AY Platinum Wing Lounge at HEL in non-Schengen area (re-opened 1 June 22)
Jun 13, 2019, 6:04 am
#121
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,745
Jun 13, 2019, 6:21 am
#122
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,661
I tried with schengen BP. The discussion went like this:
Did you arrive by non-schengen flight?
Me: yes.
Do you have the boarding pass?
Me: No
Where did you come from?
Me: Hong kong
Ok, I need to check that from the computer
Me: Sorry, I lied. I just want to see the new lounge
Access denied
I also told the passport control office that I would like to visit the finnair lounge. He said that he cannot let me in and I should use the automatic machines. They let me in.
Did you arrive by non-schengen flight?
Me: yes.
Do you have the boarding pass?
Me: No
Where did you come from?
Me: Hong kong
Ok, I need to check that from the computer
Me: Sorry, I lied. I just want to see the new lounge
Access denied
I also told the passport control office that I would like to visit the finnair lounge. He said that he cannot let me in and I should use the automatic machines. They let me in.
Back in the days with the old Premium lounge I went thru immigration with the e-gates and into the lounge with my ARN bp, lady said there's another lounge in the Schengen area by gate 22 to which I replied that this lounge is nicer. No questions asked after that.
So I guess you got a dragon who didn't want to bend the rules.
Jun 13, 2019, 6:51 am
#123
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 170
Could the automated gates at the lounge let you in without seeing an agent?
Back in the days with the old Premium lounge I went thru immigration with the e-gates and into the lounge with my ARN bp, lady said there's another lounge in the Schengen area by gate 22 to which I replied that this lounge is nicer. No questions asked after that.
So I guess you got a dragon who didn't want to bend the rules.
Back in the days with the old Premium lounge I went thru immigration with the e-gates and into the lounge with my ARN bp, lady said there's another lounge in the Schengen area by gate 22 to which I replied that this lounge is nicer. No questions asked after that.
So I guess you got a dragon who didn't want to bend the rules.
I have also managed to get access to the old Premium lounge several times with a schengen BP.
About the passport control policy. Anything other has worked before like "Burger kingiin", "Postilaatikolle", but "Finnairin loungeen" did not work. So I don't know if it is an actual policy.
Jun 13, 2019, 6:55 am
#124
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY Platinum Lumo, LX Senator, SK Life-time Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 282
My argumentation with the ARN boarding pass was always that I want to go to sauna. Never failed with that.
Jun 13, 2019, 7:00 am
#125
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY Platinum Lumo, LX Senator, SK Life-time Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 282
I am currently sitting at the CX First at Heathrow and thinking which of the two, Platinum Wing or CX F is the best lounge in Europe that can be entered with an alliance status (i.e. excluding Lufthansa/Swiss First Class lounges, Air France lounges, Qatar lounges etc.). Or is there something else that can compete with these two. Possibly Turkish lounge in Istanbul, what else?
Jun 13, 2019, 10:22 am
#126
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum (oneworld Emerald), Bonvoy/Radisson/Hilton Gold
Posts: 149
Jun 13, 2019, 10:25 am
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,105
Jun 13, 2019, 10:50 am
#128
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Austin
Programs: AA EXP +2MM- LT PLT! HH Diamond
Posts: 6,086
Jun 13, 2019, 10:53 am
#129
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY Platinum Lumo, LX Senator, SK Life-time Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 282
Regarding the Qantas London Lounge, I like it during the evening when they have a la carte dining (starting at around 17:00?). At other times the the food offerings are not great. The lounge also lacks views, the old SAS lounge design is not that great. It does not feel premium similarly as Cathay First does.
After spending a couple of hours at Cathay First today, my opinion is that it still supersedes Platinum Wing, 3-course lunch today was simply great and the lounge design is really good..
Jun 13, 2019, 10:56 am
#130
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Plat
Posts: 3,157
Based on the pictures of the Plat wing and experience from QF J lounge, I would definitely think Plat wing beats it. QF J at LHR is noisy, crowded, small and food and beverage offerings nothing spectacular. And there's no champagne there (only for top tier QF members).
Jun 13, 2019, 11:01 am
#131
Join Date: Nov 2015
Programs: AY Platinum Lumo (LTG) OW Emerald, SPG Platinum (LTG), UA Silver
Posts: 380
www.oneworld.com:
If your oneworld frequent flyer tier status is Emerald or Sapphire, or you are traveling in a First or Business Class cabin on any oneworld member airline, you can access some 650 airport lounges throughout the world.
Jun 13, 2019, 11:28 am
#132
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Unio Europaea
Programs: BA GGL, AS, Hertz Cirque Présidentielle
Posts: 1,445
Based on the information/experiences shared here, the menu for the table service sets it below actual First class lounges. Other than that, it seems to be a pretty promising feat from Finnair. 
But I'll get back on the subject very soon, once I've been there.
Speaking of LHR, the MH lounge at T4 would be interesting to try, but not sure when I'll do a OW connection there to see the lounge myself. It's a status based lounge as well.
But I'll get back on the subject very soon, once I've been there.Speaking of LHR, the MH lounge at T4 would be interesting to try, but not sure when I'll do a OW connection there to see the lounge myself. It's a status based lounge as well.
Jun 13, 2019, 3:39 pm
#133
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 286
Ï was one of the first inside last Wednesday, and was told there where relax cabins in the bathroom area.
But on my re-visit Tuesday morning I couldn´t find any, no time to ask though.
Anyone knows about this?
I´d hoped for lie flat beds instead of the beds that were like sleeping on Dolly Parton in the Premium Lounge.
But instead of improving this, they seem to have dropped that feature altogether, or??
Even the ordinary non Schengen lounge offered better napping in the capsules....
But on my re-visit Tuesday morning I couldn´t find any, no time to ask though.
Anyone knows about this?
I´d hoped for lie flat beds instead of the beds that were like sleeping on Dolly Parton in the Premium Lounge.
But instead of improving this, they seem to have dropped that feature altogether, or??
Even the ordinary non Schengen lounge offered better napping in the capsules....
Jun 13, 2019, 4:23 pm
#134
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,152
First time I was there was a pretty early morning shortly after they opened, connecting from JL41, I got the grand tour from the front desk agent, and ended up trying too many gins for that hour, but the var tender was quite talkative and proud of his selection.
Jun 13, 2019, 11:57 pm
#135
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,783
The times I have been they have adjusted their tonic based on the gin. Though I can't remember if there were just a few or a wider selection.
First time I was there was a pretty early morning shortly after they opened, connecting from JL41, I got the grand tour from the front desk agent, and ended up trying too many gins for that hour, but the var tender was quite talkative and proud of his selection.
First time I was there was a pretty early morning shortly after they opened, connecting from JL41, I got the grand tour from the front desk agent, and ended up trying too many gins for that hour, but the var tender was quite talkative and proud of his selection.