Review: Finnair Embraer E190 Business Class

For my recent journey back to Singapore from the UK, I decided to mix things up by redeeming Avios points on an airline I hadn’t flown in quite some time – Finnair. The goal? To finally experience the Oneworld carrier’s innovative new long-haul Business Class product, the AirLounge, on board the Airbus A350.

While Finnair does offer some A350 AirLounge-equipped flights from London Heathrow to Helsinki, I was starting my trip 150 miles north in Manchester, which meant a short hop to the airline’s Nordic hub in a much smaller aircraft before the long-haul luxury could begin.

Enter the Embraer E190, with a typical ‘EuroBusiness’-style cabin – more Economy Plus than true Business Class by Asian standards – for a flight time just shy of three hours.

So how did it stack up? Let’s find out.

Flight details

• Flight: AY1366 Manchester T1 to Helsinki International
• Class: Business
• Seat: 2C
• Aircraft Type: Embraer E190LR
• Aircraft Registration: OH-LKR
• Aircraft Age: 14.0 years
• Departure / Arrival: 17:50 (BST) / 22:30 (EEST)
• Flight Time: 2h 40m

Booking

This was the first leg of my journey from Manchester to Singapore in Business Class with Finnair.

I redeemed the full Manchester-Helsinki-Singapore itinerary for 80,500 Avios points from my British Airways account, plus S$429 in taxes and fees.

The high cash outlay was mostly due to the UK’s Air Passenger Duty (APD), which exceeds S$350 for Business Class passengers flying all the way to a “Band C” destination like Singapore on a single ticket.

For just the Manchester-Helsinki part, the redemption would have been 18,000 Avios + S$115.

The best value redemption is actually on the Helsinki-Singapore segment, which currently costs just 62,500 Avios + S$51 for a standalone redemption. However, I needed a protected connection because of the limited time I had for this journey home.

Had I been able to build in the time for an unprotected stopover in Helsinki, I could have avoided the long-haul UK APD sting and reduced the cash element significantly – but unfortunately on this occasion, my schedule just didn’t allow for that.

Check-in and lounge

Finnair operates from Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport. Check-in at the dedicated Business Class desk was quick and efficient, with no queue when I arrived around two hours prior to departure.

Business Class passengers are granted access to the Aspire Lounge, a shared third-party facility also available to Priority Pass members. Unfortunately, the lounge was packed during my visit, and I was initially met with a curt “have you booked?” from the reception staff, seemingly keen to limit entry due to crowding. The tone changed, of course, once I presented my Finnair Business Class boarding pass, which guaranteed access.

The lounge itself offered a fairly standard experience: a limited selection of hot and cold buffet items, and a tended bar for alcoholic beverages which seemed to be more focused on restricting alcohol consumption than enhancing the guest experience – signs warned that drink service may be stopped after you’d had two, if staff believed you to be overindulging!

I grabbed a small selection from the salad bar – it was fresh, inoffensive, and unlikely to spark strong opinions.

All in all, the Aspire Lounge is functional, but far from memorable. There’s little incentive to arrive early solely for the lounge experience at Manchester T1 when flying Finnair, and those with a Priority Pass or DragonPass can receive dining credits at a couple of restaurants instead, which might be a better option.

Boarding

Boarding was relatively smooth with Business Class passengers and Finnair Plus / Oneworld status holders called forward in the first group.

A label by the entry door confirms that this flight is operated by Nordic Regional Airlines (abbreviated as N°RRA), a joint venture between Finnair and Danish Air Transport, which operates under Finnair’s flight codes.

Business Class on Finnair’s E190 occupies the first three rows of the cabin, though there’s no difference in seating or configuration – it’s the same 2-2 layout as Economy Class, with only a curtain providing separation between the two cabins.

The seats offer 31 inches of pitch and are 18 inches wide, just as they do in Economy – adequate for a short flight, but certainly nothing to write home about.

Grey seat upholstery in a white cabin with white headrests and a grey carpet does give the cabin a somewhat ‘clinical’ vibe – a splash of Finnair navy blue or green wouldn’t go amiss here!

