This article may contain compensated links. Learn more in our disclaimer.


Finnair Connecting Flights


Author:

Last updated:

This is a Finnair connecting flights guide.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to book connecting flights with Finnair. The guide also contains information about passenger rights in the EU, EU compensation regulations and baggage policy of European airlines. Finnair is the flag carrier of Finland, headquartered in at Helsinki Airport. The airline flies to over 120 destinations in Europe, Asia, Americas and the Middle East. Finnair is a member of the Oneworld alliance.


Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.


Finnair Airplane Taking Off
Finnair Airplane Taking Off

1

Is It Protected?

Yes, it’s a protected connection.

Traditional airlines sell airline-protected connecting flights. It’s more convenient and more safe than self-transfer flights. You don’t need a visa for connecting flights like this.

Unless you book flights separately.

WayAway – Cheap flights with cashback


2

Baggage Rules

Airline takes care of your baggage.

Mostly, you will check in baggage only once — you won’t have to recheck baggage for every flight. This is how it works with full-service airlines and airline-protected connecting flights.

Baggage allowance depends on the ticket, destination and occasionally some other factors. 


3

Travel Insurance

Make your trip more safe.

Add travel insurance right away. Protect yourself against possible itinerary changes later right from the very beginning. Insurance must be for the duration of the trip.

Make your trip safe from day 1.

SafetyWing – Travel insurance for digital nomads

1. Finnair Connecting Flights

Finnair is a full-service traditional airline.

Full-service traditional airlines (and some low-cost airlines as well) offer airline-protected connecting flights. These type of flights consist of two or more consecutive flights and a protected transfer (transfers). If you miss your connection due to delay or cancellation of the previous flight, the airline will book you on a new flight. 

Such connecting flights are much better than self transfers.

Airline-protected connecting flights are:

  • Safer. Your airline takes care of flight problems.
  • More convenient. Baggage transfer is automatic.
  • Easier to book. You book several flights as a single journey.

Yes, Finnair sells airline-protected connecting flights.

1.1 Connecting Flights, One Airline

You have booked a connecting flight with Finnair.

In many cases, connecting flights will be operated by Finnair.

These will be Finnair planes and Finnair staff.

But not always it’s like that with Finnair connecting flights.

1.2 Finnair Codeshare Partners

Sometimes airlines share their flights.

It’s a very common practice in the aviation industry.

Connecting flights with different airlines are called codeshare flights, and airlines collaborating — codeshare partners. This is done in order to widen the flight network. By sharing flights with other airlines, Finnair can sell flights to destinations it doesn’t serve. And thus, making many connecting flights possible.

Have you booked a flight with Finnair, but part of the journey is operated by another airline? In this case, Finnair is a marketing airline. It sells a flight, even if it doesn’t operate it fully. The airline which operates the flight is called the operating airline.

What you should know is that:

  • If you miss a connecting flight through no fault of your own, you don’t have to book another flight for yourself. That should be done by Finnair. Contact the airline to ask them to book you on another flight. As long as it’s a Finnair connection booked from Finnair, they are responsible for finding solutions. Even if a part of the flight is operated by another airline.
  • If your flight is heavily delayed, cancelled or overbooked, compensation is paid by airline operating this particular flight. If it’s operated by some other airline, not Finnair, then they are called operating airline — they have to pay compensation when it’s due.

See a list of Finnair codeshare partners here.

Airplane seats and in flight entertainment
Airplane seats

2. What If Finnair Cancels a Flight?

Why is Finnair cancelling flights?

Just like any other airline, Finnair may cancel a flight if it faces some problems. Some of these problems are: staffing shortages, bad weather, strikes, airport congestion, security issues, terrorism threats and various technical problems.

2.1 One of Your Flights Is Cancelled

Finnair is a European airline.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

  • Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
  • Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all Finnair commercial flights.

And if as a result you’re going to miss your connecting flight, it’s Finnair’s responsibility to offer you an alternate flight to your final destination. If you choose so, you may also opt for a full refund. The rules are the same with all Finnair cancelled flights.

You may have a right to compensation (more on this below).


Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.


2.2 All Your Flights Are Cancelled

Overall, for you as a passenger, the options are the same.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, Finnair must:

  • Offer you a choice between a new flight and full refund.
  • Offer you assistance at the airport if it’s a last-minute cancellation and you are already at the airport (you have a right to care).

This applies to all their commercial flights.

Refund must be paid within seven days.

You may have a right to EU flight cancellation compensation.

