• My Overall Rating of this flight: 86%
• Sydney (SYD) to Singapore (SIN): 6301km/ 3915 mi, 7 hours 26 minutes
• Qantas Airways: QF291 flown by Finnair
• Finnair Airbus 330 Business Class
• My Rating of Qantas: 92%- 19th place out of the 125 airlines I have ever flown
• My Rating of Finnair: 84%
• Positives: The seat, good staff, comfortable seats, punctuality, and lovely aircraft.
• Negatives: Small food portions, terrible amenities kit
• Would I fly again?: Yes!

---

Boarding Qantas Flight 291 is a little weird. The flight belongs to Qantas, but Finnair provides the plane, pilots, crew, and service. Meals, amenity kits, and entertainment are all provided by Qantas and carry Qantas branding. The true twist comes with the cabin crew—rather than Finnish, they’re all Singaporean, adding another layer of fascination to this already unconventional flight experience. So you have Finnish pilots flying a Finnish plane with Qantas amenities and a crew that is effectively unrelated to Qantas or Finnair!

And right in the middle is the Finnair business seat, which is like no other and has divided its users into two camps: fans and foes.

This is not a Code Share arrangement…

Let’s start with a technicality. If you are not interested in this nerdy detail, skip to the Check-in paragraph below!!

A code-share flight is where an airline sells a ticket on another airline. In a Code share situation, I might have a ticket issued and branded by Qantas for a flight with a Qantas flight number. But the actual plane has nothing to do with Qantas. For example. it will be an Emirates plane with an Emirates crew and an Emirates number.

So when I described this flight to my flight nerdy friends, they all nodded sagely and described code-share flights they had been on.. My ticket had nothing to do with the actual flight. This flight, however, is not a code-share but a unique partnership between Qantas and Finnair. A unique partnership.

Quite simply. Qantas has a shortage of planes. Finnair has spare planes because of the sanctions halting its Russian flights and the closure of Russian airspace. Qantas has contracted Finnair to run a service from Sydney to Singapore (QF291/292) and another from Sydney to Bangkok starting on 31 March 2024 until late 2025. The arrangement is known as a “Wet Lease”. It is a contractual agreement where Qantas leases two A330s along with crew, maintenance, and insurance from One World partner Finnair. I photographed the plane at Sydney Airport while out for a cheeky plane spotting run.

Booking (Online): 10/10

I needed to travel to Asia and was waiting to book my flight to take advantage of Qantas’ double status credit promotion. My goal with this promotion was to find the most affordable seats that also offer the highest number of status credits, essential for maintaining my high-status flyer benefits!

After monitoring fares for several weeks, I seized the opportunity when Qantas launched their promotion. However, I quickly discovered that all available discounted business class seats to Asia had been snapped up. Turning to Google Flights, I meticulously searched for the most optimal route from Australia to Asia. Eventually, I secured a booking on this flight and was thrilled to have chosen the Qantas/ Finnair option.

After booking, I selected seat 2A. I closely monitored seat availability after that as I was hoping for, a window seat in the coveted Row one. It never became available. As it turns out, I believe any seat position in this cabin is a good choice.

Check-In: 10/10

On this occasion, I was only transiting through Sydney. I checked in at Coolangatta Gold Coast Airport and received a warm welcome at 5 in the morning. Express check-in via the business line ensured a swift process, although my bag, tagged with priority, wasn’t among the first off the plane in Singapore.

Security at Coolangatta went smoothly. I arrived in Sydney and took the bus between the Qantas domestic and international terminals. While the journey across the tarmac provides great plane-spotting opportunities for a nerd like me (see below), this is one of my least favourite transit arrangements in the world. Sometimes, the wait for the Sydney airport inter-terminal bus can feel quite lengthy, and the journey across the airport is so slow. Fortunately, a bus departed soon after I arrived at the bus gate.

Navigating passport control and security at Sydney’s international terminal via the express lane was efficient, with no waiting for passport machines and quick clearance through immigration. Despite a slightly longer security queue, the staff were friendly and helpful. Overall, it took exactly 60 minutes from landing at Sydney airport to sitting in the Qantas Lounge. Excellent result.

