Review: Finnair Platinum Wing Helsinki Airport

Thanks, Lucky! Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

Saunas are an institution in Finland, a must the lounge ought to have.

The country has also other kinds of baths for aficionados :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-PT2xZNF_Y

Also check out WTF#7 Swamp wrestling 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7afkRD1Wb_4

This was very helpful as I will going through Helsinki airport in April, with a few hours to spare before my A350 flight.

One day I will take FinnAir's flight from HEL to FUK 🙂

omg bulk toiletries in the shower! Has Gary checked them for semen?

Very nice decor and somehow reminds me of CX's lounge style. Both are simple, elegant, and pleasant.

Wow, I would come to Helsinki just for that lounge. Beautiful space.

Thanks for the review.

Now that I’m losing emerald status , I’m more interested in the business class lounge. What’s the difference between the business class and platinum lounges?

The lounge is great, but during the afternoon bank of flights (roughly 3 pm to 5 pm ), it's an absolute zoo. I've visited it when there was literally not one seat available. When I first looked at these photos, I didn't even recognize the place, lol.

So if you want to experience a terrible HEL, fly in from Europe at 3 pm and continue to Asia at 5 pm. The Schengen side is even worse...

@Daniel
I would flying in from non-EU/Singapore airport at those times is even worse, since you have to clear security, and sadly there is no priority line in the transit part for OWE / J class travelers.

Didn't use any lounges since my layover was about an hour. The holding pen thing was interesting.

I really like the use of dark tones for the plush lounge chairs and carpeting. A refreshing change from the usual beige everything with blondewood timber.

Let's count how many he said "....as a Oneworld emerald."

Bizarre to me that an airline creates a lounge and excludes it from passengers traveling in the highest class of service it offers.

Nordic or not, the upholstery looks dumpy.

@D, since HEL is my home airport, I don’t know if there is a priority line at transfer security. What I have seen, though, is a fast connection line which you may choose if your flight is leaving soon. Coming from landside, there definitey is a priority line.

Arriving non-Schengen pax will pour straight into the gate area if the departure airport is considered safe, ie non-Schengen EU countries, the US, Singapore. In those cases, there is no security screening at HEL. So in this particular case, Lucky did not go through security (or passport control) at HEL.

What a lonely life to be in a lounge with absolutely nobody there and the be on for flights on the go all the time it’s just not much of a life

@D

Correct. I have transited twice through HEL at mid morning and late afternoon. It was an absolute zoo and transit immigration lines were so long that both times I almost missed the connection. I asked one of the guys trying to organize things there if there was a priority line and there was not.

Is the mixed sauna clothing optional?

Agree with the above comments. Complete myth that HEL is a "joy" to transit.
The non-Schengen to Schengen immigration line in the afternoon is an absolute cluster. No priority, people cutting in, sloooow immigration officers. I've missed flights and at other times had to sprint to length of the terminal to be the last on board.
Definitely one of the worst places to enter Europe.

@ Etops

Yes I forgot to mention that. My transits included sweaty sprints through the cramped airport loaded with chinese tour groups.

The other airport that some people are so excited about to transit in, VIE, is a similar disaster. Totally unsuitable to connect.
On the flip side, the airport disliked by many, FRA, is extremely efficient to connect through.

Of course I can imagine that americans are OK with HEL as at least it has transit facilities, something US airports not yet have.

Hi Lucky
I noticed the Oneworld Sapphire logo in one of the photos, while you didn't mention the Sapphire as part of the entry requirements/entitlement to the Platinum Lounge.
Just a question!
Thanks

A fun review of an exotic locate replete with a sauna as an interesting addition to this Finland-themed lounge (with Finnish cocktails!); nice photos - i like the litter of puppies resting under the Christmas tree

Nice to see they finally added blueberry juice on the ground. The previous premium lounge (nor the inferior business lounge) did not.

Thanks Lucky, nice review. Couple of thoughts:
1) Disappointed you didn't try the sauna - as our Finnish friends point out it's a national institution and arguably the USP of AY lounges!
2) From the perspective of a UK traveller going Asia bound, i.e. non Schengen all the way, HEL *is* a joy to transit. Gate to lounge to gate is literally just round a couple of corners, you can't really make it any easier. But I agree the AY lounges are zoos during those afternoon hours.

I had the pleasure to visit Platinum Wing at the same time, when it was open for AY Gold and I was flying to Dublin. It was really great. I didn't try the sauna, as I have my own sauna and wanted to spend all my time in the lounge. The ala carte was open then. There was only a couple of options but service was great and food was good. Portions a bit small, but then its not meant to be a huge meal. Not gourmet per se, but pure Finnish food.

There wasn't a lot of people at that time, so not crowded at all. If people are talking about crowdedness you have to remember that was when it was open for gold travelers. Now with plat/emerald limit, I really doubt it will get too crowded.

Some people seem to criticize why does Finnair have a lounge that you can't access with just business class ticket, when they don't have 1st class. You really shouldn't think of this as an separate lounge, but like the name says "platinum wing". A high end wing of the business lounge. They want to recognize their Platinum members and OW Emeralds by having a part of the lounge separated for them. If they didn't have this, they would still need to use the space for a bigger business lounge, where the plats/emeralds would go. I think it is amazing they offer a "1st class lounge" when they don't have 1st class on planes.

On my next trip, unfortunately the new business lounge was already finished, so gold access was lost. It wasn't a huge deal. The normal business lounge was really good too. They even had champagne. The most notable difference was lack of ala carte, sauna and slightly lower selection of drinks, but it was still a very good experience. 10x better than the pathetic lounge in Dublin on way back.

Now I achieved platinum status and I can't wait to go to Platinum Wing again once this Covid-stuff is over. I haven't visited many business lounges, but of all of those I have, platinum wing is the best and the regular business lounge comes second. That might change when I have the chance to visit some other 1st class lounges, like HKG or Australia.

Do you consider big difference of service between this lounge and the business class one?
Finnair Gold members can pay a fee to enter this lounge?

Thanks in advance