If there's one thing all loyalty programme members have in common, it's that they're always on the lookout for ways to stretch their points. It's a full-time job, and you're never quite sure if you've found the smartest redemption. One of the questions that comes up often is whether it’s worth paying more Avios for a better seat on Finnair, and that usually means choosing between Economy and Premium Economy. The two cabins look similar at first glance, but the experience once you’re on board is very different. Here’s a closer look at what each cabin gives you and how to decide which one is the better use of your Finnair Avios.
Here’s a closer look at what each cabin gives you and how to decide which one is the better use of your Finnair Avios.
Finnair Economy Class
Let's clear something up right away: when you book Finnair flights, "Economy" doesn’t mean one thing. There are two types to choose from, depending on how much you're willing to sweeten the deal. The first is Standard Economy, the no-fuss, no-frills option that covers the basics, and the second is Economy Comfort, which adds small extras that make the journey easier without jumping all the way to Premium Economy.
Standard Economy
Even within Standard Economy, your experience will vary depending on if you are flying long-haul across continents or just hopping around Europe on a short-haul route.
Let’s break down what you get in each route:
Long-Haul Flights:
The basics are well covered if you're on one of Finnair's intercontinental routes. You'll get a complimentary hot meal with non-alcoholic drinks, plus one mild alcoholic drink (beer or wine, sparkling wine costs extra). A second lighter meal or snack is served before landing on most flights, although the second service is skipped on shorter long-haul journeys, such as New York or Dubai. You do still have the option to buy extra snacks and drinks.
For entertainment, the A350 and A330 aircraft have personal seatback screens with solid films, TV shows, and games options. The modern fleet also has power outlets and USB ports for device charging, so you won't be left scrambling to save battery life.
Overall, it's a comfortable experience as Finnair provides all the additional essentials as well: blanket, pillow, earplugs, eye mask, and bottled water.
Short-Haul Flights:
The service is more basic on shorter European hops. Finnair's signature blueberry juice and bottled water are complimentary, but that's about it. Snacks, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are available for purchase if you're feeling hungry.
There's an optional extra called the "Seat and Meal" package, which gets you a front-row seat, priority boarding, and a three-course meal for a fee on selected routes. It's not Premium Economy, but it does take the edge off a basic short-haul trip if you want to treat yourself.
Economy Comfort
If you're looking for a bit more but not willing to make the leap to Finnair Premium Economy just yet, there's a middle ground called Economy Comfort. Think of it as Economy with a few thoughtful extras. In other words, it's the kind of upgrade that makes a long-haul flight far less of a slog without breaking the bank.
Economy Comfort seats are located in the first 4–5 rows of the Economy cabin, meaning you'll be among the first to board and the first to get off after Business Class. The seats also come with 8–13 cm (3–5 inches) of extra legroom, which makes a noticeable difference when sitting for 10+ hours.
The airline also throws in a few extra perks you won't find in Standard Economy:
- Noise-cancelling headphones instead of the standard set.
- A Marimekko-designed amenity kit (with earplugs, eye mask, socks, toothbrush, and toothpaste).
- One hour of complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi on wide-body aircraft.
- Priority boarding right after Business Class.
And that's not even the biggest surprise. The upgrade cost is usually around €60–75 (or $100–150) per sector. For what you get, it's one of those upgrades that feels like money well spent, especially if you don't want to feel cramped.
Finnair Economy vs Economy Comfort at a Glance
Here’s how Standard Economy stacks up across different types of Finnair flights:
| Service Type | Long-Haul (Standard Economy) | Short-Haul (Standard Economy) | Economy Comfort (Long-Haul Upgrade) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meals | Hot meal + 1 complimentary alcoholic drink (beer or wine); light second meal/snack on most flights | Blueberry juice & water included; other snacks and drinks for purchase | Same as Standard, plus enhanced comfort items |
| Beverages | Included (non-alcoholic + 1 mild alcoholic drink) | Included (blueberry juice & water) | Same as above; priority service |
| Entertainment | Personal seatback screen with films, TV & games (A330 & A350) | None / very basic | Same as Standard Economy |
| Power / charging | USB + power outlets on modern aircraft | Limited / basic, depending on aircraft | Same as Standard Economy |
| Comfort items | Blanket, pillow, earplugs, eye mask, bottled water | Water and juice only | Same as Standard, plus Marimekko amenity kit and noise-cancelling headphones |
| Wi-Fi | Paid (standard) | Paid (standard) | 1 hour free on wide-body aircraft |
| Seating | Standard pitch | Standard pitch | Extra legroom (8–13 cm / 3–5 inches), front of cabin |
| Boarding | Standard | Standard | Priority boarding after Business Class |
Finnair Premium Economy Class
If Economy Comfort is the halfway house, Finnair Premium Economy is where you start to feel the difference. It has a separate cabin that’s a proper step up from Economy, without the Business Class price tag. Available on long-haul Finnair flights operated by the A330 and A350, it's designed to give you more space, better dining, and a quieter cabin.
Here's what you get:
Spacious Seating:
- Seat pitch of around 38 inches (about 7 inches more than Economy), giving you roughly 50% more space.
- Memory foam cushions, a deeper recline, and leg rests that support your whole leg. This makes a big difference on overnight flights.
- A dedicated Premium Economy cabin, usually 21–26 seats in total, in a 2-4-2 (A350) or 2-3-2 (A330) layout. It feels noticeably calmer and more private than Economy.
Dining and Drinks
- Two meal services on long-haul flights. The main meal is a three-course service, plated on Finnair-designed Iittala chinaware (a very Finnish design touch).
