CHECK IN Having travelled from London Heathrow Terminal 3 on Finnair’s 1020 flight (AY832), a two-hour and 40-minute journey, I touched down at Helsinki-Vantaa airport (Terminal 2) on time at 1310. A short shuttle bus journey and an escalator ride up brought me to Finnair’s Via lounge, to wait for my connecting flight (AY51) To Beijing International (a seven-hour, ten-minute flight).
THE LOUNGE The Via lounge is located above gates 36 and 37. Although the lounge was busy at the time, it still felt like a serene space, largely thanks to the “Scandi chic” design features, such as a wave patterned wall – an art installation that absorbs sound, reducing the noise level in the lounge. Sleek, white, calm décor gave a minimalist feel, and I was told that the central design theme was “futurism with nature influences”, represented by touches such as reed-shaped lamps, potted bamboo plants and subtle white tree-like structures for hanging coats on.
A raised à la carte dining area ran along two sides of the lounge, before which were soft grey individual chairs grouped in sociable arrangements, some before contemporary unlit fireplaces. Looking out through the window at the expanse of grey sky, I felt cosy and content. The buffet area, with lilac lighting, offered a selection of cold salads and snacks such as chicken satay sticks and fresh prawns. Beer and wine was available on tap, as were hot drinks from self-service stations.
Ultra-thin flatscreen Samsung TVs were on the walls, and three Apple Macs were positioned within individual work stations. The free wifi that ran throughout the airport was extremely fast. The Via spa is no more. In its place, the main area of the lounge will be expanded and a traditional Finnish sauna will open next spring.
BOARDING We were called to board at 1730, so I took the escalator outside the lounge down to Gate 37. There was a short queue while passports were checked, and another short hop on the shuttle bus to reach the plane. I was directed to my seat and offered a glass of champagne.
THE SEAT The seven rows of business class on this A330-300 alternated between being configured 2-2-1 and 1-2-1 (A, C-D, H-L) and (A, D-H, L). To view a seat plan, click here. I was in seat 4A, with large storage spaces on either side beneath each armrest that increased the sense of privacy. There was more than enough legroom in front of me (the seat pitch was 45 inches/114.3cm) and there was space before the base of each of the storage spaces either side of me that I could also make use of.
Each seat had a personal reading light, and on the back of the seat in front was a coat hook, a storage hole for shoes, and a magazine compartment. There were individual international plug sockets and USB ports on the armrest, and a table swings out at the push of the button. A pillow was placed on my seat, which was upholstered in baby blue fabric. A great feature was the massage function, which allowed me to isolate different areas of my back and choose the pressure by pushing buttons on the armrest. There was a slightly pointless “mood lighting” setting, which just seemed to light up my feet more than anything else.
The seat reclined to a fully flat position and felt really long at 80 inches (203.2cm). It was 20.1 inches (51.1cm) wide. Finnair’s amenity kits came in eco-friendly brown paper packages, and included flights socks, eyemasks and earplugs. There was a note saying that passengers could ask cabin crew for additional items if needed, and in the bathroom were some extras such as shaving kits, moisturiser and lip balm.
WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? My seat (4A) was one of the best. While all seats in row L are individual, there is no storage space between the seat and the aisle – just a single space beside the window. Therefore, the seats to go for are 2A, 4A and 6A – individual seats with an additional armrest/storage space that allows more privacy, more legroom to each side, and provide aisle access without being completely exposed to it.
THE FLIGHT The plane pushed back about five minutes late at around 1810. Just before take-off, over-ear headphones with comfortable padding were handed out, and once airborne, hot towels and immigration forms were distributed. Menus were brought out soon after and drink orders were taken. Cabin crew were lovely, and very polite.
My drink was brought to me about 30 minutes before my starter. This was a choice between Mediterranean antipasti – Serrano ham, Italian salami, pepperoncini filled with cream cheese and grilled mushrooms served with a fresh salad, or a velvety sweet potato soup. I had the former, which was well seasoned with lots of variety and colour, while my companions told me that the latter was very good too.
The main courses were Mediterranean tortellini in pesto cream sauce, grilled spring chicken with port wine sauce and chèvre risotto, and sea bass fried in lemon butter on a bed of stewed fennel. I ordered the fish, which was a little too sour for my taste, but the fish was tender. A selection of cheeses was served, before dessert, which was a cappuccino and caramel pastry or fresh fruit, followed by tea or coffee.
Wines included Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Vintage 2000, two whites (Leon Bayer Riesling Reserve 2011 and Fabrizio Bianchi Chardonnay 2009), two reds (Château Vieux Robin 2003 and Valpolicella Classico Ripasso 2010) two sweets (Lenz Moser Prestige Beeven auslese 2008 and Nipoort Colheita 1998). The list of the airline’s award-winning wines – including accolades from Business Traveller’s Cellars in the Sky Awards – was at the back of the menu.
After dinner, I picked up the remote control of the IFE (in-flight entertainment) system, and the 12-inch screen came to life. The AVOD (audio-video on-demand) was touchscreen sensitive too. There was a good selection of films and TV shows, and although my headphones didn’t work, when I told a member of cabin crew they brought me some more straight away, and they worked fine. I watched a film, then reclined my seat using the buttons on the armrest and slept for a couple of hours, greatly appreciating the long bed.
I woke just over an hour before landing as cabin lights were coming on. A member of crew offered me breakfast, which was a vegetable crêpe with bratwurst sausages and fava beans in tomato sauce, plus fresh fruit and a yoghurt. All meals were served with metal cutlery, and drinks were contained in attractive embellished glasses.
ARRIVAL We landed on time at 0655 at Beijing International airport. We queued at passport control for about 15 minutes, and I waited about ten minutes for my bag to arrive. I was in a taxi by 0730.
VERDICT The flight had plenty of touches that enhanced my comfort and enjoyment, including the fresh food and the well-thought-out seat. I also liked the lounge at Helsinki.
PRICE Internet rates for a return business class flight from London to Beijing in December ranged between £2,321 and £2,637.
CONTACT finnair.com
Rose Dykins
