Finnair Airbus A350-900 Premium Economy Class Review [HEL to LAX]

^{The author flew as an invited guest of Finnair. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither the flight crew nor Finnair management had input in any part of this review.}

Airline: Finnair (AY)
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Flight #: AY1
Route: Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Date: May 17, 2025
Duration: 11 hours, 5 minutes
Cabin and layout: Premium economy; 24 seats in a 2-4-2 seating arrangement
Seat: 21G
Cost: $4,434 or 43,500 Avios plus $111 per person

Premium economy — an option with more comfort and space than economy but not as expensive as business class — has grown in popularity in recent years. EVA Air first launched this idea in 1991, but Finnair is a relative newcomer to the premium economy experience. It only debuted this cabin at the beginning of 2022.

Here’s what it was like for me on a recent flight from Europe to Los Angeles.

Booking Finnair Premium Economy

Finnair is the only airline operating nonstop flights between Helsinki (HEL) and Los Angeles (LAX). Because of the lack of competition, it can charge a premium on these flights.

Though I flew as a guest of Finnair, a one-way ticket in premium economy on this flight sold for $4,434 per person when I reserved it just 2 weeks in advance.

Alternatively, it was possible to book this flight for 43,500 Finnair Plus Avios plus $111 per person. This provided an incredible 9.9 cents per Avios in value. We value Avios at 1.25 cents each, meaning redeeming Avios here (instead of paying cash) offers nearly 8 times the normal value of Avios.

Aside from flying with Finnair, there are several ways to earn Finnair Plus Avios for a redemption. These include flying with its Oneworld alliance partners, hotel and cruise partnerships, and 1:1 transfers from Capital One Miles, Mesa Points, and Rove Miles. It’s also possible to move Avios freely and instantly between programs that use them, so you can top up your account with Avios from British Airways, Iberia, Qatar Airways, and Aer Lingus — opening the door to additional credit card points transfer partners.

Hot Tip:

If you’re paying for a Finnair flight, consider using a travel card with bonus rewards on airfare purchases. One of our favorites is The Platinum Card^® from American Express, which earns 5 points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com — up to $500,000 of these purchases annually, then 1 point per $1 spent.

At Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

Checking In

Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has just 1 terminal, and Finnair is the largest carrier at the airport. After security, you go to the Schengen or non-Schengen departures area, depending on where you’re flying.

Finnair had a separate check-in area for all flights departing for the U.S. The line here, whether you were using the automated bag drop or waiting to speak to a human, was long. Luckily, I had checked in using the mobile app the night before and only had carry-on luggage, so I was able to bypass this line and head straight to security.

Lounge

Finnair doesn’t offer complimentary lounge access to its premium economy passengers. However, adding a visit to my reservation was available online in advance, costing $51.90, or I could pay at the lounge’s entrance.

This offer provides access to the Finnair Business Lounge — not the more exclusive Platinum Wing, which is only available to those with elite status. However, it’s possible to visit the Business Lounge when flying in premium economy if you have Oneworld Emerald or Sapphire status, obtained through elite status with American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, for example.

Check out my comparison of Finnair’s Business Lounge and Platinum Wing in Helsinki.

Other lounge options existed in the non-Schengen area. These included 2 Aspire Lounges (near gate 13 and gate 27) and a Plaza Premium Lounge (near gate 34). All of these were available for Priority Pass members and those with American Express’ most premium cards.

Hot Tip:

Holding the right credit card can get you into numerous lounges, even if you don’t have elite status and aren’t flying in first class. Check out our list of the best credit cards for lounge access.

Boarding

We departed from gate 45A, and the gate was easy to identify, thanks to a large sign in the concourse.

When I arrived at the gate, I went straight to the agents at the desk. Since I checked in online and hadn’t shown my passport to anyone yet, I figured they would soon call my name for document check. Boarding had recently started, so the friendly employee told me to proceed to this waiting area after checking my passport and boarding pass.

The waiting area got very full as more people entered, as we hadn’t actually started boarding the plane yet. There were glass walls on 3 sides with the entrance on the fourth.

Once the doors to the jet bridge opened, an employee announced that groups 1 and 2 could start boarding. However, what really happened was that everyone surged forward, regardless of boarding groups.

Inside the jet bridge, a sign indicated that passengers in business class should turn left while passengers in economy should turn right. Absent a sign for premium economy, I turned right toward economy.

I boarded in the first third of passengers, and the line in the jet bridge moved efficiently. Flight attendants at the boarding door helped out by telling passengers which aisle to use, where to find their seats, and to move forward so they wouldn’t block other passengers.

On Board Finnair’s A350 in Premium Economy

Cabin and Seat

Finnair has 2 versions of its A350-900 aircraft, and the premium economy section on either version uses a 2-4-2 seating layout.

