REVIEW: Finnair Business Class - Can The New Non-Reclining Seat work?

Finnair’s new business class seat has generated significant attention, especially in the frequent flyer community, due to its unique non-reclining design. But does it truly offer a comfortable experience over long-haul flights? Here’s my comprehensive review of Finnair’s A350-900 business class, based on my recent flight AY061 from Helsinki to Tokyo Haneda, a journey that spans approximately 13 to 14 hours due to the rerouted path avoiding Russian airspace.

If you prefer a video review, you can find it right here:

Overview: The New AirLounge Seat

Our plane for today, the Finnair A350-900 (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Finnair’s A350-900 features a three-class configuration, including 30 business class seats in a 1-2-1 layout for maximum aisle access and privacy. I chose seat 7A for this flight, a window seat that provided ample privacy and a good view of the cabin.

Finnair’s business class layout on the A350-900 (Source: Aerolopa.com)

Design & First Impressions: The seat, known as the AirLounge, immediately impressed with its modern Scandinavian aesthetic. Dark blue tones paired with light wooden accents create a sleek, inviting atmosphere. Although not a fully enclosed suite, the seat’s shell curves around the passenger, lending a sense of privacy that felt more than sufficient. The absence of overhead bins in the center aisles enhances the cabin’s spacious and airy feel.

The light wooden tones nicely contrast the dark blue seats (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

No overhead compartments in the center mean a more spacious cabin (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Seat Comfort & Functionality

Lounge Position: The non-reclining seat was surprisingly comfortable for lounging, with the footrest providing ample support. However, I did miss the traditional reclined position where both the back and feet are angled.

The seat is quite wide (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The lounge position is a bit lacking with this seat type (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Leg room in the regular seat position is plentiful, even for a tall guy like me (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Sleeping Position: Transforming the seat into a bed was straightforward, requiring just the extension of the footrest and placement of a mattress topper. For those who prefer side-sleeping, especially with legs bent (as I did on my left side), this seat offers a comfortable position. However, sleeping on your back can be restrictive as the space around the upper legs narrows, requiring a diagonal position to avoid feeling cramped.

Preparing my bed for the night (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Sleeping on the side is the most comfortable position (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The legroom is fine but could be a bit wider (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Seatbelt: One drawback I found was the seatbelt, positioned uncomfortably high, pressing against my neck and throat during the flight.

I wish, the seatbelt height was adjustable (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Mattress & Cushioning: The thin mattress topper provided decent cushioning but was no match for the superior comfort offered by e.g. Japan Airlines’ Airweave toppers. Additionally, the topper tended to move and bunch up as I shifted during sleep.

Blanket, mattress topper, and slippers await you at your seat (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The bedding is designed by Finnish brand marimekko (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

In-Flight Entertainment & Connectivity

Entertainment System: One of the highlights of the flight was the large, responsive touchscreen that could be used even on the ground—something not all airlines offer. While the screen was fixed and couldn’t be tilted for optimal viewing while lying down, the angle was still manageable. A small but appreciated detail was the absence of pre-movie advertisements.

IFE screen of my seat (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The screen is fully controllable via a responsive touchscreen (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Finnair’s movie selection could be a bit more generous (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

When in fully flat position it is a bit harder to watch movies as the screen does not angle downwards (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The provided headphones look a bit flimsy but are surprisingly solid (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Connectivity: Finnair offers paid Wi-Fi with complimentary options based on status. Business class passengers and Oneworld Sapphire members receive one hour free, while Oneworld Emerald members, such as Finnair Platinum, enjoy complimentary access for the entire flight. While this is a positive feature, it’s worth noting that some airlines, like Singapore Airlines, now offer free Wi-Fi even in economy class.

Finnair’s Wi-Fi was a bit spotty and slow but overall worked (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The fold-out table has enough space for an iPad or laptop (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Plenty of space to get some work done (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Dining Experience

Meal Service: The food on Finnair was decent but not exceptional. Dinner service began about two hours into the flight, with an attractive presentation that included starters like wasabi salmon rolls and roasted beetroot with goat cheese. These dishes were delicious, with flavors that echoed Finnair’s Scandinavian roots. The main course, however, was a letdown. My beef chuck roll with potato ragu felt dull and underseasoned.

Start of with a glass of champagne (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Nuts are provided in the beginning of the flight. Finnair’s signature blueberry juice is a must-try (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Starters and main dish on this flight (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Blueberry crumble as a dessert (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Breakfast: The breakfast service was a pleasant surprise, featuring a variety of items like fresh fruits, yogurt, and an omelet with ham and cheese. While it was a satisfying meal, the coffee was disappointing, tasting more like water.

The breakfast surprised positively! (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Snacks: Unlike Japan Airlines, which offers an extensive “order anytime” menu, Finnair’s mid-flight snack options were limited to a selection in the galley and occasional fruit cups handed out by the crew.

No warm meals mid-flight, but at least nice local snacks (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Seat Details & Extra Features

Storage & Amenities: The seat has multiple storage areas, including a deep compartment for a water bottle and other small items. Although handy, this compartment’s depth meant that smaller items could be hard to reach. The seat also features a wireless charging pad, though it can be finicky to use, and a standard international power plug.

Deep compartment that even fit my iPad (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The wireless charging spot on the side of your seat is a welcome addition (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Comfort Features: The cabin includes thoughtful details such as USB-A and USB-C ports and a reading lamp. Finnair’s use of high-quality, metallic seat adjustment buttons felt premium and intuitive.

You can find ports on the side of your seat. There is also a universal power plug on the bottom of the seat (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

The brushed aluminium buttons of the seat controls feel high-quality (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Amenity Kit: The amenity kit, designed by the Finnish brand Marimekko, included a sleep mask, bamboo toothbrush, earplugs, and minimal toiletries—adequate but not particularly luxurious.

The patterns are nice but the amenities kit is rather basic (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Lounging & Privacy: For taller passengers (I’m 6’3” or 190 cm), the seat offered enough legroom, and the shell design made the space feel like a private cocoon. The seat’s configuration allowed me to comfortably lounge with my feet propped on the footrest, an improvement over the setup on Singapore Airlines’ business class.

The leg room gets a bit narrow further in but is plenty for regular seating positions (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

You have to lean forward a lot to even catch a glimpse of your fellow passengers (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Service

Cabin Crew: The service was efficient and professional, though it lacked the warmth associated with some Asian carriers. This cool but competent approach might be typical of European airlines and was not a significant issue for me.

The restrooms stayed pretty clean and had local products by the brand SEES (Source: UnmatchedVoyages.com)

Conclusion

The non-reclining design of the Finnair AirLounge seat works well, offering comfort and modern features that cater to tech-savvy travelers. While it doesn’t provide the plush, lie-flat experience of some competitors, it remains an excellent product for its price point. The cabin’s aesthetics, functionality, and privacy are standout features, though there is room for improvement in the food offerings and some comfort aspects.

Would I Recommend It? Absolutely. For travelers seeking a solid business class product that doesn’t break the bank, Finnair’s new business class is a strong contender, particularly when you are prepared for the trade-offs.

If you’ve flown Finnair’s new business class, feel free to share your experiences in the comments. Your insights help create a more rounded perspective for fellow travelers!