Finnair Removes Priority Ground Services, Baggage & Lounge Access For Business Class Light-Fares

Finnair yesterday announced that it would further decouple services even from business class Light fares that would no longer include any ground priority services, baggage allowance, or even lounge access.

Passengers can purchase Classic fare that comes with usual business class benefits, although Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members are eligible for most of them even if buying the cheapest option.

You can access Finnair’s page for fare types here.

Note that I was in touch with Finnair, who old that all status-related benefits would apply to these Light tickets, including the extra baggage allowance:

Finnair Plus and oneworld tier member benefits are available regardless of the ticket type. If the tier level benefit includes an extra baggage, this follows  – and allows the extra baggage even if it is not included in the ticket. The max weight of the piece of baggage is 23 kg.

I’ll include a link to the tier benefits: https://www.finnair.com/en/finnair-plus/finnair-plus-membership-tiers

Oneworld Sapphire Benefits

***Extra baggage allowance for Sapphire frequent flyers

As a Sapphire frequent flyer, the following special checked baggage privileges will apply when you fly on oneworld airlines:

• On international or domestic itineraries using the baggage allowance “weight” system – 15 kgs in addition to the ticketed Economy Class baggage allowance.
• On international itineraries, that include domestic sectors, using the baggage allowance “piece” system – one additional bag*, weighing up to 23kgs, up to a maximum of two pieces.
• On purely domestic itineraries, using the baggage allowance “piece” system, for tickets with no ticketed baggage entitlement – the assurance of one piece of checked baggage, weighing up to 23 kgs.

Customers travelling in First and Business Class cabins will, in most cases, receive an even greater free checked baggage allowance.

Note: This benefit is not available on British Airways’ ‘Hand Baggage Only/Basic’ fares.

*In accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld airline operating the flight.  **Priority baggage handling is not currently available on flights operated by British Airways.

Exceptions may apply.

Oneworld Emerald Benefits

***Extra baggage allowance for Emerald frequent flyers

As an Emerald frequent flyer, the following special checked baggage privileges will apply when you fly on oneworld airlines:

• On itineraries using the baggage allowance “weight” system – 20 kgs in addition to the ticketed-cabin allowance.
• On itineraries using the “piece system” – one additional bag for free in addition to your ticketed baggage allowance.

Note: This benefit is not available on British Airways’ ‘Hand Baggage Only/Basic’ fares.

*In accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld airline operating the flight.  **Priority baggage handling is not currently available on flights operated by British Airways.

Exceptions may apply.

Here’s Finnair’s status benefits matrix:

Download (PDF, 151KB)

FLIGHT SEARCHES

New York – Bangkok

The price difference between Business Light and Business Classic is $228.

London – Tallinn

The price addition to the Business Classic from light is 56 GBP.

Finnair Fare Differences

Here’s the announcement that the airline made yesterday:

Finnair brings more choice to customers, introduces Business Light ticket

Finnair will introduce a totally new Business Light ticket and renew its other ticket types on 15 June, addressing the increasing trend for personalisation of the travel experience.

Customers can choose a ticket for their needs from three ticket types – Light, Classic and Flex – that are available for both Business and Economy Class for all short-haul and most intercontinental journeys. When booking a ticket, customers select the travel class experience they prefer and the level of flexibility for making reservation changes – along with some additional services included in the ticket. The rest of the experience can be tailored with a wide selection of travel extras.

“There is an increasing need to personalise the travel experience, and our new ticket types offer opportunities for choice and tailoring” says Ole Orvér, Chief Commercial Officer, Finnair. “We want to offer our customers journeys that look like them, and we will be adding more choice and personalisation opportunities to our offering as we re-introduce services and prepare for ramp-up of our operations.”

Business Light is a totally new ticket type designed especially for leisure travellers who want to travel light and affordably while enjoying Business Class comfort. Business Light includes carry-on baggage only. Reservation changes, refunds, airport priority services, lounge access and onboard internet are not included in the ticket price. Customers can always elevate their experience by choosing the travel extras that matter most for them.

The Classic ticket is the most popular option allowing ticket date changes and including one piece of checked baggage. With a Classic ticket bought on 15 June or later, customers can make travel date changes flexibly, paying only the possible fare difference between the original and new tickets. A refund is not possible in the case of a customer cancelling their reservation.

The Flex ticket is a fully flexible and refundable ticket option serving those whose plans can change. When changing travel dates with a Flex ticket, customers only pay the possible fare difference between the original and new tickets. In case a customer wants to cancel their trip, the ticket will be refunded. Flex tickets include checked baggage and advance seat reservation. An Economy Flex ticket bought after 15 June doesn’t include airport priority services.

Customers who purchased their tickets before 15 June will travel with their original tickets and the benefits that were included with them. Due to the coronavirus situation, Finnair offers all customers with bookings made latest on 31 August 2021 extra flexibility for travel date changes.

Conclusion

You would think that many, if not most, traveling on business class fares, at least in the past, have been road warriors with elite status with the alliance that would exclude them from these service downgrades on Light-fares unless they need to check multiple bags.

The price differential between the Light and Classic Fares, for now, is acceptable, especially if you need to check in more than one bag.

I’m not too fond of the way the industry is going. Many airlines now have LIGHT-fares that don’t include checked baggage even for elite members (looking at the Star Alliance airlines that are no honoring Star Gold benefits).