Finn Air- How Strict Are Their Baggage Requirements?

[Ro_Laren]

Next week, I am flying from the USA to Russia. I redeemed my American Airlines frequent flier miles, but for part of the journey I'll be flying FinnAir (they are in a "OneWorld" international airline alliance with American Airlines). I've never flown FinnAir before & I wonder how strict they are with their baggage requirements. My prob is that since I have a 24 hour layover in Helsinki, Finland, I have to pick up my bags from baggage claim in Helsinki & then check them back in the next day. This could potentially lead to some probs for me.

For instance, American Airlines doesn't have a weight limitation on their carry-on bags, but FinnAir has a 17.5 lb weight limitation. Do you think that since my flight originates from an AA flight from the US, that FinnAir will waive their weight limitation? Or, if it's over 17.5 lbs, will they try to make me check-in my carry-on underneath the plane? At what point of the check-in process would FinnAir weigh my carry-on? When I initially check-in, at Security, or maybe when I board the plane? Or would they only weigh it if it looks suspiciously heavy?

I have another question. On my flight I’m going to check-in two 50 lb. pieces of luggage. When I check-in at the American departure airport, I’ll pay American Airlines a fee for the 2nd piece of luggage. Since I’m already paying American Airlines at the airport in America, do I have to pay for the 2nd bag again when I re-check in my bags w/FinnAir in Helsinki? That means I'd have to pay double for one bag.

Any clues how FinnAir would handle these issues? Does anyone have any experience with FinnAir? Are they fair to work with or are they just a cheapo airline that wants to nickel and dime you to death?

 

[WillsBabe]

This might give you some help. I found it after just a couple of seconds of Googling. There's a bit in there about if you are also travelling with other airlines.

http://www.finnair.com/finnaircom/wps/portal/matkustusohjeet/en_INT#

The regulations on these pages apply to flights operated by Finnair – if your ticket includes flights from other airlines, IATA standards define which airline’s baggage regulations apply to those flights

 

[Pingfah]

You might try asking FinnAir rather than a bunch of Trekkies.

 

[trampledamage]

You might try asking FinnAir rather than a bunch of Trekkies.

But this is an international bunch of trekkies so it's a pretty decent place to start - since she's here already

 

[JRS]

Since I’m already paying American Airlines at the airport in America, do I have to pay for the 2nd bag again when I re-check in my bags w/FinnAir in Helsinki? That means I'd have to pay double for one bag.

Any clues how FinnAir would handle these issues? Does anyone have any experience with FinnAir? Are they fair to work with or are they just a cheapo airline that wants to nickel and dime you to death?

I am not sure about the luggage fees..I would advice you to send email to Finnair about it, if you do not find answer from the website.
I lost a luggage once on a flight from Czech but it was returned the next day to my home door intact. That is the most problems I have had with them.
I think Finnair is good to work with.
They are no means a cheapo airline. I would dare to say that they are one of the best airlines in Europe. They have good reputation and are known for their safety plus have also very modern fleet.
I do not know if you will be staying in a hotel in Finland but I would advice to be in the airport early because honestly there might be long lines, sometimes anyways. It really depends on the time and the day really.

 

[SmoothieX]

Call the airline instead of asking us idiots.

What possesses people here to ask inane questions to people who can't possibly answer appropariately?

 

[Holdfast]

I really would not call the airline. Think about it: for stuff like the weight of carry-on, you will only get a jobsworth reply that at best will leave you no happier and at worst they'll make you check it in & pay an extra fee. If you ignore the issue, and just try to blag your overweight bag on the flight, the best that can happen is that you get away with it and pay nothing, and at worst - yeah, you guessed it, they'll make you check it in & pay an extra fee. So there's nothing to be gained by asking in advance, nothing to lose by not, and everything to gain by not asking and just doing what you want and hoping to get away with it.

As for your checked-in luggage question rather than the carry-on one, sorry, odds-on you're going to pay twice for their being overweight. Two separate flights, two separate check-ins = two sets of fees. You may be able to sweet talk your way out of it if you're lucky, but I doubt it.

 

[Ro_Laren]

You might try asking FinnAir rather than a bunch of Trekkies.

But this is an international bunch of trekkies so it's a pretty decent place to start - since she's here already

That's exactly why I was asking the people on this board. Since we're an international group of people, we have many different experiences.

BTW, I ended up calling Finnair. My layover in Helsinki is over 24 hours. That means that when I land in Helsinki, I have to pick up my bags from the airport and then check them in on the next day. As I mentioned before, I am bringing 2 check-in pieces of luggage on the flight. It will cost $60 to check-in that extra piece of luggage with American Airlines. According to Finnair, I'm gonna have to pay for that second piece of luggage AGAIN. They charge $116. That means I have to pay $176 to bring a second suitcase.

I would try to only bring one suitcase on my journey, but I'm gonna be in Russia for over 10 months. I can't imagine living out of 1 suitcase for that long. And, believe it or not, it would be even more expensive to mail 1 suitcase worth of stuff then to just pay $176 to the thieving airlines!

I'm not impressed with Finnair... especially since they have told me a different thing each time I called. I demanded to speak with a Supervisor today and she told me the bad news. Maybe when I recheck in my bags in Helsinki, I can sweet talk Finnair out of charging me again.