Finnair Plus - All Restaurants Closed at HEL!

Happened on a Sunday evening at HEL: I was travelling with my wife and some Spanish friends, our flight arrived around 9 p.m. with our connecting flight departing shortly before midnight. A good occasion to have a good dinner?

But the HEL realty: all the non-Shengen and Shengen restaurants had closed at 8 or at 9 p.m.! No food available in the entire terminal. Stupidly, I suggested that we could have at least a drink. No chance! All the bars and the Irish pub closed. :(

A drink in the lounge? Silver Wings and Golden Gate were closed, as well as the former domestic lounge. The GTW did have, as known, some beer and wine... and pasta. That was all.

Now, is this supposed to be one of the best airports in the world? Offering only sandwiches when it's dinner time for many PAX, especially for those from Southern Europe.

The worst part of the story was that I had made quite a lot of publicity for HEL and how nice it is as a hub... :o

Finnish Labour costs strike again... plus when they are open not everyone wants to pay high prices for generally crap or medicore products (when not "ready made" and then you get what you pay for). :(

The Scandic bunker landside should have some sort of "lobby bar". Also the Airport Hilton. The only restaurant I would currently eat at is the landside Fly Inn upstairs from departures.

As for area restaurants, the Flamingo entertainment complex at the Jumbo shopping mall has a few passable ones open until 10 pm or so on Sundays. Around five minutes by cab from the terminal.

http://www.flamingo.fi/en

A new "restaurant World" is due to open in the extension wing in August.

Now, is this supposed to be one of the best airports in the world?What seems to be worse is the baggage chaos in the late afternoon. Today really made it for me. After one hour I just submitted a missing baggage report and left the building. No one on our plane had gotten their baggage by that time and the ground handling persons (outsourced of course) could give no information. There is no infodesk in the baggage arrival area anymore.

What seems to be worse is the baggage chaos in the late afternoon. Today really made it for me. After one hour I just submitted a missing baggage report and left the building. No one on our plane had gotten their baggage by that time and the ground handling persons (outsourced of course) could give no information. There is no infodesk in the baggage arrival area anymore.

It actually got into the newspapers as well, apparently 1/4 of the handlers called sick today suddenly.

It actually got into the newspapers as well, apparently 1/4 of the handlers called sick today suddenly.

You gotta love industrial action. I hope these things won't become too frequent, with the security wildcat strike a couple of weeks ago. Otherwise we might see HEL getting ruined the same way as the unions have ruined SAS.

Happened on a Sunday evening at HEL:
A good occasion to have a good dinner?
But the HEL realty: all the non-Shengen and Shengen restaurants had closed at 8 or at 9 p.m.! No food available in the entire terminal.

Haven't been there that late myself on Sundays, but I have to admit that this was exactly what I expected... It can be hard to find a dinner restaurant even in downtown Helsinki on Sundays, not to mention Sunday evenings. Naturally you can get food from multiple places (mainly the S-chain outlets though) also with decent quality, but when in a situation to recommend something to foreigners or to celebrate with your loved ones: to name five can be tough. Hopefully the new restaurant world will make difference in this sence.

I would suppose though that something could have been available at the Hilton, since at least when they opened it was said that they serve breakfast 24/7. Would expect them to have someone present also for roomservice. This naturally requires exiting the terminal building, but at least wouldn't personally mind to get some non-AC air between flights if there's just enough time.

You gotta love industrial action. I hope these things won't become too frequent, with the security wildcat strike a couple of weeks ago. Otherwise we might see HEL getting ruined the same way as the unions have ruined SAS.

When I read the news on HEL webpage about Finavia changing the supplier of security services (think that was on the day the news came through) two items came into my mind:
1) how will the labor react on this? No doubt Securitas is not going to need say couple of hundred aviation security persons once they are no longer in business
2) How is the bid winner Sol-services going to make the service cheaper as a newcomer? Quite simple even though it took a while: they are following the cleaning agreement (or similar) instead of the security one. The personnel will come from above, but hired with new contracts.

Well, hopefully Finavia contract included cleraly specified SLA's and KPI's...

2) How is the bid winner Sol-services going to make the service cheaper as a newcomer? Quite simple even though it took a while: they are following the cleaning agreement (or similar) instead of the security one. The personnel will come from above, but hired with new contracts.

Well, hopefully Finavia contract included cleraly specified SLA's and KPI's...

They might miss the occasional bomb, but at least it will be immaculately dusted and polished.
:) or :( ?

While the suggestions of whre to grab agreeable chow are welcome, the OP is correct - what sort of self-respecting airport is where you can't find anything to eat airside?

The lounge situation is a laugh, too. Had an early flight on a Sunday morning - nothing open at Schengen side between 6:00 and 6:30 am. (hadn't tried GW, but the all 3 (-4) AY and the SK lounges were closed)

While the suggestions of whre to grab agreeable chow are welcome, the OP is correct - what sort of self-respecting airport is where you can't find anything to eat airside?

That was also the comment of our Spanish friends! I was pretty sure myself that we would find something, but the disappointment was big when we didn´t. Having a dinner is such a basic need that HEL should seriously consider to have at least one of the airside restaurants open until midnight. :(

I would suppose though that something could have been available at the Hilton, since at least when they opened it was said that they serve breakfast 24/7.

I did consider the Hilton option, but then I remembered my last experience there: I arrived around 2:45 p.m. and asked whether there was any lunch available in the restaurant. The answer: "Sorry, but the kitchen is closing right now. Please use the room service".

Finns aren't exactly known for their flexibility, but HEL being an intercontinental hub they should seriously consider becoming a bit more flexible... ;)

I would suppose though that something could have been available at the Hilton, since at least when they opened it was said that they serve breakfast 24/7.That is not my experience.

That is not my experience.

Then it was most likely too expensive compared to the demand... That's what the advertised in the start-up (if I remember right).

Apparently the new restaurants in the extension wing will be focusing on Asian passengers and their perceived tastes.