6 years ago I had the opportunity to compare Finnair and SAS head-to-head. With recent "enhancements" of Finnair onboard concept I was longing to do another one, and with the help of fellow FT'er [MENTION=79001]ffay005[/MENTION] the opportunity arrived!

After the original report I was actually approached by Finnair staff who told me it had been widely read and referenced internally. 6 long years have passed since then and I somehow don't think the 2023 edition will get any attention in HOTT. But I hope it brings some joy to the flying community!


Finnair vs SAS - 2023 edition

This is a joint venture with ffay005, who recently flew Finnair on almost the same route as I flew SAS. We are comparing the two flights below - they are very similar in stage length and market served. They do have different departure time, but even so none of them are red-eye. This is important to remember when comparing service onboard. ffay005 holds Finnair's highest tier (Lumo) while I hold SAS highest published tier (Diamond) (Eurobonus has one higher unpublished tier Pandion that is invite only, with requirements said to be re-evaluated yearly)


Finnair: HEL-JFK, 4 117 mi, 8:45 h, late afternoon departure
versus
SAS: ARN-ORD, 4 272 mi, 9:00 h, mid morning departure



Boarding

Finnair
ffay005:
Airbus A330 with 1-2-1 AirLounge seats. They are still fairly new and feel very private – when you sit down, you're sort of in your own nest and cannot see anyone else in their seats. There's a lot of fabric all over, which absorbs some of the noise, so the cabin feels quiet. I find the seats comfortable for sitting and lounging and very comfortable for sleeping, but many don't share my enthusiasm and find the sitting position uncomfortable. Two pillows are provided, but the firmer memory foam pillows are only available on request these days - ask for one right at the start of the flight to make sure they don't run out. The seat has enough storage space for headphones, laptops, books, wallets etc, and on the A330, overhead bin space is not a problem, either (whereas on the AY A350, the center section does not have overhead bins, which makes overhead bin space scarce).

I received a welcome that was warmer than average, and service from the FAs felt warm and genuine throughout the flight, and reasonably attentive. The purser came to greet me (Lumo greeting) before take-off, too. Pre-departure drink options were still water, bilberry juice or champagne (Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut) served in Ultima Thule glasses specially designed for Finnair in 1969.







SAS
intution:
Airbus A330 with 1-2-1 air cushion seats (I believe is Recaro). Cabin age is beginning to show, but I appreciate the sitting comfort of this seat. It has some quirks with air inflating/deflating though, but massage function is pretty OK. Stowage space in seat is non-existent, but overhead there is a lot of space, as this cabin has bins over all seats. The cabin was full and still my two carry-on bags easily fit overhead.


I'm welcomed onboard with small chat (though not specifically recognized as top-tier) and offered pre-departure drink (juices, champagne). I get good report with the FA. Sadly, my aisle was served by two different FA, and my later interactions was mostly with another FA, who gave a slightly nervous impression.
SAS uses branded glassware from Orrefors and have previously offered two different champagnes - one for pre-departure only and one for in-the-air - to accommodate for difference in taste by altitude, but I didn't confirm which champagne was used for pre-departure.