Flying business class within Europe is usually a predictable affair – the same economy seat with a blocked middle and a better meal. But every so often, you get lucky. That’s exactly what happened on this flight, where instead of an A320, I found myself on a Finnair short-haul A350 business class service back to London. With a proper long-haul seat, a more premium setup, and Finnair’s consistently solid crew, this was a significant step up from the usual Eurobiz shuffle. But was it enough to make up for the travel chaos earlier in the day? Let’s find out.
In this review:
Flight Details
Flight No: AY1337
From/To: Helsinki (HEL) to London Heathrow (LHR)
Departure time: 16:00
Ticket Class: Business
Flight time: 2 hours 24 mins
Frequent Flyer Points:
Status Points: 80
Aircraft: OH-LWC
Aircraft type: Airbus A350-900
Number of classes: 3
Number of seats in flying class: 46
Seat: 1A
Position: left hand side of the aircraft, at the front
Airport Experience
This was the return leg of what was meant to be a same-day trip to Helsinki. The plan had been a leisurely lunch in the city before flying back, but that went out the window when my outbound flight arrived three hours late. Instead of lunch, I had just enough time to dash to my next gate. Thankfully, the late arrival had one silver lining – no need to clear immigration or security since the next flight was departing from the same terminal pier. After a run of bad luck, things were finally looking up. Would it last?
Boarding & Welcome
By the time I reached the gate, boarding had already started. There were two queues: one for priority passengers, including business class and Oneworld status holders, and another for everyone else. Priority boarding was actually enforced, which isn’t always a given.
Finnair had sensibly opened two airbridges – one for the front and one for the middle of the aircraft. It made for a much smoother boarding process, something Heathrow could learn from. Once I reached my seat, the cabin service manager came by to introduce herself – a personal touch that felt more like a long-haul flight than a short-haul hop.
Seat
The Finnair short-haul A350 business class cabin is split into two sections. The larger front cabin has 32 seats, while a smaller mini-cabin behind it has 14. I was in 1A, which, in hindsight, wasn’t the best choice. While it was technically a window seat, it only had one window compared to the two found in other rows. Worse, it was right by the galley and washrooms, which meant a steady stream of noise.
The seat itself converted into a fully flat bed, but given its narrow width, it wasn’t the most comfortable for sleeping. On a short flight like this, that wasn’t a dealbreaker, but I wouldn’t want to spend a long-haul night in it without extra bedding.
Storage was decent, with a side compartment and under-ottoman space for small items. There was also a USB-A port and a 110v international power socket, making it easy to keep devices charged.
What is the best seat on Finnair short-haul A350 business class?
Avoid row 1 unless you like being near the galley and toilets. The constant flushing noise from the forward washroom was a surprise, even with noise-cancelling headphones.
A better choice would be 2F or 3F in the middle section. These are further from the galley, offer more privacy, and have two windows instead of one. If you prefer a window seat, go for A or K seats from row 2 onwards.
See the seating plan on SeatGuru.
Onboard Experience
Finnair doesn’t provide amenity kits on short-haul flights, which makes sense given the flight duration. The cabin was spotlessly clean, with no dust or debris. Surfaces were well-maintained, and the overall feel was more premium than the standard intra-Europe business class.
There were four washrooms available for the 46 business class passengers – two at the front and two between the two business class sections. The forward washrooms even had external windows, which made for an unexpectedly scenic view. One of them was missing hand soap, but the others were stocked with L:A Bruket soap and moisturiser.
The crew were excellent – friendly, professional, and efficient without seeming scripted. This seems to be a consistent theme with Finnair, and it’s one of the reasons I’m tempted to keep flying them.
Food & Drink
Lunch was served on a tray from the trolley, starting with a pre-meal drink. I asked for red wine and was given a Famille Perrin Côtes du Rhône in a mini bottle, poured into Finnair’s signature Marimekko glass.
The meal itself consisted of:
- Prawn tagliatelle with cherry tomatoes – surprisingly good, though only three prawns made it onto the plate.
- Edamame and tofu with dill – light and fresh.
- A choice of bread – either a white roll or a slice of rye bread.
- A packaged chocolate cupcake – fairly standard.
Karl Fazer chocolates – the real highlight – followed after the meal was cleared. Finnair crew sell large bars of these for €4, which is a solid investment if you want to guarantee smiles when you get home.
In-flight Entertainment
Each seat had a fold-out touchscreen that had to be stowed for take-off and landing. Finnair provided in-ear headphones, which were passable but nowhere near the quality of the noise-cancelling ones given on long-haul flights.
The content selection was decent but felt a bit stale – a mix of movies and TV shows, but not many recent additions. It looked almost identical to what I’d seen six months earlier, so a refresh wouldn’t hurt.
Wi-Fi was available, with complimentary access for business class passengers. Speeds were fine for messaging and emails, though I wouldn’t rely on it for anything data-heavy.
BG1 Verdict
The difference between Finnair A350 business class and its narrow-body counterpart is night and day. The long-haul seat makes a huge difference, even if it’s not the widest for sleeping. But what really stood out was the soft product – from the pre-meal drinks to the stocked washrooms, everything felt like an upgrade over the usual A320 business class.
If I had to fly between London and Helsinki again, I’d absolutely pay extra or adjust my schedule to get on the A350.
Beyond the aircraft itself, the crew were once again excellent. Finnair service feels natural – polished but not robotic. They just seem really good at what they do and comfortable doing it.
I’m already looking forward to my next Finnair A350 trip.
BG1 Tip
If you’re booking Finnair business class between London and Helsinki, check the aircraft type. The A350 is miles ahead of the A320/A321 in both comfort and service. Also, avoid row 1 unless you have a strong tolerance for toilet flushes!
Don’t forget to sign-up to our newsletter to get our latest updates delivered straight to your inbox. Why not also follow us on TikTok!
Leave a Reply