HEL Lounge/Shower on Arrival?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,563
HEL Lounge/Shower on Arrival?
I found a few older threads but they didn't seem to address this specifically.
I will be arriving in HEL on a flight from JFK. I then have a separate flight later in the day to CDG (on AF).
Upon arrival, will I be able to use one of the two lounges in the Non-Schengen area? Or will I be forced to exit and clear immigration/customs?
I was hoping to grab a shower before going out to explore Helsinki for the day.
Thanks!
I will be arriving in HEL on a flight from JFK. I then have a separate flight later in the day to CDG (on AF).
Upon arrival, will I be able to use one of the two lounges in the Non-Schengen area? Or will I be forced to exit and clear immigration/customs?
I was hoping to grab a shower before going out to explore Helsinki for the day.
Thanks!
#3
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: LH SEN
Posts: 517
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: KBOS
Programs: BA GfL
Posts: 921
If you're ticketed in C or J, you may be able to convince the greeters/receptionists to let you use the showers. I always use the showers upon arriving from JFK (in C or J) in the mornings and connect with evening flights to HKG or BKK.
Anyway, since you plan to explore Helsinki for the day, you can always take a shower at one of the public pools in Helsinki (I recommend Makelanrinne, stop is Velodrome/Pyorailystadion/Pasila on airport bus #615), use sauna, go for a swim, etc. for 7 euros (or something like that). But you need to bring your own soap/shampoo and towel (or rent one from the desk). Buy a same-day bus ticket (from bus driver or R Kiosks in the non-Schengen zone before passport control and departures area before security) for unlimited bus/tram/metro rides in Helsinki and from airport to Helsinki and back. After showering/swimming, take Tram #7A to Helsinki Senate Square or harbor and catch #615 back to the airport from central rail station.
Anyway, since you plan to explore Helsinki for the day, you can always take a shower at one of the public pools in Helsinki (I recommend Makelanrinne, stop is Velodrome/Pyorailystadion/Pasila on airport bus #615), use sauna, go for a swim, etc. for 7 euros (or something like that). But you need to bring your own soap/shampoo and towel (or rent one from the desk). Buy a same-day bus ticket (from bus driver or R Kiosks in the non-Schengen zone before passport control and departures area before security) for unlimited bus/tram/metro rides in Helsinki and from airport to Helsinki and back. After showering/swimming, take Tram #7A to Helsinki Senate Square or harbor and catch #615 back to the airport from central rail station.
Last edited by Peregrine415; May 22, 2013 at 11:40 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,562
Earlier this month, the lounge dragon was turning people away who arrived on the JFK flight and who were not connecting on another AY flight that same day. They clearly do not want it to be an arrival lounge.
Another option, albeit pricier, is to get a day room at the Hilton which is across the street from the terminal. I've done this a few times when connecting from the JFK flight to an Asia flight. Last time I did it, the rate was approx. 100 Euro.
Another option, albeit pricier, is to get a day room at the Hilton which is across the street from the terminal. I've done this a few times when connecting from the JFK flight to an Asia flight. Last time I did it, the rate was approx. 100 Euro.
#6
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: AY Gold
Posts: 596
http://dayroom.hotelglo.fi/en/glo-airport/
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
Also the small Glo Hotel Airport in the terminal building (Terminal 2, service floor) offers day rooms for EUR 89, room availability 9:00AM - 06:00PM.
http://dayroom.hotelglo.fi/en/glo-airport/
http://dayroom.hotelglo.fi/en/glo-airport/
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,563
OK, I'm a colossal goof. I'm actually arriving from JFK and connecting on an AY flight later in the day to GVA (at which point I *then* connect to the AF flight to CDG). Not sure how I forgot that little part about connecting to GVA?
At any rate, I do have a connection in HEL and it's on AY.
However, I will be connecting from JFK (non-Schengen international arrival) to a Schengen flight.
What are my chances of making it into the Schengen lounge?
BTW - I'm flying in Y but I'm a OW Emerald.
Many thanks and so sorry about the confusion - which was all mine!
At any rate, I do have a connection in HEL and it's on AY.
However, I will be connecting from JFK (non-Schengen international arrival) to a Schengen flight.
What are my chances of making it into the Schengen lounge?
BTW - I'm flying in Y but I'm a OW Emerald.
