Finnair rating

6.1/10Axel score · #32 of 77

5.2/10Repriceability · #16

Checked October 26, 2026 · How Axel rates airlines

A fair deal with cabin baggage, less convincing once extras add up

Axel considers Finnair worth booking when its fare is competitive and your plans are firm, but Economy Light is a poor choice for anyone expecting flexibility. Included cabin baggage and a published Avios award chart help, while expensive checked bags, paid seat choice and limited options for recovering fare drops reduce the value.

Best
US-route Economy Light includes cabin baggage totaling 8 kg.
Economy Classic allows online changes without a change fee.
Finnair Plus publishes an award chart and had no identified devaluations in 24 months.

Worst
Economy Light cannot be changed, even for a fee.
The first checked bag on North America to Europe Economy Light costs USD 85 prepaid per direction.
Finnair cancelled 3.15% of flights in 2025.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back?

PartlyRepriceability 5.2/10

Partly. Recovering a drop on the same flight requires cancellation and a new purchase through refundable Economy Flex or the qualifying 24-hour window. No direct refund entitlement for an unchanged flight was confirmed. Economy Light cannot be changed. Economy Classic and Economy Flex have no online change fee, but higher fares cost extra and US long-haul customer-service updates cost USD 40. Changing to a cheaper flight with Economy Flex returns the difference to the original payment method, except amounts below EUR 5. An Economy Classic residual refund or credit is unconfirmed, as are ordinary credit expiry and transferability. Separate gift cards last one year and can pay for another person's flights, but are not standard ticket credits. Credits accepted instead of required US-route disruption refunds must last at least five years. Economy Classic is non-refundable for ordinary US-origin cancellations. Unchanged website or app bookings can be cancelled free within 24 hours when departure is at least seven days away, with payment returned to the original method.

Axel's repricing sample size and observation period are not published here, so no observed savings result can be reported.

Finnair fares
Fare	Changes	Cancel	Carry-on	Bags	Seat
Economy Light	No changes	Non-refundable outside the qualifying 24-hour cancellation window or applicable exceptions. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	Included	0	Fee
Economy Classic	No change fee	Ordinary voluntary cancellation is non-refundable on US-origin journeys. The published USD 50 non-Flex refund service fee does not make the fare refundable; qualifying 24-hour cancellations are free.	Included	1	Fee
Economy Flex	No change fee	Refundable to the original payment method without a cancellation penalty or refund service fee. Cancel before check-in closes; check the booking confirmation for US-route deadlines and restrictions after partial use.	Included	1	Free choice
Premium Economy Lightpremium economy	No changes	Non-refundable outside the qualifying 24-hour cancellation window or applicable exceptions. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	Included	0	Fee
Business Lightbusiness	No changes	Non-refundable outside the qualifying 24-hour cancellation window or applicable exceptions. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	Included	0	Fee

Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. Finnair's US change page explicitly promises a lower-price refund for Flex, automatically to the original payment method, excluding differences below EUR 5. It does not explicitly state what happens to a Classic residual or establish that it is forfeited. Absence of a promised Classic refund is insufficient to prove forfeiture. The page displays no publication or update date; checked October 26, 2026.
Same flight, lower price: The documented recovery route is cancellation and a new purchase using refundable Flex or the qualifying 24-hour window. No direct repricing entitlement for an unchanged flight was confirmed. Flex lower-fare refund instructions concern changing flights, not explicitly retaining the identical flight after a price drop.
Credits (No standard voluntary-cancellation or residual credit confirmed): No validity period was confirmed for an ordinary cancellation or Classic residual credit. Separately, Finnair's gift-card page explicitly gives a one-year expiry from receipt, including compensation gift cards. Its expiry FAQ says purchase before expiry; travel may occur later, up to 360 days ahead. These pages display no publication or update date; checked October 26, 2026. The 12-month rule is a gift-card term, not evidence of a standard ticket-credit benefit. DOT separately requires at least five years for credits accepted instead of a required US-route disruption refund.
24-hour rule: Direct website or app bookings qualify for free cancellation within 24 hours when departure is at least seven days away and the booking has not been changed. This applies across ticket types and is not published solely as a US-route exception. Cancel through Manage booking; flights, purchased extras, taxes and fees return to the original payment method.
Same-day change: No separate US-route same-day confirmed-change or standby program was verified. Ordinary Classic and Flex changes remain possible until check-in closes, subject to availability, fare differences and assisted-service fees. Cancel an existing check-in first. Light does not permit changes.
Schedule changes: Finnair's US disruption-refund FAQ promises a full refund of unused ticket portions when the traveler declines travel after a schedule change of at least one hour, cancellation with unsuitable or unavailable replacement travel, or a delay exceeding five hours. Its US change guide instead says more than one hour for departure or arrival changes. Neither page displays a revision date, so the exact 60-minute boundary remains inconsistent. Alternatives can include accepting the revised schedule or choosing offered replacement flights without extra cost. DOT independently requires refunds when qualifying US international itinerary changes are rejected, including departure at least six hours earlier, arrival at least six hours later, changed origin or destination airports, additional connections or involuntary downgrading.

