- Arrive at the airport in good time. It’s always a good idea to arrive at the airport well in advance before your flight’s departure, but it pays to give yourself plenty of buffer time especially during rush hours, when travelling with children and when you’re carrying special baggage such as skiing equipment. If you’re departing from Helsinki Airport, please note that there is a development project under way at the airport, which affects driving and walking routes outside the terminals. Passengers travelling to a non-Schengen destination should reserve some extra time for passport control, because there is also construction work going on to expand the border control area.
- Drop off your baggage in advance. Are you departing early in the morning and interested in making your departure as hassle-free as possible? Check if your airline allows you to drop off your baggage at the airport the evening before departure. Finnair, for example, offers this service. You’ll find more detailed information about bag drop services at your airline’s website.
- Pre-book your parking space. Secure a parking space in the parking area of your choice at Helsinki Airport by reserving it in advance. Pre-booking will save you some money, too. Read more about parking at Helsinki Airport here.
- Pack your baggage correctly. It’s a smart idea to go over baggage rules and regulations at home while packing. There are plenty of security control rules in addition to airline-specific baggage allowances, but luckily, you don’t have to remember them by heart. Use this list to check what you can pack in your hand baggage and what must be placed in your checked hold baggage. Passengers with skiing or snowboarding equipment may find this checklist useful. If you’re catching a domestic flight in Finland, it pays to check with the airline that there will be room for your skis on the plane.
- Leave your winter coat at the airport. If you’re travelling somewhere warm for your winter break, you can leave your heavy coat and children’s overalls at Helsinki Airport. Airpro Travel Service offers a 24-hour storage service for winter clothes and other items. Storage is subject to a charge. The company also offers other convenient services and sells, for example, protective plastic bags for strollers.
- Travel smoothly with children. Helsinki Airport tries to make travelling as smooth as possible for families: There is a dedicated security control line for families with small children, designed to make it faster and easier to proceed through security. Enter the family lane at T2’s security control through a gate which is opened by a staff member. In the airside area, there are three play and activation areas where children can use up energy before they must sit still on the plane. The play areas are located at gates 16 and 20. At gate 52, Maja Living Room is a space where the whole family can exercise and relax. There are baby changing rooms and baby changing stations in toilet facilities around the airport, and baby food and bottles can be heated in all restaurants and cafes. Click here to find all our instructions, tips and tricks for families, including custom packing lists.
- Enjoy food and relax at the airport. Kick off your holiday at the airport by enjoying live entertainment or a delicious meal! Find the restaurants and shops of your preference here. During the winter holiday season, Helsinki Airport offers entertainment for the whole family. Meet and greet the Moomins or enjoy live music and jam with the band in the Open Mic events in the Non-Schengen area of T2.
Moomin Meet & Greet, 13 February at 2-5 pm, Schengen gate area.
Little My’s Winter party, 20 February at 2-5 pm, at Aukio and the West Pier, T2 Non-Schengen area. The event will be held in English.
Upcoming Open Mic gigs at Aukio:
The Wingmen, 27 February at 2-5 pm
The Wingmen, 19 March at 2-5 pm
