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Lounge Review: Finnair Lounge Schengen Helsinki Airport (HEL)

I wasn’t expecting much from the Finnair Schengen region lounge at Helsinki, but I was very pleasantly surprised by this lounge.

Entrance to the lounge
Entrance to the lounge

First, I loved the design of the lounge. It felt airy and open with lots of cool furniture and lighting fixtures. There were large windows, so there was natural light. The lounge was pretty busy, but there were plenty of seats still available.

Airy lounge
Airy lounge
Sizable lounge
Sizable lounge
Seating
Seating
Couches
More seating
More seating
More seating
Standing area
Standing area
Funky furniture
Funky furniture
Private work station
Private work station
View of apron
View of apron

The lounge had showers, which may be useful for anyone connecting from a long flight.

Shower
Shower
Soda and beer on tap
Soda and beer on tap
Wine
Wine

In terms of food, I wouldn’t say it was great, but it was there. There was soup and a hot option (of something that I could not identify), breads, salad, fruit salad, and cake. Everyone likes cake, right?

Fuit
Fuit
Salad
Salad
Soups
Soup
Hot food
Hot food
Cake
Cake

Going in, I was expecting something similar to US domestic lounges, but the Finnair Schengen region lounge at HEL is a step above. It’s just a cool-looking lounge, and there’s some food and showers.

In general, I think Helsinki is a pretty great airport with interesting lounges. It’s not super fancy or extravagant, but the airport and lounges are solid with great design and character. I’ll also note that even you’re connecting from a non-Schengen flight to Schengen flight, you can still use the non-Schengen lounges prior to passing through passport control, which is a great perk.

2 Comments

  1. I have been in this lounge in February. It was definitely crowded. Lines to enter the lounge, to get food. It was really difficult to find a place for two people to sit. People working the lounge looked overwhelmed.
    I think it is a nice lounge, albeit incredible full of people.

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