Several US carriers, plus Qantas and JAL, configure their E190s with a 1-2 layout in Business Class, which is far more spacious, and it’s a shame Finnair has not done this.

That’s because Finnair can flexibly configure the Business Class cabin on its E190s anywhere from one to eight rows, simply by adjusting the position of the curtain divider, thereby offering between four and 32 seats based on demand for each flight.

It’s a common approach among European carriers for these ‘Eurobusiness’ setups, but it also means there’s little to distinguish these seats from Economy.

For instance, Finnair’s E190s lack charging ports, don’t offer Wi-Fi, and have no in-flight entertainment – even in Business Class.

If it’s legroom you’re after, Row 1 is your best bet, there’s plenty of space to stretch out here.

Each seat is equipped with a large, sturdy tray table, though it’s a single-piece design rather than bi-fold – meaning you’re effectively pinned in your seat once it’s extended.

Row 1 is the exception, with bi-fold tray tables that extend from the armrest, it’s possible to have just half your tray table extended.

Pre-departure: Two seats to myself!

Prior to departure, the cabin crew provided Business Class passengers with a bottle of ‘Villi’ spring water from Finland.

A blanket was also provided, though I didn’t really need to use it on this early evening flight.

Although the seat map had hinted at it earlier, it was only when the doors were closed that it was confirmed – Seat 2A next to me would remain unoccupied for the flight.

In fact, the load was light across the board, with just 6 of 12 seats taken in Business Class and 40 of 88 occupied in Economy.

This highlights another downside of the E190’s ‘EuroBusiness’ layout in a 2-2 configuration.

Unlike the airline’s Airbus A320 family aircraft, which feature a 3-3 layout with the middle seat blocked in Business Class for added space and privacy, the E190 offers no such buffer. That means on a full flight, you’ll be shoulder to shoulder with your seat mate – a notable drawback to keep in mind.

Obviously if you’re travelling as a couple it’s less of an issue, but when flying solo like I was on this trip – the empty neighbour seat on this aircraft is definitely a big win.

There are no vertical support structures at floor level beneath the seats in front, creating a generous open space that both passengers can use for storing items like small bags or backpacks. Foot space remains largely unaffected – especially if the adjacent seat is unoccupied, as it was in my case.

After takeoff

After takeoff, the crew distributed hot towels in Business Class, which is always a nice touch, and I decided to shift across to seat 2A for a window view and a little more privacy from the aisle, since there was also a passenger in seat 2D.

Service then began with a drink from the bar. On an evening flight like this, I’d usually opt for Champagne – but sadly, Finnair has discontinued serving Joseph Perrier in Business Class on its short-haul routes, replacing it with a more modest sparkling wine.

Nonetheless, I opted for a glass.

This one is a non-vintage Bernard-Massard Cuvée de l’Écusson Brut from Luxembourg, which scores 3.7 out of 5 on Vivino.

It may not be Champagne, but it was nicely balanced with fine bubbles, dry and refreshing with a pleasant finish – no complaints from me.

Note the beautiful glassware by Finland’s Iittala, a signature feature on board Finnair flights and apparently still a staple in many Finnish homes too!

Light dinner

The meal service began promptly with a light dinner served on these shorter flights. While there’s no printed menu or choice of main course in Business Class on such routes, the flight attendant described the dishes as she presented them, with the starter and main course served together on a single tray.

• Starter: Air-dried ham and cheese with green herb dressing
• Main: Creamy shrimp pasta with vegetables
• Dessert: Cinnamon bun (Korvapuusti) with chocolates

Another key highlight is the traditional Finnish favourite – warm rye bread, which is really tasty.

I stuck with the sparkling wine, with a choice of still or sparkling water also offered alongside the meal.

The ham and cheese paired really well with the rye bread and some butter, and I thoroughly enjoyed that. As for the pasta main course, it was fine – though definitely forgettable!

After the main meal service another drink was offered, and the cabin crew recommended the rosé wine to pair with dessert.

