Helsinki-Vantaa Lounges – Travel More Comfortably
The content on this page includes affiliate links. While clicking on these links won’t cost you anything extra, we may earn a modest commission from any purchases.
The steep prices at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport’s restaurants and cafés are hardly a surprise. A glass of wine and a savoury pastry can cost more than a quality lunch at a good city restaurant. For the same money, you could spend time at a peaceful lounge that offers services beyond just food. In this article, we introduce the lounges at Helsinki-Vantaa and share affordable ways to visit them. Read on and start your next trip more comfortably.
Covered in the Article
What is a lounge?
A lounge is a quiet waiting area provided by an airline or ground handling company where you can relax and enjoy some food. Food is typically snack-focused with light bites plus both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. The best lounges also offer hot dishes. Lounges often come with valuable extras such as Wi‑Fi, showers, computers, and printing facilities.
Lounges and their services are not free; entry almost always requires a fee. At Helsinki Airport, a lounge visit costs about €30–60. In this article, we introduce the Helsinki Airport lounges and share more affordable ways to visit them.
Helsinki Airport Lounges and Where to Find Them
Helsinki Airport has seven lounges:
- Finnair Lounge in the Schengen area
- Finnair Lounge outside the Schengen area
- Finnair Platinum Wing
- Aspire Lounge, Gate 27
- OP Lounge by Aspire, Gate 22
- Aspire Lounge, Gate 13
- Plaza Premium Lounge
All lounges are located after security, so you need a valid boarding pass for any flight to enter.
Aspire Lounges
The airport hosts three Aspire Lounges operated by Swissport.
In the Schengen area, after security near Gate 27, you’ll find the oldest Aspire Lounge, refurbished in 2025. It’s upstairs on Level 3 and clearly signposted. This Aspire Lounge is our favorite because anyone can visit at a reasonable price, around €35.
OP Lounge by Aspire is Swissport’s newest Aspire-branded lounge in Helsinki. It’s located near Gate 22 on Level 3 in the former Finnair Lounge space, with great apron views. The lounge is primarily intended for OP Bank customers and selected airline customers.
Have you visited the OP Lounge and want to share photos or experiences? Get in touch with us.
The third Aspire Lounge sits near Gate 13 on the same level as the departure gates. It’s the only lounge on the former Terminal 1 side, in the space previously used by the SAS Lounge. This lounge is also open to all for a fee.
Priority Pass and LoungeKey members are welcome at Aspire Lounges, excluding the OP Lounge. You can also buy an entry directly at the reception. Business and first-class travellers may receive a lounge invitation from their airline. Other travellers should consider buying access through Lounge Pass at a discounted rate.
The Aspire Lounge at Gate 27 fills up quickly during peak times, when the Gate 13 lounge often offers a calmer alternative. Gate 27 stands out with better apron views, a decorative fireplace, and stylish decor. Gate 13’s strengths are its tranquil atmosphere and handy location, especially for flights departing from Gates 1–20.
Aspire Lounges serve a quality but straightforward hot buffet at breakfast, lunch, and dinner times. Cold options include bread, salads, and desserts. Hot dishes are usually soup or porridge. The drinks selection is generous and consists of both soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.
Finnair Lounge in the Schengen area
The Finnair Schengen Lounge sits after security in the corner of the terminal on Level 3, accessed via the stairs next to Gate 21. It primarily serves Finnair and partner business and first-class travellers, as well as status members. Economy passengers can purchase an entry when flying on Finnair.
The Finnair Business Lounge is primarily intended for Finnair and its oneworld partners’ business and first class travellers. Entry requires an airline invitation. Passengers flying Finnair in economy can buy access when the flight is marketed and operated by Finnair. Finnair Plus Gold and oneworld Sapphire members can use the lounge regardless of cabin when flying with Finnair or another oneworld airline.
The Finnair Lounge overlooks the apron. There’s a hot buffet and a varied drinks selection, though it doesn’t quite match the standard of Finnair’s lounge outside the Schengen area.
Because Finnair Lounges do not accept lounge memberships, we recommend budget‑minded travellers consider other lounge options at the airport. However, if your ticket includes access, the Finnair Lounge is an excellent choice. We have visited several times and found it to be of high quality.
Finnair Lounges are reserved for Finnair and oneworld customers only.
Finnair Lounges outside the Schengen area
The Finnair Lounge outside the Schengen area and the adjacent Finnair Platinum Wing are located after passport control near Gates 50 (a, b, c). After passport control, walk straight ahead and turn into the left‑hand wing where Gates 50 (a, b, c) are located. The lounge is on the right side of that wing.
The Finnair Business Lounge primarily serves Finnair and oneworld business and first class travellers. Entry requires an airline invitation. If your flight is marketed and operated by Finnair, economy passengers can buy access. Finnair Plus Gold and oneworld Sapphire members can use the Finnair Lounge regardless of cabin.
The Finnair Business Lounge outside the Schengen area offers excellent apron views. The space is airy, there’s a hot buffet, and the drinks selection is broad. The lounge even has a complimentary sauna.
Finnair Platinum Wing is a separate premium area within the Finnair Business Lounge reserved for Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo members and oneworld Emerald customers. It delivers a higher‑end experience: more spacious seating, quieter relaxation zones, and à la carte dishes. Food and drinks are elevated, with a wide range of top‑tier options and premium beverages. Overall, the Platinum Wing provides a more personal and luxurious setting before your flight.
