The Best Laid Oslo Plans and the OSL Lounge
Growing Old with In Style
In this mammoth trip report (note, headings subject to change)
- Yes. I’m that old. Next.
- Off to Heathrow, Terminal 3 and Cathay Pacific Lounge
- BA768 London Heathrow to Oslo Airport (Club Europe)
- The Best Laid Oslo Plans, and the OSL Lounge
- TK1754 Oslo Airport to Istanbul Airport (Business Class)
- A new airport – Istanbul transit. Shame it was in a rush….
- TK054 Istanbul Airport to Singapore Changi (Business Class)
- Welcome back to Changi and the Ibis Budget Ruby, Geylang
- Back to Changi Terminal 4 and AirAsia AK710 Singapore to Kuala Lumpur International.
- Into Kuala Lumpur and the Holiday Inn Express KLCC
- To the Batu Caves
- Exploring Kuala Lumpur
- Back to KLIA, The Golden Circle Lounge
- MH627 Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Changi (Economy Class)
- HOTEL: Intercontinental Singapore, Bugis
- For the love of Nasi Lemak and Hawker Markets
- Exploring Singapore, whilst avoiding Rain
- Glasses in a Rush
- Pokémon Centre Singapore
- Back to Changi, and the Lounge
- TK209 Singapore Changi to Istanbul Airport (Business Class)
- Into Istanbul and the Sheraton Levent, Istanbul
- Back to Istanbul Airport and the Turkish Airlines Lounge
- TK1753 Istanbul Airport to Oslo Airport
- A leisurely Oslo transit
- SK815 Oslo Airport to London Heathrow (Economy Classes)
- Homward
- Older, Never Wiser
Getting off the British Airways flight, I had a clear 7 hours in Oslo. Since I’ve been through the airport before, I wanted to do some exploring and get out into the city on this trip.
Welcome to Oslo.
Resting A320 face.
That was the plan.
I followed the signs to the Schengen border and was welcomed by an agent after a short wait. With photos taken, prints taken and passport stamped, I was looking forward to getting out and doing some exploring for once.
Lufthansa Airbus A320neo
Useful advice
Down we go.
Aegean Airbus A320neo
Through to duty free and baggage collection.
From here, it was time to exit the secure area and enter the public area.
When the crowd says Bo’….
Except for my lack of intelligence some days.
For those who wish to access Central Oslo by train, there are two options: you can use the Flytoget service (an express train service) or the local stopping Vy service. Or you can pay kr700 to take a taxi.
This is all well and good when the trains are working. However, there was a signal fault, with the train services blocked and rail replacement buses planned.
`
Bugger.
Given that it’s impossible to tell how long this was going to take to resolve itself, I did some back-of-the-napkin math and turned towards Joe and the Juice and ordered a coffee.
If the trains were running after 12 pm, I might have been able to squeeze some time in the city. Sadly, trains resumed around 13:00. With me needing to be airside by 16:00 at the latest, I chalked off the visit to Central Oslo as a bad idea.
Killing time.
That and the blue sky that I saw in the morning had been covered by fog. Although I was happy for the cold and fresher air.
Wonderful. Just…. wonderful.
Whilst the Norwegian Air Force museum was an option initially (before discovering that it was closed), I was stuck at the airport. Yeah, staying at the airport would have to do this time. I grabbed another coffee and knocked out a post.
Busy Pidgeon was Busy.
A fair excuse.
So I did what I do best. I wandered around the airport, camped out at some plugs, wrote some things, and waited until the Turkish Airlines check-in opened.
The ever-growing queues
And a clear business class line.
I sauntered down the business class line (with no one else). After a short wait, check-in was opened, and I was called forward.
Microscopic text is never a good thing.
My ticket was confirmed for travel. With no bags to check in, paper boarding passes were issued, and I was allowed on my way.
With that, I could proceed to Fast Track security and to the airside. With my keys seemingly scaring the security people (as I like a big key bunch – the reasoning being I can’t lose the damn things), I was cleared to proceed.
Oslo Airport is… differently designed. That’s the nice way of putting it.
Upon clearing security, you’re in the domestic part of the airport (for flights within Norway). To access Schengen and Non-Schengen flights, you need to pass through a set of no-return doors.
Domestic Wing
Pass the first set of no-return doors
Through this, you are in duty-free hell. That’s the only way I can describe it.
Welcome to hell.
And bagged wine for those classy nights in.
As my ticket included lounge access, I headed up to the OSL lounge. For those hunting for it at the Oslo Airport, it sits behind the Starbucks, where there are stairs and a lift.
And importantly, there are no lounges (other than the departure gates) in the Non-Schengen side. So, something to remember.
And remember to account for the time you need to clear the Schengen Zone border in the time to make your flight.
OSL Lounge
I queued up as the agent worked out which people to let in, with certain people diverted to the SAS Lounge. When I presented credentials, I was advised that I could use either side of the lounge.
The Oslo Airport Common lounge has two sides, a premium side and a normal side.
To be honest, the only difference between them was the seating. It felt a little more intimate in the Premium Lounge, whilst the food offerings were the same.
Premium Lounge
Normal Lounge
And if you needed the small room, you had to trapse through the normal lounge anyway.
For the food offerings, it was… Nordic, with an emphasis on bread, fish, as well as beef and salad items, and of course, plenty of alcohol.
Salads and fish
Bread
Soup
Gluten-free items (that’s good to see)
I was more into the cold liquid. Let’s say that whilst I appreciate alcohol, cold water and fizzy drinks are good options sometimes. Especially if you get easily dehydrated, it’s a godsend not having to hunt for a water faucet.
Why do you need a screen to dispense a drink? Sigh.
There was alcoholic beer on tap too.
Patience is a virtue some days
Looking at the information boards, the aircraft had finally started making its approach to Oslo Airport. I took the opportunity to leave the lounge and cross out of the Schengen Zone.
To the border!
The border agent stamped my passport and wished me a happy birthday. Well, that’s a nice thing at least after sitting in the airport all day.
Norway in a box.
Heading to the gate, it was busy – to put it mildly, with Turkish Airlines laying an Airbus A321neo that evening to Istanbul. I was blipped through and directed inwards towards the waiting areaa.
Inside the gate area, seating was divided between Business and Economy Class passengers. Whilst I’ve seen this done by groups in the past, it was interesting to see how many people tried to drift over, with semi-constant boarding pass checks to ensure only those who were meant to sit in the business zone did so.
Boarding was eventually called. I made my way aboard, excited to travel with a new experience.
Next:
TK1774 Oslo Airport to Istanbul, in Business Class.
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