A common theme in all qantas reviews is a) crappy salad for entree and b) lack of choices ie. first choice running out quickly. Should be easy for qantas to correct i would have thought.
I was a Qantas flight attendant for 35 years & if there were two meal services in business class we always started one meal service from the front & the second meal service from the back so the same pax don’t miss their choice twice
I fly Finnair regularly to HKG but that route is only on an A350. I think it's really important to highlight that the Finnair experience is Nordic and it really suits the brand from the menu to the crew and the Nordic-inspired things such as the northern lights when you go to sleep and landing in Helsinki with a blanket of snow. It's all part of the magic for me. I'm guessing this won't be present in this lease situation. I personally don't have any of the issues you have with the seat itself apart from the seat belt in your head and the phone charger (which is a little annoying not being magsafe compatible without taking your case off)... first world problems hey. There's lots of storage above you and the bins are ample for a solo traveler with two hand baggage items. With the seat belt by your head, I extend it and flip it over into the aisle so that isn't in the way. Also, I sleep on my left so I always choose the opposite side of the plane. As a left sleeper, I can curl up and have my knees under the window and therefore have such a wide bed. I've not found any other business seat that can do this apart from the Q-suite double (middle two which make a single bed). On my latest flight to HKG a few weeks ago there was a plane change due to a fault and we had the old Finnair seat (reverse herringbone) and it's night and day so much better for sleep quality on the new design. I also really disagree with your foot space issue, it's way wider on the new Air Lounge and I'm 182cm and UK11 feet. The best foot space for width is the bulkhead seat on the 350, so perhaps on the 330 it's a slightly different situation. The new Finnair seat also has far less moving parts, less weight and is most definitely a unique proposition, but it's by far the best sleep on a long-haul route when compared to CX, BA, QF business product.
Thank you for watching! Indeed, being a lease, the experience is neither fully Finnair nor Qantas. I think the width of the A350 helps play a part in making it feel roomier than the A330, but my issue with the footwell wasn't so much the physical space, rather the metal bar that cuts across the space. I believe only row 1 does not have the bar in the foot space. Like I said to someone else in the comments, I'm only noting some things that I found personally annoying. Unfortunately, once I say 2 or 3 things it may seem like the overall impression is negative, which isn't necessarily the case. I definitely appreciate the innovative design and weight savings it must provide for the airline, but personally I do not think it is a 'massively' improved product or step forward for passenger comfort. Thanks again for taking the time to watch and comment, appreciate it :)
To be clear, ANY business class is a good way to fly compared to economy. I don't take it for granted at all. However, sometimes I notice things that others may not mention in their reviews or videos. Once a few small things start to add up, it might seem like the overall impression becomes negative. But all I'm trying to do is point out things that I personally found annoying or didn't like as part of the product. Even in SQ A380 Suites, there are things I don't like (the seat doesn't line up with the TV and it's also loose / wobbles on the base). And because I mention these things, people may think I'm just a whinger, but the fact is I love the overall product and just wanted to point out some annoying quirks. In the case of this Finnair seat, I appreciate the design and weight savings it must provide for the airline. But I don't think it substantially improves the customer experience compared to conventional seats that already exist. Thank you for watching :)
@@LeisureFlyer Recently flown on AY-prime A350 flights and after this video it seems the narrower body of A330 does cause the foot rest to be narrower than that in A350, the legroom in A350 is much more generous IMO. Having said that, the sash belt did set in a weird location which my head did hit it at times throughout the flight (though I had the similar issue when flying with IB with their new seats). Space-wise I just thrown all the pillows and blankets to the foot rest for take off and landing. Otherwise I thought this seat is better than traditional business lie-flat seat, with the removal of mechanical lie-flat process which I don't feel very comfortable with. At least on AY-prime flights services were much more efficient, so the rest is more of an issue on how QF manages this wet lease.
Thank you for watching! You're spot on, A330 width probably has something to do with it as well. But the main gripe was the metal bar, the overall foot space was okay apart from that. How was the sleeping seatbelt on the A350? Service wise, I'm sure it will improve as the crew becomes more in tune with QF procedures etc. I definitely don't hold it against the AY crew as it's very early days for this operation.
