with D48, was separately segregated from the other gates, even though it was located at the far end. The furniture and decor had a distinct Scandinavian style and an open concept. I wondered if these gates were specifically allocated for Scandinavian flights?
An interesting observation during boarding was that the boarding gate was situated right at the end and occupied a significantly larger area. It seemed like it was specially designed for Finnair flights, adorned with greenery and minimalist designs, offering a refreshing change from the typical boarding areas.
When boarding commenced, Premium Economy passengers were called in Group 3, and the process was relatively prompt and smooth.
Seat
I assigned myself seat 21L and considered myself fortunate as there was no seatmate beside me. The legroom was noticeably more generous than the standard Premium Economy seats, making it incredibly comfortable!
The first-row seat in the new Finnair Premium Economy class provided exceptional comfort. While I haven't experienced many Premium Economy products, I compared it to Singapore Airlines' offering and found it to be far superior. The first-row seat was a significant enhancement, offering much more legroom and a larger in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen. Although the legrest was similar to other rows, the extra legroom allowed for a far more comfortable recline.
While the legrest is easy to extend, I noticed that it required some effort to push it back in during landing. The button was not as effective when retracting it.
A notable aspect of the first-row seats is that due to the angled footrest, you can't store small bags underneath your seat. However, I consider this a minor inconvenience, given that the overhead storage bins offer ample space and are easily accessible to retrieve your belongings.
Charging ports, including USB outlets, as well as headphone jacks, are situated on the lower left side of your seat. Similarly, the tray table and seat controls are positioned on the left-hand armrest. I personally noticed that the seat control buttons require a bit of effort to press, and I anticipate potential difficulties as the product gets older. On a positive note, the recline function provided a comfortable experience for me; I managed to sleep for a significant portion of the journey.
Should you prefer, the built-in headrest can be conveniently adjusted to suit your comfort level; I found it reasonably comfortable as well.
Before long, it was time for take-off!
Amenity Kit
Following take-off, I took a moment to examine the amenity kit. The Marimekko-branded amenity kit was similar to the ones I had received previously. It featured modest yet useful contents, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye shades, lip balm, and earplugs.
However, I couldn't help but think it would have been better if they included an eau de toilette from L:A Bruket. I particularly enjoyed the fragrance of the ones they provided in their bathrooms.
Wifi and In-Flight Entertainment
Complimentary Wi-Fi access is available only to Finnair Plus Gold members and above. Alternatively, guests can purchase Wi-Fi packages, though I found them to be rather expensive (although the internet package the entire flight did seemed more reasonably priced). It's advisable to have your Netflix series downloaded on your phone or laptop in advance!
I observed that Finnair's entertainment options were notably limited, with their movie and TV series selections not matching up to the extensive libraries of most premium airlines. This, in my view, was a major weak point for Finnair. Ultimately, I settled on watching The Bourne Identity, a series I had read the novels of but hadn't yet seen the movie adaptations.
The flight map was also not really to my liking (although it was the Panasonic Version), it lacked the option to track the flight route from the beginning, which I personally enjoy doing.
Dining Experience
The food catering presented a combination of experiences. Finnair's dinner menu stood out positively, featuring the Honey Beef, cured meat, and pandan cake – an enjoyable and well-coordinated selection. The tenderness of the honey beef was commendable (often difficult to execute nicely on a flight). Additionally, it was pleasing to notice a local food choice included in the menu. Another highlight was the generous provision of a full bottle of red wine, a gesture that reflects Finnair's hospitality, and I must say, the wine was quite delightful!
Breakfast was a more subdued affair; I opted for the Egg Frittata. While it fulfilled its purpose, there was nothing particularly outstanding about it. The Finnish coffee, however, provided a comforting boost!
Restroom
The restroom was utilitarian, but a notable difference compared to my previous flight was the absence of the L:A Bruket handwash, in which I really liked the scent.
Service
It's worth mentioning that the staff consisted mostly of locals, and would have to say that they are friendly and did the job well, with proactive instances. Otherwise, there was limited casual conversation, in which I was perfectly ok with.
With that, I landed in Helsinki Airport in the wee hours of the morning and proceeded to my hotel.
Conclusion
Finnair’s Premium Economy product was a really nice experience for me (especially the first row seat), and I would not hesitate to book this as an alternative if I was not able to snag a Business class seat. Hopefully I will get to try out that elusive new Business Class seat!
