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 10, 2019, 3:08 am
#736
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: C2
Programs: AY ex-Lumo, TK Elite, BT VIP, ITA Executive
Posts: 1,157
Having lunch at non-Scengen lounge right now. One of the very nice staff members previously working at Premium side is now on duty herehere we chichatted for a while. She told the renovationr will probably still take quite alot of time due to some unforseen problems (moisture in the structures or something like that) and we are prob talking of months.
I know the consumption of higher quality drinks may cost quite a lot, but it's not us who is on fault in this project management. Take responsibility, AY! Thanks.
Apr 10, 2019, 3:31 am
#737
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
Apr 10, 2019, 4:06 pm
#738
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: mostly MEL
Programs: QF WP LTG, HHonors Diamond, NZ Gold
Posts: 1,750
Regards,
BD
Apr 11, 2019, 10:04 am
#739
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Plat, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,620
Apr 13, 2019, 1:07 am
#740
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AAdvantage PltPro, AMEX Platinum
Posts: 239
Experience in lounge
as of April 10 no showers. This lounge has a nice open feel. Food and snacks are ok. Staff are friendly.
Apr 21, 2019, 10:35 am
#741
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,752
The food in the non-Schengen lounge is still a disgrace. At 7 pm, they serve primary school style maccaroni casserole with virtually no minced meat, cream potatoes and vegetable patties. Those potatoes are worthless as a side since the main item is missing. What's their excuse now that the kitchen is supposed to be open? 
Apr 21, 2019, 3:31 pm
#742
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), TK Elite (*G), BT VIP, HH D, BW DS
Posts: 484
The food in the non-Schengen lounge is still a disgrace. At 7 pm, they serve primary school style maccaroni casserole with virtually no minced meat, cream potatoes and vegetable patties. Those potatoes are worthless as a side since the main item is missing. What's their excuse now that the kitchen is supposed to be open?
Apr 21, 2019, 6:41 pm
#743
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY Platinum Lumo, LX Senator, SK Life-time Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 282
The non-Schengen lounge is hopeless during the afternoon peak time. Finding even a free single seat is a mission impossible. Based on feedback from the lounge agent, the Platinum Wing will not open in immediate future, as contruction work is still very much ongoing. I opted to wait in the public space instead of the over crowded lounge, It was actually quite nice to sit in the new "Aukio" hall.
Apr 22, 2019, 12:08 am
#744
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: Finnair Plus Platinum, OW emerald
Posts: 65
Me Manner
I sure hope these rumours about the new CEOs cost savings policy are not true. I am not claiming that I understand everything about airline industry but I would assume that getting a bad reputation does not serve anyones interest.
Apr 22, 2019, 12:18 am
#745
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: HEL
Programs: Finnair Plus Platinum, OW emerald
Posts: 65
If we are talking about months, there is one best solution for AY - it cannot influence the capacity and overcrowding too much, but it can definitely step up the offerings. Pull out the former Premium Lounge bar bottles, make sure the food is better than it used to be, and I believe it would serve as a nice compromise. Not sure about the situation about sauna and showers - are those already working, or is their opening tight to the Platinum Wing?
I know the consumption of higher quality drinks may cost quite a lot, but it's not us who is on fault in this project management. Take responsibility, AY! Thanks.
I know the consumption of higher quality drinks may cost quite a lot, but it's not us who is on fault in this project management. Take responsibility, AY! Thanks.
Apr 22, 2019, 6:36 am
#746
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AY Plat Lumo+LTG, FI Gold, DL Silver, BA, SK, AX Plat, Priority Pass, Marriott Ambassador & others
Posts: 634
Same experiene today early afternoon. The positive surprise was the home-baked bread, which one of the lounge attendants kept advertising. Very tasty. And with home baked, she mentioned that this really meant home baked rather than frozen dough tossed into the oven.
Apr 22, 2019, 7:06 am
#747
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
I can't help getting very cynical whenever a big company is serving 'home baked' anything to masses. I mean whose home was it baked in? The lounge attendant's? How much does AY/Fazer pay her for bringing in bread for 500 people everyday to work? Don't get me wrong it's great if they serve tasty fresh bread but 'home baked', I have my doubts.
Last edited by R2; Apr 22, 2019 at 7:12 am Reason: typo
Apr 22, 2019, 7:22 am
#748
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AY Plat Lumo+LTG, FI Gold, DL Silver, BA, SK, AX Plat, Priority Pass, Marriott Ambassador & others
Posts: 634
I can't help getting very cynical whenever a big company is serving 'home baked' anything to masses. I mean whose home was it baked in? The lounge attendant's? How much does AY/Fazer pay her for bringing in bread for 500 people everyday to work? Don't get me wrong it's great if they serve tasty fresh bread but 'home baked', I have my doubts.
Apr 22, 2019, 7:29 am
#749
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 938
Ah ok, no worries. On TK business class a couple of months ago I was served a dessert cake which looked and tasted as industrial as they come but it had a prominent 'Home baked' branding on it. The menu card also presented it as home baked. It was so blatantly obvious that the 'home' where it was baked was the huge industrial catering kitchen TK uses at IST. 
Apr 22, 2019, 8:44 pm
#750
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (OWE), SK G(*G), BW Diamond
Posts: 810
I think it is just a translation/branding thing, obviously Fazer has set up their own mini-bakery at the lounge (or in generally at Finnair kitchen) and truly might actually make the bread from scratch at the airport vs. Ovening the frozen dough. Many larger supermarkets have their own fazer bakery, so why not HEL, also serving the airport in general?