May 24, 2014, 3:39 am
Last edit by: SPBanker
Possible pre-look at the new AY Premium lounge for FT regulars
UPDATE 29/7 (by SPBanker): Finnair has informed us that the date/time for the pre-visit is July 31st at 6:00 pm. This has been confirmed.
Currently we have following FT members on the list. If you are not on the list, but you think you should be (1-2 can still be accommodated), please PM SPBanker ASAP, by the latest July 30th, 11:00 am (Eastern European time). We have tried to contact everyone who expressed interest, but the holidays may have caused some interruptions in communication....
Another note from Finnair related to the current lounge renovation/lack of Schengen lounge for certain normally eligible pax:
Anyone accessing the non-Schengen departure area without non-Schengen boarding pass (=with Schengen departure) is subject to border control violation.
************************************************** **********
UPDATE 29/7 (by SPBanker): Finnair has informed us that the date/time for the pre-visit is July 31st at 6:00 pm. This has been confirmed.
Currently we have following FT members on the list. If you are not on the list, but you think you should be (1-2 can still be accommodated), please PM SPBanker ASAP, by the latest July 30th, 11:00 am (Eastern European time). We have tried to contact everyone who expressed interest, but the holidays may have caused some interruptions in communication....
- SPBanker
- remymartin
- WilcoRoger
- Helsinki Flyer
- Lappe
- kauppias
- OH-LGG
- cistavoda
- Courmisch
- giucca
- Post Scriptum
- haa
- AY0005
Another note from Finnair related to the current lounge renovation/lack of Schengen lounge for certain normally eligible pax:
Anyone accessing the non-Schengen departure area without non-Schengen boarding pass (=with Schengen departure) is subject to border control violation.
************************************************** **********
New HEL lounge - when will it open (and how can we get invited)
May 10, 2014, 5:16 am
#61
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
BTW, I guess they are doing this to relieve the "via" lounge. I really hope they have the statistics done right - so the number of Gold + plat + emerald + sapphire are less than the statusless J flyers. Because the premium lounge will be quite small and will not be very premium if flooded.
Hehe, maybe the statusless J flyer will be the winners this time
Hehe, maybe the statusless J flyer will be the winners this time
May 10, 2014, 10:24 am
#62
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,686
Are the Schengen and non-Schengen at HEL physically separated? I've never visited HEL before but I'm interested when I do later this year.
May 10, 2014, 10:48 am
#63
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Plat, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist, Priority Club Plat Amb, Miles and Smiles Elite
Posts: 5,277
May 10, 2014, 11:51 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: AA Plat,AS MVP Gold, Hilton Gold, Accor Plat, Amtrak(all routes, VIA same, AUS 90%)
Posts: 382
Good news about the Lounge
As I will be doing ORD-JFK-HEL-HNG-NRT-HNG-LAX-DFW, etc. in couple months, BC. Also looking forward to menu of reindeer filet on AY.
May 10, 2014, 1:54 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
Prkl, I'll be travelling on 21st of June to LHR and don't see any other non-schengen trips coming in near future. So before this new thing opens up, is the old VIA lounge still open? Haven't been in NS-side since May last year so have no idea on the recent developments.
Anywho, I expect the lounge, or whatever they have, to be packed at 7 am on 21st
Anywho, I expect the lounge, or whatever they have, to be packed at 7 am on 21st
May 10, 2014, 2:21 pm
#67
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,164
May 11, 2014, 3:15 am
#68
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX (elite) and a few others (non-elite)
Posts: 687
Not sure I like this approach compared to the SQ one. So basically someone who flies a lot of econ and achieved status this way can get into the best lounge, but someone who wants to pay for business class on AY (even the most expensive fare out there) has no chance of getting into the better lounge simply because they aren't "regulars?"
"Customers flying First or Business Class have access to the equivalent class of lounge regardless of their frequent flyer status"
So a J passenger can visit ANY OW owned/operated J lounge subject to certain exceptions listed on that page - and there is (currently) no carve-out for the new lounge. Staff may try to direct them to one particular lounge, but they are entitled to visit whichever one they wish (unless and until the oneworld rules change)
May 11, 2014, 3:55 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
What you're missing though, Ian, is that both OWS and OWE will be entitled to the new lounge, but non-status J pax won't. Therefore, it isn't the regular J vs. F lounge discussion.
Last edited by remymartin; May 11, 2014 at 6:22 am
May 11, 2014, 4:14 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Seat 1L these days :)
Programs: AF Platinum/AY LUMO/SK EBG/baEC S/HYATT Globalist/MR LTP/A3 *G/HH Dia/IHG plat
Posts: 7,944
I thought it was AY plat/gold and OWE only?
May 11, 2014, 4:38 am
#71
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
This would actually make sense and comply with OW lounge access rules nicely.
Nothing stops AY treating their own Golds better than other Sapphires, as long as the OW rules are followed = Other Sapphires and paid J have access to the same lounge.
Nothing stops AY treating their own Golds better than other Sapphires, as long as the OW rules are followed = Other Sapphires and paid J have access to the same lounge.
May 11, 2014, 4:49 am
#72
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,164
While you never know with wordings in marketing materials, current word doesn't leave much room for interpretation. Sapphire is indeed included:
The Premium Lounge is open to Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members and their guests only, as well as to frequent flyer cardholders with equivalent status at a fellow oneworld airline, including Finnair’s joint business partners American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia and Japan Airlines.
May 11, 2014, 5:04 am
#74
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
Yep, and there's really no reason to read the OW lounge access rules too strictly, the airlines always have the right/excuse to denied access based on capacity restrictions etc. etc.
Just the other day I was denied access to BA lounge @PHX when flying with AA (As BA!? Emerald..) - they simply told that the lounge was only for pax bound to LHR on BA...it's still listed on OW.com as normal OW lounge...anyway..it's a crappy lounge so no big harm done..
So whatever AY do here they will certainly get away with it. Paid J w/o status can be kept out, simple as that...and AY Silvers has got no OW rights anyway so they are easy...AY Silver lounge access should be killed totally, if you ask me...just too many pax in the HEL lounges and getting rid of Silvers would be a good move...they already killed the guesting rights so I'd imagine this is in the plan, just waiting to be implemented..within 1-2 years is my bet..
Just the other day I was denied access to BA lounge @PHX when flying with AA (As BA!? Emerald..) - they simply told that the lounge was only for pax bound to LHR on BA...it's still listed on OW.com as normal OW lounge...anyway..it's a crappy lounge so no big harm done..
So whatever AY do here they will certainly get away with it. Paid J w/o status can be kept out, simple as that...and AY Silvers has got no OW rights anyway so they are easy...AY Silver lounge access should be killed totally, if you ask me...just too many pax in the HEL lounges and getting rid of Silvers would be a good move...they already killed the guesting rights so I'd imagine this is in the plan, just waiting to be implemented..within 1-2 years is my bet..
Last edited by NoWindowSeat; May 11, 2014 at 5:11 am
May 11, 2014, 5:08 am
#75
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,164
Nja, I read that as "all of oneworld", but some marketing people agreed to talk about the JV anywhere they can, so they had to add the names of the JVs.