The only difference is the addition of 2 seats (J and L on the plane’s right side) in a fourth row on one version of the A350, which has fewer business class seats.

The version of the aircraft I flew didn’t have these seats, so we had 24 premium economy seats spread across 3 rows in a 2-4-2 layout.

I sat in the first row of premium economy in an aisle seat, so the bulkhead wall was in front of my seat. There also was a curtain here that flight attendants closed during the flight, separating premium economy from business class.

Hot Tip:

For a look inside business class, check out my review of Finnair’s business class on the A350-900 from LAX to HEL.

For those with the cheapest premium economy tickets, selecting a seat in advance isn’t free. Preferred seats, such as those along the window or in the bulkhead row, cost €69 ($78) while others cost €54 ($61).

The cabin had 2 seats along the window on each side and a block of 4 seats in the middle between the 2 aisles. My seat, 21G, was an aisle seat in the first row of premium economy. There was no seat in front of me, only the bulkhead wall.

The seats were gray with off-white headrests.

On my seat when I arrived, I found a pack with headphones inside, a bottle of water, a neck pillow, and a blanket. Unfortunately, there was a lot of plastic packaging that felt unnecessary.

The space in front of these seats was generous — definitely more than the 38 inches of pitch (space between rows of seats) available in the other rows in premium economy.

Even when I put the items from my seat on the floor, there was still plenty of room for my feet.

Since there wasn’t a seat in front of me, I was able to store items in a pocket on the bulkhead wall, though not everything fit.

The seats had a leg rest that lifted and lowered easily, providing a comfortable ride across the ocean.

The armrest between the seats had buttons to control the leg rest and seat recline. Using them required a firm push. There was also a spot with nonslip rubber to put drinks on during the flight.

The plastic molding beneath the armrest had an indentation. I couldn’t figure out whether it served any function or was just for looks.

The front of the plastic molding between seats had headphone jacks and outlets, including a universal and USB-A charging point.

Unfortunately, when I unplugged my headset at the end of the flight, the entire electrical system came out with it.

I found the tray table inside the armrest, accessed by flipping open the top of the armrest.

The area in here was dirty.

The tray table slid out in a single piece rather than as a folded setup, and it had a nice wooden look that I liked.

Each seat had an adjustable headrest, and there was an adjustable reading light here.

There were overhead bins on both sides of the aisle, meaning passengers could use bins near the windows and in the center of the cabin. With a small cabin and numerous bins, space was more than sufficient for everyone’s belongings.

Choosing the Best Seat

Those who book an award ticket or buy the cheapest fare cannot choose a seat in advance without paying a fee. Only the more expensive Flex fare, which is refundable and typically costs €175 ($197) more, offers complimentary seat selection.

Standard seats cost €54 ($61), while preferred seats — those at the bulkhead with extra legroom — cost €69 ($77) in advance.

Aside from the extra legroom at the bulkhead, choosing a seat comes down to positioning. Seats E and G are middle seats, which most people try to avoid if possible. Those traveling in pairs should aim for seats A and C or J and L, which are the pairs of seats along the window. Those traveling alone could pick aisle seats (C, D, H, and J) or window seats (A and L) based on their privacy preferences.

Seat H at the bulkhead has bassinet hooks, so anyone traveling with an infant may prefer this seat.

Amenities

Inflight Entertainment

Each passenger had a 13-inch touchscreen entertainment system and Phitek noise-canceling headphones.

Since there wasn’t a seat in front of me, the screen was on the bulkhead wall. It was too far to reach comfortably, but there was a remote. It easily popped out of the plastic molding near my hip.

The entertainment system offered a range of movies, TV series, music (including full albums and playlists), games, flight maps, and more.

A feature I really liked on the screen was the flight plan, which showed what time various events, such as meal times and arrival, would happen.

Pillow and Blanket

When I arrived at my seat, I found a light blanket and a neck pillow. The neck pillow had a buckle to keep it closed. I’d never seen this amenity on a flight before and thought it was great. I didn’t sleep on the flight, but numerous passengers made use of it.

The neck pillow was inside a removable cloth covering, which the airline staff could easily remove and wash before giving it to another passenger.

Shortly before we landed, the crew passed through the cabin collecting the neck pillows.

Amenity Kits

Premium economy passengers received a Finnair amenity kit in a black-and-brown case. It was the size of a small clutch bag.

Inside, I found earplugs, an eye mask, a toothbrush, and a small bottle of toothpaste.

Lavatories

The closest lavatory was in the middle of business class, in front of row 9. The next closest was a group of 4 lavatories in the middle of the economy cabin after row 39.

The bathrooms had the standard features: a toilet, changing table, sink, and mirror. These were kept clean throughout the flight.