Score breakdown

Repriceability 35%5.2
- Standard fare change fee: 10.0/10 · Economy Classic: no change fee
- Lowest fare flexibility: 0.0/10 · Economy Light: Changes are not permitted, including for an additional fee.
- Lower fare on the same flight: 4.0/10 · The documented recovery route is cancellation and a new purchase using refundable Flex or the qualifying 24-hour window. No direct repricing entitlement for an unchanged flight was confirmed. Flex lower-fare refund instructions concern changing flights, not explicitly retaining the identical flight after a price drop.
- Credit terms: 7.0/10 · No validity period was confirmed for an ordinary cancellation or Classic residual credit. Separately, Finnair's gift-card page explicitly gives a one-year expiry from receipt, including compensation gift cards. Its expiry FAQ says purchase before expiry; travel may occur later, up to 360 days ahead. These pages display no publication or update date; checked October 26, 2026. The 12-month rule is a gift-card term, not evidence of a standard ticket-credit benefit. DOT separately requires at least five years for credits accepted instead of a required US-route disruption refund.
- Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 · Ordinary voluntary cancellation is non-refundable on US-origin journeys. The published USD 50 non-Flex refund service fee does not make the fare refundable; qualifying 24-hour cancellations are free.
- Risk-free window: 10.0/10 · Direct website or app bookings qualify for free cancellation within 24 hours when departure is at least seven days away and the booking has not been changed. This applies across ticket types and is not published solely as a US-route exception. Cancel through Manage booking; flights, purchased extras, taxes and fees return to the original payment method.
- Same-day change: no data, median 7.0/10 used · No separate US-route same-day confirmed-change or standby program was verified. Ordinary Classic and Flex changes remain possible until check-in closes, subject to availability, fare differences and assisted-service fees. Cancel an existing check-in first. Light does not permit changes.
- What Axel saw: does not apply · fewer than 10 attempts · Axel repricing attempts
Refunds and disruptions 20%7.2
- Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 8.0/10 · Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, EU261, UK261, Canada_APPR; For US services, Finnair's written plan offers appropriate assistance and refreshments after delays exceeding two hours, subject to local conditions; attempts to reroute passengers on the next available connection; and reasonable overnight accommodation, subject to availability, when a controllable disruption prevents arrival on the expected day. These largely overlap statutory obligations, rather than constituting a separate compensation benefit. Its conditions provide no additional cancellation or denied-boarding rights beyond the applicable regulation. No contractual cash-compensation promise beyond the law was identified.
- Refund conduct: 6.0/10 · 2026-04-09 Finnish Consumer Ombudsman; 2024-08-27 Finnish Consumer Ombudsman; recent reports of delayed refunds or vouchers
- Refund complaints: 7.4/10 · 2.25 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39) · DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
Reliability 15%6.7
- On-time arrival: 7.9/10 · 79.67% on time (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, Finnair (AY). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 96.85% completion factor.) · Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
- Cancellations: 4.1/10 · 3.15% cancelled (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, Finnair (AY). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 96.85% completion factor.) · Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
Fees and transparency 15%6.0
- Carry-on in the lowest fare: 10.0/10 · US-route Economy Light includes one carry-on up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm and one small bag up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, 8 kg combined. A non-entitled, oversized or overweight carry-on presented at the gate incurs a EUR 60 hold-placement fee.
- First checked bag: 2.0/10 · North America–Europe Light fares: first checked bag up to 23 kg costs USD 85 prepaid or USD 90 at the airport, per direction. The second bag costs USD 100 prepaid or USD 110 at the airport. Economy Classic and Flex include the first 23 kg bag. These are US-route prices, not standalone European short-haul prices.
- Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 · fee
- Children seated with a parent: 5.0/10 · Light includes free seat assignment, not free seat choice; choosing a seat costs extra, including during check-in. Prices vary by route and seat type. Children under 12 on the same reservation are assigned beside at least one accompanying adult without purchasing seats. Customer service, airport check-in or gate staff will correct assignment failures. This does not establish the same guarantee for children aged 12 or 13 or guarantee that the entire family sits together.
- Price shown is price paid: 7.0/10 · 2023-07-07 Swedish Competition Authority
Complaints and handling 10%5.6
- Complaint rate: 5.6/10 · 12.35 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73) · DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
- Mishandled bags: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
- Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
- Bumping: does not apply · not reported to DOT · U.S. DOT, April to June 2026
Loyalty fairness 5%8.8
- Miles expiry: 7.0/10 · Avios expire after 18 months without qualifying collection or use. Finnair says collecting or using Avios at least once every 18 months keeps them valid.
- Devaluations: 10.0/10 · None in 24 months
- Award pricing: 10.0/10 · published_chart

