The Helsinki Finnair Lounge offers a great oasis away from the busy terminal. Located upstairs in terminal two, head towards gate 22 and then go upstairs to the lounge. The Finnair lounge is an elongated L overlooking the tarmac offering great views during the day. During my stay in the evening after my LAX-HEL flight, I had a 3-hour layover before connecting to Malaga. The lounge was busy around 6pm but by 8pm the lounge was nearly empty. Currently, the Helsinki Finnair lounge is open each day from 5:30am to 11:30pm each day. Do note that travelers coming in from long haul flights will not be able to access the non-Schengen Finnair lounge near gate 52. This lounge is reserve for outbound passengers on Finnair only, connecting and departing to non-Schengen countries.
The Schengen Finnair lounge has a very clean modern Scandinavian Ikea like feel. With clean white finishes throughout, the Finnair lounge color pallet of bright white me of the formal room of houses in the 90s that kids weren’t allowed in, except for holidays. The different, there are kids here and the furnishing are collated wood. Upon entering the lounge there is a sitting are followed by a small bar and self-serve food buffet that wraps around the corner. Follow the lounge around to the left and there is additional seating. Tables, bars, and recliners are available. If you continue further into the lounge there is also a quite area with additional seating options down a couple of steps.
There were also darker grays and black chairs that are more comfortable in the quiet area of the lounge and further back past the food.
Enjoy Finnish food and drinks and the self serve stations. When I was visiting there was cake for dessert and a really delicious goulash. It tasted better then it looked. Along with some salad and drink options.
Back in the center part of the lounge, there is a second self-serve area. At the time of my visit, there was only water available. Yet the signs made it appear as though there were often other drink options here. In this more social area, there are also two shower rooms against the back wall. Showers are left unlocked and are on a first come first serve basis. Inside are towels and all the amenities needed. The small compact rooms also have a toilet, which is always a plus.
Finnair Helsinki Lounge Access
Finnair Lounge access is determined by ticket class and airline status. Those passengers flying business class do have access to the Finnair Lounge. In addition, Oneworld Ruby and Emerald passengers from all Oneworld airlines, including Finnair can access the lounge before the flight. Finnair’s Non-Schengen lounges are only open to departing passengers. Even long-haul passengers connecting to an intra Europe flights within the Schengen cannot access the nicer lounge. This includes the Finnair Platinum Wing. Meanwhile, those flying to non-Schengen Europe such as London or Croatia have access to the larger long-haul lounge. Including the Finnair Platinum Wing, when it opens again. At time of writing the Finnair Platinum Wing is closed due to low passenger volumes.
Conclusion
The Finnair lounge offers food, wine and beer, and a comfortable place to sit before a flight. I did enjoy the long drink on tap, which was basically a gin and tonic. It’s shocking to me that incoming long-haul passenger cannot use the Finnair Platinum Wing. Meanwhile those on short hops to London do. I personally was looking forward to utilizing the only airport Sauna. Instead, Finnair business passengers are sent to the Schengen Helsinki Finnair lounge. Even OneWorld Emeralds are directed to the Schengen Finnair lounge. With that in mind, do not plan a long layover in Helsinki on incoming flights, unless you’re connecting outside of the 28 member Schengen region. The Helsinki Finnair lounge is nice, but not a place you want to spend an elongated among of time
