Finn Eyre onboard Finnair, the official airline of Santa — our young namesake’s winter adventure in Lapland
This holiday season, we had a very special guest on board, flying from Helsinki to Rovaniemi — Finn Eyre, a young boy whose name is almost the same as ours! Follow along on the family’s journey to Lapland full of unforgettable moments.
Finn and his family travelled all the way from Australia to visit Finland. It was when Finn was still a baby that his parents noticed the uncanny resemblance between his name and Finnair.
“Right then and there, we decided that one of his first flights to Europe had to be on board Finnair.”
This year, that plan became a reality, as the family of four set off for Finnish Lapland for their holiday. Finn was thrilled to discover they’d be flying with his “almost-namesake.” For years, he’d tracked Finnair planes on Flight Radar and spotted them sometimes near Sydney Airport.
Adventure in Lapland — from dreams to reality
Visiting Finnish Lapland had been a dream for Finn’s parents ever since they had children.
“We wanted Finn and Gabbie to meet Santa while they were still at the age when it would be as magical as possible. Rob and I had always wanted to visit Nordic countries as well,” says Erica.
A few months ago, the opportunity to make their dream holiday a reality finally arose.
“Life is too short, and you have to seize the chance to see the world when you can,” the family says.
Finn and his family before their flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi.
The family’s flights went smoothly, and even a bit of turbulence on the flight from Manchester to Helsinki, turned into a fun experience for the kids.
“Finn’s sister Gabbie loved the turbulence. I was trying to smile through it, but she and another child were squealing in delight!” Erica laughs.
Finn was equally fascinated by the flights. Touching down in Rovaniemi, the family was greeted by views that left them in awe.
“It was mesmerising to see the snow-covered ground and the sunset outside the plane window,” Erica recalls.
Wintery adventures in Lapland
The family had an unforgettable time in Lapland.
“We live in Australia, and we’re not used to wearing so many layers, but it was worth every second,” Erica says.
The kids had just seen snow for the first time before the trip, so they couldn’t wait to experience proper winter weather. In Rovaniemi, they spent hours playing in the snow, climbing and sliding down huge piles of snow. The family also tried a variety of winter activities — husky sledding, reindeer rides, sleigh rides, and snowmobiling.
As the family arrived on board Santa’s official airline, a visit to see Santa himself was, of course, a must. The visit came as a total surprise for Finn and Gabbie.
“They knew about the trip, but not about meeting Santa,” Erica explains.
Although Finn had a little hunch.
“I think we’re going to see him,” he said one night, lying in bed.
And he was right! Meeting the world’s most famous gift-giver was a trip highlight.
“He knew so much about both Finn and Gabbie, it was amazing! Santa’s little helpers, the elves, were so much fun too. They played hide and seek and had snowball fights with the kids,” Erica says.
To top it off, they got to make gingerbread biscuits, which turned out to be the best the family has ever had.
“I’ll have to find the recipe!” she laughs.
It’s no surprise that seeing the northern lights is on every Lapland visitor’s wish list. Luck was on Finn and his family’s side as they not only saw the northern lights but also spent hours watching the stunning display.
“We felt so lucky to see the northern lights in the forest — it was magical,” they say.
All in all, the family adored their time in Finland and were especially happy to see how freely the children were able to explore the natural surroundings.
“We’d love to bring the kids back one day and explore even more.” Erica concludes.