Feel Finnair is the airline’s tagline, but after flying in their premium economy cabin, I’m not sure what I feel! I recently flew from Bangkok to Helsinki and to Paris. I was excited to try out the airline’s new product, but I was a bit disappointed with a few things.
The seat was comfortable and the amenities were great, but I felt like the food was lacking in quantity. I would recommend bringing your own snacks. The food is not bad, but it’s not great either. And the 7.5-hour gap between meals can be a bit long.
BANGKOK TO HELSINKI
On this flight, I paid around $200 to upgrade to premium economy. While I am happy to part with this money for the extra space and amenities, I feel the airline nickels and dimes premium economy passengers.
The flight departed Bangkok at 7:15 AM, so breakfast was offered.
INFLIGHT MENU
Passengers can access the inflight menu from their touch screen. I’m glad that Finnair have saved some trees by doing this. The expectation for the flight is set, you know what’s included and what needs to be paid for. There are no surprises.
Premium economy class customers enjoy free Vodka, Whiskey, Dairy Cream, Cognac and Gin, if you’re in economy class too bad, you’ll need to pay!
INFLIGHT SERVICE
Shortly after take off the service began. There were no dedicated cabin crew for premium economy, instead the crew from economy start the service in the premium eco cabin, and move towards the rear of the aircraft.
There was no choice, and the same meal was offered in economy class. It was a standard airline breakfast, the eggs were a bit hard, and I was expecting a little more from premium economy. But that’s my opinion.
On a positive note, there were lots of snacks offered between meal services. The crew was attentive, offering an array of cold drinks. It didn’t stop! But one can only eat so many biscuits between meals.
Premium economy class passengers could walk down towards the back of the aircraft for additional drinks and snacks.
INFLIGHT AMENITIES
The blanket and pillow were great! I hardly use pillows inflight, but the design of this pillow made it so comfortable to use.
The amenity kit was a welcome surprise. It included natural and organic skincare items from the Swedish company L:A Bruket. I was impressed with the quality of the products, it was clear that Finnair had invested in this aspect of the passenger experience. Shame about the food though.
The time between the first service and the second service was 7.5 hours, a rather long wait between meals if you ask me.
Two main meal choices were offered. I opted for the prawns with rice and vegetables. It was quite good, and the duck salad was delicious. I was disappointed with the dessert. A pre-packaged cookie was served, which was also offered in economy class. I would have preferred something more fresh, creative, and Nordic.
The second meal service included proper cutlery, I am unsure why. Perhaps to elevate the dining experience?
ECONOMY CLASS DINING LONG HAUL
In April 2023 Finnair made some changes to their inflight service. Economy class are no longer provided with pillows, and the service in economy is quite limited. You’ll only receive one complimentary alcoholic beverage.
Here’s a look at the economy class meal offered for the second service.
ECONOMY CLASS PRE ORDER
There’s no complimentary catering on Finnair flights within Europe. (Blueberry juice and water are free though).
I spent €18 to pre-order two meals on my flight from Helsinki to Paris: a chicken noodle salad and a Margherita pizza. I shared the food with my travel buddy, and we both agreed that the pizza was mediocre but the salad was lovely.
If you don’t pre-order you can select from a range of items from the onboard menu.
The food in Finnair Premium Economy Class seems below average, and I was disappointed to find that I had to pay for certain food and drink items. Other airlines, such as Cathay Pacific and Emirates, offer a much better premium economy food experience. I feel that Finnair could elevate the quality of its food and be more imaginative with its offerings and less worried about cutting costs on food. Charging for snacks in premium economy is a penny-pinching move that doesn’t cut it for a premium experience.