Early lounge entry

[spudwa]

We've got a midnight departure from Helsinki and as we leave our hotel at 11AM I'm wondering how early we can enter the J lounge. Helsinki has self check-in bag drop and we can check-in online. I know it's 3 hrs for pass holders but we are travelling J. Hopefully they have comfy seats, it's going to be a long wait

 

[Mwenenzi]

We've got a midnight departure from Helsinki and as we leave our hotel at 11AM I'm wondering how early we can enter the J lounge. Helsinki has self check-in bag drop and we can check-in online. I know it's 3 hrs for pass holders but we are travelling J. Hopefully they have comfy seats, it's going to be a long wait

What airline ~ alliance?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We've got a midnight departure from Helsinki and as we leave our hotel at 11AM I'm wondering how early we can enter the J lounge. Helsinki has self check-in bag drop and we can check-in online. I know it's 3 hrs for pass holders but we are travelling J. Hopefully they have comfy seats, it's going to be a long wait

No restrictions for class of service or status entry.

But for a midnight departure you should be arriving about 10pm… maybe consider a day use hotel, or buying an extra night?

Hilton Helsinki airport is €90 day use until 6pm or €140 for the night.

 

[Forg]

If considering paying money for an airport hotel, how much does an extra day at the place you’re staying cost? [I think this is part of what MEL_Traveller suggested as well but I thought I’d “more overt” it]

 

[serfty]

We've got a midnight departure from Helsinki and as we leave our hotel at 11AM I'm wondering how early we can enter the J lounge. Helsinki has self check-in bag drop and we can check-in online. I know it's 3 hrs for pass holders but we are travelling J. Hopefully they have comfy seats, it's going to be a long wait

What airline are you traveling Business class on?

 

[spudwa]

Finnair. While I appreciate all replies I'd appreciate an answer to my question. Maybe I should rephrase. I'm a cheap cough and I'd like to know how much I can abuse my business class privileges by arriving ridicuously early at the lounge

 

[Highway23]

Finnair. While I appreciate all replies I'd appreciate an answer to my question. Maybe I should rephrase. I'm a cheap cough and I'd like to know how much I can abuse my business class privileges by arriving ridicuously early at the lounge

Without direct first hand experience, my observation from passing through HEL last week would be that you would seem to be free to visit the lounge with your online BP as soon as you’ve done your bag drop.
There are some very comfortable couches in the Finnair J lounge, and it’s a pretty good space. I don’t know about “12 hours good”, but it’s better than plenty of other J lounges.

 

[Quickstatus]

If J, there should be no time limit
There is a 3hrs time limit if purchasing lounge access..

Note there is the Schengen and Non Schengen lounge

 

[Highway23]

If J, there should be no time limit
There is a 3hrs time limit if purchasing lounge access..

Note there is the Schengen and Non Schengen lounge

Good clarification. I assumed Non-Schengen due to the midnight departure, and my comments re seating and lounge is only relevant to the NS Non-Schengen lounge. 10 hours in the Schengen would be pretty boring imo (but perhaps the height of cheap b@stard behaviour). Still, there's always the Moomin shop to help pass a few minutes...

 

[Mwenenzi]

Finnair. While I appreciate all replies I'd appreciate an answer to my question. Maybe I should rephrase. I'm a cheap cough and I'd like to know how much I can abuse my business class privileges by arriving ridicuously early at the lounge

If J, there should be no time limit
There is a 3hrs time limit if purchasing lounge access..

Note there is the Schengen and Non Schengen lounge

OW web site

Airport Lounges: oneworld Lounges & Airport Lounge Access

Enjoy airport lounge access at nearly 700 airport lounges worldwide through your oneworld Priority tier. Exceptions may apply.

www.oneworld.com

 

[spudwa]

My wife is railing at travelling with a cheap cough so she wants me to clarify. Plenty to do in Helsinki during the day so we'll head to airport at 6ish. Apparently Finnair put on a hot meal service in the lounge specifically for this flight

 

[Quickstatus]

IMO, Much better ways to spend one's time than to sit in an airline lounge for hours.

OW web site

Much more lounge information in the Finnair site

 

[exLXCXFF]

I assumed Non-Schengen due to the midnight departure, and my comments re seating and lounge is only relevant to the NS Non-Schengen lounge. 10 hours in the Schengen would be pretty boring

It has been two years but the Schengen lounge is definitely nicer (with the tarmac view) than the non-Schengen box dungeon - just my two cents.

 

[downgraded]

Finnair. While I appreciate all replies I'd appreciate an answer to my question. Maybe I should rephrase. I'm a cheap cough and I'd like to know how much I can abuse my business class privileges by arriving ridicuously early at the lounge

You need to decide what's important to you. It's really no different to maximising the use of your baggage allowance which apparently also seems to be a thing. I'd be looking at how best to maximise the use of my time in a new city half way around the world. You can go spend 12 hours in a hotel lobby when you get home if it rocks your boat.

 

[torks]

My wife is railing at travelling with a cheap cough so she wants me to clarify. Plenty to do in Helsinki during the day so we'll head to airport at 6ish. Apparently Finnair put on a hot meal service in the lounge specifically for this flight

I've arrived at this lounge at 8pm for a midnight departure and it was a ghost town till 10pm. There was hot food and a decent bar. Showers were ideal after a day in town and before a long flight. I wouldn't go earlier then 6, your wife will be bored.

 

[CaptJCool]

There seems to be some really good options on Finnair

Can I check in for my flight the previous evening?

www.finnair.com

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Did the same last month, left our bags at the hotel spent the day in Porvoo as we had already had a couple of days in Helsinki. Got to the lounge about 6.30pm ( I did want to watch the Champions League final). The food is OK, the showers pretty good though the booking process has changed and basically need to line up but the bar is fabulous. There were plenty of other Aussies already there seeing most (all) of those midnight flights basically go to Asian ports.

We hadn't checked in but no issues checking in at the priority check in desk 5 hours before our flight and then getting access to the lounge. Didn't appear to be any time restrictions from what I could see.

 

[spudwa]

Did the same last month, left our bags at the hotel spent the day in Porvoo as we had already had a couple of days in Helsinki. Got to the lounge about 6.30pm ( I did want to watch the Champions League final). The food is OK, the showers pretty good though the booking process has changed and basically need to line up but the bar is fabulous. There were plenty of other Aussies already there seeing most (all) of those midnight flights basically go to Asian ports.

We hadn't checked in but no issues checking in at the priority check in desk 5 hours before our flight and then getting access to the lounge. Didn't appear to be any time restrictions from what I could see.

Perfect answer. Answers THE question, no criticism, relevant info and extra info about check-in desk

 

[craven morehead]

Perfect answer. Answers THE question, no criticism, relevant info and extra info about check-in desk

A trip to Porvoo is a great way to fill the day in or alternately catch the ferry across to Suomenlinna (Sea Fortress)