| Finnair | London (LHR) → Helsinki (HEL) | A350-900 | Business | 23/06/2026 | Current review |
| Finnair | London (LHR) → Helsinki (HEL) | A350-900 | Business | 23/06/2026 | Current review |
Today I'm flying on the rather controversial AirLounge seat by Finnair in Business Class, which was introduced back in 2022. We begin our journey at T3 at Heathrow, where most Oneworld flights depart out of.
If you're checking in, Finnair check in desks are at Section C, right behind the Cathay Pacific check in area - it is quite hard to spot"
I was travelling light, so bag drop wasn't needed, so I simply went through fast-track security and into the main terminal at T3. Fast track security, as expected, was a breeze and I was through within 5 minutes.
T3 isn't the best terminal at Heathrow, if not the worse. It's quite old and overcrowding is an issue. Luckily for me however, I get access to 4 lounges by Oneworld airlines at Heathrow. Cathay Pacific, Qantas, British Airways and American Airlines. I spent most of my time today at the Qantas lounge.
Luckily, all the lounges are close together and navigating to them is super easy.
The Qantas lounge is brilliant. It has 2 floors with plenty of seating and is modern. In the morning there's an A La Carte brunch menu - the fried squid is a must try. There's also a buffet section and a bar where you can order any drinks.
Below is the all day dining options at the buffet.
After a couple of hours chilling at the Lounge, it's time to head to Gate 42. Heads up, this gate is nearly 15 minutes away so it's a bit of a trek. The gate area was really hot and quite busy.
Boarding began with Group 1 - me, and I take 6A, my seat for the next 3 hours.
My first impressions are - WOW. The colours and design are inline with the airlines branding and the seats look brand new, despite being in service for a few years now.
Having no overhead lockers in the middle section makes the cabin feel super spacious.
Despite the seat having no privacy doors, I don't see this as an issue because once seated, you cannot see anyone.
Infront is a large HD monitor - the selection was decent in terms of movies and TV show availability, with a few episodes of each TV show on offer example, and latest blockbusters available to watch.
I had a great engine view, and we pushed back ontime for a punctual departure out of Heathrow RWY09R.
The seat design is interesting. There's only 1 motor which lifts a flap to make it into a “bed”. There's no recline function, so instead you shuffle down. To make the seat more comfortable, there are 2 pillows (firm and soft) which you can use to make yourself more comfortable. What makes these seats great is that it's so wide and you can sit on the seat in almost any position - frankly impossible for motorised reclining seats.
There's plenty of storage space for your needs, and fast USB charging ports. There's even wireless charging.
At each seat was a water bottle and wired earphones to use the IFE with.
The Finnair branding is subtle, and unique across the whole aircraft which I love.
About 20 minutes after departure, the meal service kicks in, starting with a hot tower and drinks service.The Northern Blush is the signature drink on Finnair, alongside the blueberry juice. Pretzels were served on the side.
I pre-ordered my main meal which can be done in advance. I chose the spaghetti with prawns which was delicious. If you don't pre-order you have only 1 option onboard.
Desert was some sort of warm cinnamon bun - super tasty.
And before landing the crew came around the cabin handing out Finnish chocolates!
Before landing, I quickly checked out the lavatories, 3 in total for Business Class. The front 2 ones had windows and the toilets were kept clean for the whole flight. There was Finnish “SEES” branded hand soap and creams.
The flight went by super fast, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The experience is definitely worth it, because European Business Class offerings are Economy Seats with the middle aisle blocked. This allows you to try a long-haul product on a short-haul flight - a rarity across Europe.
Welcome to Helsinki Vantaa!
I highly recommend everyone to try out this amazing product. It's completely different to what you expect and the service provided by the crew was exceptional.
