This Underrated Airline Has a Sauna in Its Lounge — Plus Particularly Comfy Enterprise-class Seats

Typically, unconventional works. 

Finnair will not be the primary alternative for US vacationers headed overseas. Nonetheless, the Helsinki-based service ought to actually be within the dialog. First off, the favorable geographic location of Finland’s capital makes it comparatively straightforward for vacationers to attach from the US East Coast to elements of Japanese Europe and Asia. (And that’s to not point out how seamless it’s to switch at Helsinki Airport.) 

As well as, Finnair has a wonderful premium product, and I obtained to pattern it on a latest flight between Los Angeles and Helsinki. The airline’s newest enterprise class seat, dubbed the AirLounge, will not be solely one of many extra distinctive seats flying at present, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely comfy. 

I can discuss in regards to the native Finnish touches, from the colourful Merimekko-branded amenity kits and pillow to the beautiful Iittala glassware, nevertheless it’s the love-it-or-hate-it non-reclining seat that captures vacationers’ consideration. 

That’s proper, Finnair flies a enterprise seat on long-haul worldwide flights—like on my 12-hour transatlantic journey—that doesn’t recline within the conventional sense. 

Right here’s what the expertise was like, together with a cease on the Finnair Platinum Wing Lounge, the place weary vacationers can sweat it out inside one of many world’s solely in-airport saunas. 

On the Lounge

Finnair has maybe probably the most sudden options in an airport lounge. Flyers can expertise Finnish sauna tradition with out ever leaving the airport. 

The sauna is hidden in plain sight inside the airline’s Platinum Wing Lounge. It’s not significantly effectively marked, and visitors who aren’t within the know could by no means discover it. When coming into the lounge, the sauna is situated to your left by separate female and male altering rooms. 

Sadly, the Platinum Wing Lounge isn’t open to each business-class traveler. The area is reserved for top-tier Finnair elites and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers. I used to be in a position to acquire entry due to my standing with American Airways, one other Oneworld member service. (Non-elite vacationers with lounge entry are directed to the usual Finnair Lounge.) 

I strolled into the male altering room to start collaborating in considered one of Finland’s oldest traditions. The area options lockers deep sufficient to stow a small curler board together with two showers stocked with L:a Bruket facilities. I undressed, wrapped myself in a big towel, and opened the door to the sauna. 

It’s not an enormous area; maybe three different visitors can take part earlier than it will get uncomfortably crowded. Fortunately, more often than not, it’s empty. The sauna is undoubtedly a cool novelty and never a nasty method to cross time between flights. (Professional tip: seize an ice-cold drink from the bar and produce it inside.)

The remainder of the Platinum Wing Lounge has a stunning, gentle coloration palette with intensive use of birch wooden. It options the identical deep blue accents that you simply’ll discover on the brand new Finnair enterprise class seat. 

What the Enterprise Class Seat is Like 

Talking of the seat, earlier this 12 months, Finnair accomplished the fleetwide refurbishment of its long-haul enterprise class cabin. Meaning each widebody airplane now options the AirLounge, a fixed-shell seat measuring over six ft lengthy.

The Airbus A350-900 that took me throughout the Atlantic featured 43 enterprise class seats unfold in a 1-2-1 format throughout 10 rows. What struck me initially was simply how welcoming the entry area was, as passengers boarded by a galley within the airline’s navy blue palette, full with a stunning backlit mirror.

Then, I seen the big, deeply padded cocoon-like pods. As a substitute of making a enterprise class seat with a number of elements such as you may see on different airways, Finnair went for one thing totally different. The AirLounge is nearly completely fastened in place, and you employ the seat’s interior shell to discover a comfy sitting place. 

The airline did this, partly, to save lots of on upkeep prices and scale back weight (and thus, gas burn). Nonetheless, I discovered the seat to be extremely cozy to each sit in and lie flat on, with loads of cupboard space and room for my ft and legs. Whereas the AirLounge doesn’t have a sliding door, there may be nonetheless ample privateness due to the big winged shell. 

To position your self into mattress mode, a flap rotates up and turns into flush with the seat floor, filling the hole within the footwell to create a flatbed. Then, to get comfy, very like on a sofa or mattress at residence, you alter your physique to seek out the proper sleeping place. 

Add in a easy, but scrumptious dinner and some glasses of the airline’s well-known blueberry juice, and I nodded off for a several-hour nap earlier than touchdown.