Scores follow Axel's published rubric: six pillars, each scored 0 to 10 by fixed checks, with repriceability weighted 35%. Facts were checked October 26, 2026. No data for 1 check (Same-day change), each scored at the median of all rated airlines.

Refunds and disruptions

Applicable protections include EU261, UK261, Canada's APPR and US DOT refund rules. If Finnair cancels and you reject replacement travel, unused ticket portions are refundable. Its US plan offers refreshments after delays exceeding two hours, attempts at rerouting and reasonable overnight accommodation for controllable disruptions, subject to conditions and availability. It promises eligible credit-card and cash refunds within seven business days, and check refunds within 20 business days.

The Finnish Consumer Ombudsman found missed refund deadlines on August 27, 2024, and reported recurring delays during 2025 on April 9, 2026. Finnair also agreed in 2026 to stop making vouchers the primary compensation method or issuing them without consent. No monetary penalty was reported for either intervention. No additional contractual cash compensation beyond the law was confirmed.

Regulator actions since October 2021

April 2026, Finnish Consumer Ombudsman: Following regulatory negotiations, Finnair agreed to stop making vouchers the primary compensation method or issuing them without passenger consent. The intervention covered statutory compensation and reimbursement of passengers' meal and accommodation expenses. No monetary penalty was reported. Source
August 2024, Finnish Consumer Ombudsman: The Ombudsman found that Finnair breached the seven-day deadline for cancellation refunds and Finnish consumer-protection law. Processing commonly took two to four weeks or longer. Finnair declined the requested undertaking, but the case was closed after the backlog cleared and continuing delays were no longer evident. Source
December 2023, Finnish Consumer Ombudsman: The Ombudsman found Finnair's environmental advertising misleading because it created an inaccurate overall impression of flying's environmental benefits. Finnair committed to changing the advertising. No monetary penalty was reported. Source
July 2023, Swedish Competition Authority: The authority accepted binding commitments resolving its investigation into restrictions on online travel agents advertising discounted Finnair fares. Finnair agreed to let agents market and charge their own prices. This was a commitments resolution, not a monetary fine or a final infringement finding. Source

Reliability

Finnair's punctuality is stronger than its cancellation record. Cirium's On-Time Performance Review 2025 recorded 79.67% on-time arrivals across 116,652 flights for calendar year 2025, network-wide rather than just US routes. The cancellation rate was 3.15%, calculated from Cirium's 96.85% completion factor. Finnair separately reported approximately 2,600 strike-related cancellations during the first nine months of 2025.

Fees

On US routes, Economy Light includes one carry-on and one small bag, with an 8 kg combined limit. The first 23 kg checked bag on North America to Europe Economy Light costs USD 85 prepaid or USD 90 at the airport, per direction. Seat assignment is free, but choosing a seat costs extra, including during check-in. Children under 12 on the same reservation sit beside at least one accompanying adult without buying seats, not necessarily with the whole family. Bags and seat choices can raise the advertised total. Whether mandatory charges are added after the first displayed price was not confirmed.