Lounge: 10/10

My ticket granted me access to the Qantas International Business Lounge, but my One World Emerald/Qantas Platinum status bumped me to the Qantas International First Lounge. Despite my disdain for Sydney Airport, this lounge ranks among my favourites worldwide. If one must wait for a plane, this is the place to do it. Fantastic furnishings, breathtaking views of the runway (which make this plane spotter happy), plenty of natural light, and tasty food and drinks characterise the Qantas First Lounge Sydney. Additionally, a spa offers free services to those booked in First Class. (Not me).

I downed an iced latte, enjoyed fresh pancakes, and had an energizing juice before settling into some work. The lounge is known for its incredible squid, which I usually get, but it is not on the breakfast menu, which was in full swing when I arrived.

I thought I would order some from the lunch menu after some work calls and before boarding. Unfortunately, time was against me on this occasion, so I left the lounge squidless.

I had booked a meeting room for a private Zoom conference call, which the staff were invaluable with. They even managed to chase out a squatter who had set themselves up in the room despite not booking it: “Oh, I thought I might have booked it,” she said.

Boarding: 10/10

I was thrilled to board the flight. Having flown with Finnair and enjoyed their service multiple times before, I was particularly excited about this journey on this unusual route.

The staff at the door greeted me warmly and efficiently. The crew member who greeted me at my seat offered me a welcome drink and took my meal orders, setting the perfect tone for the flight. Very impressive staff member.

The cabin manager soon followed with a personal “hello”, reinforcing the incredible welcome. Pyjama delivery occurred soon after. I chose to fly in the PJs once we had reached the cruise. (I have long ago decided if something goes wrong with take off, I don’t want to be rescued wearing Qantas pyjamas!)

Onboard the Aircraft:

A week before my flight, I went for a morning run alongside Sydney’s bustling Kingsford Smith Airport and stumbled upon the very aircraft that would take me to Singapore, the Finnair A330-300.

It was stationed near the perimeter fence, undergoing its routine maintenance. This plane nerd was very excited. Finnair boasts a fleet of 18 of this type of model. They have three cabins aboard: Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

Economy:

230 Economy seats arranged 2-4-2 ( 2-3-2 toward the back of the plane) with a very ordinary 31″ Pitch (distance between seats), a seat Width of 17.5″ and a recline of 5″. The Qantas Boeing 787 has 32″ in their economy.

Premium Economy

The small Premium Economy section is equipped with 21 seats (three rows of seven seats arranged 2-3-2), offering ample legroom (38″ pitch), a comfortable width of 18.7″, and a generous recline of 8″. Qantas has not previously operated a premium economy on its Bangkok Airbus 330 services, so this a pleasant new option.

Business Cabin:

I thought the cabin was stunning. It was fitted with 28 oversized “sofa” seats covered in high-walled shells in a 1-2-1 arrangement numbered A,D, H, L. The A and L seats face the window. In the D and H middle seats, people sit near the aisle with their seat shelves between them. The privacy barrier comes raised, but can be lowered if travelling with a friend or family member.

The Seat: 10/10

The new seat was developed by Finnair with seat-maker Collins Aerospace, and the Tangerine design was based on a 2014 British Airways concept. Featuring a Scandinavian-inspired design that, to my eyes, prioritises simplicity and efficiency, the Finnair business class seat provides passengers with a one-of-a-kind cocoon-like experience that is appealing to some passengers while leaving others feeling disappointed. The reasons why people hate the seat and have said they will never fly again using it are:

• They find it uncomfortable and/or firm, especially during sleep mode, and people find challenges in moving into a comfortable position.
• There is a lack of preset recline options
• The cushions are too small to properly feel comfortable
• The footwell may restrict mobility
• Some passengers struggle to get in and out of bed without messing up the topper
• Some find the completely retractable sleeping seat belt constricts firmly around the hips, making it difficult to shift or rollover.

