Finnair overbooking compensation / denied boarding compensation.
How much is flight overbooking compensation? Rules? How to get it?
Overbooking of flights is a common practice. Airlines overbook their flights to ensure that there are no empty seats at take off, thus maximizing the capacity of their flights. Because, as you might already know, there are always no-shows. However, sometimes all passengers who bought tickets show up for the flight, and some have to be denied boarding due to overbooking. When that happens, an airline is obliged to pay EU denied boarding compensation.
There are two ways you can claim this compensation.
1. Finnair Overbooking Compensation: EU Denied Boarding Regulations
Have you been denied boarding by Finnair?
What are your rights? In which situations are you entitled to denied boarding compensation from Finnair? When it comes to denied boarding due to overbooking, the rules are simple – if you have been refused boarding on the plane involuntarily, you can get overbooking compensation from Finnair. This applies to all European airlines.
If you’re flying to or from Europe with Finnair, and you are denied boarding due to overbooking — you are entitled to flight overbooking compensation (EU denied boarding compensation) up to €600.
This only applies to overbookings. If you were denied boarding because of some other issue, like having no visa or a passport that is about to expire, you can’t get compensation.
Read more: Regulation (EC) No 261/2004; Regulation UK261
By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
1.1 Voluntary Denied Boarding
What is voluntary denied boarding?
Yes, there are different types of denied boarding.
What do we understand with the term “overbooking”? What is overbooking? It simply means that an airline has accepted more bookings for a particular flight than there are seats. This is done to maximize the capacity of the flight and avoid empty seats due to no-shows.
But what if everyone shows up? If this happens, you may be asked to give up your seat. In exchange you will be offered a new flight and an instant compensation (cash or vouchers). If the flight departs on the next day, you will be offered a free hotel stay, too.
It is called voluntary boarding denial. If you accept such an offer, you won’t be entitled to denied boarding compensation from Finnair.
You don’t have to agree to an offer like this.
1.2 Involuntary Denied Boarding
There are situations when passengers don’t have a choice.
Sometimes there are no volunteers, and the airline has to deny boarding to some of the passengers. If you have been denied boarding involuntarily (there was no agreement), you can get denied boarding compensation from Finnair.
What happens in case of involuntary denied boarding?
- The airline must provide you with a new flight or give you a full refund for the flight;
- In addition to that, you are entitled to receive care from the airline*;
- You are entitled to compensation up to €600 per passenger.
* Finnair must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If you have to wait overnight, Finnair must provide you with free accommodation and free transfer from and to the airport.
1.3 Right to Care
All passengers travelling with Finnair have a right to care.
It doesn’t matter if you have been denied boarding voluntarily or involuntarily, you are entitled to care from Finnair. Your flight is overbooked, you were denied boarding, and you have to wait for the replacement flight. If the wait is more than 3 hours, you can expect certain services from the airline.
What does it mean for you as a passenger?
Finnair must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls, e-mails or faxes. If the replacement flight departs only on the next day, you are entitled to a free hotel stay and free hotel transfer.
Contact the airline if you haven’t been offered anything.
2. How to Claim Finnair Flight Compensation? How to Claim Flight Overbooking Compensation?
You can claim compensation yourself.
The other option is to work with professionals.
Claiming compensation from Finnair yourself. Contact Finnair using their website or social media channels. Request compensation for denied boarding. Refer to the above mentioned EU Flight Compensation regulation (EC) No 261/2004. Ask for the right compensation amount. Don’t agree to any airline coupons. Keep in mind that it may take months until you receive the denied boarding compensation Finnair owes you.
You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.
Register your Finnair compensation claim with the help of a flight compensation company. In this case, you don’t have to do much. Fill in and sing one form. The rest will be taken care of by the team. Our partners offer such services.
When choosing this option, here is all you will have to do:
And that’s it — the rest is handled by professionals.
* Your boarding pass and passport or ID copy.
Read more:
2.1 How Long Does It Take?
It used to be 2-3 months.
But now, after 2020, it could take more.
Unfortunately, not always the process goes smoothly. Many airlines refuse to cooperate and give false reasons for delay. Often the help of national enforcement bodies and court is needed. This is why it could take more time than it used to.
