After a quick stop in Stockholm I was on my way back to the United States. To get home I decided to fly Finnair from Stockholm to Helsinki and onwards to New York (JFK). I ended up booking an itinerary with a longer than desired (for most) layover in Helsinki. Since I had some time to kill I decided to visit two of Finnair’s lounges in Helsinki Airport.
The first lounge I visited is located in the Schengen area of the airport. If you don’t know what a Schengen area is, don’t worry, neither did I until I sat down to write this post. Essentially, several of the EU countries allow visa free travel. When arrive from one of the Schengen countries you are not required to clear customs. Likewise, there is no customs checkpoint when departing to another Schengen country. Perhaps it’s best to think of this area as Helsinki Airpot’s “domestic” terminal.
Finnair Lounge Schengen Area Location And Entrance
The Finnair Lounge in the Schengen Area of the airport is located near gate 22. To access the lounge you walk toward the stairs and head upstairs. If you’re in a rush you may miss the entrance as it doesn’t look like much as you walk toward it.
If walking from the higher numbered gates there is no way that you’ll miss this lounge thanks to the large Finnair Lounge signage found just above the stairs. At the base of the stairs you’ll find signage with lists which passengers have access to the lounge.
Once upstairs you’ll find the entrance to the lounge. To access the lounge all you have to do is scan your boarding card and pass through the turnstiles.
As you enter the lounge you’ll pass a large Finnair vertical stabilizer which doubles as a backdrop for the customer service desk.
To access the lounge there is no reason to speak with a customer service agent, but if you should need assistance you can visit a customer service desk located next to the entrance of the lounge.
If there is a wait for an agent you can sit in these funky Men In Black style chairs.
Finnair Lounge Schengen Area Sitting Areas
One of the first things you’ll notice about the lounge when you walk in is that it’s massive. Within the lounge there are several sitting areas to choose from, all of which have ample seats available to guests.
The first area is located just to the right of the check-in counter. As you venture farther back into the lounge you’ll find one of several more sitting rooms.
These areas have fairly tight seating arrangements, but offer plenty of natural light.
The next area is a little less congested.
Toward the back of these sitting areas are semi-private workstations.
Beyond these first sitting rooms is a long hall which leads to several smaller rooms.
These smaller sitting areas are better suited for groups traveling together.
As you can see, the lounge is LONG.
However, most seats offer great views of the gate areas.
Although the ceilings in this area of the lounge are lower, there is still plenty of natural light available.
Yep, the lounge keeps going.
And going.
Eventually you’ll reach the last room of the lounge where a few massage chairs are hidden.
As you can see the lounge is sprawling. Walking from the back room to the entrance takes about 2 minutes.
Finnair Lounge Schengen Area Catering
After finding a seat toward the rear of the lounge you’ll have worked up quite an appetite. Luckily, this lounge offers plenty of catering options to guests.
As I visited the lounge during breakfast the traditional breakfast buffet options were available. There were also several made to order options available to guests. Across from the buffet line was a wine bar of sorts.
If you aren’t in the mood for wine there is also a soft-drink, beer, and water station found in this area.
As you round the corner from this area of the lounge you’ll find a second buffet area. This area again offered traditional breakfast items.
As well as a few salad, fruit, and bread options.
This area also featured another beverage station which included beer, soft-drinks, and juices.
But don’t worry, wine was also available in this area of the lounge.
There was also a coffee station which featured two made-to-order coffee machines.
This area was also home to a few sweets which paired nicely with a fresh cup of coffee… or so I was told.
I also really loved the Marimekko Mugs found throughout the lounge. These mugs are available for sale here. After grabbing a bite to eat and something to drink you can enjoy the lounge’s catering options in the dining area.
Finnair Lounge Schengen Area Dining Room
The dining room is a large airy room which again offers plenty of natural sunlight. The dining area is mostly comprised of high-top community style tables with floral centerpieces.
However, if these tables are full you can instead opt for countertop seating found across the lounge from the dining room.
This area also doubles as a direct hallway toward the entrance to the lounge.
And of course, if you don’t wish to sit in the dining area of the lounge you are welcome to take all food and beverage options to your desired sitting area.
Final Thoughts
Overall I was quite impressed by this Finnair lounge. I loved the use of light colors and massive windows to create a welcoming and relaxing space. As Finland experiences long periods of short days I bet this lounge is a welcomed place to visit during the dark winter months.
Also, when looking at this lounge it’s important to remember that this is “only” a short-haul lounge. This lounge is essentially Finnair’s version of an Admirals Club, Sky Club, or United Club. When you compare the lounge to domestic lounges in the United States you begin to realize just how nice Finnair’s Schengen lounge actually is. The food is far beyond what you can expect from a typical domestic lounge and the wine selection blows any domestic lounge away.
I’d happily visit this lounge again and I would arguably arrive at the airport a bit early to visit this lounge again. In fact, I should be back in Helsinki this upcoming Sunday so I look forward to stopping by again!
