Press ESC to close

Flying BusinessFlying Business

FinnAir – LHR to HEL (AY1332) [A350-900] in Business Class – Review (Heathrow to Helsinki)

  • April 3, 2025

Airline: FinnAir

Flight Number: AY1332

Plane: Airbus A350-900

Cabin: Business Class

Seat: 3A

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

The Flight

This is my review of my flight from Heathrow to Helsinki flying with FinnAir.

I had been interested to test FinnAir out for quite some time, as I knew they had a new design for a Business Class seat, which doesn’t recline.

Since I had a business meeting to do in Helsinki, and I knew FinnAir operate the A350 on this route – I thought it would be great to try it out!

The flight departs Heathrow at 10:20 and arrives Helsinki at 15:15 – its usually about 3 hours.

This is a fairly short route for a plane such as an A350 to take from Heathrow. Similar ‘short haul routes on long haul planes’ from Heathrow are probably only Turkish Airlines’ Boeing 777 route from to Istanbul and Iberia’s route to Madrid on the A350.

Checking In

Because I wanted to get to the airport early (and I wasn’t sure when FinnAir’s desks would open), I elected to pack hand luggage. So, all I needed to do was to download my ticket onto my phone and scan in at Security.

The Lounge

In Heathrow there is no specific FinnAir lounge. I’d got to the airport around 6am, and enjoyed an asian breakfast in the Cathay Pacific Lounge, before heading to the American Airlines Lounge for a waffle in the First Dining area.

The Plane

This flight was on FinnAir’s A350-900.

FinnAir’s A350’s have either 46 x Business Class, 43 x Premium and 208 Economy seats – or 32 x Business Class, 42 x Premium and 262 x Economy seats.

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

The Seat

The real reason I was interested in this flight is seat. I had heard that FinnAir had developed a Business Class seat which doesn’t recline – and I figured I would be best off testing this on a short route, than being stuck with it on a route to LAX or SIN, or somewhere!

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?
✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?
✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

I have done a fuller detailed review here, but for me I didn’t find it very comfortable for two reasons. Firstly, to ‘sit normally’ and put my feet up on the footstool, I found I was twisting my back to line my legs up with the footstool. Secondly, getting into a laying position was really quite a task and not very glamorous – and if you have a bad back (like me), there are zero adjustments.

Food and Drink

First things first, I should point out that this is a short-haul flight on a long-haul aircraft, so I had mixed expectations. I am told by the cabin crew that (understandably) the route had a much reduced food and drinks service.

Drinks

Similar to any long or short haul route, drinks were offered shortly after takeoff.

The usual beers, wines, soft drinks, etc were on offer – but asking for a cocktail may be pushing it!

I had a coke, which was served with pretzels.

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

Food

Rather impressively, despite this being a short-haul flight, I was able to pre-order my food ahead of the flight, when booking.

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

I decided to have the beef stew, which was served with some form of humus thing, with feta cheese.

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

This was nice, but not amazing.

Soon after the main was cleared, a ‘desert’ was offered. This was a pistachio and cinnamon bun. I personally thought this was really nice – but I can see that it would be a risky choice, given it was the only desert offered!

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

Snacks, etc

With a fairly quick flight, by the time drinks, mains and deserts were done, we were about 50 minutes off landing. Understandably no snacks were offered – but probably would be more pretzels, if asked! I did however spot where the snacks might be on a long-haul flight.

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?
✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

Amenities Kit

Given the length of this flight, there were no Amenities Kits offered.

Entertainment

The entertainment offered was fair – but by no means extensive. This is probably nothing to do with it being short-haul – as I would think the entertainment is standard.

There were some earphones in my seat cupboard, but there were no headphones offered.

The entertainment included various movies, music, the flight map – and the tail camera!

✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?
✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?
✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?
✈️ Finnair A350 Business Class – London to Helsinki in a Long-Haul Business Class seat that doesn’t recline — smart innovation or just frugal design? 🤔💺 The short-haul AY1332 features Finnair’s A350-900 with direct aisle access, a long-haul feel, but with limited service. But does this flight act as a good showcase for those thinking about going long-haul in FinnAir's A350?

Wifi

Interestingly, whilst checking in online, it was possible to pre-order Wifi, for about €10.

Fortunately, I didn’t bother, as it wasn’t working when I got on the plane – so I avoided having to get refund, etc.

Cabin Crew

To be totally honest, the Cabin Crew were neither amazing, nor terrible. They were polite, efficient and any answered questions in a straightforward way.

With that said, the drinks and dinner services did take a while, and the cabin crew certainly were not proactively offering refills!

Landing

Landing in Helsinki, I took a walk to immigration, which was quick and easy. Then it was a walk through the Schengen Area to the exit, which was quite a walk.

Conclusion

I have to be honest and say I have mixed feelings about this flight.

Perhaps too optimistically I was treating this as a ‘showcase’ for FinnAir’s long-haul flights, and to a decent degree I got a good idea. The seat, to be honest, I really don’t think is for me on a long haul as the adjustments are so limited – and I think I’d have a bad back after attempting to sleep. The entertainment was OK, but I would say other airlines have a better and wider choice. The cabin crew were nice, but in no way outstanding.

So…. I would say this is great way to fly for 3hrs – it may even be OK for a daytime flight to somewhere like Los Angeles, or New York…. would I want to be on a night flight trying to sleep in this seat? Most certainly not!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


logo

My name is Neil Scrivener, and welcome to my blog! Where I post reviews, tips and tricks of flights, hotels, airports and cities all over the world!