Finnair missed connecting flight compensation.
If you have been impacted by Finnair’s cancelled or delayed flight due to airline error, and consequently missed your connecting flight, per EU regulations you may be eligible for financial compensation. In this article we’ll walkthrough the steps involved in getting the money owed to you, as well as provide useful advice on how to avoid similar mishaps in the future.
It applies to all Finnair flights to and from Europe.
Did you miss a connecting flight? File a compensation claim online.
UK / EU Flight Compensation
We have several articles on these topics.
Here is a full guide on UK / EU flight compensation regulation. There we talk about all situations, when you can get compensation from the airline and when you have a right to care. We also have separate guides on what to do if you miss connection due to delay, strike, or cancellation of one of your flights.
Here, in this article, we will focus more on the compensation – UK / EU Missed connecting flight compensation.
1. Finnair Missed Connecting Flight Compensation
Finnair is the flag carrier and biggest airline of Finland.
If your Finnair flight is delayed or cancelled, then you might be eligible to receive compensation. This applies to missed connecting flights, too. If you miss your connecting flight through no fault of your own, you might get compensation.
To put it plainly, if your flight arrives three hours behind schedule due to any trouble on the airline’s end, you are entitled to receive compensation from the company.
Your flight is eligible for compensation if:
- It is at least 3 hours late. At the moment of arrival.
- It is an airline-protected connecting flight. Keep in mind that these rules don’t apply to self-transfer flights (flights that are booked separately). These type of connections are not airline’s responsibility but yours.
1.1 European and non-European airlines
The country of origin of your airline matters.
If you’re traveling with an airline registered in the EU, EEA or UK, like Finnair, your passenger rights are protected, no matter if it’s a flight to Europe or away from Europe. This is why flying with European airlines gives you that extra security and peace of mind during your journey! All thanks to the European regulations.
Keep in mind that you also might be protected when flying with a non-European airline. If the flight is with a non-European carrier such as Qatar Airways or Etihad, passengers are only legally protected when travelling FROM Europe but not on trips that begin in any other country outside of Europe.
| EU/UK to EU/UK | EU/UK to Other countries | Other countries to EU/UK | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU airlines | + | + | + |
| UK airlines | + | + | + |
| Other airlines | + | + | – |
1.2 Self-Transfer Flights
With self transfer, it’s not as easy and stress-free.
For example, your first flight is with Finnair, but the second one – with Ryanair, or any other airline. This would be considered a self transfer.
When opting for a self transfer, keep in mind that you are not as well-protected as when traveling on a regular connecting flight. For example, if your flight is slightly delayed (not the minimum of 3 hours) and it causes you to miss your next plane, no compensation or free ticket will be provided. Thus, before making a decision to book a self transfer option, it’s critical that one considers the potential risks involved.
- Unfortunately, you won’t receive a complimentary flight to your destination because the airline is not responsible for your self transfer. It is not created by the airline so the airline can be held accountable for it.
- If your initial flight is only delayed slightly (not the minimum of 3 hours), but it still makes you miss your connection, you won’t receive any compensation for the missed connecting flight. Your flights are separate flights, not a protected connecting flight.
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.
2. How Much Can You Claim for Missed Connecting Flight?
Mostly it’s 250, 400 or 600 euro per person.
The amounts are regulated by flight compensation regulations.
The longer the flight, the more you can get.
- 250 EUR – if the flight distance is less than 1500 km;
- 400 EUR – if the flight distance is between 1500 and 3500 km;
- 600 EUR – if the flight distance is more than 3500 km.
3. How to File a Claim for Missed Connection Compensation?
There are two options:
- You can file a claim with compensation company.
- Or, you can do it all on your own.
If you choose the latter (option number 2):
- Visit finnair.com to make a claim. Locate the feedback and compensation form.
- To begin your claim, gather all relevant information about your journey including your ticket number, the departure and arrival airports, dates and times, details of your connections, and any other relevant information. You will also need to provide proof of how long you were delayed as a result of the missed connection.
- Attach your boarding pass, if possible. Submit the request for compensation.
- The customer service representative will assess your claim and advise you of their decision as to whether it is valid or not.
- If they decide that it is eligible for compensation, they will provide instructions on how to proceed further with submitting proof and documentation to receive compensation.
- If your claim is denied, you may still be able to challenge the decision if you feel it was unjustified. Contact the national enforcement body for assistance.
- Alternatively, you can work with a flight compensation company (see Option No 1).
4. 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.
5. Tips on Flight Delays and Missed Connections
The more informed you are, the better.
- Book a trip with enough time between flight legs. That way you won’t miss your connection. It’s especially important if you plan to book a self-transfer flight.
- Check the airline’s and airport’s website before you head to the airport. Just to see if there are any flight delays or cancellations. You won’t be able to predict or prevent a delay but being informed will make you feel more in control when arriving at the terminal.
- Check the status of your connecting flight. Use flight trackers (e.g., FlightStats) to stay informed about your flight. This way, you will know about any changes that could affect your travel plans.
- Buy a travel insurance. Especially if you have a self transfer. If you miss your connection, travel insurance will cover the costs that arises in such situation. Just make sure your policy covers trip interruption.
- Don’t forget to learn more about your rights. Thus you’ll feel more in control. If you miss your connection, or there is a flight delay, you will know what to do. Knowing this in advance will provide comfort because most of us need to feel in control of a situation.
What is your experience with Finnair? Have you ever missed a connecting flight with Finnair? How did the airline solve this? Did you receive missed connection compensation from Finnair?
