We flew this aircraft from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to London Heathrow (LHR), a route that is often served by widebody aircraft such as the A350 and A330, which are normally reserved for long-haul routes.
To get the full experience, the TPG U.K. team put three cabins to the test on the same flight: economy, the new-to-Finnair premium economy and the never-seen-before hardshell business class seat.
Watch the full video below:
Read on for a breakdown of our individual experiences aboard Finnair’s new A350 service.
Business Class — Ben Smithson
Seat: 4A
We paid: £271 ($338)
I loved the fantastic new lounge in Helsinki which had a great selection of hot food, champagne and bartenders whipping up cocktails. On board there was a massive amount of personal space and privacy in the new seat thanks to the minimal design. The seat was very comfortable to both sit upright and lie flat in. I particularly loved the wireless charging feature which allows you to instantly power up your phone by placing it on the lightning bolt on the surface beneath the window.
It was a shame that there was no choice for the main course, which was odd for business class. In terms of design, the in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen doesn’t tilt so it is fixed facing upwards and is quite high when you are lying down. With only two cushions to prop yourself up, this was fine for a short flight but may not be ideal for long haul.
Read more: First impressions of Finnairs’ brand new ‘non-reclining’ business class seat
Premium Economy — Nicky Kelvin
Seat: 20L
We paid: £99 ($123.50)
I found the new premium economy seat incredibly comfortable, spacious and supportive, and the smaller cabin offered an exclusive and private feel. The crew were incredibly helpful and friendly and were clearly excited to be on board this new aircraft.
However, due to this being a short hop, there was no difference between the actual service on economy and premium economy such as improved food and drink offerings for the more expensive tickets. As a diehard AvGeek, it was also disappointing that only one of the two outside live cameras that show in front of and below the aircraft were working, but one would assume this wouldn’t be a consistent issue on every flight.
Economy — Liam Spencer
Seat: 62L
We paid: £99 ($123.50)
I was very impressed by the tremendous experience at the airport despite not having lounge access of any kind with my economy ticket. Helsinki Airport was clean, expansive and modern with plenty of cafes, restaurants and shops to choose from.
The A350 economy cabin was fresh and sleek with a smart grey design and comfortable seating. I enjoyed the amount of recline available. The crew were great — extremely friendly and efficient, making the whole experience relaxing.
There were a couple of downsides. Unfortunately, there was no meal service nor hot food available to order and options were limited to a small selection of drinks and snacks. The seat armrests were fairly thin and felt quite cheap and the Wi-Fi on board was intermittent and unreliable.
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