Internet

Finnair offers Wi-Fi on its long-haul flights and short-haul flights operated by Airbus aircraft. The Nordic Sky portal, as it’s called, provides free access to Finnair.com and Finnair flight information.

Passengers with a Flex or Classic ticket in business class and those with Finnair Plus Gold status get 1 free hour of internet service. For Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo status, the service is free for the length of the flight.

Otherwise, internet access costs money for most passengers. It was possible to pay for the service on board or add it to my booking in advance, ranging from $9 for an hour to $28.10 for the full flight.

When I accessed the internet page during my flight, I appreciated seeing how many users were using the internet at the same time as me. Seeing a high number might make me reconsider the internet, as speeds could be slower with a high amount of traffic.

Wi-Fi packages included 1 hour, 3 hours, or the full flight, and it was possible to pay with Avios. Unfortunately, the speeds weren’t great. The upload portion of my speed test never completed, and the download speed was just over 8 Mbps.

Hot Tip:

Members who get complimentary internet time should note that they only get 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi on short-haul Finnair flights within Europe and the Middle East.

Food and Beverages

The “Manage my booking” section on Finnair’s website lets you preselect meals before departure. Hot meals included beef stew, grilled chicken breast, and plant-based meatballs. This section also lets you request special meals in advance.

Shortly after takeoff, we received snacks and drinks. Choices included pretzels and cookies, as well as both alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks. Get the blueberry juice if you’ve never had it!

We also had 2 meal services during the flight: a full meal at dinner time in Finland and then a second, lighter meal service near the end of the flight as we adjusted to the new time zone.

For the full meal, Finnair delivered my vegan meal as promised, and it was really good. I had an Indian dish of rice, lentils, and okra, as well as a grilled tofu appetizer that didn’t look like much but turned out to be really good. I also had a savory and a sweet roll.

The light meal included both a sandwich and a hot dish served in a cardboard box — unlike the dishes used for the full meal earlier. Again, Finnair delivered on my special meal request without issues, and I really enjoyed eating Indian food again (it was a 3 out of 10 on the spice scale, meaning I’d’ve liked it to go higher, but others might find that too strong already). Those who aren’t fans of Indian food might’ve been disappointed to get it twice, though.

Service

Unfortunately, the service was very inconsistent during my flight. At times, my flight attendant was very friendly and smiling; other times, I found her a bit annoying.

My seat was next to a bend in the aisle at the bulkhead wall where you moved from business class into premium economy. Twice, the flight attendant ran into me with the drink cart — even though I wasn’t in the aisle at all. She didn’t apologize either time. On another occasion, she ran over my foot with the drink cart, despite the fact my foot wasn’t in the aisle and she just didn’t navigate the bend in the aisle correctly.

I also didn’t appreciate the way the flight attendant spoke to me as we got ready for landing, telling me about a rule I’d never heard of before. She noticed that I had my shoes off and told me that it was prohibited. There was no point in arguing, but I did later confirm that this is Finnair’s policy for safety during takeoff and landing. It wasn’t so much the rule as the way she ordered me to comply with it.

However, there were also positives in terms of service. Gate agents were friendly when checking my passport and boarding pass, and flight attendants were friendly and efficient as they provided greetings and helped passengers find their seats. Plus, the crew did a great job of keeping the plane clean — both in the cabins and in the lavatories.

Moreover, the flight attendant in my aisle was friendly when giving me drinks and meals and when collecting trash, always saying hello and smiling. This was an odd contrast to some of my other interactions with her, but there were moments of solid service during the flight.

Bottom Line:

There were some really great moments of service during the flight, but service was inconsistent. Not running into me with the cart on 2 occasions — or at least saying sorry when it happened — would definitely improve things.

Arrival in Los Angeles

As we approached Los Angeles, the crew made the necessary announcements about baggage claim, safety, and passport control. They didn’t ramble just to hear themselves talk, and I’m a big fan of concise announcements. Props for this.

After landing and a quick taxi, we arrived at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. We exited from the plane’s middle door, and flight attendants didn’t block premium economy passengers from exiting while business class passengers exited first. Since the door was only a few rows from my seat, I was off the plane rather quickly.

Flight attendants were at the exit door thanking us for flying with Finnair and providing big smiles, just as they’d done when we entered the plane more than 11 hours earlier.

Final Thoughts

I liked Finnair’s premium economy product. The seat was comfortable, the space at my feet was great, and I thought the neck pillow as an amenity was really genius.

Service was inconsistent, with flashes of greatness mixed with a few awkward moments that could be improved. However, my food was good, hot, and in accordance with the special meal I’d requested in advance — something U.S. airlines aren’t consistent about, so Finnair gets praise for that.

By improving some of the inconsistencies with service, this could be a really great long-haul product.