HEL this afternoon, 18 Jun 2016
Jun 18, 2016, 7:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
HEL this afternoon, 18 Jun 2016
Non-schengen lounges at HEL were appalling this afternoon. Absolutely nowhere to sit in either lounge (I'm OneWorld emerald) so we went in the business lounge and had the most disgusting pasta carbonara I've ever had. I travel through HEL every week and this is the first time that my wife has travelled with me. She could not believe how poor it was. Luckily we are heading to LHR and we will use the first class lounge this evening.
Poor show, FinnAir.
Poor show, FinnAir.
Last edited by HighwayToHEL; Jun 18, 2016 at 10:47 am
Jun 19, 2016, 3:43 am
#5
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
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Theses lounges have had overcrowd issues for quite sometime, and it has gotten worse with Finnair expanding. Due to the nature of Finnair's longhaul operations, almost all travellers hit the lounges at the same time of day. At noon it is an eerie place, at 15:00 it is packed.
Changes are coming later this year, as Finnair decided to remove lounge access from some travellers starting sept 1. There also is a re-balancing going on between the 2 non-schengen lounges, where sapphires are now only allowed in the business lounge, hopefully making the premium lounge less crowded.
Changes are coming later this year, as Finnair decided to remove lounge access from some travellers starting sept 1. There also is a re-balancing going on between the 2 non-schengen lounges, where sapphires are now only allowed in the business lounge, hopefully making the premium lounge less crowded.
Jun 19, 2016, 5:02 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Theses lounges have had overcrowd issues for quite sometime, and it has gotten worse with Finnair expanding. Due to the nature of Finnair's longhaul operations, almost all travellers hit the lounges at the same time of day. At noon it is an eerie place, at 15:00 it is packed.
Changes are coming later this year, as Finnair decided to remove lounge access from some travellers starting sept 1. There also is a re-balancing going on between the 2 non-schengen lounges, where sapphires are now only allowed in the business lounge, hopefully making the premium lounge less crowded.
Changes are coming later this year, as Finnair decided to remove lounge access from some travellers starting sept 1. There also is a re-balancing going on between the 2 non-schengen lounges, where sapphires are now only allowed in the business lounge, hopefully making the premium lounge less crowded.
IMO the offerings are NOT very good...
I dread going there when flying schengen flights...
With a little effort they could improve it...
Its still nicer then many lounges but they could do so much better.
The service has improved and they clean it more often then before but food wise a big 👎👎👎
Jun 19, 2016, 6:23 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: Finnair (AY) Platinum, Air France Silver, Tallink Club One Silver :)
Posts: 1,655
Honeslty the schengen lounge has more issues then just over crowding...
IMO the offerings are NOT very good...
I dread going there when flying schengen flights...
With a little effort they could improve it...
Its still nicer then many lounges but they could do so much better.
The service has improved and they clean it more often then before but food wise a big 👎👎👎
IMO the offerings are NOT very good...
I dread going there when flying schengen flights...
With a little effort they could improve it...
Its still nicer then many lounges but they could do so much better.
The service has improved and they clean it more often then before but food wise a big 👎👎👎
Jun 19, 2016, 8:50 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Europe
Programs: M&M mainly
Posts: 318
...the most disgusting pasta carbonara I've ever had...
On positive note; salad always consists of iceberg lettuce which is pretty fresh, at least crunchy, but what is added to it constitutes gastronomic mystery of dish concept.
Examples of last 2-3 months additions to iceberg lettuce:
- smoked salmon
- dry tuna
- quark
- feta
- pieces of fruits (orange, pinapple etc)
- something similar to chicken
- something similar to cheese
Bon appetite!
Jun 19, 2016, 9:09 am
#9
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
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Wow if thats true then its a sad state of affairs... To be honest I have not been on that side since premium opened... But it used to have some nice food fonger snacks and sandwiches etc...
Jun 19, 2016, 10:10 am
#10
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
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Well, I would say that the quality of what is offered in premium lounge is not bad. The "gourmet-snacks" are all fine.
But there is no variation and there is far to little on offer when you want more than snacks. Basically, there is soup and there is Rosemary potatoes. That is all the hot food they offer, and that is only part of the day!
But there is no variation and there is far to little on offer when you want more than snacks. Basically, there is soup and there is Rosemary potatoes. That is all the hot food they offer, and that is only part of the day!
Jun 19, 2016, 10:52 am
#11
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
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It's a pity that the food offerings are really bad in the Schengen and non-Schengen lounges. The spaces are very nice and they have lots of potential to be really good lounges if they just stepped up their food - and drink - game a bit. The other option would be to provide a separate premium Schengen lounge as well.
However, I think that the premium lounge is a really nice space and the offerings are very competitive. The food is very Finnish/Nordic with the needed "upscale" touch to it compared to the normal non-Schengen lounge with pea-corn-pepper vegetable mix.
However, I think that the premium lounge is a really nice space and the offerings are very competitive. The food is very Finnish/Nordic with the needed "upscale" touch to it compared to the normal non-Schengen lounge with pea-corn-pepper vegetable mix.
Jun 19, 2016, 3:20 pm
#12
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
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Well, I would say that the quality of what is offered in premium lounge is not bad. The "gourmet-snacks" are all fine.
But there is no variation and there is far to little on offer when you want more than snacks. Basically, there is soup and there is Rosemary potatoes. That is all the hot food they offer, and that is only part of the day!
But there is no variation and there is far to little on offer when you want more than snacks. Basically, there is soup and there is Rosemary potatoes. That is all the hot food they offer, and that is only part of the day!
Jun 19, 2016, 3:22 pm
#13
Ambassador: Finnair Plus
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Sorry, I can't agree with this statement. I find the level of offerings, both drinks and food, higher in HEL Premium Lounge.
Jun 19, 2016, 10:25 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
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Yes, I agree with you. HKG CX lounges have gone downhill recently after the provider change but I guess Pier J might be a different thing? Also Qantas lounge at HKG has better hot food options than HEL Premium.
Jun 20, 2016, 1:28 am
#15
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Pier F is of course very different, don't know really about Pier J. And yes, you're right about Qantas lounge and hot options. Otherwise, AY Premium better.