Get Happy

Finnair delivers a positive transatlantic experience while highlighting the Nordic spirit

- BENJAMIN CHIANG

FINNAIR HAS INTRODUCED a groundbreaking business class seat design, described as “a piece of Nordic furniture in the air.” With exquisite culinary offerings and a courteous crew, this Oneworld carrier provides a distinctive experience for travelers crossing the Atlantic, particularly on its longstanding Helsinki-New York route, which has been in operation for more than five decades.

Check-in

Terminal 1 of Helsinki Airport was quite busy on a Sunday afternoon. I stood in one of the priority lanes to check my bag. After that, I joined another long line for the dedicated security screening designed for passengers with priority notices on their boarding passes.

Boarding

As is typical in European airports, gate agents checked passengers’ passports and boarding passes before allowing them to enter the waiting area. This space was divided into two sections: one for premium cabin passengers and those with frequent flyer status, and the other for main cabin passengers. Zone numbers were not announced, so the entire group simply walked toward the jet bridge to board. Upon boarding, smiling flight attendants greeted passengers and directed them to their assigned seats. They promptly offered predeparture beverages, including champagne and blueberry juice served in Iittala glasses.

The Seat

Finnair has collaborated with Collins Aerospace to create a revolutionary business class seat called the AirLounge, which has been installed across its entire wide-body fleet of Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft. The A330 features a total of 28 AirLounge pods.