Outside of his ongoing MA degree in English and Philosophy at St Andrews, Samuel Sandor spends his spare hours writing – short stories, essays, articles on film, music, or any other subject he finds himself preoccupied by. Through all these strands, he strives to find a unique and unexpected way to look at the subject at hand. Without a concerted effort, it’s easy to form surface-level impressions of both the art and the news that one consumes. Sam’s pieces attempt to answer this interpretative simplicity by inducing curiosity in subjects one might ordinarily devote little thought to. It is this desire to transform viewpoints with novel ideas and to stoke deeper and more extensive conversations which attracted him to The Hollywood Insider.
Sep 29, 2022
Table of Contents
Photo: Finnair Business Class
Finnair Business Class – Flying Higher than Ever
Frequently listed as one of the safest airlines in the world, it’s a marvel that Finnair also stands as one of themost luxurious too, with one of the best business class flying experiences available. More so than ever before, this uniqueaviation experience is available to Americans. Having recently expanded further, the airline now serves cities as far afield asSan Diego,New York,Las Vegas,Boston, andLA, bringing Americans over to such fantastic European destinations as Stockholm and Helsinki. Within Europe, their network stretches toLisbon, Rhodes, London,Berlin, Prague, andRome.
Moreover, having recently completed a sweeping redesign of their long-haul Business Class cabin and experience, Finnair can now offer a more up-to-date service than perhaps any other provider.
A Culinary Marvel
There’s no denying it, plane food is almost always the worst part of flying. The cardboard bowl filled with cardboard chicken that most customers are greeted with is invariably hard to stomach, regardless of which sauce it’s paired with. This, however, is what makes Finnair stand out. Restaurant-quality food served above the clouds is the treat of every Business class passenger onboard the Finnair fleet. Pairing fresh Nordic and European flavours with designer chinaware from Harri Koskinen and Finnish design masters Iittala, what has the potential to be the worst part of a flight becomes the highlight of a holiday.
Koskinen, one of Finland’s most famous designers, explained that his motivation derived from “Finnair’s idea for the new flight experience to make the cabin feel like home”. In keeping with this, Koskinen said that the tableware was designed to be simultaneously perfect for an in-flight environment and to feel like “authentic, familiar items which would remind the user of home and of tableware used in everyday life”. Finnair has been in the business of such aesthetically refined touches since the 60s, when they first collaborated with Iittala, and Tapio Wirkkala they fashioned the now-iconic ‘Ultima Thule’ glassware series, which will remain in use alongside Koskinen’s designs.
Meals can include up to 6-courses, and will be followed by a lighter second meal or breakfast, depending on flight destination. All meals, naturally, are paired with award-winning wines and a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages. A wide selection of mains is always available, each employing the highest quality ingredients to create rich and delicate flavours which honour the Finnair tradition of simplicity and sustainability. Past meals patrons have been served include an indulgent braised beef cheek with onion puree, asparagus risotto and dark truffle sauce, a light and invigorating smoked rainbow trout with pea puree, summer vegetables and creamy mussel sauce, and a rich asparagus risotto.
Cutting Edge Comfort
Updated just this year, Finnair Business Class’ luxury Nordic design and service offer extreme comfort and unparalleled privacy. At the core of this is their new Collins’ AirLounge seat, the contoured shell design of which is ground-breaking in its ability to provide night-time comfort and freedom to move. Its mattress pad dressed in Marimekko-made textiles will send you off to sleep, surrounded with more personal space than you imagined was available on a plane. “I truly believe that together we have set a new bar for passenger comfort and the travel experience”, said Mark Vaughan, president and general manager of Interiors Seating for Collins Aerospace.
Around your seat, you’ll find a personal custom-design reading light, USB A and C sockets, PC power, a wireless charger, and plenty of room to stow your belongings. All in all, Finnair creates an environment as close to home as can be found in the air, where one can work and relax at ease. To maintain this at-home feeling, all Business Class passengers are given an amenity kit curated and designed by Marimekko, including L:A Bruket personal care items to keep you feeling fresh.