@@LeisureFlyer that belt is fine for me, not too tight, but when I’m in a lying non-full sleep position I used the main seatbelt instead (i removed the sash belt soon after take off) The metal bar is also there on A350 but I don’t feel it blocking too much of my space
@@marcolau4350 yep, I did the same, I used the lap belt with the sash disconnected while sitting (or slouching). It's just the sleeping belt that was like a rubber band and strapped me down lol. I think the extra A350 width may have that extra cm or two making the metal bar less intrusive. Obviously, it's not like the metal bar is in the middle of the foot cubby, but sometimes it can catch you by surprise if you move your legs/feet.
Flew Finnair BNE HEL MAD return and found the Finnair business package was superior to Qantas Business. Only Qantas First class package would beat it on BNE LHR MAD return But a sunny summer 2 day stopover in Helsinki was well worth the change
Qantas cannot get their flights away on time. Their LAX, LHR, Joburg flights are 2 hours late every day. The pilots are Finnair, but the cabin crew are Thais employed by Qantas Bangkok labour hire company who usually work on Jetstar flights but are wearing Finnair uniforms. It’s a scam to avoid employing Australian cabin crew. Qantas charge a lot of money for business class and the food looked disgusting.
Glad to have found this video prior to finalising my itinerary. I literally wanted to pay more just to fly QF, and further price just to choose the Finnair aircraft. But I was also contemplating because my previous experience in Business with QF was terrible, I paid full fare, but terrible food. Now I can make a better judgement to avoid QF. Sad to see QF is still lacking with their inflight meals, bland taste, and terrible plating/presentation. Many other travellers said the same thing, especially those that paid full fair/self-funded.
The good thing is, there is plenty of competition between Sydney and Singapore. Depending on the time of day, most flights form Syd-Sin are day time and to be honest, even something like premium economy is enough to get through the flight comfortably. However, the returns from Sin-Syd are mostly overnight, so business definitely makes it nicer. Which airlines are you considering and do you have any preference for alliance etc. Personally I would just go for Singapore Airlines.
@@LeisureFlyer yes my no 1 itinerary would be SQ for now, their fares out of NZ are always constant and reasonable. And good food, comfy seat, and better crew. However, due to these same reasons, I’ve flown quite a lot with SQ 😂 and it’s getting a bit boring now which is why I’m considering QF and CX. But ughh the foods are always bad, bland, and small amount. Deceiving customers by using smaller flat whitewares, to make the food appears “big” and filling. But the trick wont work though. Food spills out of the brim, bad presentation, and lacking in taste. But hey, still charges NZ3500 one way from NZ to Asia, NZD2800 if you’re lucky.
Hi, not for this particular flight. Qantas usually only offers PJs on night flights. You can ask during a day flight but it's not guaranteed from experience.
I just flew this in business class - the seat was quite comfortable and the food was good but the service was terrible :( I was lucky to get a DRINK and the steward could barely crack a smile. They took 3 hours after takeoff to serve dinner on an 8 hour red eye which messed up everyone’s sleep. Then they kept the cabin absolutely boiling so we were waking up constantly Soooo disappointing.
Steaks on aircraft are never a good idea. Just do not ever order it, that is my tip, as the result is always disappointing. Heating a precooked steak in an oven - which is what they do onboard an aircraft - inevitably ruins the steak. You also missed mentioning the best part of the Finnair seat: in bed mode, the back padding is very, very effective sound deadening. You really cannot hear anything once you are cocooned into your little sleep world. I get it, not everyone likes it, but I love it. Other than that, thank you for an interesting report. Well done!
Good point, the padding around the seat back shell definitely helps to reduce ambient noise. In terms of the steak, it's just fun to see if anyone can pull it off or not. Indeed, most of the time it is not great, but I have had some good ones. Thank you for watching :)
I think this is a ridiculous wet- lease arrangement - providing QF business class product that’s incompatible with the AY aircraft type ? What the? And the subpar meal offering - once again labelled with Mr Ponytail at the helm - give this up !!!! At least the seat is something new and innovative- who’s the winner here - god knows
I've found this cabin very comfortable for overnight flights. I didn't experience the difficulty with the leg belt or shoulder buckle as you did, but I can understand how this could vary from person to person. I'll agree that these seats are totally unsuitable for those with limited mobility. My elderly mother was unable to get up from the "bed" position without assistance from the crew. It requires a certain amount of upper body strength.