2.3 Finnair Refund for Cancellation

Yes, you have a right to ask for a refund.

If you don’t wish to travel anymore or the new flight doesn’t fit your travel plans, ask for a refund. This refund has to be paid in full. You don’t have to accept any vouchers or coupons. The refund must be paid within seven days to your bank account. Finnair has to follow these guidelines.

Hong Kong airport layover
Hong Kong airport

3. Finnair Missed Connecting Flight

Why do people miss their connecting flights?

It could be a silly mistake (e.g., falling asleep at the gate) or something more serious like delayed flight or long lines at the airport. If you’re staying at airport overnight, falling asleep at the gate is very real.

3.1 What Happens If You Miss Finnair Connection?

If it’s your fault that it happened — it’s your responsibility.

If it’s not your fault, then your airline has to take care of that. If you booked a flight from Finnair, it doesn’t even matter if the flight is operated by Finnair or not, you should contact Finnair. It’s their responsibility to find a solution for its passengers. You missed a connecting flight through no fault of your own, and the airline must offer you a solution.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004, they must:

  • Take you to your final destination as soon as possible.
  • Offer you assistance at the airport (you have a right to care).

Read more: Missed Connecting Flight Due to Delay 

3.2 Right to Compensation from Finnair

Sometimes you have a right to compensation.

If your Finnair flight:

  • Is 3+ hours late or cancelled last minute
  • Is delayed or cancelled due to the fault of the airline

Then you may be entitled to compensation from Finnair. 

Flight cancelled less than 2 weeks before the trip?

You might be entitled to flight cancellation compensation.

GET FLIGHT COMPENSATION

File a Claim Online

3.3 Right to Care from Finnair

On all Finnair flights you have a right to care.

According to the EU Regulation 261/2004 airline should provide:

  • Free food and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time.
  • Free hotel accommodation if a stay of one or more nights is necessary.
  • Free airport transfer to hotel and back.
  • Plus, two telephone calls, telex or fax messages, or e-mails. 

It applies to all domestic and international flights with Finnair. Again, it’s because Finnair is a European airline. With non-European airlines it applies only to flights departing from European airports.


When it comes to air passenger rights, unless otherwise stated, we talk about air passenger rights in the EU, EEA and UK. When we say Europe or European, we mean EU, EEA or UK. This is done for the simplicity, since the according laws in these countries are about the same.


Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport, one of the best layover airports

4. How to Book Connecting Flights with Finnair?

You can do it directly from Finnair or via a third-party.

The best way is to book flights directly from Finnair. It will be safer, but not always cheaper. Many third party flight booking sites offer great flight deals. It’s often cheaper than booking directly via the airline. You can book your flights through a third party site, but make sure it’s trustworthy. 


How to Book?

Airline website (directly).

This is the easiest way to book a connecting flight. It’s also the safest way to book a connection. You make a single booking, have a single reservation code and the booking includes several flights. Sometimes they are all with one airline, other times – two or more. Anyway, in this case, you can be 100% sure that you have a proper connecting flight.

Other Option

Flight booking websites.

Few examples: skyscanner.net, expedia.com, momondo.com.

Pay attention to the details. Because some of these sites are only search engines, and sellers are other websites. Apart from that, they often sell both airline-protected connecting flights and self-transfer flights. If it’s a self-transfer, know that it comes with its own risks, and there are things you should take into account. Self-transfer is not the same thing as airline-protected transfer. 

For extra protection, buy also a travel insurance covering flight disruptions, or book with sites like kiwi.com, who offer extra protection.

With kiwi.com you are more protected than normally.


Read more: How to Book Connecting Flights?

Two backpacks

5. Finnair Connecting Flights: Baggage

Since Finnair is a traditional airline, everything’s very easy.

Baggage rules on connecting flights with Finnair are simple.

In short, Finnair takes care of your baggage. You have checked baggage. You need to check it in once, before the first flight. It will be taken care of during your journey. You won’t need to collect  and recheck it after every flight. Unless you have a self-transfer, or you’re traveling through a country that requires everyone to collect and recheck their baggage (e.g., US).

If you aren’t sure, ask the staff at the check in counter.

5.1 Baggage Transfer: Different Airlines

What happens if there are several airlines?

What if one of your flights is operated by different airline, not Finnair? As we already talked, you may experience this, because Finnair does share some of its flights with its codeshare partners. In this situation the rules are the same — your baggage is being taken care of by an airline staff. In most situations you won’t have to worry about it.

