Finnair Business Class

[bertair]

A friend in the travel industry has been praising the service and quality of Finnair.
While the airline does not fly from Australia, it is a ONE WORLD member which means that to connect with them from Asia to Europe, you can use a One World carrier from Australia to SIN or HKG. Thence use Finnair via Helsinki to European connections.
As Qantas would be the most likely airline that I would use on the first leg, would it be possible to use my FF points, either for an "Any Seat Award" or a "Points & Pay" ticket for a return ticket (SYD/LHR or any European destination) using Finnair ?

I am considering giving them a go in Business Class, which I hope means I can have a lay flat bed.
Flying Qantas for SYD/SIN or SYD/HKG, I think I can be sure of flat bed, but not too sure about Finnair.
Has any FF member flown with them recently and can report on the beds and the Finnair service etc.
With lay overs of a few hours in SIN or HKG, does Finnair use Qantas Lounges or another carriers lounge ?

Final question; is there an online site that reports carriers average pax loadings on the routes they fly, or is it a "commercial in confidence" that this information is strictly kept within each airline ?

 

[opusman]

You would only be able to use an ASA if Qantas had a codeshare on an AY flight, which I'm not sure they do. Classic partner awards would be possible though, subject to availability.
Alternatively, get a return flight to HKG on QF using points, and then buy a cheap return from HKG to HEL with AY separately.

I don't know which lounge AY would specifically invite you to (I doubt they have their own), but if travelling J you'd have access to any OW business lounge, including The Wing in HKG, and the QF one in SIN.

 

[RooFlyer]

There are few Trip Reports about Finnair J class and fares ex Australia - including a current one by nonpop . Both he and I have done prior ones, but that was before the horizontal beds started rolling out (previously flat' but not horizontal) Pretty well described in the various threads in Trip Reports.

You will probably use CX lounge on AY J in HKG.

I can thoroughly recommend AY business class. My own TA put me onto the 'Europe via Helsinki' with QF feeds to Asia lurk some time ago.

Edit: the fares I am talking about is Finnair all the way ex Australia (ie single AY ticket). You will fly Qantas J from Australia to BKK or HKG (or NRT) and connect onto a Finnair plane. Often they have deals where, after HEL, they will take you onto another European port at no extra cost (ie free European domestic flight, in Euro-business). great deals.

 

[knasty]

Finnair has a sale on ending tomorrow, about 4500 to most European destinations. I thoroughly recommend them at that price. There are still some older a340s with sloping bed but if your friend is an agent they may be able to see the seat layout hence tell if it's the new flat staggered 'throne' style.

 

[opusman]

That's a spectacular price for J to Europe; not seen fares like that since KLM left Australia. Especially since it allows two stopovers in each direction. The sale seems to be on until March 10th.

 

[drron]

We flew the new staggered J cabin a few years ago,I think the first of the new layout.Thoroughly enjoyed it even though an overnight flight then BKK-HEL.
Problem with awards is if you need more than 1 as AY usually only release 1 J award seat to partners.
To check on whether there are award seats use aa.com
AY shows up online there.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

AY have had some pretty good J class deals on www.zuji.com ex BKK via HEL to Europe for AUD2,640.00 return which includes taxes and earns about 400 SC for the 4 sectors depending on the European city.

It's relatively easy to get a cheap fare in whY to BKK. Award seats in "U" on QF aren't that easy to come by but you can get some good Star Class fares ex MEL to BKK or HKT on JQ.

Another option would be to purchase some Avianca Life Miles & redeem for TG J or F awards SYD/BKK/SYD but you need to enrol first to take advantage of any 100% bonus offers when they are released.

You can always check out www.seatguru.com or www.expertflyer.com for seat maps.

 

[KitKat]

At the moment, perhaps till late 2015, most flights from SIN to HEL have the older sloped J beds. Routing HKG to HEL has a better strike rate for the "new" J.
The good thing about booking at their website, is that it allows you to choose your seats before you pay, so you will know whether you are on the "new" flat J or not.
Then again, it may be swapped at any time...
The SIN route may get the A350 when it is available later this year...

 

[whatmeworry]

What dates? I had a look from MEL to couple of places and all around 6 grand.

 

[paxman]

deals out of SYD only and block out for Jul & Aug so useless for me unfortunately.

 

[redcow]

We are flying on Finair to GEN on Mar 4 via SIN and are in the New seats Home via HKG in Apr same new seats This will be our 3rd trip in J with Finair we have found them great We have done the 40 min transfer on the way home and it was tight and our bags made it had more tags on them than a Maypole

 

[OATEK]

We have booked to fly SYD-HKG-HEL-CDG//TXL/HEL/BKK/SYD next month. CX for the first leg and QF for the last. We have used Expert Flyer to pick the new fitout A340 for the HKG/HEL and HEL/BKK legs. The great thing was with an open-jaw booking we virtually got the HEL/CDG and TXL/HEL for nothing.

Can't come soon enough!

 

[superpang]

I just booked a LON - HEL - HKG then BKK - HEL - PAR with them in J class for late Feb ill update everyone on if they are up there with the best

 

[Faceplant]

Any updates? About to embark MEL - SIN -HEL - LHR then back via HKG. In J. First time flying Internationally in J and only 3rd time overall. What One World Lounge do you get access to in Singapore? I'm code share on Qantas and Qantas Gold/One World Sapphire. Till Sept anyway. Also is there a lounge at LHR you can have a shower in on the way in? Sorry for the newb questions pretty excited.

 

[OATEK]

Any updates? About to embark MEL - SIN -HEL - LHR then back via HKG. In J. First time flying Internationally in J and only 3rd time overall. What One World Lounge do you get access to in Singapore? I'm code share on Qantas and Qantas Gold/One World Sapphire. Till Sept anyway. Also is there a lounge at LHR you can have a shower in on the way in? Sorry for the newb questions pretty excited.

You may need to go to the transit desk for your AY flight in SIN, we did when we went through HKG. They printed a lounge invitation at the transit desk, but really you can try any OW lounge when in J or by way of OWS.

I don't think there is much of an option at T3 in LHR, perhaps post in the Lounge Helpdesk thread for more info.

Sure you will have a great time though with AY, we certainly did.

 

[Faceplant]

Thanks for the tip. I was hoping for the new A350 outbound from Singapore but that was not to be. Looking at the flights yesterday it seems we will be picking up the A350 HEL- LHR which was a surprise.