I flew Finnair Helsinki to New York 4 months ago and found the food exceptional and the crew fantastic and this was business class, however with Qantas taking over the flight you were on you can only expect a disaster.
I do not care much about the metal I fly home in, but returning from Europe in June 2024 via Singapore I hope it is a Qantas and not a Finnair craft judging by this revealing video,so thanks mate.
@@LeisureFlyer Thank you, my hesitation is based on the flight number which is QF 0038 and identifies the metal as an A 330 - 300, so the J seats are fine, but I would not fancy the Finnair seats for the 7 1/2 hours
A common theme in all qantas reviews is a) crappy salad for entree and b) lack of choices ie. first choice running out quickly. Should be easy for qantas to correct i would have thought.
In fairness, I think they have much larger issues to address at the moment 😂
Seriously bad marketing for qantas when they lease an airline with a better hard and soft product 😂😂😂😂. Typical Neil perry catering tasting like as#e
Haha your not wrong
I was a Qantas flight attendant for 35 years & if there were two meal services in business class we always started one meal service from the front & the second meal service from the back so the same pax don’t miss their choice twice
Good to know! I love little inside tips like that. Hopefully they can apply the same service touches with the lease.
I fly Finnair regularly to HKG but that route is only on an A350. I think it's really important to highlight that the Finnair experience is Nordic and it really suits the brand from the menu to the crew and the Nordic-inspired things such as the northern lights when you go to sleep and landing in Helsinki with a blanket of snow. It's all part of the magic for me. I'm guessing this won't be present in this lease situation. I personally don't have any of the issues you have with the seat itself apart from the seat belt in your head and the phone charger (which is a little annoying not being magsafe compatible without taking your case off)... first world problems hey. There's lots of storage above you and the bins are ample for a solo traveler with two hand baggage items. With the seat belt by your head, I extend it and flip it over into the aisle so that isn't in the way. Also, I sleep on my left so I always choose the opposite side of the plane. As a left sleeper, I can curl up and have my knees under the window and therefore have such a wide bed. I've not found any other business seat that can do this apart from the Q-suite double (middle two which make a single bed). On my latest flight to HKG a few weeks ago there was a plane change due to a fault and we had the old Finnair seat (reverse herringbone) and it's night and day so much better for sleep quality on the new design. I also really disagree with your foot space issue, it's way wider on the new Air Lounge and I'm 182cm and UK11 feet. The best foot space for width is the bulkhead seat on the 350, so perhaps on the 330 it's a slightly different situation. The new Finnair seat also has far less moving parts, less weight and is most definitely a unique proposition, but it's by far the best sleep on a long-haul route when compared to CX, BA, QF business product.
Thank you for watching! Indeed, being a lease, the experience is neither fully Finnair nor Qantas. I think the width of the A350 helps play a part in making it feel roomier than the A330, but my issue with the footwell wasn't so much the physical space, rather the metal bar that cuts across the space. I believe only row 1 does not have the bar in the foot space.
Like I said to someone else in the comments, I'm only noting some things that I found personally annoying. Unfortunately, once I say 2 or 3 things it may seem like the overall impression is negative, which isn't necessarily the case. I definitely appreciate the innovative design and weight savings it must provide for the airline, but personally I do not think it is a 'massively' improved product or step forward for passenger comfort.
Thanks again for taking the time to watch and comment, appreciate it :)
This whole video spells FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS😂😂
I mean, tbh you're right. Thanks for watching :D
Yes but if you’re paying $$$$ for your business class seat you’d hope you get your money’s worth
Interesting review, this is the first negative review I've seen of Finnair's innovative new business class hard product.
To be clear, ANY business class is a good way to fly compared to economy. I don't take it for granted at all. However, sometimes I notice things that others may not mention in their reviews or videos. Once a few small things start to add up, it might seem like the overall impression becomes negative. But all I'm trying to do is point out things that I personally found annoying or didn't like as part of the product.
