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Clarification for BA and oneworld status holders on Finnair new policies
I wrote previously about big changes being introduced by Finnair on 1 June. These include a new Super Light fare as the basic economy class fare on short haul. This new fare only includes one small carry-on bag meaning that you will only be able to take a bag that fits under the seat in front, meaning that most wheelie bags will have to be paid for. There were also changes in the business class luggage allowances and seat booking policies. You can read the full article here.
It wasn’t 100% clear what those with BA or oneworld status would be entitled too, so I wanted to clarify with Finnair before I went into more detail. Here are the official rules from 1 June.
As a new Finnair Plus benefit, oneworld Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald members can also take one complimentary carry-on bag on flights within Europe when travelling with a Superlight ticket that otherwise includes only a small bag. You will also get checked luggage:
Total allowance when travelling with Economy Superlight:
- oneworld Ruby: small bag, carry-on bag
- oneworld Sapphire: small bag, carry-on bag, checked bag 23 kg
- oneworld Emerald: small bag, carry-on bag, checked bag 23 kg
However, there is more bad news. Starting from 1 June 2023, oneworld Emerald members can no longer take heavy or oversized bags with them free of charge. If your bag weighs 23-32kg or exceeds the standard size of 90cm x 75xm x 45cm, you will need to pay a heavy or oversized bag charge. Personally, I think this is pretty poor as there are very few airlines that I know of that have such a small business class baggage allowance, and even fewer still that would not give more to status holders. It would definitely put me off using them on a long-haul trip where I would take over 23kg in one case, which is not unusual. You do still get an extra bag which helps soften the blow as oneworld emerald.
Finnair Plus (oneworld) members continue to have their current advance seat reservation benefit:
- Finnair Plus Silver members: You’ll get a 50% discount from advance seat reservations for Finnair flights (excluding Comfort seats and seats with extra legroom).
- Finnair Plus Gold members: You can pre-select a seat through Manage booking for Finnair flights. This also includes the option of reserving a Comfort seat. Please note that reserving an Extra Legroom seat is not included as an option.
- Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members: You can pre-select a seat through Manage booking for Finnair flights free of charge. This also includes the option of reserving a Comfort seat and seats with extra legroom.
Business class EU to US and beyond offers
This offer is brought to you by our partners Luxury Flight Club.
Although BA has some good fares in their current sale, these are definitely a bit cheaper for the West Coast in particular. You can fly on Air France, KLM or Delta. If you live outside London, it can make more sense to fly Air France or KLM rather than connecting through Heathrow. I used KLM and Air France to fly long haul with recently and found both connections very painless. I was particularly impressed with Air France’s business class food and service, which was among the best I have had.
Flying through Dublin has the advantage of US pre-clearance, which means you clear customs and immigration in Dublin so you arrive in the US like a domestic passenger. The fare is available to travel between November and April 2024. There is a minimum 5 day stay, but you can do a stopover in Europe for €75 and in the US for €600.
From Barcelona (BCN)
- Toronto (YYZ) £1202
- Montreal (YUL) £1295
- Dallas (DFW) £1356
- Chicago (ORD) £1379
- San Francisco (SFO) £1397
- Vancouver (YVR) £1436
From Dublin (DUB)
- Las Vegas (LAS) £1335
- Austin (AUS) £1335
- Chicago (ORD) £1335
- Nashville (BNA) £1335
- Charlotte (CLT) £1335
- Toronto (YYZ) £1355
- Portland (PDX) £1357
- Los Angeles (LAX) £1367
- Vancouver (YVR) £1375
- San Francisco (SFO) £1377
- Cancun (CUN) £1379
- Montreal (YUL) £1405
- Mexico City (MEX) £1409
- New York (JFK) £1475
From Madrid (MAD)
- Toronto (YYZ) £1,426
- Montreal (YUL) £1240
- Calgary (YYC) £1368
- San Francisco (SFO) £1381
- Houston (IAH) £1388
- Chicago (ORD) £1396
- Los Angeles (LAX) £1404
- Havana (HAV) £1455
You can check prices with KLM here, Air France here and Delta here.
12 comments
What about free seat selection for oneworld Sapphire and oneworld Emerald? Is that still going to remain?
As far as I know yes.
I have just booked a BA holiday to Finland with business flights on Finnair, and I also have BA Silver. I don’t have the option to choose my seat – in the booking it says ‘seat selection available at check-in’. So it appears you can’t choose a seat any more even with status.
It shouldn’t be because the changes don’t happen until June. It’s probably because you booked it through BA. Try using the Finnair app or website.
Awesome thank you Michelle. That worked on the Finnair website and it appears I have chosen the flights with the fully flat beds in both directions!
Needs to be clarified, at check in no good saying I was told as far as I know?
Finnair said that there were no changes to oneworld benefits other than those stated.
Exactly what I was wondering?
Needs clarification or I stop flying Finnair!!!
Such a shame. I had the most wonderful trip to SIN and back in the winter with this airline and was planning to use it every year, but I really dislike complications and silly, niggling ways of making money, as Ryanair and BA do. I’ve given up on BA long haul unless it’s an A380 and I’m afraid Finnair is going the same way.
I flew to ICN and back last month with AY and was most impressed, although oddly the new A350 seats were on the LHR-HEL and HEL-LHR legs, with the older (still comfortable) seats on the longer legs. Of course it’s all slower since the Ukraine War as AY can no longer fly over Russia. I was expecting to miss the outbound connection at HEL, but an hour before landing my screen gave connection details and told me that the ICN flight would wait. It was 33 minutes from door opening to door shutting, and my bag made it. AY frequently offers refundable Business Class fares for less than BA or QR charge for a non-refundable ticket. Constant post-Covid postponements meant that I cancelled about 4 return trips with no penalty and a reasonably quick refund.
But I am surprised at James Aidan’s comment about only using BA if it’s an A380, certainly if he mean Club World. I’ve flown in the A380s of QR, EK, SQ, QF, AF and BA, and BA’s layout is the worst by a country mile. I won’t book myself on to a BA A380, especially having now experienced BA’s suites – at long last.
I agree about the A380 for BA in Club. And I really like Finnair. I’ve just got off a flight with them that was excellent but I do think reducing business class luggage to that extent is a mistake. It will be interesting to see what the charges are for excess luggage.
Thank you Michele. My comments weren’t intended to disagree with the view that squeezing benefits for Business Class passengers in a petty way can be very counter-productive. I’m reminded of the time when we were in bed with KLM/Air France, primarily using BRS. Because to confirm one potential booking Air France required me to call them on an 0870 number – which is also grasping – I used Delta instead. AF lost £5,000+ worth of business for a £3-odd telephone charge, we still got Skyteam points.
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