Finnair Business Class Review, Is the No-Recline Seat Worth It?

On a recent trip to Finland, I combined multiple loyalty currencies to build out an itinerary that included one aviation bucket-list experience and two long-haul segments on Finnair. The routing required separate tickets, overnight layovers, and some strategic seat selection, but it also offered a useful opportunity to evaluate Finnair’s unique long-haul business class product across two distinct flights.

Finnair Business Class A330 – Doha (DOH) to Helsinki (HEL)

Booking and Boarding

After flying to Doha on Qatar Airways Qsuites using Alaska Atmos Rewards, I needed to position onward to Finland. I was able to secure a business-class seat on Finnair’s Airbus A330 from Doha to Helsinki for 45,000 Alaska Atmos miles plus $51 in taxes. One advantage of booking through Alaska is the flexibility: partner airline awards can be reserved with a $12.50 USD non-refundable booking fee, making speculative bookings relatively low-risk.

Finnair Gate Departure in DOH

Boarding in Doha was unconventional. Instead of using a jet bridge, passengers were transported by shuttle bus to the aircraft. There was no separate bus for premium passengers as everyone boarded together. The bus ride lasted about five minutes, and the process felt more functional than premium. For a long-haul business class departure, a more differentiated experience would have been preferable.

Bus and Jet bridge setup

Finnair Business Class Cabin A330

Finnair No-Recline Business Class Seat

I had selected 2L, a window throne seat. At the seat when I arrived were a pillow, slippers, and a blanket, along with noise-cancelling headphones and an amenity kit.

Finnair Business Class No Recline Seat

Small Storage compartment

IFE with storage instructions

Seat Storage

Finnair partners with Marimekko for its amenity kits. The pouch featured a grey and dark blue vinyl design, with the standard contents. The pouch itself felt basic, and additional items such as lip balm, socks, a comb, mouthwash, and shaving kits were available upon request.

Finnair Business Class Amenity Kit – Basic

Amenity Kit content

Finnair’s Airbus A330 features its distinctive “no recline” business class seat. Rather than a traditional reclining seat that transitions to a fully flat position, the structure remains fixed and converts into a bed by elevating portions of the seat base and footrest. So while the seat does fold out into a full lie-flat bed, you lie flat at an angle rather than straight.

No-Recline Seat, Sleep mode?

There is an additional seatbelt that goes around your legs when sleeping in these seats. Personally, I found the footwell a little tight for my preference, and it was slightly angled, which some who prefer to sleep straight may find bothersome.

Angled sleep and tiny footwell

The seat was comfortable while seated upright and adequate for a short power nap. However, those over six feet tall may find the footwell restrictive, and sleepers who prefer a straight-aligned bed may need time to adjust.

Meals and Service

This was a morning departure, so breakfast service was offered. Pre-departure beverages included water or Finnair’s signature blueberry juice. Post-takeoff beverage service included champagne, juices, and a smoothie. Finnair’s glassware reflects partnerships with Finnish design brands.

Signature Drink – Northern Blush

For my main course, I selected French toast with caramelized banana, vanilla and salted caramel sauce, and roasted hazelnuts. Alternatives included omelette or scrambled eggs. The dish was accompanied by smoked salmon, cheese, and vegetables.

French Toast – Finnair Business Class

A cheese plate followed, and dessert was a white chocolate mousse with strawberry compote. Before landing, a light snack of beetroot hummus with pita and vegetable sticks was served.

Pre-landing snack

Service on this segment was slow and inattentive. Dessert plates remained uncleared for nearly an hour. Compared to the attentiveness Qatar Airways showed less than 24 hours earlier, the contrast was noticeable.

Takeaway – DOH to HEL

The seat was clean and functional, but the footwell was not spacious. Dining quality was strong, but service consistency was lacking. Overall, I would rate this segment 6/10, with the prior Qsuite experience influencing expectations. Finnair’s hard product is unique, but execution in service delivery matters significantly on long-haul routes.

Finnair Business Class A330 – Rovaniemi (RVN) – HEL – ORD (Return Journey)

Booking and Layover in HEL

The return routing was 57,500 American Airlines AAdvantage miles + $70 USD in taxes for RVN–HEL–ORD, with the final ORD–YYZ segment on American Airlines. For Canadians, AAdvantage miles can be obtained via RBC Avion transfers at 0.7:1, ideally during a 15% transfer bonus.

The RVN–HEL segment was operated on a Nordic Regional ATR 72 in economy class. There is no business-class cabin on that aircraft, and Rovaniemi Airport is small, with no lounge access.

Finnair ATR 72

After arriving in Helsinki, I had a 12-hour layover. Rather than remain airside, I booked a stay at the Hilton Helsinki Airport, which is within walking distance of the terminal. This provided an opportunity to rest before the long-haul segment to Chicago. If travelling from Lapland to North America, overnighting in Helsinki may be necessary depending on the schedule.

Boarding and Bulhead Seat on Finnair Business Class A330

For flights to the United States, additional TSA questioning occurred before boarding. After boarding passes were scanned, passengers were directed to a secondary holding area. Business-class passengers were seated in a priority section but remained there for about 45 minutes before final boarding.

Finnair Boarding Gate at Helsinki

While priority sequencing was observed, the extended holding period diminished the premium feel. On this segment, I secured 1L, the bulkhead aisle seat. The difference in sleeping space compared to row 2 was substantial, with a larger footwell, greater width and length in bed mode, no angled sleeping position, and an additional small storage compartment.

Finnair Business Class Bulkhead Seat

Finnair does not restrict bulkhead seats, so they are bookable at the time of reservation. For this product, selecting the right bulkhead significantly improves the sleeping experience.

Larger footwell in bulkhead seats

Meals and Service

This was an afternoon departure, so lunch was served. The Starter course was Veal with pickled chanterelles, while the main options included beef, fish, or mushroom risotto. I selected roasted white fish with grilled lemon, fennel, cabbage stew, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes, and vanilla white butter sauce.

Lunch Service on HEL-ORD

Dessert options included blueberry pie or princess cake. Before landing, a light meal of fig-and-pecorino pasta with salad, shrimp, fresh fruit, and bread was served.

Blueberry Pie

Meal quality once again was strong and consistent. The service on this segment improved considerably. Plates were cleared promptly, and the crew checked in regularly. The difference in attentiveness compared to the Doha segment was noticeable.

Finnair Business Class Takeaway

The second Finnair long-haul flight was better than the first, primarily due to seat selection and improved service delivery. Finnair’s “no recline” business class seat will not appeal to everyone. The experience varies significantly depending on whether you secure a bulkhead seat. For taller travellers or those sensitive to footwell space, booking row 1 is highly recommended.

Boarding procedures, particularly with holding areas and bus transfers, leave room for improvement.

Finnair’s business class product is unique. With strategic seat selection and tempered expectations around the unconventional bed design, it can be a solid long-haul option, particularly when booked through partner programs like Alaska or American Airlines. Operationally, Finnair will begin direct service to Toronto in Summer 2026, operating three times weekly between May 4 and August 29. This will provide a non-stop option between Toronto and Helsinki.

Finland itself offers more than many travellers realize. From Lapland and Rovaniemi to Oulu, which in 2026 is honoured with being one of 2 European “Cities of Culture”, the country warrants deeper exploration. Finnair’s domestic network from Helsinki makes onward connections straightforward, including redemptions using Finnair Avios.

Hyvää matkaa.