Read more: 

5.2 Finnair Free Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance varies — it’s not the same on all flights.

Baggage allowance varies depending on the airline, class of travel, ticket type and destination. Check your Finnair flight booking confirmation to see what is your baggage allowance. Or, if you’re still thinking of booking a flight with Finnair, make sure to pay attention to baggage allowance — you can see baggage allowance when booking a flight. 

5.3 Economy Light

This is the cheapest option for long-haul flights.

Economy Light comes without free baggage allowance.

We see this all across the industry. Full-service traditional airlines are offering also tickets without free checked baggage allowance. The wording is also often the same — Economy Light. So, if you see this, most likely it’s without checked baggage (carry on baggage only).

When you see cheap Finnair flights, pay attention to this. Because Finnair also offers Economy Light tickets. If you need more than a single bag, this option is not for you. Economy Classic and Economy Flex, on the other hand, includes checked baggage.

Read more: What Is Carry-on Bag / Baggage?

Beautiful temples in Bangkok Old Town
Beautiful temples in Bangkok Old Town

6. Connecting Flight Examples

Here are two connecting flight examples with Finnair.

6.1 Protected Connecting Flights with Finnair (Most Common)

For this example I’ll use the website of Finnair.

Let’s assume that I want to fly from Riga to Bangkok.

I have found flights for November 26, and these some of the options:

Riga - Bangkok Connecting Flight with Finnair
Riga – Bangkok Connecting Flight with Finnair

On their website, Finnair offers protected connecting flights, when there are no direct flights. In this case, there are no direct flights from Riga to Bangkok. So, I’ll have to change planes at Helsinki Vantaa (HEL). 

You don’t have to worry about your connection. It’s a protected connecting flight. If there’s a problem with your first flight, and you miss your connection, the airline will put you on another flight.

As we have already discussed in this article, not always connecting flights are operated by one airline. In some cases, part of your connecting flight could be operated by a subsidiary or a partner airline. Also in this case, part of the connecting flight is operated by another airline (Nordic Reg). It’s OK, as nowadays it’s a very common practice in the aviation industry. Your connecting flight is still protected by Finnair.

Also pay attention to flight duration, number of stops and price.

These can vary.

6.2 Self-Transfer Flights with Finnair

Now, let’s assume, that my itinerary is slightly more complex.

Bangkok is not my final destination. I am only spending a couple of days there. I want to book a flight to Vientiane (Laos) which is my last stop.

  1. I can book a connecting flight to Bangkok, like in the example above. For example, I am booking the cheapest option, the first one, which arrives in Bangkok at 6:35 am. 
  2. And then I go to kiwi.com, skyscanner.net or some other flight booking website, and book a flight from Bangkok to Vientiane. Leaving myself, let’s say, 2 days in Bangkok. I may also choose to book directly from airline.

Until Bangkok I have an airline-protected connecting flight. If my first flight is delayed or cancelled, Finnair will put me on another flight for free. However, the last leg, Bangkok – Vientiane flight is a separate flight. I will need to check in for this flight separately, and check in my luggage, too.

All of this takes time. I will need at least a couple of hours to go through passport control, collect my bag, get from arrivals hall to departure hall, check in for my next flight and check in my bag. When you are booking self-transfer flights like these, take this into account and don’t risk with short layovers.

Also don’t forget that you might need a visa for a connecting flight like this. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to leave the airport. Take this into account! 

What is your experience with Finnair? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Finnair? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive compensation from Finnair / refund from Finnair?

Featured photo by Violetta from Pixabay 

About the author:

Co-founder and Editor at Connecting Flights Guide

Una is an organized globetrotter and foodie who’s been living a digital nomad lifestyle since 2013. She always starts her day early with a good book before diving into work. Apart from traveling and aviation, her other passions include gym, hiking and cycling. Una is also a strong proponent of AI technology. She firmly believes in its potential to simplify life and has often advocated for its wider adoption in our day-to-day activities. Her favorite airlines are Qatar Airways, Emirates, and KLM.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Stay Safe

SafetyWing – Insurance for nomads


GLOBAL E-SIM

Stay Connected


CHEAP FLIGHTS WITH CASHBACK

Get Cashback


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connecting Flights Guide

Your go-to guide to air travel rules and regulations. Connecting flights, self transfer, onward tickets and more – we want you to understand air travel better


This article may contain compensated links. Learn more in our disclaimer.



Latest posts: