AY Platinum Wing Lounge at HEL in non-Schengen area (re-opened 1 June 22)
Jul 21, 2019, 8:35 am
#241
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat
Posts: 862
That is correct. Short term access is only for AY Gold.
Jul 31, 2019, 4:09 am
#242
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
I had my first visit to the Platinum Wing while connecting to my JAL flight to Tokyo.
While it is a huge improvement over the old Premium Lounge, I am not completely won over. It has a quite sterile feel to it, a bit like the waiting room in upscale medical clinic in the Nordic region.
The selection of drinks is quite good, though I am certainly not a fan of the current rosé champagne. I did not try the food as I was not hungry. Though I will give them give them a lot of credit for creating a serviced dining area. Though they were clearly short of tables when I took a spin around.
All in all, it does surpass what a lot of airlines offer at their home bases in Europe. But I still prefer the Cathay F lounge or the Qantas lounge in Heathrow. Though for the Qantas lounge, it will probably depend strongly on whether it is within or outside the hours of the serviced dining area I am measuring against.
While it is a huge improvement over the old Premium Lounge, I am not completely won over. It has a quite sterile feel to it, a bit like the waiting room in upscale medical clinic in the Nordic region.
The selection of drinks is quite good, though I am certainly not a fan of the current rosé champagne. I did not try the food as I was not hungry. Though I will give them give them a lot of credit for creating a serviced dining area. Though they were clearly short of tables when I took a spin around.
All in all, it does surpass what a lot of airlines offer at their home bases in Europe. But I still prefer the Cathay F lounge or the Qantas lounge in Heathrow. Though for the Qantas lounge, it will probably depend strongly on whether it is within or outside the hours of the serviced dining area I am measuring against.
Jul 31, 2019, 5:38 am
#243
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,595
I had my first visit to the Platinum Wing while connecting to my JAL flight to Tokyo.
While it is a huge improvement over the old Premium Lounge, I am not completely won over. It has a quite sterile feel to it, a bit like the waiting room in upscale medical clinic in the Nordic region.
The selection of drinks is quite good, though I am certainly not a fan of the current rosé champagne. I did not try the food as I was not hungry. Though I will give them give them a lot of credit for creating a serviced dining area. Though they were clearly short of tables when I took a spin around.
All in all, it does surpass what a lot of airlines offer at their home bases in Europe. But I still prefer the Cathay F lounge or the Qantas lounge in Heathrow. Though for the Qantas lounge, it will probably depend strongly on whether it is within or outside the hours of the serviced dining area I am measuring against.
While it is a huge improvement over the old Premium Lounge, I am not completely won over. It has a quite sterile feel to it, a bit like the waiting room in upscale medical clinic in the Nordic region.
The selection of drinks is quite good, though I am certainly not a fan of the current rosé champagne. I did not try the food as I was not hungry. Though I will give them give them a lot of credit for creating a serviced dining area. Though they were clearly short of tables when I took a spin around.
All in all, it does surpass what a lot of airlines offer at their home bases in Europe. But I still prefer the Cathay F lounge or the Qantas lounge in Heathrow. Though for the Qantas lounge, it will probably depend strongly on whether it is within or outside the hours of the serviced dining area I am measuring against.
Jul 31, 2019, 7:06 am
#244
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
It is a much nicer lounge than the previous iteration, and overall a good lounge, but the design is not, in my view, very welcoming. In that aspect the old lounge did have a better feel.
I'm terms of where I was, I do hope I was in the Platinum Wing next to gate 52, and not in a parallel universe somewhere.
Jul 31, 2019, 10:32 am
#246
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: try to stay home
Programs: AY, M&M, BAEC ...and don t care of status anymore
Posts: 2,041
Sterile waiting room. Not the actual medical rooms. And not in your standard public hospital of course.
It is a much nicer lounge than the previous iteration, and overall a good lounge, but the design is not, in my view, very welcoming. In that aspect the old lounge did have a better feel.
It is a much nicer lounge than the previous iteration, and overall a good lounge, but the design is not, in my view, very welcoming. In that aspect the old lounge did have a better feel.
I really will take parts of the design into my next project, as it is not boring at all. I like the tiled columns and the naked black painted radiators. Also the black/dark overall look is something you don t have too much around. It´s more bright colours you will find at the waiting room.
Jul 31, 2019, 4:37 pm
#247
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
Actually I like the new design, it is kind of edgy for a luxury lounge, and you can see that this is by purpose - they say Bye-bye to the Ikea and Asian chic which is all over the place nowadays.
I really will take parts of the design into my next project, as it is not boring at all. I like the tiled columns and the naked black painted radiators. Also the black/dark overall look is something you don t have too much around. It´s more bright colours you will find at the waiting room.
I really will take parts of the design into my next project, as it is not boring at all. I like the tiled columns and the naked black painted radiators. Also the black/dark overall look is something you don t have too much around. It´s more bright colours you will find at the waiting room.
Lufthansa F terminal gets close in services and offerings, but the style is also a bit dull and industrial. The Pier F in Hong Kong probably gets the term from decor, but service is not quite up there. Take the best of the two, and keep the access as restrictive as the LH F terminal, then we might get there.
Jul 31, 2019, 4:46 pm
#248
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038
If I'm flying in business class (JFK-HEL-HKG) and have OW Sapphire status...can I access the new Platinum Wing lounge during my layover?
Jul 31, 2019, 4:49 pm
#249
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Tokyo
Programs: JAL Metal Card (OWE), SAS Eurobonus Gold (*G), Marriott Titanium (LTP), Tokyu Hotels Platinum
Posts: 21,149
No. For a short while when they are finishing the J lounge, AY Plus sapphire members can use the Platinum Wing, but that is not extended to OWS generally
Jul 31, 2019, 5:30 pm
#250
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038
Jul 31, 2019, 5:33 pm
#251
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,661
You can also see the Helsinki meetup thread if anyone happens to be at HEL the same time as you and guest you in to the Plat Wing.
Last edited by miamiflyer8; Jul 31, 2019 at 5:39 pm
Jul 31, 2019, 7:38 pm
#253
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Programs: AAdvantage Exec Platinum, Hertz #1 Club Gold Five Star, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,038