This one was another 3.7 out of 5 rating on Vivino and quite an acceptable drop.

It’s is probably a good time to mention that in Business Class on these intra-Europe Finnair flights, you can basically select any alcoholic beverages from the buy-on-board menu provided in the seat pocket, at no charge.

This includes a selection of three still wines (white, rosé and red), a sparkling wine, plus beers and spirits.

It’s a little confusing to have a price list when you’re flying in Business Class, but don’t worry – the selection is complimentary in this cabin.

If you’re curious about the ‘A’ pricing for each item, this applies to Economy Class passengers looking to redeem Avios points for a drink! For example, a Sandels lager costs 7 Euros, or you can redeem 1,400 Avios points from your Finnair Plus account instead.

Needless to say, this is not a very good use of Avios points, valuing them at just 0.5 euro cents (around 0.75 Singapore cents) each!

Dessert itself came in the form of a generously sized cinnamon bun – roughly the size of a large fist – served quite simply on a paper napkin.

This was a delicious treat, and it’s great to see another nod to Finnish tradition on the menu – cinnamon buns, known locally as Korvapuusti, are a beloved staple in Finland.

A couple of complimentary chocolates were also offered alongside, nicely rounding off the meal. Tea and coffee were also offered.

As dinner service concluded, I was treated to a fantastic sunset view from the left side of the aircraft, probably somewhere over the North Sea, but of course there’s no moving map to check!

Crew

There were two cabin crew members on this flight – one dedicated to Business Class and the other attending to Economy.

The flight attendant serving our cabin was warm, professional, and with only six passengers to look after, delivered impressively attentive service – my glass never ran dry!

Toilets

There is one toilet for the Business Class cabin on Finnair’s E190s, plus one at the back for Economy Class passengers.

The Business Class toilet is adequately sized, though unremarkable. There are no additional amenities provided – just hand soap.

A fold-down baby changing table is mounted above the toilet, which can also serve as a handy surface for placing your clothes if you’re changing (yourself!) mid-flight.

Is it worth redeeming miles for?

As mentioned earlier, my flight on this Finnair E190 formed part of a longer Business Class redemption itinerary from Manchester to Singapore – a common scenario for many of our readers transiting through Helsinki.

This is essentially what Finnair offers on its intra-Europe Business Class routes: a standard Economy seat with a curtain divider, and complimentary food and drinks. It serves its purpose as a feeder to the airline’s long-haul network, where the real premium cabin experience begins.

To put it another way – as a connecting segment to or from a long-haul Finnair flight, it’s a pleasant and efficient way to travel. But as a standalone redemption, 18,000 Avios plus S$115 in taxes and fees is a steep ask for what is, in most respects, just an Economy Class seat with free food and drink.

Of the six passengers in the Business cabin on this flight, five – myself included – were connecting to long-haul Finnair services (three to Singapore, two to Hong Kong). Only one appeared to be travelling point-to-point in Business Class, which frankly came as little surprise.

By comparison, an Economy Class redemption on this route will set you back only 12,000 Avios, for the same ‘hard product’.

Was this a good intra-Europe Business Class experience? Yes – but only because the seat beside me was empty.

Had I been seated next to a stranger for the 2.5-hour journey, the experience would’ve felt far closer to Economy than Business. Thankfully, with a light load, I had plenty of space to stretch out and stow my belongings comfortably – but this is not guaranteed on this aircraft type in Business Class.

Finnair’s Embraer E190 Business Class offers an efficient, courteous experience that’s perfectly adequate as a short-haul connection to or from the airline’s long-haul network – especially when leading into the carrier’s excellent long-haul AirLounge product.

However, as a standalone redemption, 18,000 Avios plus S$115 in taxes and fees is hard to justify, given the minimal differences from Economy Class. This is very much a “EuroBusiness” experience – a standard seat ahead of a curtain, rather than a true premium cabin.

In short, it’s a solid way to feed into (or from) something better, but not a redemption I’d recommend on its own. Save your miles for where Finnair offers more luxury – on long-haul flights.

(Cover Photo: MainlyMiles)