Last edit by: hillrider
Finnair is replacing slanted lie-flat J class seats with horizontal lie-flat seats, the Zodiak UK Vantage, on its long-haul fleet.
For more information, see Finnair's website here.
Overall upgrade program status
As of 05DEC14 the following have the new horizontal seats in J:
Routes with horizontal full-flat business class seat
As of the dates below, all flights on listed routes will normally be performed by aircraft with horizontal full-flat seat in business class. Routes not listed will mainly be served by the older A340s or a mix of old & new, supply allowing.
2014-04-01 - NRT, JFK
2014-05-01 - PEK, ICN
2014-06-01 - PVG, KIX, NGO and HAN (seasonal)
2014 winter - HKG (seasonal) *)
*) Original press release stated HKG full-flat from 2014-06-01. Some flights are indeed scheduled with new J, but current info on AY website says HKG full flat only during winter season.
Please note that AY can and will swap aircrafts due to operational reasons, and there is no guarantee a certain route will be served by a certain aircraft. It is a very small fleet and any technical issue not resolved in a few hours will lead to equipment changes, which will have a domino effect throughout the fleet.
Individual upgrade status of each plane
As of 05DEC14 (click on RegNo for seatmap)
For more information, see Finnair's website here.
Overall upgrade program status
As of 05DEC14 the following have the new horizontal seats in J:
- 57% of the 343 fleet (4 of 7 aircraft)
- 100% of the 333 fleet (8 of 8 aircraft)
- equivalent to 80% of the long haul fleet (12 of 15 aircraft)
Routes with horizontal full-flat business class seat
As of the dates below, all flights on listed routes will normally be performed by aircraft with horizontal full-flat seat in business class. Routes not listed will mainly be served by the older A340s or a mix of old & new, supply allowing.
2014-04-01 - NRT, JFK
2014-05-01 - PEK, ICN
2014-06-01 - PVG, KIX, NGO and HAN (seasonal)
2014 winter - HKG (seasonal) *)
*) Original press release stated HKG full-flat from 2014-06-01. Some flights are indeed scheduled with new J, but current info on AY website says HKG full flat only during winter season.
Please note that AY can and will swap aircrafts due to operational reasons, and there is no guarantee a certain route will be served by a certain aircraft. It is a very small fleet and any technical issue not resolved in a few hours will lead to equipment changes, which will have a domino effect throughout the fleet.
Individual upgrade status of each plane
As of 05DEC14 (click on RegNo for seatmap)
Code:
Airbus A340 RegNo Full flat since ------ ------------ OH-LQA Old slanted seats OH-LQB 2014-03-27 OH-LQC 2014-05-29 OH-LQD 2014-04-21 OH-LQE 2014-05-16 OH-LQF Old slanted seats OH-LQG Old slanted seats Airbus A330 RegNo Full flat since ------ ------------ OH-LTM 2014-11-09 OH-LTN 2014-12-05 OH-LTO 2014-02-27 OH-LTP 2014-03-11 OH-LTR 2009-12-17 OH-LTS 2010-02-11 OH-LTT 2010-04-21 OH-LTU 2010-11-26
Reports on Hard product upgrades
#16
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,258
#19
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
Have added a wikipost to keep track of exact status of the retrofit.
Does anyone know if they are fitting the Vantage II seats ? The original Zodiac Vantage seat, which some of the 330's are fitted with seems to have gone obsolete and replaced with Vantage II.
Does anyone know if they are fitting the Vantage II seats ? The original Zodiac Vantage seat, which some of the 330's are fitted with seems to have gone obsolete and replaced with Vantage II.
#20
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: aal
Programs: Finnair plat
Posts: 110
from flightradar24
#22
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: UK
Programs: MUCCI du gingembre cinquant, CAMRA
Posts: 1,268
Maybe we should start monitoring indications of the "new" J seats being installed? I just got changed seats maps on flights.
I am now getting "new" J seat config for plane type "A340-300"
I also had a A330-booking turn into "new" config today, but that could be equipment swap.
I am now getting "new" J seat config for plane type "A340-300"
I also had a A330-booking turn into "new" config today, but that could be equipment swap.
#24
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
So far, AY has gone for 10 rows of business on the retrofits, and not the 7 row config that LTS, LTU and LTT has. Not sure all retrofits will get this config, but LTO got it, and at least two of the A340s are looking at getting it.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: AMEX Plat / AY Plat, BA GGL-CCR / Bonvoy Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 474
Markku Remes, Manager for VIP and Lounge Services @Finnair tweets in Finnish that every refitted new look business cabin will have 45 seats, so 10 rows
#26
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,258
#27
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
Very good news, but quite interesting as they are on some routes struggling to fill J. Minicabin will stay the "economy-extra-for-free" for many years to come!
It means there will be 3 (or 4 depending on how you see things) longhaul configs for a while
A340 with 42 J
A340 with 45 J
A330 with 32 J
A330 with 45 J
and I guess upgrades for points/vouchers will continue "live life on the edge" and risk it all in last minute equipment change. I'd hate to be around when they swap in a A330 /32 and need to look for up to 13 J pax to bump.
It means there will be 3 (or 4 depending on how you see things) longhaul configs for a while
A340 with 42 J
A340 with 45 J
A330 with 32 J
A330 with 45 J
and I guess upgrades for points/vouchers will continue "live life on the edge" and risk it all in last minute equipment change. I'd hate to be around when they swap in a A330 /32 and need to look for up to 13 J pax to bump.
#28
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,258
Bumping voucher/points upgraded pax is really easy, just credit the points and down the aisle they go!
#29
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,132
#30
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,258
That is the risk they have to take but I'd imagine that such cases are in reality very, very rare...as when, let's say a 45J A340 goes technical, they usually have nothing available as a substitute so it's either badly delayed, or cancelled.