Finnair Business Class cabins are not short ofentertainment either, as each seat comes equipped with a large touch screen and active noise-cancelling headphones through which you can listen to an impressive library ofmusic, over 100films, and over 100television episodes.
Any airline truly interested in supplying premium service must inevitably remember to attend to the little things — the subtle touches which can so easily make or break your day. Finnair is clearly an airline attentive to such concerns.
Business Classic tickets entitle all customers to priority treatment not merely at check-in but at security and gate too, meaning you can maximise your time in Finnair’s comfortable and convenient lounges. Nordic decor serves as the background for thoughtful hospitality and delicious food, the amalgamation of which makes the Finnair lounge the perfect place to relax while preparing for your flight. For those travelling with children, the lounge’s family area will come as a pleasant surprise.
A generous baggage allowance is also afforded to Business Class customers, who can take either two or three pieces of baggage (maximum weight 32kg/70lb each). Once on-board an hour of internet access is complimentary to all Business Class passengers, allowing for work to be conducted with ease before settling down to relax and enjoy the in-flight entertainment.
A Customisable Experience
Catering to varying needs, there are three kinds of Business Class ticket available. The ‘Light’ option is intended for those travelling more affordably and with less luggage, who do not require a flexible schedule. Though offering a baggage allowance of carry-on only, you will nevertheless still be able to enjoy all the luxuries of Finnair’s matchless Business Class comfort. This option is also ideal for those interested in remaining sustainable, since less baggage means lower fuel consumption and emissions.
Classic, on the other hand, is the most popular of the ticket types available. Those who think they may need to change travel dates should consider this option, since its more flexible policy on travel dates allows for changes. In contrast to ‘Light’ ticket-holders, Classic customers can check at least one bag.
Lastly, for full flexibility, choose Finnair’s Business Class ‘Flex’ ticket, which is fully refundable. ‘Flex’ passengers are permitted to check at least one bag and to select their seat ahead of boarding.
Irrespective of which ticket you elect to fly with, however, Finnair will ensure, with unparalleled Finnish design acumen and best-in-class comfort, that your flight feels closer to a homecoming than a departure.
By Samuel Sandor
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Outside of his ongoing MA degree in English and Philosophy at St Andrews, Samuel Sandor spends his spare hours writing – short stories, essays, articles on film, music, or any other subject he finds himself preoccupied by. Through all these strands, he strives to find a unique and unexpected way to look at the subject at hand. Without a concerted effort, it’s easy to form surface-level impressions of both the art and the news that one consumes. Sam’s pieces attempt to answer this interpretative simplicity by inducing curiosity in subjects one might ordinarily devote little thought to. It is this desire to transform viewpoints with novel ideas and to stoke deeper and more extensive conversations which attracted him to The Hollywood Insider.
Outside of his ongoing MA degree in English and Philosophy at St Andrews, Samuel Sandor spends his spare hours writing – short stories, essays, articles on film, music, or any other subject he finds himself preoccupied by. Through all these strands, he strives to find a unique and unexpected way to look at the subject at hand. Without a concerted effort, it’s easy to form surface-level impressions of both the art and the news that one consumes. Sam’s pieces attempt to answer this interpretative simplicity by inducing curiosity in subjects one might ordinarily devote little thought to. It is this desire to transform viewpoints with novel ideas and to stoke deeper and more extensive conversations which attracted him to The Hollywood Insider.
Outside of his ongoing MA degree in English and Philosophy at St Andrews, Samuel Sandor spends his spare hours writing – short stories, essays, articles on film, music, or any other subject he finds himself preoccupied by. Through all these strands, he strives to find a unique and unexpected way to look at the subject at hand. Without a concerted effort, it’s easy to form surface-level impressions of both the art and the news that one consumes. Sam’s pieces attempt to answer this interpretative simplicity by inducing curiosity in subjects one might ordinarily devote little thought to. It is this desire to transform viewpoints with novel ideas and to stoke deeper and more extensive conversations which attracted him to The Hollywood Insider.
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