Travel updates

7 July 2020

The UK has introduced new requirements for customers arriving in the country. You must provide information about your journey and your contact details before you arrive in the country via this page. You can provide the information earliest 48 hours before your journey. Please take with you a print or a screenshot of the completed form, as you will be required to show one to the authorities upon arrival. Please note also that if you have during the last 14 days, visited one of the countries that are on the UK quarantine requirement list, you are required to self-isolate for 14 days when you arrive in the UK.

For more information, you can check the government's official webpage for entering the country and public health measures for all UK arrivals.

The UK authorities will update information about the travel restrictions every three week, for this reason we recommend that you follow the situation carefully and check the current requirements before your journey.

18 May 2020, last updated 29 June 2020

As travel restrictions are being removed in different countries, air travel starts to recover gradually. We will gradually add frequencies and routes back to our network from July onwards. We intend to operate approximately 30% of our normal amount of flights in July, and we will add routes and frequencies month by month as demand recovers, taking into account the changes in travel restrictions in different countries.

This means that we cancel flights from our previously published traffic plan for 1 July 2020 - 31 March 2021. Some routes will be temporarily cancelled until the end of March 2021.

We are extremely sorry about the harm and uncertainty this situation causes you. 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY FLIGHT IS CANCELLED?

You’ll see the list of routes that are entirely cancelled on 1 July 2020 - 31 March 2021 here.

We cancel several flights to other destinations as well as of 1 July. Up-to-date travel periods can be checked on the booking engine and on the Destinations pages. We’ll cancel the flights from our systems gradually by 30 June 2020. If your flight is cancelled, we’ll contact you personally via SMS and/or email. Please go to Manage booking and check that we have your current contact information. 

We contact you as follows if your flight is cancelled:

• Flights cancelled in July: we contact you by 31 May
• Flights cancelled in August: we contact you by 7 June
• Flights cancelled in September: we contact you by 14 June
• Flights cancelled on 1 October 2020 - 31 March 2021: we contact you by 30 June

Due to the travel restriction policies in different countries, further cancellations are possible. We will contact you personally via SMS and/or email in case your flight is affected at any stage.

Processing flights to/from China may take longer because we are waiting for confirmation from the local authorities.

IF YOUR FLIGHT ON/AFTER 1 JULY IS CANCELLED

When your flight is on the list of cancelled routes or you have received a message of a flight cancellation, these are your options:

• You can change your travel dates until 31 May 2021 without a change fee via Manage booking. If you can’t make the change yourself online, our customer service will assist you. You can change your travel dates if
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels.
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight.
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight in the same cabin class.
  • You make the change before the departure of your original flight. You need to select new dates for your travel when making the change.
• We do our best to re-route you to your destination with other Finnair flights. Please note that the availability of alternative flights is limited at the moment. We’ll send you your possible new flight information via SMS and/or email, and you can check it and other possible flight options also at Manage booking.
• You can cancel your booking in Manage booking and then apply for a refund for the unused part of your flight ticket by filling in this online form. If you can’t cancel your booking in Manage booking, our customer service helps you with cancelling the booking and applying for a refund. If we have cancelled all the flights in your booking, you can apply for a refund without cancelling the booking.
  • When any of the flights in your booking (for example only the return flight) has been cancelled, you can apply for a refund for all the unused flights on the same ticket.
  • You can also choose a Finnair gift card as a refund option, when you have paid your ticket fully with money, meaning through online banking or credit card. We, unfortunately, have delays in the refund processing because of high refund application volumes. Our average handling time is approximately 8 weeks. If you choose a Finnair gift card as a refund option, the average handling time is approximately 4 weeks.
• If you purchased a travel extra and change your travel date, we will move the travel extra to your new flight if possible, otherwise, you can apply for a refund online for an undelivered service. Also, if your flight is cancelled, you can apply for a refund for any travel extras you had purchased and didn’t receive.

CHANGES TO BOOKINGS FOR FLIGHTS TO BE OPERATED AFTER 1 JULY

• If we haven’t cancelled your flight but you wish to cancel your reservation, the refund will be according to the ticket rule. 
• For bookings made latest on 31 August 2020, you can change your travel dates through Manage booking or our customer service without a change fee and travel within your ticket validity, if
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels. 
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight. 
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight. It is good to know that if there is no availability in your original fare class for your new flight, you need to pay the fare difference between your original and new flight tickets.
  • You make the change 7 days before the departure of your original flight. You need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. If you change your travel dates closer to your flight, the change conditions follow your original ticket rules.
• Did you change your travel dates already once and would like to change them again? You can do it through Manage booking and travel within your ticket validity when the above-listed requirements are fulfilled. If you were unable to make the change online, please contact our customer service.

CONTACTING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you booked your ticket through a travel agency or a tour operator, please contact them to make changes to your reservation or to apply for a refund. If you booked your ticket through Finnair, our customer service is working hard to help you in this extremely exceptional situation. We are at your service also via chat, on Twitter @FinnairHelps and on our Facebook pages. We are sorry that our customer service is congested.

