Finnair may not be the first option that comes to mind for Australians heading to Europe, particularly as the airline doesn't actually fly Down Under, but its Oneworld partnerships with Qantas, British Airways and Cathay Pacific make the journey easy and very practical.
It works like this: you'll first fly to Asia with one of the above three airlines in business class, and then hop aboard a Finnair flight for the rest of the trip. From there it's an easy and reasonably short flight to major destinations like London, Paris and Rome, and if the country you've visiting is part of the Schengen zone (26 European states that have officially abolished passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders), you'll clear passport control in Finland and arrive at your destination just like a domestic passenger.
Finnair flies one of the most modern fleets in Europe, most of their aircraft are Airbuses, including several brand-new Airbus A350s. Because of it’s an extra wide body, the A350 has more space and wider seats for greater passenger comfort. In the Finnair Business Class, there are 46 seats arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration, which means everyone has direct aisle access.
The cabin has a fresh style that is light, airy and decidedly Nordic. The dynamic ambient mood LED lighting gradually changes to suit the time of day to ease customers into a relaxing flight experience. The lighting can actually create 24 different scenarios, including the Northern Lights. The seats transform into a 200 cm (6'6") private horizontal bed, where you can take a good night’s sleep while in the air.
Just like the design, the food is also inspired by locally sourced Nordic tastes. The A350 also features full Internet access, free of charge to Business Class passengers and making it easy for guests to use their own devices, especially when Bose noise-cancelling headphones are included at each Finnair Business Class seat.
Email me on jasmine@firstclasstraveller.com.au for more information on flying with Finnair.