Finnair’s top-tier lounge in Helsinki
Finnair’s premium lounge does not disappoint. A sauna in an airport? A la carte dining? The kicker is that very few people can access this lounge. Flying in Finnair’s top cabin (business) does not get you in, nor does any amount of cash. It’s reserved for oneworld Emeralds, and Finnair Platinum and Platinum Lumo members. Guest contributor Dominic takes us into a lounge that many of us won’t see…
Where is Finnair Platinum Wing?
This lounge is located next to gate 52 in the non-Schengen part of Helsinki airport.
Typically, non-Schengen lounges in Europe offer a better experience as they cater to passengers on long-haul flights and for Brits heading back to the UK. This lounge is no exception and is a step up from Finnair’s Schengen lounge, as well as from the standard business lounge.
What is Schengen?
If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it’s a zone in Europe that allows free movement to 29 countries, including most but not all EU members. Airports will split flights based on whether you’re Schengen (Flying to another Schengen country) or non-Schengen in a similar way to domestic and international flights are split in the US. The UK has never been in the Schengen area, which is why it can be unfamiliar to Brits.
We visited this lounge when we connected in Helsinki on a London Heathrow to Seoul flight. You can read about our experience of Finnair Business Class on this flight in our trip report.
Who can access this lounge?
The lounge is two spaces in one, with this review covering the more premium Platinum lounge.
- The Business Lounge is for oneworld Sapphire and passengers flying on oneworld business class.
- The Platinum Lounge is accessible to oneworld Emerald and Finnair’s top-tier frequent flyers. You don’t have to be flying Finnair to gain access to this lounge.
You cannot access this lounge if you are flying business with Finnair, even though that is the highest cabin the airline operates. There is also no option to pay for entry to this lounge.
The Platinum Lounge is open from 5:30am until midnight, matching the opening times of the other two Finnair lounges in Helsinki
The Platinum Wing
The Platinum Wing has the same styling and aesthetic that you’ll find across Finnair’s cabins and worldwide lounges. That is to say, typical Scandi decor with a combination of light woods and their signature dark blue. It’s a colour combination I love.
The lounge is split into three distinct areas. You’ll find an inviting bar as soon as you step through the door – with seating to the left and right. Further along to the right is the dining area (which is fabulous, more details below) and beyond that is another sitting area with views outside, a quiet place to sit and relax.
There’s space for 155 guests, although with the restrictive entry requirements, this is not going to be a busy lounge.
The Sauna
Yes, this lounge does have a sauna. I’ve had massages in a few different lounges and even had a bath in Hong Kong’s first lounge, but a sauna in an airport was definitely a first for me. To the left of reception, near the showers, are male and female changing rooms offering showers, towels and slippers.
Once changed (or unchanged as the case may be), you next enter a small ‘cool room’ with soft seating and cool drinks – in an ice bucket no less. To the right, you’ll see a black door to the sauna itself.
Whilst not huge, there’s comfortably enough room for six. In my view, if you’re at Helsinki airport and you’ve got access to the Platinum Wing, the sauna is a must. Just make sure you leave enough time to properly cool down afterwards!
Do you need swimmies? No. Its a mixed sauna but this is Finland. And you’re perfectly ok to go in with a towel on, which makes packing your carry-on easier. Just don’t enter the sauna in your birthday suit.
Food and drink in the lounge
Everything in this lounge is included, so no nasty up-charges to be discovered here. This is, in my view, as it should be. You’ll find a selection of wines, spirits, cocktails and champagne – all served in Finnair’s signature glassware. We opted for a glass of the champers (Joseph Perrier) and then a Pinot Noir.
When it comes to food, you won’t be going hungry. The main dining area is a la carte, but there’s also the option to pop up to the kitchen bar and help yourself to everything from a smoked salmon and mustard potato pot to salads, curry, baked goods and more.
We both ordered the reindeer burger (when in Rome…or Helsinki), which took about 15 minutes to arrive – the perfect amount of time for a quick sauna.
The burger was well cooked, well seasoned, and the chips were incredibly moreish. Other options included beetroot risotto, pork belly and the Beyond Burger. From a quick look around the room, you can’t really go wrong here.
Final thoughts
I really enjoyed this lounge. It’s genuinely good enough to plan a little trip back to explore Helsinki just to spend more time in the lounge. It’s relaxing, quiet and feels genuinely premium. The food is excellent, drinks are good, and the service is marvellous. Nice job, Finnair.
Here’s a final tip from me – If you’re in this lounge and aren’t about to board into a premium cabin, then this is the perfect place to grab a pair of slippers and a couple of bottles of water before you head to your flight.
Finnair Platinum Lounge Rating
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