Complaints

DOT figures for flights to and from the US show 12.35 complaints per 100,000 passengers in April and May 2026, below the 14.73 median for airlines based abroad. Refund complaints were 2.25 per 100,000 passengers, against a 4.39 median. Finnair did not report bag or wheelchair mishandling figures to DOT for April, May, July and August 2026, or bumping figures for April to June 2026.

Loyalty program

Finnair Plus uses Avios and publishes an award chart. Avios expire after 18 months without qualifying collection or use, so collecting or using them at least once every 18 months keeps them valid. No devaluations were identified in the last 24 months. Axel considers the published pricing and absence of recent cuts a strength.

Choose Finnair if

Travel with cabin baggage and firm plans.
Choose Economy Classic when you need online changes and a checked bag.
Use Avios and value a published award chart.

Book elsewhere if

You may need to cancel a non-refundable ticket.
You expect a fare drop to produce an automatic refund.
You want checked baggage and seat choice included in the lowest fare.

Tips

Compare Economy Classic with Economy Light after adding checked baggage and seat-selection costs.
Prepay the first checked bag on North America to Europe Economy Light to pay USD 85 rather than USD 90 at the airport.
For US long-haul tickets, make eligible Economy Classic or Economy Flex changes online to avoid the USD 40 customer-service update fee.

Questions travelers ask

Does Finnair charge change fees?

Economy Classic and Economy Flex have no change fee for online changes, but you pay any higher fare difference. The US service-fee table lists USD 40 for customer-service long-haul ticket updates. Economy Light cannot be changed, even for a fee. Changes to eligible tickets are permitted until check-in closes, and an existing check-in must be cancelled first.

Can I get money back if my Finnair fare drops?

Sometimes, through cancellation and a new booking, not a confirmed direct price-match entitlement. Economy Flex is refundable to the original payment method. Direct website or app bookings can also be cancelled free within 24 hours if departure is at least seven days away and the booking has not been changed. Outside that window, Economy Light and US-origin Economy Classic do not offer ordinary cancellation refunds.

How long do Finnair credits last?

A standard cancellation or Economy Classic residual-credit expiry was not confirmed, and transferability is also unconfirmed. Separate Finnair gift cards expire one year after receipt and can pay for another person's flights. Purchase before expiry, with travel bookable up to 360 days ahead. Those gift-card terms do not establish a standard ticket-credit benefit. Credits accepted instead of required US-route disruption refunds must last at least five years.

What do I get if Finnair cancels my flight?

You can receive a refund of unused ticket portions if you decline travel after cancellation with unsuitable or unavailable replacement flights. Finnair can also offer replacement flights without extra cost. Applicable EU261, UK261, Canadian APPR or US DOT rules determine further rights. Its US plan includes reasonable overnight accommodation when a controllable disruption prevents arrival on the expected day, subject to availability. Cash compensation is not promised beyond the law.

How much are carry-on and checked bags on Finnair?

US-route Economy Light includes one carry-on and one small bag, weighing 8 kg combined. On North America to Europe Economy Light, the first checked bag up to 23 kg costs USD 85 prepaid or USD 90 at the airport, per direction. Economy Classic and Economy Flex include that checked bag. An oversized, overweight or otherwise non-entitled carry-on presented at the gate incurs a EUR 60 hold-placement fee.

