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Review: Plaza Premium Lounge at Helsinki Airport

Bar desk
In Helsinki's Plaza Premium Lounge, there is a manned bar desk which serves complimentary and paid drinks.

In August 2024, we visited Plaza Premium Lounge Helsinki at the beginning of our summer trip. Since we usually fly to Schengen destinations, this was our first time in this lounge as it's located outside the Schengen area at the airport. We had heard a lot about the lounge and had high expectations. Read the full review to find out how we rated this lounge.

Plaza Premium Lounge

The Plaza Premium Lounge at Helsinki Airport is a dedicated service for travellers flying to non-Schengen destinations. Located after passport control, it is the only non-airline lounge available in this area of the airport, offering a comfortable and premium space for passengers before their international flights.

The Plaza Premium Lounge at Helsinki Airport is accessible to business and first-class passengers of partner airlines, American Express Platinum and Centurion cardholders as well as members of programs like Priority Pass, DragonPass, and LoungeKey. The lounge offers a wide array of high-quality amenities, including comfortable seating, dining options, and business services, all complemented by a panoramic view of the tarmac and runways, enhancing the pre-flight experience.

Previously, there was another Plaza Premium Lounge at Helsinki Airport in the arrival hall, but it has since closed. Helsinki Airport now features a total of six lounges, three of which are operated by Finnair. The remaining lounges, including the Plaza Premium Lounge, are managed by third-party operators, offering travellers a variety of options for relaxation and comfort.

Our Visit to Plaza Premium Lounge

This lounge review reflects our visit of August 2024 pre-departure Finnair flight to Antalya, Turkey. It was our first visit to this lounge, so we were eager to see what the lounge had to offer. In this post, we'll share our impressions and experiences.

Easy to Find

The Plaza Premium Lounge was conveniently located just past passport control, making it easily accessible for travellers. Clear signage throughout the terminal ensured that finding the lounge was simple and quick, allowing us to reach it with minimal hassle.

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Signs to Plaza Premium Lounge
Plaza Premium Lounge was easy to find by following signs to Gate 40, with additional lounge signs on the ceiling.

We found stairs near Gate 40 that led directly to the lounge's reception on the second floor. Travellers with heavy luggage could use the elevator.

We noticed an interesting detail: there were a few sleeping pods next to the stairs. They were to provide a quiet retreat for exhausted travellers. No one was using them since it was midday but we bet they become more popular during the late hours.

Sleeping pods
At the bottom end of the stairs, there were sleeping pods for people who wanted to nap.

Arrival at the Lounge

Arrival at the lounge was a smooth and pleasant experience. A male receptionist checked our Priority Pass membership and boarding passes and in less than a minute, we were in.

RECOMMENDATION
If you do not have a lounge membership, purchase single access from Lounge Pass. Single-entry lounge passes are practical for infrequent travellers.

First Impression

We were surprised to find the lounge smaller than we had imagined. However, there were many comfortable-looking chairs and tables, so size wasn't a problem. It was also outside the busy hours so we had more space for ourselves than we needed.

Furniture in the lounge
The furniture in the lounge was modern and suitable for eating, relaxing and working.

The modern brown and grey-shaded furnishings and large windows overlooking the tarmac created a bright and inviting atmosphere. Everything was clean, and the lounge's layout was simple. From the moment we entered, we felt at home. Even the small size did not matter since the well-designed layout and bright natural light made the lounge feel bigger. Perhaps, during busy hours, the lounge may get a little crowded.

Soft materials made the lounge quiet.

Services

The lounge had free Wi-Fi, which was easy to connect to. It was provided by Helsinki Airport so you can use the same Wi-Fi outside the lounge too. The internet connection worked well and was fast.

Chairs and tables
The lounge provided soft chairs with power sockets.

There were plenty of power sockets, although a few more would be helpful.

The lounge had private restrooms and showers. We didn't try the showers, but the showers are useful for long-haul travellers. Having restrooms inside the lounge is a must-have for any good airport lounge. Families were not forgotten since the lounge features also a children's playroom.

Shower and toilet corridors
Showers and toilets were on a separate corridor inside the lounge.
Children playroom
The lounge had a small room dedicated to smaller family members.

It was easy to track our flight on the flight information screens. They showed the flight status and how long it would take to walk to the gate.

Food and Drinks

It's unusual to find warm meals in third-party airport lounges. For example, Aspire Lounges at Helsinki Airport only offer simple warm snacks and the majority of the food is just cold items. Plaza Premium Lounge was an exception, serving real warm food from a buffet.

Food buffet
The warm buffet did not have many options but the food was well-prepared and tasty.
Salad buffet
The warm food was completed with a fresh salad buffet including bread.

We enjoyed a tasty Asian-style lunch in Plaza Premium Lounge.

Lunch
The lunch featured a blend of European and Asian cuisine.

The warm buffet included chicken, noodles, a vegetarian option and rice. There was also fresh salad and bread. Although the selection wasn't very large, the food was tasty and made for a satisfying lunch. We enjoyed it a lot.

The meal also included desserts. We tried marshmallows and pieces of cake.

For drinks, there were juices, water, and soft drinks. Complimentary alcoholic options included wine and Finnish beer, Karhu. Also, an alcohol-free beer was available. Other drinks were subject to an extra charge and needed to be ordered from a bar desk. Since Plaza Premium is a luxury brand, we were a bit surprised that they charged extra for certain drinks. However, we were happy with the free options.

Wine bottles
Even though beer needed to be ordered from the bar desk, wine could be taken as self-service from the bottles.
Coffee and soft drink machine
Coffee and soft drinks were available from machines.

Wine could be self-served but beer needed to be ordered from the bar desk.

Overall, We were happy with the food and drinks service in Plaza Premium Lounge. At first, we thought there weren't many options to choose from at the buffet. In the end, we were happy with the selection. Maybe a few more choices would have made the lunch buffet even better. The manned bar desk was a nice detail but the extra charge for certain drinks may come as a surprise to many visitors.

Customer Service

We only interacted with staff when we arrived, left, and ordered drinks from the bar. They were all professional and friendly. There weren't many other staff members in the lounge, but the tables were still cleaned quickly. The customer service was discreet but effective. We wouldn't change anything.

View from the Lounge
The lounge offered a clear view of the tarmac.
Toilet
Men's toilet was cleaned well.

Rating

We rate Plaza Premium Lounge in the non-Schengen area of Helsinki Airport 4 stars. The concept was designed and executed well. The lounge had a nice layout, and everything functioned smoothly. The view of the tarmac was perfect on a sunny summer day. We would have given a star more if there had been something truly exceptional. Overall, Plaza Premium is a fairly standard lounge with high-quality premises and amenities.

PRO TIP

There are many ways to access airport lounges.

You will find more helpful information from our Airport Lounge Guide.

Bottom Line

We spent a few hours in Plaza Premium Lounge before our flight out of Helsinki Airport. The delicious food, drinks, and desserts filled our stomachs and helped us relax before our trip. We would visit Plaza Premium Lounge again when flying to a non-Schengen destination from Helsinki.

The lounge was conveniently located and easy to find. The sleeping pods were a nice bonus for people who needed a private place to rest. Plane spotters would love the lounge because of the tall glass windows to the tarmac.

Have you been to Plaza Premium Lounge at Helsinki Airport? Did you like the concept? Share your experiences in the comments below.

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Destination: Finland

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