Plaza Premium Lounge
The stairs to the Plaza Premium Lounge are right next to Gate 40. There’s also an elevator to the upper level. Entry requires payment or an airline invitation. The lounge also admits American Express Platinum cardholders as well as Priority Pass and LoungeKey members.
The Plaza Premium Lounge offers high‑quality yet classic lounge services. Guests can relax in comfortable seating, use free Wi‑Fi, and charge devices. There’s hot food along with both non‑alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. The lounge has its own restrooms and showers, and kids get a small but functional playroom. It’s a solid, calming place to unwind before your flight.
American Express lounges at Helsinki Airport
There are no American Express lounges at Helsinki Airport. However, the Aspire Lounges in the Schengen area and the Plaza Premium Lounge outside the Schengen area accept Priority Pass membership, which many American Express cards include at no extra cost.
How to access lounges at Helsinki Airport
The Finnair Platinum Wing is open to Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo and Platinum members and oneworld Emerald customers when departing from the non‑Schengen area on a flight marketed and operated by an oneworld airline. Regular Finnair Lounges are mainly for Finnair and partner customers, though access can be purchased at a reasonably high price. The other lounges featured in this article are available for a fee without a specific airline ticket or elite status.
Business class ticket
The simplest—but more expensive—way to access lounges is to buy a business class ticket. Business class tickets on Finnair and oneworld airlines include entry to Finnair Lounges. Most other airlines typically direct their business travellers to third‑party Aspire Lounges or the Plaza Premium Lounge.
Credit card perks
For many travellers, buying a lounge‑eligible ticket isn’t cost‑effective. That doesn’t mean the lounge doors are closed. A cheaper way in is with the right payment card. Premium credit cards often include discounts on lounge visits or even complimentary access.
American Express includes a complimentary Priority Pass membership with its Gold and Platinum cards. The Gold tier includes four free lounge visits at 1,500+ lounges worldwide. With American Express Platinum, lounge visits are unlimited, and the benefit extends to one guest.
Check out the Nordea Platinum credit card, which includes a Priority Pass membership.
The Aspire Lounges in the Schengen area and the Plaza Premium Lounge outside the Schengen area accept Priority Pass membership.
Heading to Gran Canaria? Las Palmas Airport has a comfortable Priority Pass lounge, Sala Galdos, where comfort‑seeking travelers can buy affordable one‑time access.
Certain payment cards come with LoungeKey instead of Priority Pass; it works the same way. At Helsinki Airport, LoungeKey members can access the Aspire Lounges like with Priority Pass.
Always check the exact lounge membership terms with your card issuer, as the number of free visits may be limited or visits may incur an additional fee.
See which payment cards include lounge benefits on the Tietoinen talous website.
You can also purchase a Priority Pass membership outright.
Cabin upgrade
For many travellers, an easy way to boost comfort is a cabin upgrade, paid with airline points or cash. Within Europe, upgrade award rates are usually low, and Finnair, for example, offers attractive Avios pricing. You can often buy an upgrade with cash at a reasonable price. Lounge access is typically included with a cabin upgrade, making this a cost‑effective way to enter a lounge.
One‑time paid access
Plenty of travellers don’t belong to any lounge program, but that doesn’t prevent lounge use. Many lounges sell affordable one‑time access via from the Lounge Pass website. The service offers competitively priced entry to airport lounges worldwide, including Helsinki Airport’s Aspire Lounges and the Plaza Premium Lounge.
| Lounge | Target group |
|---|---|
| Finnair Lounges | Finnair and oneworld customers |
| Aspire Lounges at Gates 27 and 13 | Lounge program members Certain airlines’ premium customers Paying guests |
| OP Lounge by Aspire | OP Bank premium customers |
| Plaza Premium Lounge, Gate 40 | Certain airlines’ premium customers Paying guests |
| Aspire Lounges | Lounge program members Certain airlines’ premium customers Paying guests |
You can pay at the door at most lounges, but prices there can be surprisingly high.
Lounge or café?
Airport cafés and restaurants are expensive. Even if lounge entry costs extra, the overall value can be better because drinks and light food are included. If you plan to have a speciality coffee, a hot soup or salad, dessert, and a glass of wine, a lounge visit can even be cheaper than buying the same items at a café.
A lounge also gives you a quiet setting, quality services, showers, Wi‑Fi, and newspapers, so overall it often offers good value for money.
Our lounge recommendations for Helsinki Airport
If you’re not flying business class and don’t hold oneworld or Star Alliance elite status, airline‑run lounges are usually pricey. For frequent travellers, the best solution is a lounge membership, easiest via a credit card or by purchasing a Priority Pass membership. For occasional travellers, the cheapest option is to pre-book a single visit. For the Schengen area we recommend the Aspire Lounge at Gate 27, and for non‑Schengen departures the Plaza Premium Lounge.
Bottom Line
Lounges are a compelling alternative to airport restaurants. Consider which way of getting access suits your needs best. Factors include how often you travel and which payment cards you have.
Occasional travellers should book a lounge online in advance to know the price before the trip. You can pay at the door, but it’s usually much more expensive. Pre-booked tickets are almost always cheaper and give you a better chance of getting in during busy periods.
Do you visit Helsinki Airport lounges often? Share your lounge experiences below!
Add Comment
Comments