I was unsure how I would feel about it as I read negative comments after negative comments before the flight. However, I didn’t experience any of these issues. I appreciated the instructional video guide that explained how to use the seat. Such guides should be a standard feature for every business class seat. I loved the seat for the following reasons:

• Privacy: I was amazed at how cocooned and private I felt. I barely noticed there were other passengers around me.
• Versatility: I appreciated being able to choose how to use it. Considering the best ways to sit, relax, and eat was fun.
• Incredibly spacious: An extended, broad area for lounging and snoozing, meaning I had plenty of room and foot space. A generous amount of space around the head and shoulders means I felt no claustrophobia at all. There is ample room for a laptop, book, and small tote bag.

• Fabulous cushioning for side sleeping- I even slept, which I rarely do on a plane.

I found the two pillows provided by Qantas useful relaxation but I agree with others, they are a little too small.

The classy table that slides out from its storage nook gives lots of flexibility in location and angles, nicely as a meal table or laptop workspace.

I applaud Finnair’s bravery in debuting something so “controversial,” but I wonder how long it will last. The frustration, anger, and negativity surrounding its usage by, so many suggest that it may not be worth persisting with. I think this is a shame.

Safety: 10/10

Airline ratings consistently award Finnair a seven–star rating, positioning it among the safest airlines globally. Qantas typically ranks at the top of the list or in second place.

The safety video featured during our flight was from Finnair, so we did not have the opportunity to view the new Qantas safety video, which I had commented on back in January. This year alone, I have encountered that Qantas safety video thrice.

Amenity Kit: 3/10

Qantas could do better. This kit has been stripped down to the least amount of content possible. Out of the ten airlines I have travelled in Business Class with over the last year, this has to be the least generous and dullest kit. Its one major “selling point” was that the kit is made of recycled materials.

Entertainment: 8/10

A power outlet, which requires some manoeuvring to access, is provided. Additionally, there are USB-A and USB-C ports, as well as wireless charging capabilities.

The screen in Business class is an 18-inch personal television fixed into place. Some passengers have commented that the screen restricts their viewing pleasure because of its angle. I had no such issue.

The Qantas entertainment programming seamlessly integrates into the Finnair entertainment system and works well. I watched a couple of episodes of Golden Shows and started two movies, although I never finished them.

The lack of Wi-Fi is a significant downside in 2024. However, I did enjoy the opportunity to be disconnected. Nevertheless, I got some work done without the distraction of being pinged with emails.

Finnair offers a pervasive range of maps, which keeps this nerd amused. More importantly, a video feed from A camera is mounted at the front and on the belly of the plane!

Take Off

After a long taxi, which gave me more opportunity for plane spotting, we took off on Sydney’s third runway, the North-south Runway 34L, which is 3.96km long.

We then headed west before moving northwest on course to Singapore.

Meals: 7/10

The late afternoon appetizers were a mozzarella and artichoke salad and Korean-style pork belly skewers, which were tempting, along with a pumpkin and ginger soup. I chose the delicious soup. The staff offered me some bread, and I opted for a slice of equally delightful sourdough. Although I expected the crew to come around with more bread, unfortunately, my soup was finished, and there was no second round of bread.

For the main course, the choices were:

1. Vegan stir-fry
2. Herb-roasted salmon
3. Bannockburn roast chicken with polenta
4. Barrington Hinterland beef filet with wasabi butter

I settled for the beef and was stunned by the incredibly small portion. It was accompanied by just two vegetables, which I admit were perfectly cooked. However, the portions were lacking compared to Qatar, Singapore, Lufthansa, and Etihad. I was hungry after the meal. I should have had that squid in the lounge.

For dessert, I grabbed a cheese platter and an ice cream sandwich. I found the presentation of both underwhelming. I had to ask for the accompanying dessert wine as no one offered.

The A330’s galley had biscuits (cookies), chips, and Lindt chocolate for mid-flight munchies. Tea and coffee were also available.

Before landing in Singapore, I opted for fried rice with prawns instead of the rigatoni.

Landing was on time, and passing through immigration was the usual breezy delight. I got off feeling thoroughly refreshed.