Sep 15, 2016, 3:24 am
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
This lounge is now closed and replaced by the Finnair Premium Wing.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/finnair-finnair-plus/1973050-ay-platinum-wing-now-open.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/finnair-finnair-plus/1973050-ay-platinum-wing-now-open.html
Finnair Premium Lounge in non-Schengen area [now closed]
Apr 2, 2019, 9:22 am
#706
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat Lumo, SK Gold
Posts: 954
Plaza Premium already started competing with the Platinum Wing, starting with which one will be delayed longer 
Apr 2, 2019, 11:42 am
#707
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 133
As One World Saphire travelling on AY metal, which non-schengen lounge can I go to? My understanding is there are two (Premium and Business) and both are closed for refurbishment?
Travelling mid-April if that means anything - I understand that dates have slipped so chances are it's still under renovation.
Thanks!
Travelling mid-April if that means anything - I understand that dates have slipped so chances are it's still under renovation.
Thanks!
Apr 2, 2019, 12:21 pm
#708
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
There are three lounges in non-Schengen area: Finnair Premium (closed for renovation), Finnair Business and Almost@Home. You are not really affected by the renovation, except for the fact that the lounge might be crowded. Just go to the Finnair Business lounge.
Apr 2, 2019, 12:26 pm
#709
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 133
So the business lounge isn't being renovated and open as usual? Perfect! Thanks!
Apr 2, 2019, 12:32 pm
#710
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,157
You won't be affected unless the Premium lounge is open at that time. I'm not sure if the regular Business lounge will be closed for renovation works at that time?
Apr 2, 2019, 1:53 pm
#711
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,757
The non-Schengen lounge at HEL is good for a quick bite to eat if you appreciate workplace cafeteria style food. Otherwise, plan on arriving at HEL one hour before departure and you'll be fine. It'll give you enough time to visit the lounge, but you certainly don't want to factor in any extra time to "enjoy" it.
Apr 2, 2019, 1:56 pm
#712
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
Apr 2, 2019, 3:07 pm
#713
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: AY Platinum Lumo (LTG) OW Emerald, SPG Platinum (LTG), UA Silver
Posts: 380
Plaza Premium lounge announced to open in February 2019
Apr 2, 2019, 3:58 pm
#714
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Programs: AMEX Plat / AY Plat, BA GGL-CCR / Bonvoy Titanium (LTP)
Posts: 474
Plaza Premium got a head start and is leading that competition. It was supposed to open in February 2019:
Plaza Premium lounge announced to open in February 2019
Plaza Premium lounge announced to open in February 2019
Apr 4, 2019, 6:42 am
#715
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
No news in two weeks, doesn't really sound like good project planning. Also bit surprising that no info has leaked or anyone actually seeing/hearing anything (e.g. constant powerdrilling noise to the business lounge). In 6 months, 2 weeks is not that bad but lack of communication is, maybe they realized in final inspection something like "oh, we forgot the bathrooms" 
Apr 4, 2019, 7:54 am
#716
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,602
No news in two weeks, doesn't really sound like good project planning. Also bit surprising that no info has leaked or anyone actually seeing/hearing anything (e.g. constant powerdrilling noise to the business lounge). In 6 months, 2 weeks is not that bad but lack of communication is, maybe they realized in final inspection something like "oh, we forgot the bathrooms"
Apr 4, 2019, 11:22 pm
#717
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 59
I was in the lounge earlier today. There was a lot of noise coming from the Premium section - hammers, drills, banging and crashing. A lot of the workers (over 10 of them) also smoked so went to the smoking room close by during breaks. I wanted to ask how things were going but didn't want to risk offending them by asking in English.
so, there seems to be a lot of work going on, not just finishing touches.
so, there seems to be a lot of work going on, not just finishing touches.
Apr 4, 2019, 11:48 pm
#718
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,789
Thanks for the info. Why would they be offended being asked in English?
Apr 5, 2019, 7:51 am
#719
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 59
Here in Canada, if you don't at least try to speak French when visiting Quebec some people get offended. So, wherever I visit amywhere I try to know at least a few phrases like 'thank you', 'a beer please', 'how much', and most importantly, 'do you speak english' in the native language. Since I was just in transit through Helsinki, I didn't think to do this and only just realized now that I could have just googled it in the lounge (sigh...).
Apr 5, 2019, 7:57 am
#720
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
Well, the construction workers are likely Balts or Polish, so finnish would not work either. And for Poles, neither english, estonians would speak good english and young ones prefer english to finnish (which most understand due to strong similarity).
But based on that info, PW not likely open during my only non-schengen trip this year...sigh, as Premium lounge was closed just before my last trip in Nov.
But based on that info, PW not likely open during my only non-schengen trip this year...sigh, as Premium lounge was closed just before my last trip in Nov.