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Claim Finnair Flight Delay Compensation

How to claim compensation for a delayed Finnair flight?

Overbooked, delayed or cancelled flights are always disappointing. But there is also good news: EU Regulation 261/2004 may entitle you to a compensation claim of up to €600 for your disrupted flight with Finnair. Luckily, the United Kingdom Parliament adopted this part of EU law and UK citizens can take full advantage of EC 261. 

Enforcing your rights is sometimes even more frustrating than the flight delay itself. Due to the many administrative complexities, receiving your Finnair delay compensation can be very difficult and time-consuming.

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At SkyRefund we specialise in helping passengers whenever they experience a delayed, cancelled or overbooked flight. With our automated compensation claim form, you can quickly submit your flight details: flight number and date. It will immediately inform you if you are entitled to Finnair compensation.

Our team will then take all of the necessary legal steps to ensure that you receive what is rightfully yours. We will earn our fee (35% of the compensation amount) only if we successfully defend your rights on your behalf.

There's only one good thing about a delay.

You can get up to €600 in compensation


How much compensation are you entitled to for your disruption?

The amount of compensation depends on the trip length and the duration of your Finnair flight delay.

For short-haul flights (less than 1,500 km) you can claim Finnair delay or cancellation compensation of €250. Medium-haul flights (between 1,500 and 3,500 km) can bring you €400. This is also the maximum amount you can claim for trips within the EU. Finally, long-distance flight delays (over 3,500 km) can be eligible for up to €600 in compensation.

€ 250 € 400 € 600
Less than 1500 km Between 1500 & 3500 km More than 3500 km

When can I claim Finnair flight compensation?


Finnair delayed flight

You can claim delay compensation if your Finnair flight meets the following requirements:

  • The flight arrived at your final destination with a delay of over three hours
  • The delay was not a result of any extraordinary circumstances (e.g. inclement weather conditions)

You can check your eligibility with our flight delay compensation calculator.

 Is My Flight Eligible?

According to EU rules, the duration of a delay is defined as the difference between the actual and the scheduled time of arrival at the passenger’s final destination. When calculating how long your delay was, remember to calculate it based on the time of arrival, not the departure time. The time of arrival is defined as the moment after landing when at least one of the aircraft’s doors is open.

We recommend that passengers note down their actual time of arrival when they reach their final destination. You can take a photo of the information screens at the airport, which would serve as evidence state your flight’s arrival time.

In addition, if you book a Finnair flight, the air carrier is under obligation to take you to your intended final stop. If they take you elsewhere, you have the right to a full ticket refund and to flight compensation provided that there were no extraordinary circumstances.

The second important condition for claiming Finnair compensation is the absence of any extraordinary circumstances. In general, this term is meant to encompass any events that an air carrier will is not capable or responsible to prevent and that result in delays and cancellations. The most common instances of extraordinary circumstances include:

  • Security risks

  • Air traffic control restrictions (including runway closures)

  • Acts of terrorism

  • Political/civil unrest

  • Inclement weather conditions (e.g. low visibility, strong crosswinds)

  • Hidden manufacturing defects

  • Airport staff or union strikes


Usually, the severity of the abovementioned events needs to be determined on a case by case basis. For instance, bad weather conditions can affect different aircraft in different ways. As of 2019, Finnair flies with 7 different aircraft models and each of them may be affected by the weather differently. Under certain conditions, some may be forced to remain grounded while others would be capable of flight. Therefore, under similar conditions, there may be Finnair flight delays and cancellations if you are scheduled to fly with one aircraft, instead of another.

If the airline can prove that there were extraordinary circumstances which forced the disruption, that they were incapable of mitigating, it would not be required to compensate its passengers therefore refuse to pay.

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According to EC 261, the duration of a delay is defined as the difference between the actual and the scheduled time of arrival at the air passenger’s final destination. The time of arrival is defined as the moment after landing when at least one of the aircraft’s doors is open.

We recommend that you note down the actual time of arrival. You can take a photo of the information screens at the airport as evidence. It is also very important that you hold on to your boarding pass and any other travel documents

Airlines may owe compensation for flight disruptions unless extraordinary circumstances apply. Events beyond the airline's control, such as airport staff or union strikes, severe weather conditions, or air traffic control restrictions, typically exempt the airline from liability under EU Regulation 261/2004. However, internal airline strikes, such as those involving their own staff, and technical issues within the airline's control, like routine maintenance problems or operational mishaps, are not considered extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, passengers are entitled to claim compensation for the disruption.


Finnair Cancelled Flight Compensation

According to EU rules, you can claim compensation for your Finnair flight cancellation if the airline failed to inform you of the disruption at least 14 days before the flight.

  • If you are notified of the cancelled flight between 7 and 14 days prior to takeoff, you can submit a Finnair claim if your alternate flight reaches your final destination with more than a four hour delay.

  • If you are informed of the cancellation less than a week before your flight, you would be eligible for Finnair cancelled flight compensation if your alternate flight arrives at your final destination with a delay of over 2 hours.

The compensation amount depends on the flight distance (or the whole journey if you had a connecting flight). In the event of a cancellation, you are also entitled to either a full refund of the price you paid for your ticket or to an alternate flight to your final destination.

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Right to Care

If your Finnair flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline is obliged to assist you while you wait for your departure. Therefore, you can have your food and drinks expenses covered for the duration of the delay or until the departure of your alternate flight.

In addition, if your Finnair flight is cancelled and you are given an alternate flight the next day, the airline is required to cover all of your hotel accommodation and transport costs.

This right is completely separate from the right to Finnair compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. The airline is required to reimburse you for all your costs at the airport as well. They might offer you a voucher but if the amount is not enough, you can go over its limit. Just remember to keep all receipts as they are the only acceptable proof of expenditures.


Denied boarding due to overbooking

You can also claim Finnair compensation if you are involuntarily denied boarding to your flight. As with flight delays and cancellations, the compensation amount will depend on the flight distance.

In addition to your reimbursement, Finnair would be required to provide you with either:

  • a full refund of the cost of your ticket or
  • an alternate flight to your final destination.

Is My Flight Eligible?


About Finnair

Finnair was established in 1923 which makes it the sixth oldest airline still in operation. It is Finland’s flag carrier and the biggest in the country. By owning 56% of its shares, the Finnish government is Finnair’s largest shareholder.

The Nordic carrier uses Helsinki Airport as its hub and flies to more than 130 destinations across 40 countries in Europe, North America and Asia. Its fleet currently consists of 80 aircraft, mostly Airbus.

Finnair is consistently listed as one of the safest airlines in the world. It was also the first recruit of the Oneworld alliance.


Finnair Rankings

Skytrax, the leading airline ranking website, has given Finnair аn aggregate score of 5/10. This rating considers overall passenger comfort, customer service, and value for money. The staff services are rated particularly high.

In addition, Skytrax officially ranks Finnair as a 4-star airline and among the best in Europe.