Sharing Business seat with Economy passenger on Finnair

[Skyring]

I'm travelling next month to Helsinki: Sydney to Singapore on Finnair/Qantas, and Singapore to Helsinki on Finnair. Both legs J.

I'm travelling to a convention in Finland, and I've found that a friend is travelling from Melbourne and will be on the same plane into Helsinki, no OW status to speak of, in Y both legs. We have about five hours in SIN and I can guest her into lounges and stuff. It's then nearly fourteen hours overnight to Helsinki and I'd feel like a right zero if I didn't offer to share our seats so we could both get a bit of rest.

I'm thinking that she could start off in J and we'd swap over about seven hours into the flight. That way she could work out how the seat operated with enough light to see what she's doing. I'm familiar with these seats already - and love them - so I could come in in the dark and not disturb anyone (apart from my friend who will then have to trudge back to the main cabin).

My question is, how do I arrange this with the cabin crew?

 

[RooFlyer]

My experience - not on FinnAir - is that Cabin crew aren’t wild about this type of arrangement but they may well agree. Just seek out the CSM when you board and make the request.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can ask the crew on boarding whether you will be able to swap.

I don't think that will be a problem

What will be tricky is the mid-flight swap you then want.

I think it would be easier, and potentially less time consuming and confusing, for you to start in your assigned seat, then ask midway if you can swap.

It would be unfortunate if your colleague starts in business class, but the midnight swap is refused.

The crew are busy during boarding , they might not appreciate the wish to double swap.

 

[Denali]

I...... I'd feel like a right zero if I didn't offer to share our seats so we could both get a bit of rest.

The question is why do you feel this way? Would you feel the same way if the other person was male?

Sucks to be her but thats on her employer/their policy for putting her on a 14hr flight in Y.

 

[dairyfloss]

You're a better person than I am! As @RooFlyer suggested, have a chat to the CSM after you're on board and ideally when things aren't too hectic. Be prepared that they might not want it to happen, and best to leave it at that, if that's the case. Your friend will appreciate the gesture regardless, I'm sure. Also note that even if you can swap, they'll want you in your assigned seat for take-off and landing. As it's the start of the flight, your friend would also be the one getting the meal and drinks service before the lights go out?

 

[Skyring]

The question is why do you feel this way? Would you feel the same way if the other person was male?

Sucks to be her but thats on her employer/their policy for putting her on a 14hr flight in Y.

I've known her for about twenty years and she's a good friend. Both our trips are self-funded. This isn't a business convention we're talking about, just an annual get together of an online community.

 

[prozac]

Let us know how it goes?

 

[Skyring]

My experience - not on FinnAir - is that Cabin crew aren’t wild about this type of arrangement but they may well agree. Just seek out the CSM when you board and make the request.

That sounds good. I've previously travelled with AY on a Business Light ticket that didn't allow seat selection. After boarding I asked if I could swap to a window seat out of the (many) vacant and they had no problem with this.

I'd have to pick my moment when they weren't super busy, though.

Post automatically merged: Mar 20, 2024

Let us know how it goes?

Oh yes! I'm going to be doing a complete trip report.

 

[Denali]

I've known her for about twenty years and she's a good friend. Both our trips are self-funded. This isn't a business convention we're talking about, just an annual get together of an online community.

Ah but I wouldnt put my own health and comfort over someone elses just because.

I would guest her in the lounge and say see you at baggage on arrival. Maybe send her a drink mid flight.

Its nice to be nice but what about the return flight, do the same? Do you miss out on your meals or sleep?

I think youre making it over complicated. She has her flight booking/seat, you stick to yours.

I know I sound harsh but it needs to be said.

 

[Ade]

I was in a similar situation on a QF flight out of SIN. QF36 SIN-MEL. Was travelling with a mate, who was in Y. After boarding, during the CSM personal welcome, I noted that I have a mate that is flying Y. The CSM immediately noted down the seat number and told me that he will take care of her during the flight. On disembarking my mate told me that the J CSM went three times during the flight and offered her drinks (she doesn't drink alcohol) from J, snacks from J and also gave her J pillow, blanket and pajamas. The CSM also told the Y CSM to take care of her. She was served brekkie first before others in the Y cabin.