Didn’t find an answer to your question? Check also our QA here.

You can see your passenger rights here.

30 June 2020

Your health and safety are a top priority for us, and we can together ensure that you feel safe and comfortable when travelling with us. We have made changes to our airport and inflight services to limit direct contact between our customers and crew. With many new processes and recommendations in place, travelling may feel different, but don’t worry – we help you to prepare for your journey with peace of mind. Read more about the service changes and check our tips and recommendations before you start your journey here.

11 June 2020, updated 26 June 2020

As travel restrictions are being removed in different countries, air travel starts to recover gradually. We will add frequencies and routes back to our network month by month from July onwards as demand recovers, taking into account the changes in travel restrictions in different countries.

• You can check flights and available seats through our booking engine.
• You can read more about our traffic plan for 1 July 2020 – 31 March 2021 here.
• Please go to IATA’s website for more information about current travel restrictions and requirements in different countries before you travel.

Your options if your travel plans change:

• You can change your travel dates flexibly without a change fee. Check further details and instructions here, if you booked your journey on 1 April – 31 August 2020. If you booked your flight before 1 April 2020, our customer service will help you in making the change.
• If travel restrictions prevent you from travelling to your destination in July-August, you can cancel your booking in Manage booking and apply for a refund for the unused part of your flight ticket. Please note that you need to provide us documentation, if your travel was prevented by the authorities in your destination country. It is good to know that a requirement for quarantine in your destination country, for example, is not a travel restriction that allows a refund.
• If you wish to cancel your reservation due to a quarantine requirement or for another reason, the refund will be according to the ticket rule.

You can see your passenger rights here.

26 June 2020, updated 7 July 2020

The Hong Kong authorities have introduced new requirements for customers arriving in Hong Kong as of 16 June 2020. 

• You are required to fill out health declaration and quarantine forms. The Hong Kong health authorities recommend that you do this electronically earliest 48h prior to arrival via this link.
• Also, you will be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival.
• There are restrictions in place for foreigners arriving in Hong Kong, for example EU-nationals are not allowed entry currently, unless holding residence permits. For more information, we recommend you to visit IATA’s website.

Check your options from TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS’ EFFECTS ON TRAVELLING article on this same page, if your travel plans change due to the travel restrictions.

26 June 2020

South Korea has introduced new requirements for customers arriving in the country as of 3 June 2020.

• As a short-term visitor, you will need to obtain a visa to enter the country as well as a medical certificate with a COVID-19 negative laboratory test result issued earliest 72 hours before travel. 
• On arrival you will be tested for COVID-19, and you must stay at a designated quarantine facility for 1 or 2 days until a negative test result is obtained.
• In addition, you need to stay in quarantine for 14 days after arriving in South Korea. 
• Nationals and residents of South Korea are required to download a health monitoring App. 

Please go to IATA website for more information about current travel restrictions and requirements in different countries before you leave.

Check your options from TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS’ EFFECTS ON TRAVELLING article on this same page, if your travel plans change due to the travel restrictions.

26 June 2020

The Japanese authorities have introduced new requirements for customers arriving in the country as of 19 March 2020.

• For example, as an EU national, including children and spouses of Japanese nationals, you are required to obtain a visa prior to travel to Japan, unless you hold a permanent resident card or are a long-term resident with a re-entry permit. Visas issued before 20 March 2020 are no longer valid.
• Upon arrival in Japan, you will be tested for COVID-19 and will be held in a designated area, at your own expense, until the test result is received. This is normally a one-night stay.
• In addition, you will be requested to stay at a location designated by the Quarantine Station Chief for 14 days, again at your own expense, and to refrain from using public transportation. Japanese nationals and residents may self-quarantine at home.

Please go to IATA website for more information about current travel restrictions and requirements in different countries before you leave.

Check your options from TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS’ EFFECTS ON TRAVELLING article on this same page, if your travel plans change due to the travel restrictions.

15 May 2020, updated 15 June 2020

Some internal border controls to continue in Finland, and restrictions on external border traffic to remain through 14 July 2020.

Read the updated instructions from the Boarder Guards homepage.

1 April 2020, last updated 17 June 2020

We currently have delays in the refund handling due to a high volume or coronavirus related refund applications. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you and are working hard to shorten the handling time. 

Our average handling time is approximately 8 weeks. Some requests may unfortunately take some more time to be handled. We’ll inform you via email after your refund application is processed. Please send your request only once, as duplicates will further delay handling the applications.

When you apply for a refund for your unused flight ticket due to the coronavirus situation, you can choose to have your money back to your bank account or credit card or a Finnair gift voucher. We send you the gift voucher within 4 weeks.

Read more about refunds here.

12 May 2020

Air travel will gradually start to recover as travel restrictions are lifted. We want to ensure that you feel safe and comfortable when travelling with us.

We have already earlier implemented several changes to our services to reduce direct contact between our customers and crew and to ensure your health and safety while travelling. See details below.

As of 18 May, we introduce additional measures for your safety and wellbeing. The most visible change is that you are now required to wear a mask covering your mouth and nose from boarding to leaving the aircraft.

