Sometimes, unconventional works. 

Finnair may not be the first choice for US travelers headed abroad. However, the Helsinki-based carrier should certainly be in the conversation. First off, the favorable geographic location of Finland’s capital makes it relatively easy for travelers to connect from the US East Coast to parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. (And that’s not to mention how seamless it is to transfer at Helsinki Airport.) 

In addition, Finnair has an excellent premium product, and I got to sample it on a recent flight between Los Angeles and Helsinki. The airline’s latest business class seat, dubbed the AirLounge, is not only one of the more unique seats flying today, but it’s also incredibly comfortable. 

I can talk about the local Finnish touches, from the colorful Merimekko-branded amenity kits and pillow to the stunning Iittala glassware, but it’s the love-it-or-hate-it non-reclining seat that captures travelers’ attention. 

That’s right, Finnair flies a business seat on long-haul international flights—like on my 12-hour transatlantic journey—that doesn’t recline in the traditional sense. 

Here’s what the experience was like, including a stop at the Finnair Platinum Wing Lounge, where weary travelers can sweat it out inside one of the world’s only in-airport saunas. 

At the Lounge

Finnair has perhaps one of the most unexpected features in an airport lounge. Flyers can experience Finnish sauna culture without ever leaving the airport. 

The sauna is hidden in plain sight within the airline’s Platinum Wing Lounge. It’s not particularly well marked, and guests who aren’t in the know may never notice it. When entering the lounge, the sauna is located to your left through separate male and female changing rooms. 

Unfortunately, the Platinum Wing Lounge isn’t open to every business-class traveler. The space is reserved for top-tier Finnair elites and Oneworld Emerald frequent flyers. I was able to gain access thanks to my status with American Airlines, another Oneworld member carrier. (Non-elite travelers with lounge access are directed to the standard Finnair Lounge.) 

I strolled into the male changing room to begin participating in one of Finland’s oldest traditions. The space features lockers deep enough to stow a small roller board along with two showers stocked with L:a Bruket amenities. I undressed, wrapped myself in a large towel, and opened the door to the sauna. 

It’s not a huge space; perhaps three other guests can join in before it gets uncomfortably crowded. Thankfully, most of the time, it’s empty. The sauna is undoubtedly a cool novelty and not a bad way to pass time between flights. (Pro tip: grab an ice-cold drink from the bar and bring it inside.)

The rest of the Platinum Wing Lounge has a gorgeous, light color palette with extensive use of birch wood. It features the same deep blue accents that you’ll find on the new Finnair business class seat. 

What the Business Class Seat is Like 

Speaking of the seat, earlier this year, Finnair completed the fleetwide refurbishment of its long-haul business class cabin. That means every widebody plane now features the AirLounge, a fixed-shell seat measuring over six feet long.

The Airbus A350-900 that took me across the Atlantic featured 43 business class seats spread in a 1-2-1 layout across 10 rows. What struck me initially was just how welcoming the entry space was, as passengers boarded through a galley in the airline's navy blue palette, complete with a gorgeous backlit mirror.

Then, I noticed the large, deeply padded cocoon-like pods. Instead of creating a business class seat with multiple parts like you might see on other airlines, Finnair went for something different. The AirLounge is almost entirely fixed in place, and you use the seat’s inner shell to find a comfortable sitting position. 

The airline did this, in part, to save on maintenance costs and reduce weight (and thus, fuel burn). However, I found the seat to be incredibly cozy to both sit in and lie flat on, with plenty of storage space and room for my feet and legs. While the AirLounge doesn’t have a sliding door, there is still ample privacy thanks to the large winged shell. 

To place yourself into bed mode, a flap rotates up and becomes flush with the seat surface, filling the gap in the footwell to create a flatbed. Then, to get comfortable, much like on a couch or bed at home, you adjust your body to find the perfect sleeping position. 

Add in a simple, yet delicious dinner and a few glasses of the airline’s famous blueberry juice, and I nodded off for a several-hour nap before landing.