Many thanks and so sorry about the confusion - which was all mine!
#9
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,610
Out of curiosity, how did you end up in such an interesting route as JFK-HEL-GVA-CDG.
Last edited by nordic; May 23, 2013 at 3:53 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM; Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 18,562
OK, I'm a colossal goof. I'm actually arriving from JFK and connecting on an AY flight later in the day to GVA (at which point I *then* connect to the AF flight to CDG). Not sure how I forgot that little part about connecting to GVA?
At any rate, I do have a connection in HEL and it's on AY.
However, I will be connecting from JFK (non-Schengen international arrival) to a Schengen flight.
What are my chances of making it into the Schengen lounge?
BTW - I'm flying in Y but I'm a OW Emerald.
Many thanks and so sorry about the confusion - which was all mine!
At any rate, I do have a connection in HEL and it's on AY.
However, I will be connecting from JFK (non-Schengen international arrival) to a Schengen flight.
What are my chances of making it into the Schengen lounge?
BTW - I'm flying in Y but I'm a OW Emerald.
Many thanks and so sorry about the confusion - which was all mine!
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: AA PLTPRO, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,563
Thanks for the feedback, everyone!
I'll be sure to come back and post on what happens.
As to the question about routing - would you believe me if I told you I'm actually doing LAX-JFK-HEL-GVA? I booked this months ago - found a pretty cheapo roundtrip fare.
The GVA-CDG was an add-on when I decided I didn't really want to be in Geneva.
I'll be sure to come back and post on what happens.
As to the question about routing - would you believe me if I told you I'm actually doing LAX-JFK-HEL-GVA? I booked this months ago - found a pretty cheapo roundtrip fare.
The GVA-CDG was an add-on when I decided I didn't really want to be in Geneva.
#12
Ambassador: Finnair
Join Date: May 2003
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Lumo, BA Silver, HHonors Gold
Posts: 4,270
I know that in the past they allowed AY Plats to use the lounge on arrival as I once did that (transit to Schengen) and asked about it, I do not know what is the current policy as I do very few transits at HEL, for some strange reason..
I'd imagine you will have no problems with the EXP card..AY often tends to pamper non-AY elites even more than their own..
I'd imagine you will have no problems with the EXP card..AY often tends to pamper non-AY elites even more than their own..
#13
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,794
Thanks for the feedback, everyone!
I'll be sure to come back and post on what happens.
As to the question about routing - would you believe me if I told you I'm actually doing LAX-JFK-HEL-GVA? I booked this months ago - found a pretty cheapo roundtrip fare.
The GVA-CDG was an add-on when I decided I didn't really want to be in Geneva.
I'll be sure to come back and post on what happens.
As to the question about routing - would you believe me if I told you I'm actually doing LAX-JFK-HEL-GVA? I booked this months ago - found a pretty cheapo roundtrip fare.
The GVA-CDG was an add-on when I decided I didn't really want to be in Geneva.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Gothenburg
Programs: Finnair Plus
Posts: 6
In a couple of weeks I will do almost the same but arrive from BJS in U and connect to GOT on X (FlyBe) (both are Finnar award tickets). I have Finnair Plat.
When i arrive from KIX i normally have to go through security at once and then turn left to pass immigration. Then i only have the crappy Schengen lounge as an option Can I just turn right after security instead and walk back to the non-Schengen lounge?
Sorry I am confused about the Vantaa layout but normally i don't care since my wait is like an hour or so. This time however I have a 5 hour stay so it becomes more of an issue.
Is there a detailed map somewhere of Vantaa? The official on at the airport site is a bit crude.
When i arrive from KIX i normally have to go through security at once and then turn left to pass immigration. Then i only have the crappy Schengen lounge as an option Can I just turn right after security instead and walk back to the non-Schengen lounge?
Sorry I am confused about the Vantaa layout but normally i don't care since my wait is like an hour or so. This time however I have a 5 hour stay so it becomes more of an issue.
Is there a detailed map somewhere of Vantaa? The official on at the airport site is a bit crude.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,114
Providing you're EU citizen (or have otherwise no Schengen related immigration issues, like visa, etc) you may just walk back to the non-Schengen area. If you have a biometric passport, you won't even see a border guard (and anyway they check only passports, not b/p's afaik)