Read more about all the changes here.

We will review these measures regularly and update any new information on our website.

2 April 2020, last updated 8 May 2020

The coronavirus epidemic has had a severe impact on the demand for air travel, and several countries have set restrictions for travelling. We have transitioned to a limited network and cancelled the majority of our flights temporarily as of 1 April until the situation improves. We have now cancelled flights until the end of June. We are operating a limited traffic plan on 1 April – 30 June 2020.

You’ll see the list of flights to be operated in April-June here.

Please note that we will operate this traffic plan provided that there are no travel restrictions set by the authorities. If the situation improves, we will do our best to add flights and routes to our traffic plan. We aim to return to a normal traffic plan as soon as possible and will tell about it, when we know more.

We are extremely sorry about the disruption and uncertainty this situation causes you. We follow the situation closely and will update any new information on this page.

WHEN YOUR FLIGHT IS CANCELLED ON 16 MARCH - 30 JUNE

• When your flight is cancelled, we’ll contact you personally via SMS and/or e-mail. Please go to Manage booking and check that we have your current contact information.
• You can change your travel dates until 30 November 2020 without a change fee by contacting our customer service. You can change your travel dates if
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels.
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight.
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight.
  • You make the change before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. 
  • Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers.
  • If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.
• Did you change your travel dates already once and would like to change them again? You can do it through Manage booking and travel until 30 November 2020 when the above listed requirements are fulfilled.
• You can apply for a refund for the unused part of your flight ticket just by filling in this online form. When any of the flights in your booking (for example only the return flight) has been cancelled, you can apply for a refund for all the unused flights on the same ticket. You can also choose a Finnair gift voucher as a refund option, when you have paid your ticket fully with money, meaning through online banking or credit card. We, unfortunately, have delays in the refund processing because of high refund application volumes. Our average handling time is approximately 8 weeks.
• If your flight is cancelled but you still want to travel, we do our best to re-route to your destination with other Finnair flights. Please note that the availability of alternative flights is very limited at the moment.

YOUR OPTIONS IF YOUR FLIGHT IS OPERATED ON 1 APRIL – 30 JUNE

• You can change your travel dates through Manage booking without a change fee and travel until 30 November, 2020, if
  • You booked your flight before 1 April 2020.
  • You made your booking via Finnair channels. 
  • You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight. 
  • There are available seats on your chosen new flight. 
  • You make the change before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. 
  • Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers. 
  • If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.
  • If you have purchased your ticket partly with Finnair Plus points or you have upgraded your flight with money or a tier benefit, please contact our customer service to change your travel dates.
• If you are not able to travel because of current travel restrictions, you can cancel your booking at Manage booking and then apply for a refund through this form. In other cases, if we haven’t cancelled your flight but you wish to cancel your reservation, refund will be according to the ticket rule. 

CONTACTING OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE

If you booked your ticket through a travel agency, please contact them to make changes to your reservation or to apply for a refund. Our customer service is working hard to help you in this extremely exceptional situation. We are at your service also on Twitter @FinnairHelps, on our Facebook pages and via chat on finnair.com. We are sorry if our customer service is congested.

TRAVEL EXTRAS

If you purchased a travel extra and change your travel date, we will move the travel extra to your new flight if possible, otherwise, you can apply for a refund online for an undelivered service. Also, if your flight is cancelled, you can apply for a refund for any travel extras you had purchased and didn’t receive. 

You can see your passenger rights here.

1 April 2020, updated 8 June 2020

Due to the coronavirus situation, we want to offer you flexibility for making reservation changes and have updated our ticket change policy. This means you can now make also new bookings until the end of August with peace of mind.

You can change your travel date flexibly without a change fee, if

• You made your booking between 1 April and 31 August 2020.
• You booked your ticket through Finnair channels.
• You have a Finnair operated and marketed flight.
• There are available seats on your chosen new flight.
• You make the change 7 days before the departure of your original flight. Please note that you need to select new dates for your travel when making the change. If you change your travel dates closer to your flight, the change conditions follow your original ticket rules.
• Please note that the change in the ticket rules doesn’t apply to Finnair Holidays, Aurinkomatkat (Suntours) and other tour operators’ customers.
• In case you would like to cancel your booking, the refund will be according to the original ticket rules.

It is good to know that if there is no availability in your original fare class for your new flight, you need to pay the fare difference between your original and new flight tickets.

If you purchased a travel extra and change your travel date, we will move the travel extra to your new flight if possible, otherwise, it is eligible for a refund.

This is how you can change your travel date

• Go to Manage booking and select new available dates for your travel.
• You can also contact our customer service. We are sorry if our customer service is congested.
• If you have purchased your ticket partly with Finnair Plus points or you have upgraded your flight with money or a tier benefit, please contact our customer service to change your travel dates.
• If you have a group reservation, please contact your travel agency.

We are at your service also on Twitter @FinnairHelps, on our Facebook pages and via chat on finnair.com. 

You can check your passenger rights here.