Even in SQ A380 Suites, there are things I don't like (the seat doesn't line up with the TV and it's also loose / wobbles on the base). And because I mention these things, people may think I'm just a whinger, but the fact is I love the overall product and just wanted to point out some annoying quirks.
In the case of this Finnair seat, I appreciate the design and weight savings it must provide for the airline. But I don't think it substantially improves the customer experience compared to conventional seats that already exist.
Thank you for watching :)
@@LeisureFlyer Recently flown on AY-prime A350 flights and after this video it seems the narrower body of A330 does cause the foot rest to be narrower than that in A350, the legroom in A350 is much more generous IMO.
Having said that, the sash belt did set in a weird location which my head did hit it at times throughout the flight (though I had the similar issue when flying with IB with their new seats). Space-wise I just thrown all the pillows and blankets to the foot rest for take off and landing. Otherwise I thought this seat is better than traditional business lie-flat seat, with the removal of mechanical lie-flat process which I don't feel very comfortable with.
At least on AY-prime flights services were much more efficient, so the rest is more of an issue on how QF manages this wet lease.
Thank you for watching! You're spot on, A330 width probably has something to do with it as well. But the main gripe was the metal bar, the overall foot space was okay apart from that. How was the sleeping seatbelt on the A350?
Service wise, I'm sure it will improve as the crew becomes more in tune with QF procedures etc. I definitely don't hold it against the AY crew as it's very early days for this operation.
@@LeisureFlyer that belt is fine for me, not too tight, but when I’m in a lying non-full sleep position I used the main seatbelt instead (i removed the sash belt soon after take off)
The metal bar is also there on A350 but I don’t feel it blocking too much of my space
@@marcolau4350 yep, I did the same, I used the lap belt with the sash disconnected while sitting (or slouching). It's just the sleeping belt that was like a rubber band and strapped me down lol.
I think the extra A350 width may have that extra cm or two making the metal bar less intrusive. Obviously, it's not like the metal bar is in the middle of the foot cubby, but sometimes it can catch you by surprise if you move your legs/feet.
Flew Finnair BNE HEL MAD return and found the Finnair business package was superior to Qantas Business.
Only Qantas First class package would beat it on BNE LHR MAD return
But a sunny summer 2 day stopover in Helsinki was well worth the change
Qantas cannot get their flights away on time. Their LAX, LHR, Joburg flights are 2 hours late every day. The pilots are Finnair, but the cabin crew are Thais employed by Qantas Bangkok labour hire company who usually work on Jetstar flights but are wearing Finnair uniforms. It’s a scam to avoid employing Australian cabin crew. Qantas charge a lot of money for business class and the food looked disgusting.
I can see how SQ does much better compared to Qantas
Damm the meal looks disappointing
At least it was interesting to see Finnair operating a flight for Qantas
It'll be around for a few years to come, so plenty of time to take the flight if you feel like it :D Thanks for watching!
Qantas need to get act together
Glad to have found this video prior to finalising my itinerary. I literally wanted to pay more just to fly QF, and further price just to choose the Finnair aircraft. But I was also contemplating because my previous experience in Business with QF was terrible, I paid full fare, but terrible food. Now I can make a better judgement to avoid QF. Sad to see QF is still lacking with their inflight meals, bland taste, and terrible plating/presentation. Many other travellers said the same thing, especially those that paid full fair/self-funded.
The good thing is, there is plenty of competition between Sydney and Singapore. Depending on the time of day, most flights form Syd-Sin are day time and to be honest, even something like premium economy is enough to get through the flight comfortably. However, the returns from Sin-Syd are mostly overnight, so business definitely makes it nicer. Which airlines are you considering and do you have any preference for alliance etc. Personally I would just go for Singapore Airlines.
@@LeisureFlyer yes my no 1 itinerary would be SQ for now, their fares out of NZ are always constant and reasonable. And good food, comfy seat, and better crew. However, due to these same reasons, I’ve flown quite a lot with SQ 😂 and it’s getting a bit boring now which is why I’m considering QF and CX. But ughh the foods are always bad, bland, and small amount. Deceiving customers by using smaller flat whitewares, to make the food appears “big” and filling. But the trick wont work though. Food spills out of the brim, bad presentation, and lacking in taste. But hey, still charges NZ3500 one way from NZ to Asia, NZD2800 if you’re lucky.
