Finnair compensation: how to claim
Finnair is registered in Finland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Registered in
- Finland (EU carrier)
- Main bases
- Helsinki (HEL)
- Typical first response
- About 35 days
- Time limit where it is based
- 3 years (Finland)
Finnair is registered in Finland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Finnair is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
How Finnair handles claims
Helsinki is built as a connecting hub between Europe and Asia, so missed connections on a single booking are a large share of Finnair claims — and the measurement point is Tokyo or Singapore, not Helsinki.
Their Asian routes are well over 3,500 km and not intra-EU, so €600 applies.
Finnair is generally among the more responsive European carriers and often answers inside five weeks with a specific reason.
Finland allows three years to claim, and Traficom is the enforcement body.
What a delay on Finnair is worth
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki (HEL) → Paris (CDG) | 1,896 km | EU261 | €400 |
| Helsinki (HEL) → Barcelona (BCN) | 2,628 km | EU261 | €400 |
| Helsinki (HEL) → Rome (FCO) | 2,234 km | EU261 | €400 |
| Helsinki (HEL) → Amsterdam (AMS) | 1,521 km | EU261 | €400 |
Amounts are per passenger. The distance is the great-circle distance between the airports, which is what the Regulation uses — not the distance flown.
Claiming from Finnair, by what happened
- Finnair: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Finnair: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Finnair: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Finnair: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.
We draft. You send.
The check is free. If your Finnair flight appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat — you send it to Finnair yourself and keep the whole payout. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Finnair: common questions
How much compensation can I get from Finnair?
It depends on the distance and on which rules apply. Under EU261 it is €250, €400 or €600 per passenger; under UK261 it is £220, £350 or £520. Finnair is registered in Finland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
Does Finnair have to pay if the delay was caused by a technical problem?
Yes, in almost every case. The Court of Justice has held that technical problems — including sudden, unforeseen faults — are part of the normal running of an airline and are not extraordinary circumstances.
How long do I have to claim against Finnair?
In Finland, where Finnair is based, the limit is 3 years, counted from the date of the flight. You can usually also claim where your flight departed or arrived, which may give you longer — for example six years in England and Wales.
Where do I send a claim to Finnair?
Finnair takes claims through an online form, and the postal address is Finnair Oyj, Customer Care, 01053 FINNAIR, Helsinki, Finland. Check the address on the airline’s website before posting — claims departments move.
Can I claim for an old Finnair flight?
Very often, yes. Most people do not realise claims last several years. Every disrupted flight is a separate claim, for every passenger on the booking.