Finnair Lounges
Flying in Finnair Business Class on my way to Helsinki was one of the better premium air experiences I’ve had in a long while. From stellar service to comfortable, long lay-flat beds, I arrived into Helsinki feeling as well rested as is possible following a TransAtlantic flight. Even though I had arrived to the capital of Finland, my journey that day was far from over and I had several hours to wait for a connecting flight to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland. During that time I took full advantage of one of the great perks of Business Class travel, the Finnair Lounge.
In the Helsinki Airport, Finnair has lounges for the two main sections of the airport: Schengen and Non-Schengen Flights. The Schengen area covers flights within Finland and also within Europe. The Non-Schengen area is for flights outside of the Schengen zone, from Asia to the US and more. The Schengen Area lounge is large, light and airy, reflecting that unique and unmistakable Finnish sense of design and style. There’s everything you’d expect, food, drinks and plenty of space to either get work done or just relax. For me, the most important feature was something I used immediately after my long-haul flight as I waited to connect to my next flight – the showers. It’s amazing the curative effect that a simple hot shower can have but it’s a luxury that for me transforms my arrival into new countries making me feel alive and awake.
Quick Facts about the Finnair Lounge in the Schengen area
- Situated by gate 22.
- Open daily from 5.30 a.m. to 12 midnight.
- 850 m2 of lounge space, with seating for 288 guests.
- Hot breakfast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., hot meals from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
- Salad bar and hot soup service from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight.
- Two private shower suites and a Kids’ Tower space.
- Free of charge for Finnair Business Class customers and Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members (+ one guest with Platinum or Gold cardholder), and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire cardholders (+ one guest), when the departure flight is marketed by Finnair (AY code on the ticket).
Leaving Helsinki flying back to the U.S., I had the chance to spend some time in the massive, Non-Schengen Area Finnair lounge; a true premium lounge if there ever was one. Once again, the colors, use of light and space are all undeniably Finnish and instantly have a calming effect even on the most stressed out traveler. There’s plenty of comfortable seating, most of which have their own power outlets – another must-have convenience for modern travelers. Food and drinks are always available, but one of the most unique features is the Finnish sauna, available for any passenger to use. I chuckled when I saw it, but was in no way surprised. The Finns love a good sauna and after spending a couple of weeks in the country, seeing one at the airport made sense even to me.
Quick Facts about the Finnair Lounge in the Non-Schengen area
- Situated between gates 36 and 37.
- Open daily from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight.
- 900 m2 of lounge space, with seating for 250 guests.
- Hot breakfast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., hot meals from 3 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight.
- Salad bar and hot soup service from 10 a.m. to 12 midnight.
- Private shower suites and a Finnish sauna.
- Free of charge for Finnair Business Class customers and Finnair Plus Platinum, Gold and Silver members (+ one guest with Platinum or Gold cardholder), and oneworld Emerald and Sapphire cardholders (+ one guest), when the departure flight is marketed by Finnair (AY code on the ticket).
Stopover in Finland Program
Like many airlines, Finnair has introduced a Stopover in Finland Program for long-haul passengers traveling between North America and Europe or Asia. As in other destinations, the idea is to allow passengers a no-charge way to regroup in-between flights, for up to five days, in order to break up what is a long journey. It’s also a fantastic way to explore what may be a new country for many passengers, either on the way to or from their final destination.
Whether it’s a few hours or a few days, there are many fun options for passengers who want to take advantage of this great program. If you only want to add a day or two, then I suggest staying in central Helsinki either at the Radisson Blu Plaza or the Hotel Lilla Roberts and then spend a leisurely couple of days adjusting to the time difference, and seeing more of this beautiful Nordic capital city.
A few ideas of activities in and around Helsinki:
- Touring the historic downtown core
- Enjoying coffee and snacks and at Fazer Chocolate Café
- Organizing a Helsinki Food Tour through Happy Guide Helsinki
- Visit the Fortress of Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Stop by the National Museum of Finland
But, if you can afford to add a few extra days to your stopover, then I absolutely recommend the easy 1-hour flight up to Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland.
This is the wintry Finland most of us dream about, and it’s in Rovaniemi where you can:
- Meet the real Santa Claus
- Go on a husky sled ride through the forests
- Take a snowmobile out to explore hard to visit retreats
- Stop by the Arktikum Museum to learn more about history and the science of Lapland
Just as easy as that 1-hour flight, is the 2.5 hour ferry ride from Helsinki to Tallinn in Estonia where you can spend a day or even a whole weekend exploring this colorful city along the Baltic. No matter what you decide to do, I think stopover programs are a great idea and if you have the time, you should plan on taking advantage of this one with Finnair. Not only does it break up the long journey to the other side of the planet, but it’s a travel bonus; an extra travel destination above and beyond the primary focus of your trip.
There are a lot of advantages of flying with Finnair, whether it’s the lounges that Premium passengers can enjoy or a stopover program perfect for those longer journeys, the fact that so many options exist is a great thing to see in today’s modern aviation environment.
