After a whirlwind 48-hour trip of meetings, hawkers and Lunar New Year festivities, I find my feet firmly planted in the place where (in my opinion) the very best adventures begin and end – Changi Airport. But tonight’s trip back to Sydney won’t be in one of Qantas’ aging A330s, nor in their much-loved A380, Queen of the Skies. Instead, I’m in the recently revamped interior of a Finnair A330 onboard QF292.
Years of aircraft delivery delays and the post-COVID travel boom have left management in Mascot in an unenviable pickle. There are too many bums and not enough seats. The temporary solution has taken the form of a curious wet-lease arrangement. The results a hybrid experience, part Qantas and part Finnair.
Check-In and immigration
As far as the pre-boarding journey is concerned, QF292 is treated like any normal Changi Qantas departure. I’ve booked a QF ticket and selected seats through the Qantas app, as I would for any other QF flight. After an obligatory trip to see Jewel’s famed Rain Vortex, I head to the Terminal 1 Qantas check-in and bag drop.
This is a little less self-service-centric than we’ve been trained to expect in Australia. While kiosks are plentiful and often the quicker option, attendants are ready to assist with check-in, boarding pass printing and bag tagging. Lines sorted by cabin class and airline status.
For those making a day trip of Jewel’s grandiose retail precinct, all Qantas customers also have the option to use the early check-in service between 8am and 3pm on the day of departure to get rid of those pesky bags.
Immigration sits just beyond the bag drop and is now passportless for departing visitors. After a quick face scan, within mere seconds, I’m on the main concourse and strolling towards the mezzanine lounges.
Singapore Changi lounges and boarding
Terminals 1, 2 and 3
As a humble Qantas Gold member, a Terminal 1 Economy ticket offers up a few solid lounge options. For most, the best choice will be the Qantas International Business Lounge, located at the first set of escalators, with its plentiful showers, ample space, modern fixtures and made-to-order laksa bar.
Alternatively, British Airways and Emirates offer commendable options that may be a touch less rowdy than a lounge packed with 200 pre-flight Aussies. However, this afternoon I’m throwing caution to the wind and, against all reasonable recommendations, trekking cross-country for my first visit to the often-forgotten Cathay Pacific lounge in Terminal 4.
Visiting Cathay Pacific’s Terminal 4 lounge
There’s much debate online as to whether such a lounge hop is actually possible. For reference, Terminals 1, 2 and 3 are conveniently connected via the automated Skytrain. Terminal 4, on the other hand, requires a separate airside transit shuttle bus (located next to gate C25, Terminal 1) and is the only terminal with centralised security on entry.
For these logistical reasons, it wasn’t even possible to board the transit bus without a valid onward T4 boarding pass for years. But in 2024, whispers began appearing on forums suggesting that if a traveller was willing and had more than three hours before boarding, they might be allowed to pass.
I suffer a few confused looks (bordering on eye rolls) and questions from airport staff. But nearly 40 minutes after clearing T1 immigration, I take a seat in the T4 Cathay Pacific lounge.
It’s quiet, relaxing and expansive, with tan leather seating, dark wood finishes and dim, diffuse lighting. The dining area features a made-to-order noodle bar, a hot and cold buffet, and a self-serve drink bar, alongside a large, open-plan seating area overlooking the terminal and Runway 2.
I enjoy a freshly made braised beef shank noodle and a slice of moreish Ondeh Ondeh cake (literally, I went back for seconds) before starting the long journey back to Terminal 1 for boarding.
Boarding at Singapore Changi Airport
Despite the Finnair jet I can see docked behind Gate D37, Qantas Economy and Premium security lines are present. Qantas staff check my boarding pass and passport before directing me to a separate, Qantas-labelled premium boarding area within the gate. In no time, Group 2 is called, and I get my first real glimpse of the cabin.
Economy Class seating
Inside the plane, it’s a fun mash-up of the two airlines. I’m greeted by a Finnair flight crew in Finnair uniforms, yet the headphones, blankets and amenities are all provided by Qantas. The Economy cabin is a noticeable upgrade from Qantas-owned A330s.
My first impression is that the cabin is clean… really clean. The carpet and seats are spotless, with fresh, modern colours and complementary cabin lighting. The seats are soft, and the headrests are still plush, not yet lost to sponginess.
The cabin is configured in a 2-4-2 layout with 18″ (46cm)-wide seats. In addition to the full first row, the middle section has five more rows of extra-legroom seats that Finnair dubs ‘Economy Comfort’.
It provides far more legroom than the standard seats, which come in at around 31″ (79cm). I’ve been lucky enough to nab one of these at no extra cost, though now they are charged at S$90 as Economy Plus.
The in-flight entertainment system is responsive and easy to navigate, featuring Finnair’s interface and branding but populated with Qantas content. There are even two exterior cameras to choose from, a feature normally reserved for Qantas-owned A380s. USB-A and USB-C charging ports are present, but unfortunately, there’s no in-flight Wi-Fi, not even once over Australia.
Food and beverage
The dinner service commences approximately two hours after take-off and features Qantas inflight dining and drinks. I choose the roasted piri-piri chicken with roasted sweet potato, sautéed spinach and onion, and pomodoro sauce.
