Finnair but not Funnair - humph!

[FlyingFiona]

Anyone flown J on Finnair's A350-900 and found all the window seats blocked?

This is for April 2025 so there's no way they have all been booked - they are blocked. Very not happy, Jan!

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[jeza]

Is that from Finnair website @FlyingFiona ? If not try there.

 

[FlyingFiona]

Is that from Finnair website @FlyingFiona ? If not try there.

Yes

 

[SYD]

What does EF show?

 

[FlyingFiona]

What does EF show?

Don't have it. Maybe someone could check for me? AY132 on the 10/04/25

 

[JohnM]

Don't have it. Maybe someone could check for me? AY132 on the 10/04/25

Make of this from EF what you will:

 

[SYD]

Don't have it. Maybe someone could check for me? AY132 on the 10/04/25

It’s free to check seats. What fare class do you have / OW status?

 

[FlyingFiona]

I should have looked harder at their website...

 

[FlyingFiona]

It’s free to check seats. What fare class do you have / OW status?

Oh thanks for letting me know. I did sign up just now to take a look but couldn't see how to do it so figured it was a paid version. I'll go back and learn how to use it for future searches.

I'm a lowly Bronze travelling on a J reward (so, U class). Which means (according to their website) I can't book a window seat unless I pay for it. But the website didn't even offer me the option. Oh well, hardly had to pay any taxes so shouldn't complain.

 

[SYD]

Oh thanks for letting me know. I did sign up just now to take a look but couldn't see how to do it so figured it was a paid version. I'll go back and learn how to use it for future searches.

Just create a “Seat alert” and that shows the seat map to then choose the type of seat you’re after. Up to 4 times per day for free.

I'm a lowly Bronze travelling on a J reward (so, U class). Which means (according to their website) I can't book a window seat unless I pay for it. But the website didn't even offer me the option. Oh well, hardly had to pay any taxes so shouldn't complain.

At checkin, you’ll at least be able to select best available. Use EF to keep an eye on what’s available and strike like a hawk when checkin opens!

 

[FlyingFiona]

Thanks so much, @SYD. Hawk eye at the ready!!

 

[SYD]

Thanks so much, @SYD. Hawk eye at the ready!!

BTW, EF lets you configure your FF status with various airlines so that the seat maps ought to reflect what would be accessible based on airline / alliance status. Mine‘s set to QF WP and therefore OWE. So the seat map appears wide open.

How does it look for you? If the window seats are shown as blocked on EF, there’s a seat alert option (possibly free) for “Any window seat” ie once AY open those seats EF will send you an alert but I suspect that’ll be when checkin opens anyway. I don’t know if AY has a T-80 equivalent.

 

[tdimdad]

My layman observation is that AY might favour their own elite FF more than partner FF members. Unlike some other airlines we know of...

 

[SYD]

My layman observation is that AY might favour their own elite FF more than partner FF members. Unlike some other airlines we know of...

OWS and OWE get free seat selection on ”Unbundled” and Reward flights. It’s the first I’ve seen the restricted seat selection for non status PAX (but at least there’s some free options).

The belief that “if you fly business, you don’t need status” isn’t quite what it used to be.

 

[serfty]

The belief that “if you fly business, you don’t need status” isn’t quite what it used to be.

Been like that with BA for over a decade ... back in 2016 it was from £85 to select a seat SYD-LHR, now "Dynamic" ?!?!

 

[SYD]

Been like that with BA for over a decade ... back in 2016 it was from £85 to select a seat SYD-LHR, now "Dynamic" ?!?!

OT but maybe QF are pondering that also? They already have very restricted seat selection options for low/non status PAX (eg only Row 3 on a 737 until T-80). So, eventually rolling out pay to pick seats further forward might seem like an “enhancement”…

 

[FlyingFiona]

How does it look for you? If the window seats are shown as blocked on EF, there’s a seat alert option (possibly free) for “Any window seat” ie once AY open those seats EF will send you an alert but I suspect that’ll be when checkin opens anyway. I don’t know if AY has a T-80 equivalent.

Here's what I see - that one occupied seat is me. I've set up an alert as you suggested - which yes, I can do in the free version.




Oddly enough I went into manage my seats in a different part of Finnair's website and could actually choose a window seat. It shows me this layout:



So I chose 3L as you can see. No charge pops up and I could move on to another screen. However, when I look in MMB it shows me this:



When I click on Pay it just takes me back to the MMB log in screen.

Odd...very odd. Anyway, if I can't have a window seat I don't care where I'm sitting so I will just leave it there and see what happens!

 

[clifford]

OT but maybe QF are pondering that also? They already have very restricted seat selection options for low/non status PAX (eg only Row 3 on a 737 until T-80). So, eventually rolling out pay to pick seats further forward might seem like an “enhancement”…

It wouldn't surprise me at all. It's the way airlines are heading at the moment.

FWIW, I flew AY in J on a 359 a couple of weeks ago (QF reward) and was able to select any seat for free and had all of the other perks. The OWE lounge at HEL was very nice, where the barman went off to find a very nice bottle of Barossa Shiraz that they had squirelled away somewhere,

The flight also was very nice, with the Finnish flight attendants excelling. Nothing not to like.

 

[AIRwin]

The OWE lounge at HEL was very nice

Sauna?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Been like that with BA for over a decade ... back in 2016 it was from £85 to select a seat SYD-LHR, now "Dynamic" ?!?!

It’s now more than that for a single trans-atlantic!

One of the few benefits of QF silver (OWR) is the ability to select seats for free on BA 7 days out. Have been lucky so far to always snag the bulkhead window (ying-yang configuration).

I would consider paying those prices!