A Rapid Helsinki Transit and the Finnair Non-Schengen Lounge
Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore
It’s time to run like the wind and transit across Helsinki Airport. And maybe grab a quick Gin and Tonic in the lounge, if time allows… and then head onto my long-haul flight. With a Minimum Connection Time of 35 minutes… how did I do?
In this adventure
- I needed a break
- 02:40 on the coach? Nothing changes, with Heathrow Terminal 5 and British Airways South Lounge
- BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (Club Europe)
- An afternoon in Stockholm featuring ABBA The Museum
- Off to Stockholm Bromma, AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- A Rapid Helsinki Transit and The Finnair Lounge
- AY099 Helsinki to Hong Kong International (Business Class) with Finnair
- Transiting Hong Kong and The Pier Business Class Lounge
- CX715 Hong Kong International to Singapore Changi Terminal 4 (Business Class) with Cathay Pacific
- Into Singapore, IBIS Budget Crystal
- Mercure Hotel, Bugis
- Boating around the Singapore River
- Exploring Hawker Markets and random fooding around Singapore
- The best camera is the one you have with you – exploring the Gardens by the Bay.
- Up the Marina Bay Sands…
- …and the fallout
- Back to Changi and the Pokemon Centre
- 3K513 (AY6379) Singapore Changi to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi with Jetstar Asia
- One night in Bangkok and the Avagard Capsule Hotel, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
- Back into the secure zone
- AY142 Bangkok to Helsinki Vantaa (Business Class) with Finnair
- Out of the Vantaa and into Helsinki
- Holiday Inn Helsinki Airport
- Early morning at Helsinki Vantaa Airport,
- AY831 Helsinki Vantaa to Stockholm-Bromma with NoRRA (Econony Class)
- The slow return to Arlanda
- D84459 Stockholm Arlanda to London Gatwick with Norweigan Air Shuttle
- How to get home
- Sometimes, simple isn’t needed
With limited time – just over an hour to complete the whole transit, I needed to get my backside in gear from Gate 8 to Gate 49… and if I had time, the lounge would be nice too.
And yes – that’s a 20-minute hike at some speed – including the time to clear Schengen Immigration. Whilst it’s entirely possible to do it in that time (as Helsinki airport is famous for quick connections), it still doesn’t remove the time pressure.
So there was only one song on my mind – Run Like the Wind (the East Side Beat version with the Italian House Piano version… rather than the Christoper Cross original).
It is the night, my body’s weak…
I’m on the run, no time to speak…
I’ve got to ride, ride like the wind, to be free again
And I’ve got such a long way to go…
Even the Moomin Shop had ridden like the wind.
To make it to the border of Schengen. So I ride, like wind, ride like the wind.
Whilst I wasn’t heading to the border with Mexico, I crossed through the unending gates to the main part of Helsinki Airport, and then turning a little bit left to exit Schengen area.
The border agent was happy- noting my boarding pass and the route I took to get there.
With my passport stamped out, I continued the great rush, this time heading past the closed shops and towards the Finnair Lounge.
Pass Duty Free – open still for the late night passengers
Because I needed a decent drink.
Finnair Lounge, Non Schengen
I was welcomed to the lounge and blipped in. That was nice enough. Sadly, I would have limited time – as the lounge would be closing at midnight.
Not too brilliant – as the Hong Kong flight had been delayed by 30 minutes to departure.
I made my way in. Given that it was nearly 23:25 when I arrived, I had minimal time to mess around (and that in 15 minutes, the food and bar would be closed for the evening).
Whilst it was 23:30, the lounge was still busy, with Finnair’s late-night departure bank still keeping the place occupied.
I prioritised a drink first, as this bar makes a rather mean gin and tonic (especially with the Kyro gin that is served).
There’s just something about how Finnair constantly serves its Gin and Tonics. It’s deliciously refreshing
With liquid in hand, it was time to raid the buffet. Whilst it was the last thing at night, there was a reasonable spread of food, covering both veg and non-veg tastes.
There’s fish under there -honest
And sweet treats – mostly consumed.
It gave me a chance also to cool down from that fast walk across Helsinki Airport.
With the announcement the lounge was about to close, I grabbed the bags and headed out via the quick exit… That wasn’t very quick if I’m honest.
At least it cut a chunk of the walk out of the lounge, to the 40 gates – where my flight to Hong Kong would be departing from.
Given that I would be going from Gate 46, there was a fair old hike still to go. At least there are travelators at this part of the airport (something the regional gates could desperately do with )
This is on the “must try next time” list. As bringing a pizza aboard a long-haul flight would cause everyone pain…
Arriving at Gate 46, boarding was in full swing. As such, I checked – and behold, there was a premium lane.
Pass the Finnish Tree range that doubles as seats
Gate 46. Boarding had commenced.
I headed into the gate area and into the premium “line”. With a blip of my boarding pass, I was let through. It was time to try something very different out.
And not the Airbus A350 for once.
Next:
AY099 Helsinki to Hong Kong, with AirLounge in Business Lounge.
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