5 Things to know about flying the official airline of Santa Claus
It’s true. Since 1983, Finnair has been the “Official Airline of Santa Claus.” When the airline is not giving the big guy a hand with worldwide gift distribution, you can fly the Finnish skies.
Finnair operates non-stop flights from several U.S. airports – Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco – to Helsinki, amongst other destinations.
To date, I’ve flown eight flights on Finnair – internationally, domestically within Finland, and regionally within Europe. Here are 5 things to know before you book your ticket.
1. Fees for seat assignments
If you’re flying business class, you can choose your seat in advance of your flight at no extra cost. However, if you’re flying economy class, there’s a charge for advanced seat assignments, typically around $13 to $16.
KidTripster Tip: When you’re selecting your seat, choose one away from the galley areas. The noise and light can be distracting, especially on an overnight flight.
2. Luggage restrictions
The luggage restrictions on Finnair work a little differently that most airlines. For your checked bag, there’s no maximum dimensions; instead, the combined dimensions of the bag (length + width + depth) can’t exceed 62 inches. The bag also can’t be heavier than 50 pounds.
Your carry-on bag can’t exceed 22” L x 18” W x 10” H. Your personal item – like a purse or backpack – can’t exceed 16” L x 12” W x 6” H. For business class passengers, the combined weight of those two items can’t exceed 22 pounds; for economy passengers, it’s 17.5 pounds.
Yes, get out the tape measure and scale!
3. Business class… Finnish-style!
I’m not going to lie: flying business class (what Finnair calls first class) is pretty sweet, especially on a long-haul flight from the West Coast of the USA to Europe. Each passenger has his or her own pod equipped with an entertainment screen, noise-cancelling Phitek headphones, and lie-flat beds. Honestly, it’s the first time that I’ve ever slept soundly on a flight. You also receive a Marimekko toiletry bag, slippers, and comforter.
KidTripster Tip: Need to entertain the kids? You can introduce them to the Moomins, Finland’s most beloved cartoon series, on the entertainment system.
The food and drink selection is superb. Take the opportunity to try one of the blueberry-infused, Finnish cocktails. (Finns love their blueberries!) The three-course dinner was restaurant quality. My choices: beetroot marinated Balik salmon with cauliflower purée, creamy mushroom ravioli, and apple tartlet with caramel sauce for dessert. For breakfast, I had a yummy frittata with mushrooms, tomato, and bacon. And, as they say on the menu, if you’re “feeling peckish,” there’s unlimited snacks throughout the flight.
Seriously, I’ve never had an 11-hour flight go by so quickly.
4. Free WiFi… sort of
If you’re flying business class, you get one hour of free WiFi, which is not widely advertised. Otherwise, you can purchase the WiFI. It works best as you’re flying over mainland Europe and the USA, less so over the Atlantic. Cost: 3 hours about $13; full flight about $22, depending on the exchange rate.
5. Free stopover
Here’s something else that Finnair doesn’t advertise that well: the free stopover. Like what Icelandair does when flying through Reykjavík, if you route your European flight through Helsinki, you can take advantage of a stopover (up to five days) in Finland for free.
This writer received complimentary airfare for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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