Great review……these are the details we need to know…..thanks for compiling
Thank you for watching! :)
Hi just wondering, did the airline provides / offers pajamas during your flight?
Hi, not for this particular flight. Qantas usually only offers PJs on night flights. You can ask during a day flight but it's not guaranteed from experience.
I just flew this in business class - the seat was quite comfortable and the food was good but the service was terrible :( I was lucky to get a DRINK and the steward could barely crack a smile. They took 3 hours after takeoff to serve dinner on an 8 hour red eye which messed up everyone’s sleep.
Then they kept the cabin absolutely boiling so we were waking up constantly
Soooo disappointing.
Damn that's disappointing. Was it the Finnair / Qantas route on Bangkok or Singapore?
@@LeisureFlyer Bangkok to Sydney. Finnair pilots and local Bangkok crew.
Steaks on aircraft are never a good idea. Just do not ever order it, that is my tip, as the result is always disappointing. Heating a precooked steak in an oven - which is what they do onboard an aircraft - inevitably ruins the steak.
You also missed mentioning the best part of the Finnair seat: in bed mode, the back padding is very, very effective sound deadening. You really cannot hear anything once you are cocooned into your little sleep world. I get it, not everyone likes it, but I love it.
Other than that, thank you for an interesting report. Well done!
Good point, the padding around the seat back shell definitely helps to reduce ambient noise.
In terms of the steak, it's just fun to see if anyone can pull it off or not. Indeed, most of the time it is not great, but I have had some good ones. Thank you for watching :)
I think this is a ridiculous wet- lease arrangement - providing QF business class product that’s incompatible with the AY aircraft type ? What the? And the subpar meal offering - once again labelled with Mr Ponytail at the helm - give this up !!!!
At least the seat is something new and innovative- who’s the winner here - god knows
Definitely a "quirky" set up to say the least.
I've found this cabin very comfortable for overnight flights. I didn't experience the difficulty with the leg belt or shoulder buckle as you did, but I can understand how this could vary from person to person. I'll agree that these seats are totally unsuitable for those with limited mobility. My elderly mother was unable to get up from the "bed" position without assistance from the crew. It requires a certain amount of upper body strength.
Thank you for watching! Did you fly on the A350 or A330?
@@LeisureFlyer I was on the A330. I haven't yet been able to try the cabin on the 350, but I prefer that aircraft otherwise.
I flew Finnair Helsinki to New York 4 months ago and found the food exceptional and the crew fantastic and this was business class, however with Qantas taking over the flight you were on you can only expect a disaster.
Definitely a strange mix of the two airlines. Hopefully things have improved since my flight but I doubt it.
I do not care much about the metal I fly home in, but returning from Europe in June 2024 via Singapore I hope it is a Qantas and not a Finnair craft judging by this revealing video,so thanks mate.
You should be able to tell by the flight number. If possible, take the QF1 service from SIN and enjoy!
@@LeisureFlyer Thank you, my hesitation is based on the flight number which is QF 0038 and identifies the metal as an A 330 - 300, so the J seats are fine, but I would not fancy the Finnair seats for the 7 1/2 hours
You should be able to tell by the seat map when you do the seat selection. Have you pre-selected anything yet?@@OVTraveller
Moist. Giggity. You don't fly QF for the food.
moist lease 👌🏾
I’m flying this route next year 🤔
Hopefully any niggling issues should be well sorted by then :)
Best Business airline seat in the sky
Good review.
Cheers, thanks for watching :)
When was this flight to SIN?
Just over a week ago. It will be around for quite a few years to come.
@@LeisureFlyer wow…. Ok… I hope someone will do something to improve all their short falls. Interesting video overall! Thank you so much
Thank you for watching! I'm sure the food and service side of things will improve once they get into the rhythm of things.
@@LeisureFlyer yea I believe so too. Because it is a pretty new flight/route.
Will be plane continue to Helsinki Finland