Finnair A350 Business Class Review (€649 Upgrade) — Helsinki to Bangkok
Quick overview
I upgraded from economy to Finnair business class on an A350-900 for €649 (about $760 USD / $1,045 CAD at the time) for the Helsinki (HEL) to Bangkok (BKK) run (roughly 11 hours and 25 minutes in the air). The experience landed close to perfect: generous food and drink, thoughtful service, and a seat design that sparks conversation because it is not a conventional lie-flat.
Why I considered the upgrade
This route is long enough that comfort matters. For me, the upgrade decision came down to three things: sleep potential, food quality, and lounge access at Helsinki. For €649, you get a business cabin with a semi-flat/private pod layout, elevated dining, and access to one of Helsinki’s nicest business lounges.
Seat and cabin: not a lie-flat, but it works (for me)
The business cabin on Finnair’s A350 uses a non-traditional seat. It does not recline into a true lie-flat position, which is the controversial part. That said, the design allows you to stretch out and form a comfortable sleeping position.
At my height (5'5"), I could fully lie down by using the footrest lift. The seat feels private and surprisingly comfortable. Storage is sensible: a compartment for personal items, a water bottle, space for shoes, headphones, and the entertainment remote are all within easy reach. The seat belt buckles like a car belt and the cabin felt quiet and well-managed.
How the seat works
Normal seating position: standard business seat comfort and privacy.
Lounge position: feet up for relaxing and watching shows.
Pod/bed position: press a button to lift the footrest and create a semi-flat sleeping surface suitable for many people, especially those under about 5'10".
Amenity kit and extras
The amenity kit was minimal but functional: toothbrush and toothpaste, eye mask, earplugs, and a blanket that doubles as a sleeping bag for the pod bed. I would have liked socks and lip balm included, but the essentials were there I guess.
Note: I asked for slippers and was told they were out of stock. Small detail, but it cost the experience a half-point in my rating.
Food and drinks: abundant and well-executed
One of Finnair’s standout features is its food and beverage program. From takeoff through landing, the cabin crew kept things flowing. A few highlights:
Signature drinks
Blueberry juice: Finnair-famous. Sweet, delicious, and an easy non-alcoholic must-try.
Mocktail options such as a blueberry fizz and a ginger fizz at the lounge bar.
Champagne, wines, spirits, and a signature blueberry cocktail available for those who drink.
Dinner service
Dinner started with a warm lemon-scented towel and a selection of cold plates, followed by warm mains. The meal sequence I had included:
Shrimp Skagen style starter: fresh and well-seasoned.
Pumpkin puree with feta and pumpkin seeds: sweet, a bit too sugary for my taste but texturally interesting.
Garlic bread: warm and reliably good. It’s hard to mess up garlic bread tbh.
Main: smoked rainbow trout with broccolini: impressive for airline fish. Properly cooked and not slimy.
Blueberry cocktail: tasty but contained gin, so I skipped it after a previous experience with gin that I call my gincident (lol).
Dessert and late-night snack
Dessert was generous: a glass of blueberry wine, a cheese and cracker plate (blue cheese and a milder cheese with apricot jelly), then a second sweet course — blueberry mousse. The blueberry theme runs strong and works well. Very on-brand for Finnair.
Breakfast
Breakfast arrived before landing and included a warm croissant (excellent), scrambled eggs with sausage, yogurt, fruit, cold cuts and cheese, jam, and a smoothie option I chose as a strawberry smoothie. The portions were generous. I could not finish everything.
One thing you never have to worry about on a Finnair business class flight is ever going hungry.
Service and cabin crew
Service was warm and attentive. Crew members were generous with snacks and drinks, proactive about refills, and quick to answer questions. The small touches like the lemon-scented towel, clear menu, and prompt meal timing made the flight feel polished.
Helsinki Business Lounge at HEL
The lounge access is a meaningful part of the upgrade. Helsinki’s Finnair business lounge is clean, spacious, and thoughtfully designed. It features:
Comfortable seating and attractive decor
Private showers for long stopovers
A strong food selection with vegetarian and meat options (I tried the butter chicken and it was surprisingly good, albeit a dangerous choice for a pre-flight meal lol)
A well-stocked bar with both cocktails and mocktails. The ginger fizz was excellent
The lounge food scene felt better than many other premium lounges I’ve visited recently. It’s worth arriving early to enjoy it.
What I liked and what could improve
Highlights
Food and drinks: Variety, quality, and the blueberry-focused specialty items.
Service: Friendly, attentive crew who kept things flowing.
Lounge: Clean, spacious, with great mocktails and showers.
Comfort: Private pod feel and a workable sleeping position despite not being fully lie-flat.
Room for improvement
Non-lie-flat seats will be a dealbreaker for some travellers who expect a true lie-flat bed in business class. It was fine for me at 5’5.
Amenity kit could be more complete (socks and lip balm).
Slipper availability. I was told they were out of stock and I like to wear them to the bathroom of when I’m up for a walk.
Final verdict: who should upgrade?
For the HEL to BKK route, I think the upgrade to Finnair business class for around €649 is worth it for most travellers who value better food, excellent lounge access, more privacy, and a seat that allows real rest even if it is not a true lie-flat.
If you absolutely need a guaranteed full lie-flat bed because of back issues or height well above 6 feet, you might prefer airlines that guarantee 180-degree lie-flat seats. For everyone else who wants comfort, solid service, and exceptional food and drink, I recommend the upgrade.
Practical tips before you fly Finnair business class
Order blueberry juice: It is a signature and worth trying even if you rarely drink sweet beverages.
Ask for slippers early: Slipper stock can run out, so request them as soon as possible if you want them.
Choose the trout: The smoked rainbow trout was well cooked and a safe main to pick.
Arrive early to enjoy the lounge: The HEL business lounge is one of the better airport lounges for food and mocktails.
Plan sleeping expectations: The seat is great for many people but know it is not a true lie-flat. If that matters, check alternatives or seat maps before upgrading.
Bottom line
Finnair’s A350 business cabin delivers a comfortable, upscale long-haul experience with standout food and drinks and an inviting Helsinki lounge. The non-lie-flat seat is unusual but functional. For me, the combination of service, dining, and lounge access made the €649 upgrade a very worthwhile investment on this Europe-to-Asia route. I gave the overall experience a 9.5 / 10. This is my third time on this exact route, and I’d take it again!