The chicken is tender, and the sauce is inoffensive. While it may be a stretch to call the sweet potato ‘roasted’ (more so cubes of mash), this easily makes the top three Economy meals I’ve had the pleasure of trying.
The main is accompanied by herb bread bursting with flavour. There’s a lychee, raspberry and rose cake for dessert, which is a tad sickly to my palate. In addition to the usual juices, soft drinks, tea and coffee, there’s a selection of Aussie beers and wines. I opt for a Bel Bev Co Chardonnay from the Qantas wine list.
On a quick wander through the cabin, I notice the much-loved tray of single-serve Tim Tams (a Qantas staple) sitting beside fresh bananas. Unfortunately, I nod off before they’re handed out.
After a few short hours of shut-eye, a light breakfast is served. One delicious egg, spinach and cheese lattice later, we begin our descent into Sydney, touching down for an (almost) on-time arrival at 7:31am.
How to book this flight with points
A one-way Classic Flight reward between Singapore and Sydney costs 29,000 Qantas Points + fees and taxes. Availability at this price isn’t so great at the moment though, due to high demand for travel via Asia.
When booking a return Economy ticket from Sydney to Singapore, I found a Classic Plus Flight Reward seat on QF292 for the SIN–SYD leg, starting at 32,000 Qantas Points + A$160.
No points or Status Credits are ordinarily earned on a Classic or Classic Plus Flight Reward, though Points Club members can earn 22 Status Credits on this flight in Economy. You can make a Classic Upgrade Reward request to either Premium Economy or Business Class.
The verdict
I’m a hopeless romantic when it comes to flying home from Singapore. I’ll gladly pay a little more to hitch a ride on QF2. I’m not sure if it’s the deep history of the Kangaroo Route, the special place the A380 holds in my heart, or my general fatigue with Qantas’ older A330 fleet.
Yet my experience on QF292 has made me rethink this irrationality. On the Finnair jet, I didn’t feel claustrophobic in a stuffy, 3-4-3 layout or frustrated by sporadic missing seat-back entertainment replaced by iPads, as you might find on Qantas. I felt comfortable.
Dare I say it, until Qantas receives its delivery of brand new Dreamliners and A350s, I think QF292 with Finnair may be the best choice for Economy flyers out of Singapore in 2026.
Photography by Todd Ross, who travelled at his own expense.
Also read: Qantas Airbus A380 Economy (Sydney-London) →
I recently flew the Finnair flight to Singapore and enjoyed the difference from the Qantas A330. It just seemed slightly newer and cleaner. Staff were great and if we were able to get Finnair catering it would have been even better.
On my way back, I used the BA and Qantas lounge but the Emirates lounge was shut due to all their flights being cancelled. Not thought about making the trip to terminal 4. I love Cathay lounges but would need decent time to go over to that terminal.
I absolutely love Finnair, especially their business class.
Their capsule style seating is wonderful, I feel it offers greater privacy and is cosy without being cloistering.
I have found service to be polite and always helpful. Food menu is thoughtful and fresh.
On a recent flight Sin-Syd I was booked to return with Qantas but this was changed to a wet lease Finnair flight. I was so happy only to turn up for my flight to find it had reverted back to a Qantas flight.
I dread flying the Finn air option! When I realise I have to go to BKK yet again for business, I loathe seeing on my ticket that I will be with Finn air again. In Economy, the crew almost throw the food at you, there is no P or P1 status acknowledgement in the slightest, they don’t listen when you ask for ‘half a glass of orange juice’ and you get a very full glass instead – I feel like I am flying coach in the US. The food is average at best, the service distinctly lacking any smile or engagement, the seats are extremely uncomfortable (even with sitting on the pillow), and I can’t wait for the flight to end.
Sorry to hear that you got more orange juice than you asked for. That must have been tough.
I flew on the reverse Syd-Sin flight recently.
All I can suggest is that Sydney cleaning crews aren’t as thorough as the Singapore crews.
Our seats were covered in crumbs, plastic blanket wrap was jammed between seat and window, and the seat pocket still contained trash from previous occupants. It was a relief to board our connecting EK flight to Dubai which was spotless.
Iv done sing fco with finnair jetstar international has more room
You left out finnair throws a cardboard box of food in your lap ONE free alcohol drink and the basically ignore you till you land
I agree with you, the experience on QF291/292 is in some ways better than on the Qantas’ own aircraft. However, this arrangement is unfortunately coming to an end when the Northern Summer schedule for 2026 begins a few weeks from now, and QF81/82 will revert back to being Qantas-operated and crewed (albeit on dry-leased Finnair aircraft).
Nice review, Todd. As far as economy travel goes, I think you’re spot on about choosing Finnair over QANTAS, for as long as these wet leases continue. I was struck by one phrase – “I felt comfortable”. That says a lot to me. As a formerly rusted-on-customer of QANTAS, I noted the incremental decline in product over all classes of travel from 2008 (a fateful year in retrospect) onward. It reached a point when travelling on other airlines made one instantly feel the difference.