AY Schengen lounge at HEL
Jul 21, 2014, 11:51 am
#106
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,462
Aspire is better than nothing for sure, it was more than satisfactory on my first visit on a Sunday morning a couple of weeks back, very quiet. During peak times, things may be different… (Though I will admit, the Silver Wings lounge was an absolute zoo at times as well…) So ^ to AY for the expansion + refurb. 
Personally I'd be furious though, if I first had bought a J ticket, then paid 38€ for lounge access and finally been told that I'd have to pay an additional ±50€ for a bottle of some cheap plonk if I wanted champagne/sparkling wine…
Early closure is a
as well, the AY lounge was nice for those late domestic connections. (Although food & beverage offerings were more than limited during the hour or two approaching closure. )
This could have been handled better by AY, at least provide some refreshment vouchers for J passengers etc.
Personally I'd be furious though, if I first had bought a J ticket, then paid 38€ for lounge access and finally been told that I'd have to pay an additional ±50€ for a bottle of some cheap plonk if I wanted champagne/sparkling wine…
Early closure is a
as well, the AY lounge was nice for those late domestic connections. (Although food & beverage offerings were more than limited during the hour or two approaching closure. )This could have been handled better by AY, at least provide some refreshment vouchers for J passengers etc.
Last edited by Flythe96flag; Jul 21, 2014 at 12:07 pm
Jul 28, 2014, 8:51 am
#107
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
I really, really wonder how that would be border control violation. I have valid travel documents, so I can cross the Finnish border at official border control points as often as I please. I cannot see any signs anywhere regarding this issue - I just put my passport on the scanner, the gate opens and that's it.
No security issues are involved either, as I pass within the safe zone.
Somehow I don't feel that AY is the authority on border crossing issues.
No security issues are involved either, as I pass within the safe zone.
Somehow I don't feel that AY is the authority on border crossing issues.
The bottom line (at least to me) is that they do not want Schengen pax in the non-Schengen lounge. Simple as that.
Jul 29, 2014, 12:46 am
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,104
Wednesday early morning dead quiet. Good thing is that they already open 5:30 am (vs AY's 6:00) so I can have my coffee & croissant without a hurry for the 6:xx flights
I flew AB on their 6:40 deparrture and my BA OWE card get me in with an eyebrow being raised.
I flew AB on their 6:40 deparrture and my BA OWE card get me in with an eyebrow being raised.
Jul 29, 2014, 12:47 am
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,104
Jul 29, 2014, 1:13 am
#110
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,267
It could well be that some rule requires pax entering the designated departure area to be have valid boarding pass for departure from that particular part of the terminal.
This might not be due to boarder control law in specific but more of an airport rule.
The same is valid for Schengen side, boarding pass required to go through security.
This might not be due to boarder control law in specific but more of an airport rule.
The same is valid for Schengen side, boarding pass required to go through security.
Jul 29, 2014, 7:54 am
#112
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: LAX
Posts: 177
The lounge staff do not care about which side of the border you come from or are going to. If you have lounge access they will let you in.
I have spent two Saturday afternoons in a row in the non-Schengen lounge with nothing but Schengen-tickets. The staff politely reminded of the additional time it would take to walk to the Schengen gates when checking in.
I have spent two Saturday afternoons in a row in the non-Schengen lounge with nothing but Schengen-tickets. The staff politely reminded of the additional time it would take to walk to the Schengen gates when checking in.
Jul 29, 2014, 8:04 am
#113
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: LAX
Posts: 177
I would never book a ticket with a five hour layover without lounge access anywhere.
Jul 29, 2014, 4:53 pm
#114
Join Date: May 2012
Location: GVA (HEL)
Programs: AY Plat (OWE)
Posts: 536
My thoughts exactly!
Aug 7, 2014, 4:06 am
#115
Join Date: Jan 2008
Programs: Miles and More
Posts: 376
So the current situation for OW Sapphire connecting in HEL between 2 Schengen AY in Y flights= no lounge at all? I have a non-EU passport, so probably it is not a good idea to get into non-Schengen area without some pressing need.
I am quite angry at myself - I bought AY tickets over another carrier counting on these lounges. Could not realy imagine that it is possible not to have lounge access for 3 month at the main hub of OW carrier.
I am quite angry at myself - I bought AY tickets over another carrier counting on these lounges. Could not realy imagine that it is possible not to have lounge access for 3 month at the main hub of OW carrier.
Aug 7, 2014, 12:14 pm
#117
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
The automatic gates to the non-Schengen area are officially available for European, EEA, Swiss, Japanese biometric passport holders. I think they also work for Korean and US-American passports, but it does not say so on the Finavia website.
There are no other ways to cross into the non-Schengen without a corresponding boarding card.
There are no other ways to cross into the non-Schengen without a corresponding boarding card.
Aug 11, 2014, 1:37 pm
#119
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: KUO
Programs: AY,SK,SU,M&M,HH,IHG,Le
Posts: 25
Aug 12, 2014, 12:13 am
#120
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,591
Just updated my travel info and seats on AY account and at the same time found a paragraph on the same page where you can change seats:
Tarjoamme sinulle Finnair Loungen sisäänpääsymaksun alennettuun 39 € hintaan. Katso täältä tarkempi kuvaus Finnairin loungepalveluista.
As a lowly AY Gold, I think I will just neatly wait in line in HEL for the cattle to board and keep those 39€.
Tarjoamme sinulle Finnair Loungen sisäänpääsymaksun alennettuun 39 € hintaan. Katso täältä tarkempi kuvaus Finnairin loungepalveluista.
As a lowly AY Gold, I think I will just neatly wait in line in HEL for the cattle to board and keep those 39€.