Plaza Premium Opens Two New Helsinki (HEL) Lounges
Key Takeaways
- Plaza Premium has transformed its Helsinki Airport location into two distinct lounges: Plaza Premium Lounge Lumi and the more upscale Plaza Premium Aurora, sharing an entrance near Gate 40.
- Lumi focuses on flexibility and travelers who want to work or relax, with 90 seats, work pods, a children's play area, and Priority Pass and DragonPass access.
- Aurora is the premium option, with 101 seats, upscale dining and beverages, private showers, workspaces, and a meeting room.
Plaza Premium Group is always innovating and has opened a new lounge concept at the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL). This opening transforms the existing Plaza Premium Lounge into two lounge areas using a shared entrance similar to what is found at certain Plaza Premium / Plaza Premium First locations. The new lounges are called Plaza Premium Lounge Aurora and Plaza Premium Lounge Lumi, each offering something a little different from each other. The shared lounge is located in the non-Schengen area near Gate 40.
The decor is inspired by Finland's seasons, with “Lumi” meaning snow and “Aurora”, referring to the season most known for amazing views of the Northern Lights from Finland. Both lounges feature local art and design, incorporating aspects of Nordic landscapes, and offer a full bar with curated international and Finnish cuisine, as well as flight information screens and massive floor-to-ceiling windows with airfield views.
We are excited to further expand our presence in Finland with the introduction of these two new lounge concepts at Helsinki Airport—Northern Europe’s premier transit hub connecting Europe and Asia. Building on the strong foundation we established when we entered the market in 2019, along with the recent opening of our new F&B concept Bites & Plates, we are able to provide more options tailored to the different needs of travellers. We look forward to continuing to redefine the airport experience with our award-winning hospitality and truly living our mission to make travel better.Said Mario Binelli Mantelli, Vice President, Northern Europe & UK, Operations, Plaza Premium Group
Lumi Lounge
Starting with the Plaza Premium Lumi, this lounge provides an open environment ideal for working or relaxing before your departure. The Lumi lounge spans 4,047 square feet (367 m²) and has a seating capacity for 90 customers. The spot offers dedicated work pods (individual sound-isolating booths) with charging for those wanting to focus on work.
The Lumi Lounge also has a dedicated play area with an iWall—an innovative, motion-sensing gaming system developed in Finland that allows guests to stretch and exercise using controller-free body movements.
Lumi Access
Access to the Lumi Lounge can be purchased in advance or at the door with pricing starting at €59 (~$68 USD) for 2 hours; there is also a discount rate for Smart Traveller rewards members. Lumi has also partnered with Priority Pass and Dragonpass for member access.
Aurora Lounge
The Plaza Premium Aurora is an elevated offering with upscale dining and beverages, spanning 4,811 square feet (447 m²) with seating capacity for 101 customers. The lounge also offers two private shower suites, dedicated workspaces, and a bookable meeting room.
Aurora Access
The Aurora Lounge currently does not accept walk-in customers but does allow for prebooking online with pricing starting at €59 (~$68 USD) for 2 hours (with shower and extra time extra). The lounge has also partnered with specific partner airlines as a contract lounge for premium class cabins, as well as for AMEX Platinum and Centurion cardholders. Priority Pass and Dragonpass customers are not eligible for access to this lounge.
Plaza Premium History at HEL
The opening expands Plaza Premium's presence at Helsinki Airport following its earlier lounge locations. This location originally opened on May 3, 2019, so a lounge refresh was most likely needed. Also, back in 2022 Plaza Premium opened a large 7,868 square foot (731 m²) landside lounge at the Helsinki airport, which has since closed. So to my knowledge, this is the third Plaza Premium Lounge to open at the airport.
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Closing Thoughts
This lounge concept has a familiar likeness to the Plaza Premium and Plaza Premium First dual-lounge offerings while removing the “First” image from the name. Combined, the two lounges have a capacity for almost 200 travelers.