Flight Review: Finnair Airbus A350 AirLounge Business Class (Helsinki to Tokyo)

After an unforgettable adventure in Lapland – where we chased the Northern Lights, explored frozen landscapes, and embraced the thrill of snow activities – it was time to head home. But first, a detour via one of our favourite cities.

We used Velocity Points getting to Europe, so it was time to dip into the Qantas Points balance for the way back. Ultimately, we found two Business Reward seats on Finnair from Helsinki to Tokyo (and we’d later take ANA home from Tokyo to Perth with our remaining Velocity Points).

The cost of this leg was a very reasonable 90,000 Qantas Points + €159 per person. The Helsinki-Tokyo flight used to take only 10 hours, but now it’s blocked at 13 hours and 20 minutes because of airspace closures.

As reward seats are priced on geographic distance rather than travel time, the price in points has remained the same. From 5 August 2025, this same reward will cost 108,000 Qantas Points due to a bump in points needed.

Check-in at Helsinki Airport

The priority check-in counters at Helsinki Airport ensured a hassle-free start to the journey. Security was just as efficient with a priority lane straight from check-in. There wasn’t any priority processing at passport control, though.

Finnair Business Lounge (Non-Schengen)

The Finnair Business Lounge in the non-Schengen area is a modern and spacious retreat. The only major downside is the lack of natural light because of its interior location. But I loved the minimalistic and elegant design touches that Finland is known for, particularly at the central bar.

The buffet featured fresh focaccia, a hearty beef stew and vibrant salads. It was a well-curated selection and one that I’d argue was ahead of many other airline Business Class lounges.

At the bar, we treated ourselves to a cocktail each. My choice was the signature Northern Blush, while my wife opted for a Bluesinki. Infused with fresh lingonberry and gin, the Northern Blush was bold and sweet.

AY61 - Helsinki to Tokyo-Haneda

Priority boarding started on time for Business Class and passengers with Gold/Platinum status. I liked how Finnair had a separate seating area for the priority line, with boarding passes checked for eligibility.

The AirLounge ‘Non-Reclining’ Seat

Finnair’s Airbus A350 Business Class is home to the innovative AirLounge seat, a fixed-shell design that offers a unique way to travel. Instead of the usual reclining mechanism, this cocoon-like seat allows for various comfortable resting positions with plush cushioning and ample space to stretch out.

In case you’re confused, yes, the AirLounge still becomes a lie-flat bed. But instead of a traditional reclining mechanism, there are simply two panels that fold up to transform the whole surface into a sleeping area.

The best way to visualise the AirLounge is as an oversized sofa. Finnair provides pillows to help you adopt a more comfortable lounging position.

In short: it’s not my favourite seat type, compared to a fully-flat recliner. But overall, I still slept wonderfully and was comfortable throughout the flight.

Other seat features included a sizeable storage cupboard on the side, an AC charging port and even a wireless phone charger. I also liked the Marimekko bedding and amenity kit. It’s just the perfect fit for Finnair.

Food and Drinks

Before the flight, we were treated to glasses of Champagne, blueberry juice or water. I’ve had more than my fair share of blueberry juice over the last week, so Champagne it was.

After take-off, the crew came around to take dinner orders. Finnair Business Class seems to have quite a pared-down menu compared to other airlines, but at least the food is top-notch.

Everyone got the same two starters: smoked whitefish & crayfish tails with marinated Shimeji mushroom in scallop cream, plus a goat cheese tartlet. The appetisers were very impressive, I must say, especially the Japanese-inspired seafood dish.

For my main course, I opted for the slow-cooked beef entrecôte with garlic mashed potatoes, root vegetables and sautéed porcini mushrooms in blackberry sauce. The slow-cooked cut of beef was beautifully tender thanks to the blackberry sauce, pairing perfectly with the creamy mash. What a dish.

My wife chose the Japanese braised pork in miso sauce and thoroughly enjoyed that as well. For dessert, the carrot cake with berries and vanilla sauce was the perfect sweet note.

During the flight, snacks such as sandwiches and fresh blueberries were offered whenever we were awake. For breakfast, there was only one choice: a Gruyère cheese and spinach soufflé along with a cold cuts plate and fruit salad. There was also yoghurt and a croissant on the tray.

Having more than one choice of hot breakfast would be ideal, but the quality of everything was pretty good once again.

See the full menu and wine list from my flight below.

Amenities

At the seat is a plush blanket, mattress cover, two pillows and a pair of inflight slippers. Each passenger also gets a Marimekko-branded amenity kit – nice to look at, but there’s not much inside beyond the basics of a dental kit and an eye mask. Finnair doesn’t provide pyjamas onboard.

Business Class passengers (except for those on Light fares) get one hour of complimentary Wi-Fi access on long-haul flights.

Final words

As we touched down at Haneda Airport, the excitement of Tokyo awaited us – a massive contrast to the serene wilderness we left behind in Lapland. But like the throngs of tourists in Japan, we were looking forward to a few days of shopping and delicious food.

Finnair Business Class is by no means the fanciest premium product on the market, but for the price, it’s still worth considering. The AirLounge seat isn’t my favourite because I couldn’t get as comfortable when lounging (ironically), but I still got plenty of decent sleep from the lie-flat surface.

The inflight menu had fewer choices than expected on a long-haul flight. That said, credit where it’s due: the dinner was exceptional. It was fresh, flavourful, and easily one of the best I’ve had in Business Class. The service was fine, but the cabin crew didn’t stand out in any particular way on this flight.

One final note: how beautiful is Finnair’s glassware?! The airline uses Ultima Thule glasses, handmade in Finland and said to resemble melting ice.

All photos by Brandon Loo. This flight was self-funded.