We liked…

Spacious seat

Plentiful snacks

We didn’t like…

Quality/quantity of food

Long break between meals

Overall

While the seats were spacious and the amenities top-notch, the food service left much to be desired.

With long gaps between meals and unremarkable food quality, it might be wise to pack your own snacks.

Despite these challenges, Finnair’s attention to detail in other areas shines.

INTRO

Recently, I had the opportunity to fly from Bangkok to Helsinki and then to Paris with Finnair.

While I was excited to try out their new product, there were a few aspects that left me disappointed.

The seats in premium economy were comfortable, and the amenities provided were great.

However, the quantity of food served was lacking. It might be a good idea to bring your own snacks on board.

The quality of the food was not bad, but it wasn’t exceptional either.

Additionally, there was a long gap of 7.5 hours between meals.

BANGKOK TO HELSINKI

I opted to upgrade to premium economy for about $200.

While Iโ€™m fine with spending extra for more space and amenities, the inflight service was underwhelming.

The flight left Bangkok at 7:15 AM, and breakfast was served.

INFLIGHT MENU

The inflight menu was accessible via touch screens, a green initiative by Finnair to save trees.

The menu clearly outlined what was included and what required payment, with no surprises.

Premium economy passengers enjoyed complimentary vodka, whiskey, cream liqueur, cognac, and gin.

Sadly, these drinks came with an additional charge for economy class passengers.

FIRST MEAL SERVICE

The meal service commenced shortly after takeoff.

Unlike other airlines, there were no dedicated crew members for premium economy, resulting in economy class crew attending to premium economy passengers first before moving on to economy.

There was no choice of meals, and the same breakfast was provided to both premium economy and economy class passengers.

The breakfast was a typical airline offering, with slightly overcooked eggs.

Given the premium economy setting, I anticipated a higher quality meal.

On a positive note, there were plenty of snacks available between meals, and the crew was attentive in offering various cold drinks.

Premium economy passengers could also get additional drinks and snacks by heading to the back of the aircraft.

INFLIGHT AMENITIES

The blanket and pillow provided were excellent!

Despite usually not using pillows inflight, I found this one exceptionally comfortable.

The amenity kit was a pleasant surprise, featuring natural and organic skincare products from LBruket, a Swedish company.

These high-quality products showed Finnairโ€™s commitment to enhancing the passenger experience.

Itโ€™s unfortunate the food didnโ€™t match this standard.

SECOND MEAL SERVICE

The 7.5-hour wait between meals was quite long. During the second meal service, there were two main course options.

I chose the prawns with rice and vegetables, which were good, and the duck salad was delicious.

However, the pre-packaged cookie for dessert was disappointing.

A fresher, more creative dessert representative of Nordic cuisine would have been better.

It’s worth noting that proper cutlery was used during this second meal service, perhaps to elevate the dining experience.

ECONOMY LONG HAUL

In April 2023, Finnair changed their inflight service. Economy class passengers no longer receive pillows, and the service is quite limited.

Only one complimentary alcoholic beverage is offered.

Here’s a look at the economy class meal served during the second meal service.

ECONOMY SHORT HAUL

Complimentary catering is not provided on Finnair flights within Europe, although blueberry juice and water are free of charge.

I pre-ordered two meals for โ‚ฌ18 on my flight from Helsinki to Paris: a chicken noodle salad and a Margherita pizza.

I shared the food with my travel companion, and we both agreed that the pizza was mediocre while the salad was enjoyable.

If you donโ€™t pre-order, you can choose from a range of items available on the onboard menu.

CONCLUSION

The food in Finnair Premium Economy Class seems below average, and itโ€™s disappointing that certain food and drink items have an extra cost.

Other airlines like Cathay Pacific and Emirates offer a much better premium economy food experience.

Finnair could improve the quality of their food offerings and be more innovative while being less focused on cutting costs.

Charging for snacks in premium economy feels like theyโ€™re trying to save money instead of providing a true premium experience.