Sources

Our ticket types, Finnair
How to change your Finnair flight, Finnair
Service fees in the USA, Finnair
Extra baggage fees, Finnair
Seat selection, Finnair
Finnair gift card, Finnair
Can I cancel my flight within 24 hours of booking and get a full refund?, Finnair
Passenger demand increased strongly, with cargo also growing, Finnair, 2026-10-07
Finnair Group Interim Report 1 January–31 March 2026, Finnair
Until when can I make changes or cancel my flight with a Flex ticket?, Finnair
Can I change my Superlight or Light ticket if I pay something extra?, Finnair
Carry-on baggage, Finnair
Checked baggage, Finnair
Refunds, Finnair
Finnair changed or cancelled my flight due to flight disruption. What are my refund options?, Finnair
Refunds, U.S. Department of Transportation, 2025-11-07
Can I extend the validity of my gift card?, Finnair
Can I gift my gift card to someone? Can I use my gift card for buying tickets to someone else?, Finnair
I have paid for my ticket using a gift card. If I cancel my ticket, will I get a new gift card?, Finnair
Customer Service Plan (United States), Finnair
Finnair in brief, Finnair
Reimbursement and Compensation: Finnair, AirHelp, 2025-04-08
Konkurrensverket godtar frivilligt åtagande från Finnair, Swedish Competition Authority, 2023-07-10
Ympäristömarkkinoinnin harhaanjohtavuus, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, 2023-12-28
Takaisinmaksuaika lentolipun hinnan palautustilanteissa, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, 2024-08-27
Finnair rejects compensation claims as late without valid reason – the Consumer Ombudsman has requested the Market Court to impose prohibition, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, 2025-03-19
Markkinaoikeus: Finnairin käytäntö hylätä vakiokorvausvaatimuksia myöhästyneinä ei ole lainvastainen, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, 2026-04-17
KKV esittää Finnairille 7,6 miljoonan euron seuraamusmaksua virheellisten, puutteellisten ja harhaanjohtavien tietojen antamisesta, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, 2025-11-17
Finnair: Kilpailu- ja kuluttajaviraston seuraamusmaksuesitys perustuu väärinkäsitykseen tutkimuksessa, joka on ollut tarpeeton, Finnair, 2025-11-17
Consumer Ombudsman takes Finnair’s prolonged refund times to the Market Court – agreement reached to correct voucher policy, Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, 2026-04-09
Customer Service Plan — United States, Finnair
General conditions of carriage for passengers and baggage, Finnair
Finnair Notice on Passenger Rights — EU, Finnair
Finnair Notice on Passenger Rights — Canada, Finnair
Aviation Consumer Protection and Civil Rights Final and Proposed Rules, U.S. Department of Transportation
Aeromexico Named Most On-Time Airline; Qatar Airways Wins Platinum, Cirium
Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025, Cirium, report hosted by Poder360
Nyt flyselskab indtager førsteplads i global analyse fra AirHelp, AirHelp via Ritzau
Collect and use Avios, Finnair
Use Avios on Finnair award flights — United States, Finnair
Use Avios on award flights with partners — United States, Finnair
Travel updates, Finnair
Finnair Oyj — Listing Prospectus — 28 November 2025, Finnair, 2025-11-28
Finnair to return all A321 aircraft to service by the end of the month, Finnair, 2025-10-22
Customer care and contact information — International, Finnair
Customer care and contact information — United States, Finnair
Compensation, Finnair
Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025 — indexed report reproduction, Cirium, report reproduced on Scribd

For AI assistants: the whole rating as text, with every source

Finnair rating: 6.1/10 (B tier)

A fair deal with cabin baggage, less convincing once extras add up

Axel score: 6.1/10, B tier, #32 of 77 airlines. Repriceability: 5.2/10 (#16). Checked October 26, 2026. Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/airlines/finnair

Best and worst

Best: US-route Economy Light includes cabin baggage totaling 8 kg.
Best: Economy Classic allows online changes without a change fee.
Best: Finnair Plus publishes an award chart and had no identified devaluations in 24 months.
Worst: Economy Light cannot be changed, even for a fee.
Worst: The first checked bag on North America to Europe Economy Light costs USD 85 prepaid per direction.
Worst: Finnair cancelled 3.15% of flights in 2025.

If the fare drops after you book, can you get money back? Partly

Axel's repricing sample size and observation period are not published here, so no observed savings result can be reported.