 

[Mattg]

A few years ago I was travelling in J on QF63 and my seat neighbour wanted to swap seats mid-flight with his wife who was in Y. (He was on a business trip booked by his employer and his wife was tagging along for a holiday.)

He politely asked the CSM before takeoff if this would be possible, and the CSM gave a very firm "no, that's not allowed".

Of course, YMMV and Finnair is a different airline. Personally I wouldn't have cared if they had done this.

 

[tdimdad]

Also note that even if you can swap, they'll want you in your assigned seat for take-off and landing.

Unless the crew makes a note in the manifest? If they agree to the swap and mark you as having changed seats, you'd stay on the newly assigned seat to the end.

 

[drron]

If you are lucky and a few seats left in J they may upgrade your friend. I saw and heard 2 Aussie women ask about being upgraded on boarding and they were. But they tried to push their luck. Their were still a couple of empty seats and they asked if their husbands could be upgraded as they would like to sit together. The FA was not amused and the reply was if you want to sit together you can move back to the rear cabin.

 

[dairyfloss]

If you are lucky and a few seats left in J they may upgrade your friend. I saw and heard 2 Aussie women ask about being upgraded on boarding and they were. But they tried to push their luck. Their were still a couple of empty seats and they asked if their husbands could be upgraded as they would like to sit together. The FA was not amused and the reply was if you want to sit together you can move back to the rear cabin.

Why were they upgrading them, anyway?

 

[CaptJCool]

from my one time experience of this

the answer ought be NO to "swapping DURING the flight"

However, nothing stopping you switching for the entire flight sector
although the time I did this was with one of my teenage children - should have seen HIS face when consigned to Y for the longer flight home....

the question of gender might be problematic too as they'd be looking at the flight manifesto and seeing an Mr when a Ms shows up = perhaps everyone can just be Mx...

 

[Skyring]

Why were they upgrading them, anyway?

Yes, why upgrade two unrelated pax when you could upgrade a couple?

A couple of times I've been travelling with my wife (once on AY, actually, KIX-HEL) as a WP and we both got upgraded.

Actually, the best performance I've seen was when travelling - I think it was the old QF108 on the JFK-LAX leg - my seatmate looked carefully around the J cabin and then asked that because his wife was sitting in Y, could he go back and sit beside her for the flight?

As it happened, there were two empty seats together in the row behind, and they simply upgraded her to J.

 

[dairyfloss]

Yes, why upgrade two unrelated pax when you could upgrade a couple?

A couple of times I've been travelling with my wife (once on AY, actually, KIX-HEL) as a WP and we both got upgraded.

Actually, the best performance I've seen was when travelling - I think it was the old QF108 on the JFK-LAX leg - my seatmate looked carefully around the J cabin and then asked that because his wife was sitting in Y, could he go back and sit beside her for the flight?

As it happened, there were two empty seats together in the row behind, and they simply upgraded her to J.

I'm a terrible human... I would have been on to that scheme right away, and praying for it to fail massively (i.e. both end up in Y)

 

[Skyring]

Its nice to be nice but what about the return flight, do the same? Do you miss out on your meals or sleep?

She's spending a week longer in the area. I'm just going for the weekend, so I'll have the flight back on my ownsome.

I get the SC for the leg and that's a hefty whack. And seriously, while it's pleasant to be flying a long leg in J, after a while it gets tedious. There's only so much bubbly one can drink and sleeping to be done.

At least I can try.

 

[prozac]

She's spending a week longer in the area. I'm just going for the weekend, so I'll have the flight back on my ownsome.

I get the SC for the leg and that's a hefty whack. And seriously, while it's pleasant to be flying a long leg in J, after a while it gets tedious. There's only so much bubbly one can drink and sleeping to be done.

At least I can try.

Maybe you'll only get half the points and SC!

 

[Skyring]

I'm a terrible human... I would have been on to that scheme right away, and praying for it to fail massively (i.e. both end up in Y)

This bloke struck me as someone pretty savvy and I'll bet he checked via text after the doors closed that there wasn't a spare seat beside her in Y.