So who offers the better airport lounge sauna, Air France or Finnair? I put both to the test earlier this year.
Airport Sauna: Air France Vs. Finnair
You can check out my reviews of both saunas below:
Finnair
I felt the Finnair Platinum Wing sauna gave me an authentic experience of a Finnish sauna. The conversation with other passengers, the hot stones, and the dark wood seating made for a great experience overall. Plus, Finnair offers a comfortable lounging area outside the sauna to cool off between treatments. Be prepared: this is a hot sauna to start with that gets even hotter when a Finn comes in and starts ladling water on the stones.
Overall, a 10/10 experience. The sauna is located in the Platinum Wing lounge. I write about access requirements here. The sauna is co-ed with room for four people at a time. A towel is required.
(Sadly, Finnair used to have a paid spa open to all passengers, but has closed it)
Air France
What I loved about the Air France sauna is that it was private. The shower suite and sauna is big enough for a party, but it is all yours. That’s nice because you can close your eyes and relax (unlike the more communal experience of the Finnair sauna).
A couple things I did not like, though. First, the sauna suite has no toilet. Second, the sauna was only heated to about 75ºC (167ºF). That’s fine, but I prefer it a bit warmer and it was electric so there were no stones to heap water on.
Overall, a 9/10 experience. It’s still such a treat to enjoy a sauna and shower ahead of your flight. The lounge is located in the Air France Business Lounge in Terminal 2E, Hall L. I write about access requirements here. If you are interested, request access from reception. If it is currently in-use, you can be added to the waitlist.
Winner: Finnair
I must admit I preferred the Finnair experience overall. I enjoyed the intense heat, the comfortable lounge area, and the conversations, all of which helped to make the sauna experience even better.
Next up: Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Heathrow
Once Virgin Atlantic re-opens its Clubhouse in London Heathrow, I plan to check out the sauna there and try the new Airbus A350-1000 service to Los Angeles.
Have you used the sauna in either the Finnair HEL Lounge or Air France CDG Lounge? How did you like it?
I actually liked both. I agree that the AirFrance sauna could have been a little hotter but I liked being alone in there and soaking up the heat and the quiet. There was a young lady in the Finnair sauna that wouldn’t shut up … but her towel wasn’t wrapped too tight so I didn’t comment further.
I can’t believe that AF has private saunas – that seems unnecessary and goes against the socialist nature of France.
Even the thought of comparing a French organizations sauna to a Finnish organizations sauna is comical.
That’s like saying, “let’s see who makes better wines, the French or the Finns”.
On the contrary, great credit to Air France for coming so close.
From dictionary.com:
noun
a bath that uses dry heat to induce perspiration, and in which steam is produced by pouring water on heated stones.
I didn’t see stones in the French sauna. No stones, no steam.
Ergo, not a true sauna experience.
Finns will quickly state that the sauna in their apartment is electric, add that a true sauna is wood fired, and bemoan it is against fire codes to have fires in your apartment…but there will be stones for creating steam.
By the way, if you are ever in Finland in the middle of winter, I highly recommend you spend a few hours experiencing avantouinti.
Oh my, avantouinti looks a bit much for me!
WOOF! Looking good. :-p
Never thought I’d say this, Matthew’s a thirst trap!
Seriously. He’s going to break the Internet! I’ve always crushed on him hard. Now even more so…. Total DILF.
I remember taking sauna at MH KUL lounge about 18-19 years ago. I wonder if it still exists there?
Every time I go through Istanbul, I always wonder why TK does not put hammam at their lounge. That would give unique Turkish experience and make their lounge even better.
Agreed. Would love to see that from TK.
No sauna in MH lounges, even on first class side.