3. How Much Can You Claim?
In the EU, compensation amounts are fixed.
In most situations they range from €250 to €600.
Here is how you can calculate Finnair Finnair compensation yourself:
When your destination is within the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
When your destination is outside the EU/UK:
€250
If the distance of your flight is
up to 1,500 km
€400
If the distance of your flight is between 1,500 – 3,500 km
€600
If the distance of your flight is more than 3,500 km
This is also the amount you should demand when claiming compensation on your own. If you don’t ask for the right amount, the airline might offer you a smaller compensation. Don’t agree to anything less than you are entitled to. The compensation amounts are regulated by the European Union and UK law.
There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).
3.1 Finnair Voucher Code, Discounts or Cash?
According to the law, compensations have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
Finnair might initially offer you a voucher instead of money. Request a bank transfer. All airline compensations and refunds in the EU/UK have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
No, you don’t have to accept Finnair vouchers! Ask for monetary compensation!
Read more: Your Finnair Compensation Claim Is Denied. Now What?
Finnair Denied Boarding Compensation: FAQ
My ticket was cheap. Can I get compensation for my cheap flight?
Yes, because the price of the ticket doesn’t matter.
As long as you are entitled to compensation. According to the EU laws, the ticket price doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation. If you are entitled to 600 euro compensation, you will get 600 euro, even if your ticket was very cheap.
Do I need to have travel insurance to claim compensation?
No, you don’t need travel insurance.
According to Regulation EC 261/2004, every passenger whose flight has been heavily delayed or cancelled, can get compensation. As long as it’s a delay of at least 3 hours, and it’s due to the fault of the airline. It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not.
Can my child/baby get compensation from Finnair?
Yes.
The age of the passenger doesn’t matter. If you are entitled to compensation of 600 euro, your child/baby will be, too. Even if your baby has a special infant ticket.
Your child will get the same amount.
Can I claim compensation for my friend or relative?
Yes, you can.
Even if you weren’t on that flight yourself.
You can file a compensation for your friend, family member or relative, as long as they provide you with their boarding pass and passport copy. Also they will have to sign all documents Finnair or the flight compensation company will ask to sign.
Other than that, yes, it’s OK to claim compensation another person.
How far back can I claim compensation?
It depends on the laws of the country.
In Europe you can claim compensation for old flights, too. Flights that were 2-3 years ago.
What to do if Finnair is refusing to pay compensation?
Finnair is refusing to pay compensation even though you are entitled to it.
How can you proceed? Is it even possible? Yes! There are two ways how you can continue working on your case. The best and easiest way is to hand over your case to a flight compensation company and let them solve your case.
Alternatively, you may contact the respective national enforcement body and ask for help. There are national enforcement bodies in all the EU Member states.
Problems With Visa or Passport
I don’t have a visa. My passport is about to expire. If I am denied boarding, can I get compensation?
No.
You can only get compensation if you have been involuntarily denied boarding because of overbooking.
If you are denied boarding due to your own fault (like visa issues, expired passport), you aren’t entitled to any compensation. You aren’t entitled to receive care from the airline either.
EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists
I’m flying to the EU from a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you’re flying with Finnair then yes, you can.
All Finnair flights are protected under the EU Regulations.
If you are entitled to compensation for this flight, you will get it.
I’m flying from the EU to a country outside the EU. Can I get compensation?
If you’re flying with Finnair then yes, you can.
If you are entitled to compensation for this flight, you will get it.
I am not a citizen of EU/UK. Can I get compensation?
Yes.
The European regulations protect all passengers — tourists from overseas and Europeans alike.
Other Situations
Finnair provided me with a free hotel room and a free flight to my destination. Can I still get compensated for the delay?
Yes.
You are entitled to all of it.
As long as your flight was overbooked, delayed for 3+ hours or cancelled last minute due to the fault of the airline, you are entitled to compensation. Even if you have received free services from the airline (such as free flight and hotel stay).
Finnair took me to my destination. Can I still get compensation?
You might.
If you arrived 3 or more hours later than scheduled, and the delay/cancellation was due to the fault of the airline, you can get compensation. Even if you were given a new flight ticket to your destination.
What is your experience? Have you ever received Finnair overbooking compensation? Do you still have questions about Finnair compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.