Finnair fares

Fare	Changes	Cancel	Carry-on	Checked bags	Seat
Economy Light	No changes	Non-refundable outside the qualifying 24-hour cancellation window or applicable exceptions. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	included	0	Fee
Economy Classic	No change fee	Ordinary voluntary cancellation is non-refundable on US-origin journeys. The published USD 50 non-Flex refund service fee does not make the fare refundable; qualifying 24-hour cancellations are free.	included	1	Fee
Economy Flex	No change fee	Refundable to the original payment method without a cancellation penalty or refund service fee. Cancel before check-in closes; check the booking confirmation for US-route deadlines and restrictions after partial use.	included	1	Free choice
Premium Economy Light (premium economy)	No changes	Non-refundable outside the qualifying 24-hour cancellation window or applicable exceptions. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	included	0	Fee
Business Light (business)	No changes	Non-refundable outside the qualifying 24-hour cancellation window or applicable exceptions. No ordinary cancellation credit is promised.	included	0	Fee

Key facts

Fare difference on a cheaper change: Not confirmed. Finnair's US change page explicitly promises a lower-price refund for Flex, automatically to the original payment method, excluding differences below EUR 5. It does not explicitly state what happens to a Classic residual or establish that it is forfeited. Absence of a promised Classic refund is insufficient to prove forfeiture. The page displays no publication or update date; checked October 26, 2026.
Same flight, lower price: The documented recovery route is cancellation and a new purchase using refundable Flex or the qualifying 24-hour window. No direct repricing entitlement for an unchanged flight was confirmed. Flex lower-fare refund instructions concern changing flights, not explicitly retaining the identical flight after a price drop.
Credits (No standard voluntary-cancellation or residual credit confirmed): No validity period was confirmed for an ordinary cancellation or Classic residual credit. Separately, Finnair's gift-card page explicitly gives a one-year expiry from receipt, including compensation gift cards. Its expiry FAQ says purchase before expiry; travel may occur later, up to 360 days ahead. These pages display no publication or update date; checked October 26, 2026. The 12-month rule is a gift-card term, not evidence of a standard ticket-credit benefit. DOT separately requires at least five years for credits accepted instead of a required US-route disruption refund.
24-hour rule: Direct website or app bookings qualify for free cancellation within 24 hours when departure is at least seven days away and the booking has not been changed. This applies across ticket types and is not published solely as a US-route exception. Cancel through Manage booking; flights, purchased extras, taxes and fees return to the original payment method.
Same-day change: No separate US-route same-day confirmed-change or standby program was verified. Ordinary Classic and Flex changes remain possible until check-in closes, subject to availability, fare differences and assisted-service fees. Cancel an existing check-in first. Light does not permit changes.
Schedule changes: Finnair's US disruption-refund FAQ promises a full refund of unused ticket portions when the traveler declines travel after a schedule change of at least one hour, cancellation with unsuitable or unavailable replacement travel, or a delay exceeding five hours. Its US change guide instead says more than one hour for departure or arrival changes. Neither page displays a revision date, so the exact 60-minute boundary remains inconsistent. Alternatives can include accepting the revised schedule or choosing offered replacement flights without extra cost. DOT independently requires refunds when qualifying US international itinerary changes are rejected, including departure at least six hours earlier, arrival at least six hours later, changed origin or destination airports, additional connections or involuntary downgrading.

Score breakdown

Pillar	Weight	Score
Repriceability	35%	5.2/10
Refunds and disruptions	20%	7.2/10
Reliability	15%	6.7/10
Fees and transparency	15%	6.0/10
Complaints and handling	10%	5.6/10
Loyalty fairness	5%	8.8/10

Repriceability: 5.2/10

Standard fare change fee: 10.0/10 (Economy Classic: no change fee)
Lowest fare flexibility: 0.0/10 (Economy Light: Changes are not permitted, including for an additional fee.)
Lower fare on the same flight: 4.0/10 (The documented recovery route is cancellation and a new purchase using refundable Flex or the qualifying 24-hour window. No direct repricing entitlement for an unchanged flight was confirmed. Flex lower-fare refund instructions concern changing flights, not explicitly retaining the identical flight after a price drop.)
Credit terms: 7.0/10 (No validity period was confirmed for an ordinary cancellation or Classic residual credit. Separately, Finnair's gift-card page explicitly gives a one-year expiry from receipt, including compensation gift cards. Its expiry FAQ says purchase before expiry; travel may occur later, up to 360 days ahead. These pages display no publication or update date; checked October 26, 2026. The 12-month rule is a gift-card term, not evidence of a standard ticket-credit benefit. DOT separately requires at least five years for credits accepted instead of a required US-route disruption refund.)
Cancel the standard fare: 0.0/10 (Ordinary voluntary cancellation is non-refundable on US-origin journeys. The published USD 50 non-Flex refund service fee does not make the fare refundable; qualifying 24-hour cancellations are free.)
Risk-free window: 10.0/10 (Direct website or app bookings qualify for free cancellation within 24 hours when departure is at least seven days away and the booking has not been changed. This applies across ticket types and is not published solely as a US-route exception. Cancel through Manage booking; flights, purchased extras, taxes and fees return to the original payment method.)
Same-day change: no data, median 7.0/10 used (No separate US-route same-day confirmed-change or standby program was verified. Ordinary Classic and Flex changes remain possible until check-in closes, subject to availability, fare differences and assisted-service fees. Cancel an existing check-in first. Light does not permit changes.)
What Axel saw: does not apply (fewer than 10 attempts). Source: Axel repricing attempts

