Helsinki Vantaa Airport

Very good airport - the only real blots are the gate 31 departure zone (if departing from 31 wait upstairs until the last moment). Also when traveling from PEK to LHR via HEL everyone was run back through airport security (despite having arrived directly from airside) for some extra hassle.

Great airport to use - no hassle no queues- only for security very well signposted plenty of seats and shopping.

Departed to Mumbai and arrived from Mumbai. On my way to Mmumbai I arrived at the airport with only 55 minutes before the flight and with in mere 25 minutes I was done with luggage check-in security and passport formalities. Lots of option for shopping and eating. Though some shops are now obstructing view of outside. Efficient and helpful staff.

Bright Efficient and clear design. Very intuitive layout. Total opposite to US airports.

I have used Helsinki airport about 12 times in 3 years. Lately its getting more people but its still not as crowded as Frankfurt or Paris. Security check is very fast. Passport control can take some ime (probably due to construction work). I think once the extended terminal is in use it will be nice. Staff is very friendly and co-operative. Toilets are clean and airport is clean. Connections to Helsinki are very good with Finnair and local buses. Long distance buses can be taken right outside airport. All missing is a metro line to Helsinki.

Used HEL over a weekend recently. Upon arrival I found the layout a little confusing – our flight from LHR couldn’t use the Schengen gates so we were bussed to an alternative but it was a little unclear how to get to passport control once in the terminal. However once through our bags arrived reasonably swiftly and the Finnair bus can be found just outside the international terminal – just €5.90 into the city good value. On the way back check in was a breeze using the common check in machines there was only one person queuing ahead of me for the 4 Finnair bag drop desks and security took all of 3 or 4 minutes to get through – impressive! Airside seemed quite crowded but the terminal building is nicely designed with good views of the airfield and a selection of eating and drinking options although the shopping area felt very claustrophobic. Passport control and gate staff were friendly and efficient. A pleasant experience all round.

What used to be a nice and peaceful airport is getting crowded. Car parks start to fill up. Corridors especially are overcrowded not helped by the shops taking up 25% of the corridor with stuff placed outside the shop. Baggage halls really too small for a mid-size airport like this. At least it's not a long walk to the car and most car parks are within walking distance of the terminal.

Like Jussi Turunen I found the Security check points staffed by unfriendly unhelpful persons who took the view that the rules and regulations were in place and must be adhered to to the letter. I was told over and over 'the bag must seal' as I was trying to do so - evidently a pot of yoghurt is a potential risk and had to be placed in with my few liquid items. Very frustrating. Aside from that Vantaa is an exceptionally pleasant airport to use with the majority of staff helpful and friendly. I went to the Finnair lounge in the Schengen area (although I was travelling to the UK) and told that the lounge in the nonSchengen area was much nicer although I was welcome to use either. Finnair coaches are just a few steps from the terminal building and like almost everything else in Finland run to schedule.

Very airy bright and modern airport. Very quiet as well which is most unusual for an airport too. But we did have a rather hard time finding anyone who spoke English when we were trying to arrange a ride to our hotel which I thought was so strange. The ticket agent seemed befuddled and the van driver was totally at a loss. And they had never heard of our hotel which is one of the top hotels in the city. Maybe we Californians talk funny or something!

The new hand luggage rules regarding liquids and the new Shengen department seem to have made visiting HEL a bit more complicated. Security personnel seemed very unfriendly and stuck to the rules with almost unbelievable vigour. I had one bottle of mouthwash in its bottle which was 200ml size yet the contents were below half i.e. under 100ml. This was confiscated never the less. They were very unfriendly about it. One could feel they got pleasure out of being as unfriendly as possible. The flight in docked into a gate yet pax were made to get off the back door of a plane and walk into a bus (in -20 C) and then taken on a mysterious ride to get off in the same building! The Shengen area was in chaos on return with several delayed flights. No information board in the unusually nicely furnished smoking area. HEL used to be wonderful to pass through but felt chaotic with unfriendly aloof staff this time.