Review Finnair Schengen Lounge Helsinki Airport: nice nice nice
Helsinki Airport is the home of Finnair, the Finnish national airline has 3 lounges at this airport and [...]
Finnair
Oneworld
HEL
Helsinki airport is the home of Finnair, the Finnish national airline has 3 lounges at this airport and these are also the only ones it has since in the rest of the world it has no lounges at all and relies on oneworld partners to better accommodate its passengers and frequent flyers.
In this article:
One lounge, the one in this review, is in the Schengen and domestic flight area, the other two are in the area designated for medium- and long-haul flights outside the EU free movement.
Location
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This lounge is located in the center of the terminal, just above gate 22. Impossible to miss since it is on the upper floor of the terminal, the wall leading to the stairs can be seen from a great distance, as can the sign.
Access
To enter this lounge you must have a business class boarding pass with Finnair or other partner airlines, or have at least Sapphire status in the same alliance.
Foreword
I think this lounge is, along with the 2F by Air France and to the The Loft in Brussels, the best in all of Europe. These three lounges should be taken as examples by all other airlines when it comes to how best to welcome premium passengers, what services to offer, and how to pamper frequent flyers.
The hall
Even at the entrance with the tail helm and the immense F welcoming you get the feeling that you are in a nice place. The hall is very large, although the spaces seem small because of the structural layout.
The first thing you notice is the glass surface that runs along the entire lounge, this means lots of natural light ( and at these latitudes this is not a given) and a magnificent view of the runway.
As mentioned, the shape is strange; it is sort of an inverted L.
As soon as you enter there is a small lounge with beautiful and iconic Ball Chairs designed by Eero Aarnio in the 1960s.
But there is absolutely no shortage of more traditional seating, seating suitable for eating and seating designed for those who want to relax.
The buffet area, called the Food Market is divided into two zones and occupies space that would otherwise have been impossible to use for other purposes.
At the back of the lounge is the relaxation area. Here there is a sign on the door reminding you that cell phone use is prohibited in this part of the lounge and that you are required to make minimal noise so as not to disturb other passengers, A massage chair can also be used if desired.
The thing I really like is that everywhere in the room all the seating is always facing outward. Right behind the reception area there is also an area reserved for the members with the highest status in the Finnair loyalty program.
Available to those seeking a quiet and private environment in both directions, there are Framery cabins specifically designed to totally isolate from outside noise, and do not disturb those in the lounge with phone calls or business calls.
Of course, there are showers available for guests, use is by reservation and is obviously free of charge.
Food & Beverage
Of course Finnish cuisine is not very renowned, but the several times I passed by this lounge I always found a way not to starve.
What is certain is that you will not die of thirst, thanks to several islands dedicated to drinks of all kinds scattered around the lounge.
Pro
- Location
- Phone booth
- View
Against
- It can be chaotic
- To be improved catering