I spent time in the Finnair Lounge on the way to Lapland. On the way back, I wanted to try something different, so I stopped by the Aspire Lounge Helsinki near Gate 27 instead. Overall, this is an OK Priority Pass lounge, though very, very busy.
Mr. Dozer also reviewed this lounge recently; you can read his review here.
Note: this post is part of my trip report series about my trip to Finnish Lapland in October, 2022. Click here for the trip report index and introductory post.
Aspire Lounge Helsinki (Gate 27)
Location
In Terminal 2, adjacent to Gate 27, in the Schengen area. Note that while non-Schengen passengers can use this lounge, you will need to allow sufficient time to clear passport control. If you’re a non-Schengen passenger, honestly, the Plaza Premium Lounge is probably a better option, anyway.
Note: there’s apparently a second Aspire Lounge near Gate 13, which opened in February, 2023. However, the Swissport website only indicates one lounge at HEL, the one at Gate 27. In addition, this lounge is scheduled for renovation later this year, once yet another Aspire Lounge opens in the old Finnair Lounge near Gate 22. The Finnair Lounge moved next door earlier in July, in a new space near Gate 21.
Access
The following passengers may access the Aspire Lounge Helsinki:
- Priority Pass members
- Diners Club cardholders
- AMEX Platinum cardholders
- Business Class and status card holders on airlines other than Finnair
Any passenger may also purchase a day pass for €39, subject to availability. Hours are 5 am to 9 pm daily. The lounge did experience some random, unannounced early closures at the time I visited. When I passed through a few days earlier, for example, it closed at 5:30 pm. However, Swissport seems to have sorted out its staffing issues, with normal operations at this time.
Review
Date of Visit: October 24, 2022
I passed through this lounge shortly before 4 pm on a Monday. This place sure was packed…
Starting at the reception desk, there’s bar seating overlooking the terminal below. There’s also a few couches, tables, and chairs here. I couldn’t get decent photos, but Dozer’s review has a few. There’s also an upstairs area with some additional seating, which I missed on my visit. Perhaps surprisingly, the seats overlooking the terminal remained unused, despite the crowding elsewhere.
Immediately behind the entrance is a beverage area, with both a filter coffee station and machines with espresso drinks. The spread includes a few bar snack-type items like potato chips.
You can find cool drinks on either side of the coffee counter. On one side are orange and apple juice, and Pepsi fountain drinks.
On the other side is a basic selection of spirits and wine. No long drinks in this lounge, sadly.
Behind the drinks area is the main seating area, consisting of one room with the buffet on the right side. The large windows allow in plenty of natural light, making the lounge feel airy and larger than its actual size. The window side offers excellent views of the runway and ramp area. And the disco ball-looking fixtures are kind of cool. Dining tables give way to traditional couch seating about halfway back.
If you’re lucky enough to grab a seat by the windows, the lounge is a nice spot for planespotting.
The rest of the lounge features the same general pattern. Dining tables up front, traditional lounge seating in the middle. I found pretty much every seat taken on my visit, though I did find a spot near the coffee bar.
In the back left corner is a cool KLM model airplane. Why KLM? The airline uses this lounge for Business Class and passenger with status.
In the far left back corner of the lounge, meanwhile, has a few comfy booth-style seats.
Plugs (European-style outlets) are plentiful throughout the lounge. In addition, the Aspire Lounge provides password protected WiFi, which I found reasonably fast.
In the opposite corner is the buffet area. The area closest to the back includes, bread, crackers, and salty snacks. You’ll notice, though, that there’s a small additional seating area tucked away behind the door.
As for the food, it’s mostly cold options. This includes a small salad bar, with both vegetables and cold pasta salad. There’s also some cheese, yogurt, and cold cuts.
The one hot option is a soup, with the selection that day a coconut curry soup. It actually was pretty good, and hit the spot on a chilly day.
Overall, I found the food selection pretty mediocre, but not atypical for a Priority Pass lounge.
Final Thoughts
The Aspire Lounge Helsinki has some nice design features, but it was crowded to the point of unpleasantness. Hopefully, the opening of the second Aspire Lounge (and a third coming soon) will address the crowding issues. The mediocre food selection make this an average Priority Pass lounge overall, though I probably wouldn’t be happy if my airline used it as a Business Class/elite status lounge.