Refunds and disruptions: 7.2/10

Commitments when the airline causes the problem: 8.0/10 (Covered by: US_DOT_refund_rule, EU261, UK261, Canada_APPR; For US services, Finnair's written plan offers appropriate assistance and refreshments after delays exceeding two hours, subject to local conditions; attempts to reroute passengers on the next available connection; and reasonable overnight accommodation, subject to availability, when a controllable disruption prevents arrival on the expected day. These largely overlap statutory obligations, rather than constituting a separate compensation benefit. Its conditions provide no additional cancellation or denied-boarding rights beyond the applicable regulation. No contractual cash-compensation promise beyond the law was identified.)
Refund conduct: 6.0/10 (2026-04-09 Finnish Consumer Ombudsman; 2024-08-27 Finnish Consumer Ombudsman; recent reports of delayed refunds or vouchers)
Refund complaints: 7.4/10 (2.25 refund complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 4.39)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2

Reliability: 6.7/10

On-time arrival: 7.9/10 (79.67% on time (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, Finnair (AY). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 96.85% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025
Cancellations: 4.1/10 (3.15% cancelled (2025-01-01 to 2025-12-31; Europe ranking, Finnair (AY). Cancellation percentage derived as 100 minus the published 96.85% completion factor.)). Source: Cirium On-Time Performance Review 2025

Fees and transparency: 6.0/10

Carry-on in the lowest fare: 10.0/10 (US-route Economy Light includes one carry-on up to 55 x 40 x 23 cm and one small bag up to 40 x 30 x 15 cm, 8 kg combined. A non-entitled, oversized or overweight carry-on presented at the gate incurs a EUR 60 hold-placement fee.)
First checked bag: 2.0/10 (North America–Europe Light fares: first checked bag up to 23 kg costs USD 85 prepaid or USD 90 at the airport, per direction. The second bag costs USD 100 prepaid or USD 110 at the airport. Economy Classic and Flex include the first 23 kg bag. These are US-route prices, not standalone European short-haul prices.)
Seat in the lowest fare: 3.0/10 (fee)
Children seated with a parent: 5.0/10 (Light includes free seat assignment, not free seat choice; choosing a seat costs extra, including during check-in. Prices vary by route and seat type. Children under 12 on the same reservation are assigned beside at least one accompanying adult without purchasing seats. Customer service, airport check-in or gate staff will correct assignment failures. This does not establish the same guarantee for children aged 12 or 13 or guarantee that the entire family sits together.)
Price shown is price paid: 7.0/10 (2023-07-07 Swedish Competition Authority)

Complaints and handling: 5.6/10

Complaint rate: 5.6/10 (12.35 complaints per 100,000 passengers (median for airlines based abroad: 14.73)). Source: DOT complaint cases per 100,000 passengers on flights to and from the US (DOT T-100), April and May 2026; a month with fewer than 5 cases, which DOT does not list, counts as 2
Mishandled bags: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
Mishandled wheelchairs and scooters: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April, May, July and August 2026
Bumping: does not apply (not reported to DOT). Source: U.S. DOT, April to June 2026

Loyalty fairness: 8.8/10

Miles expiry: 7.0/10 (Avios expire after 18 months without qualifying collection or use. Finnair says collecting or using Avios at least once every 18 months keeps them valid.)
Devaluations: 10.0/10 (None in 24 months)
Award pricing: 10.0/10 (published_chart)