Finnair rejected your compensation claim

Updated 2026-10-13

Finnair said no. That happens a lot, and it is not the end of the matter. Finland's Consumer Disputes Board (KRIL) has recommended compensation in several cases Finnair first rejected.

We are not affiliated with Finnair and do not act for Finnair.

What Finnair's rejection usually means

Finnair rejections tend to rest on one of these:

• Your claim came more than two months after the flight.
• Extraordinary circumstances, such as weather, air traffic control or a strike.
• A technical fault, sometimes described as a hidden manufacturing defect.
• Crew: illness or required rest time.

The two-month rule

Finnair treats two months as the "reasonable time" to claim. EU Regulation 261/2004 sets no deadline, and the EU Court says time limits are a matter of national law (Moré C-139/11). Finland has no statute setting two months.

• Market Court, 17 April 2026: the Consumer Ombudsman asked the court to ban the practice. The court refused, finding it was not an unfair practice under consumer protection law. It did not decide individual passengers' claims, and it does not bind KRIL.
• KRIL: a claim within five months of the flight is generally on time, longer for special reasons (plenary decision D/4498/35/2018).
• Finland's Supreme Court (KKO 2021:69): if the airline did not inform you of your rights in writing, there is no duty to claim within a reasonable time at all.
• Norway's Supreme Court rejected Finnair's same argument in 2020. The passenger claimed €600 more than three months after the flight and won (HR-2020-2401-A).
• Limitation in Finland: 3 years, counted from the last contact. KRIL rejected a claim when more than three years had passed since Finnair's reply (D/1175/35/2020).

Expect Finnair to keep rejecting late claims. In January 2023 the then chair of KRIL said the board knew of about ten cases where Finnair had not paid after a recommendation on this point.

What KRIL said about Finnair's other excuses

• Technical fault: AY151 Helsinki–Phuket, an A350 four months old, flap damper fault. Finnair argued a hidden manufacturing defect. KRIL awarded €600 per passenger: a defect counts only if the manufacturer grounded or ordered repair of the fleet (D/4498/35/2018; van der Lans C-257/14).
• Crew illness: AY1436 from Berlin was cancelled when a crew member fell ill. KRIL recommended compensation under TAP C-156/22 (D/3738/35/2021).
• Crew rest at the home base: a morning departure from Helsinki left about 10 hours late because crew lacked legal rest after an evening delay. KRIL: standby crew is expected at the home base (D/914/35/2023, likely Finnair).
• Where Finnair won: a sympathy strike by its ground staff in support of a postal workers' dispute (D/6567/35/2019), the 2019 Hong Kong airport closure (D/5339/35/2019), a documented icy runway and crosswind (D/1836/35/2019), and an Omicron sickness wave (D/4910/35/2022).

What evidence to ask Finnair for

• delay codes and a timeline for your flight
• technical faults: log entries, and whether the manufacturer or an authority ordered action for the whole aircraft type
• weather: METAR data and how long it lasted
• crew: where standby crew was and why it was not used
• the date Finnair says your claim arrived, and whether it gave you written information on your rights

Step by step

1. Reply to Finnair in writing in the same case. Ask for the evidence above.
2. Contact the Consumer Advisory Service at the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority. This step is required before KRIL. If you bought the ticket in another EU country, contact ECC Finland instead.
3. File with KRIL. It is free, and EU261 cases can be filed and handled in English (KRIL air travel disputes). Average processing time for travel cases is about 17 months.
4. District court if Finnair does not follow the recommendation.

When it is worth it

Worth it: technical faults, crew issues, weather without detailed evidence, and claims made within five months.

Weaker: external strikes, airport closures, and claims made more than a year late after Finnair gave you written notice of your rights.

Appeal My Flight writes the reply to Finnair and the KRIL complaint for €29 per booking. We cannot promise an outcome.

FAQ

Can I file with KRIL in English?

Yes, for EU261 claims. Other claims must be in Finnish or Swedish.

Finnair offered a voucher. Do I have to accept it?

No. The fixed compensation is paid in money unless you agree in writing to something else.

Does this apply to Finnair flights into Helsinki from outside the EU?

Yes. Finnair is an EU airline, so EU261 covers its flights into the EU too.