- A second lighter meal or snack served before landing.
- Complimentary beverages will be served throughout the flight (excluding sparkling wine, which is available for purchase).
Entertainment and Power
- At least a 13-inch personal screen with a modern, award-winning interface packed with films, TV, music, games, and flight maps.
- Universal power outlets and USB-A ports at every seat so you can keep devices fully charged.
Amenities and Comfort
- A Marimekko-designed amenity kit that includes an eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush, and toothpaste in a collectible pouch with rotating designs.
- Neck pillow, a woven-look blanket, and noise-cancelling headphones (similar quality to those in Business Class).
Wi-Fi Access
- Wi-Fi available for purchase, usually priced €6.95–€19.95 depending on duration.
- Finnair Plus elite members get complimentary Wi-Fi (Gold = one hour, Platinum and Platinum Lumo = extended or full-flight access).
With more space, better meals, thoughtful design touches, and an intimate cabin, it's a strong choice for anyone looking to make long-haul Finnair flights more enjoyable without splurging on Business.
| Feature | Premium Economy Highlights |
|---|---|
| Seat | 38″ pitch (7″ more than Economy), memory foam cushions, full leg rest, and a dedicated cabin (2-4-2 / 2-3-2 layouts). |
| Dining | Two meal services, including a three-course main meal served on Finnair-designed Iittala chinaware. |
| Beverages | Complimentary drinks throughout the flight (sparkling wine available for purchase). |
| Entertainment | At least a 13″ personal screen with modern interface, packed with movies, TV, games, and maps. |
| Power | Universal power outlets + USB-A ports at every seat. |
| Amenities | Marimekko amenity kit, neck pillow, woven-look blanket, and quality noise-cancelling headphones. |
| Wi-Fi | Available for purchase (€6.95–€19.95); free access for Finnair Plus elites (1 hr for Gold, extended/full for Platinum & Lumo). |
Booking Reward Flights on Finnair
Finnair Plus is one of the best value long-haul Avios reward flights options in the oneworld alliance. The programme uses a zone-based award chart, and taxes and surcharges are generally lower than British Airways, especially in Premium Economy and Business Class. That means your Finnair Avios can stretch further.
For example, here’s how much it would cost in Avios if you were travelling on a Finnair flight from Helsinki:
- Economy: 30,000 Avios
- Premium Economy: 43,500 Avios
- Business Class: 62,500 Avios
Comparing the jump in comfort with the cost, that's a sweet spot considering what you're getting in return, especially in Finnair Premium Economy, where the difference is just 13,500 Avios more. Unless you’re saving up your Avios for something special, that’s too good an opportunity to miss.
Finnair's Award Seat Guarantee
Here's where things get interesting. Finnair also guarantees a set number of Avios reward flights on every departure, which is a huge plus if you're planning early.
- Short-haul flights: at least six seats (two in Business, four in Economy).
- Long-haul flights: at least eight seats (two in Business, two in Premium Economy, and four in Economy).
There are a few exclusions (flights to/from Doha, flights not touching Helsinki, or certain tour-operator routes), but overall it's a perk that takes the guesswork out of redemptions. Some travellers have complained of not seeing the reward seats on the website. A pro-tip that will leapfrog you to the front of the line is to switch the country setting on the Finnair website to Finland. For reasons only Finnair's IT team knows, more Avios reward flights often appear when you search this way.
Booking Windows and Flexibility
Another win for Finnair Plus is how far out you can book. We know plans can change at the last moment, but so do flight prices, and if it comes down to it, wouldn't you rather save up on the cost by booking well in advance? That's what Finnair also seems to think by opening its award seats 361 days in advance, beating British Airways (355 days) and American Airlines (331 days). That extra time can be the difference between locking in Premium Economy seats for your family or missing out entirely.
And thanks to the loyalty programme’s switch to Avios, you can now transfer Avios freely between Finnair Plus and The British Airways Club (formerly BA Executive Club), Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 ratio. In other words, if you've been wondering how to spend Avios more flexibly, Finnair Plus is now firmly part of the ecosystem.
Verdict: Is Finnair Premium Economy Worth It?
It all comes down to personal preferences. When you put it all together, Finnair Economy is a solid product on long-haul flights, with hot meals, entertainment, and comfort items that make the journey easier. The service is stripped back in short-haul routes, but still has a signature Finnish touch (yes, we're talking about that blueberry juice).
Step up to Economy Comfort, and you'll notice nice touches such as the extra legroom, priority boarding, Wi-Fi, and a Marimekko amenity kit, all for a relatively modest fee. It's an upgrade worth considering if you want to make long-haul Finnair flights more comfortable without spending too many points.
But Finnair Premium Economy is where the extra Avios begin to feel justified. With 50% more space, superior dining served on Iittala chinaware, and a quieter cabin, it's a big step up from Economy at a fraction of the price of Business Class. For just 43,500 Avios each way from Helsinki to North America or Asia, it's one of the best-value Avios reward flights currently available.
And don't forget the extras: Finnair's guaranteed award seat policy, earlier booking window (361 days), and the ability to transfer Avios freely across oneworld programmes make it easier to plan ahead and lock in premium cabin seats.
When considering the value of upgrading with Avios on Finnair, it’s easy to forget that behind every cabin choice is a dedicated crew working to make the journey comfortable. For those inspired by life in the skies, exploring flight attendant no experience roles could be a first step toward joining the industry and seeing the difference between Economy and Premium Economy from the other side of the aisle.
Remember to set a Reward Flight Finder (RFF) alert to catch Finnair Premium Economy reward seats as soon as they're released; they don't hang around for long.
