The most common questions about connecting flights at Helsinki Airport

Can you leave Helsinki Airport during the layover?

You can leave Helsinki Airport during your transfer if you are entitled to enter the Schengen area and Finland and hold the required travel documents.

If you are wondering what to do in Helsinki while on a layover, we have collected tips for 6-, 12-, and 24-hour adventures in the Finnish capital.

There are baggage storage services in the arrivals hall of Helsinki Airport, if you would like to leave your baggage at the airport when exploring Helsinki.

Can you stay overnight and sleep at Helsinki Airport?

Helsinki Airport is open 24/7. Some sleeping pods are available in the airport's security-controlled area, and you will find hotels next to the airport.

How do I get to my connecting flight smoothly?

You’ll get to your connecting flight smoothly with these steps:

• Check the status of your connecting flight during your previous flight. On long-haul flights, information on connections is available in the entertainment system, and on short-haul flights operated with Airbus aircraft, you can check the status via our Nordic Sky portal.
• When you arrive, please check the departure gate of your connecting flight using the Finnair app or the airport monitors.
• Depending on your origin and destination countries, you may need to go through border control and security on the way to the next gate. You must go through border control always when changing between Schengen and non-Schengen areas. Just follow the signs at the airport.
• Kindly go through the border control and security as soon as you arrive in Helsinki to ensure you catch your connecting flight. You can enjoy shops and restaurants in both Schengen and non-Schengen areas of the airport.

Will my checked baggage be automatically transferred to my connecting flight?

If your baggage is checked in and tagged all the way to your final destination, it will be automatically transferred to your connecting flight, and you don’t need to worry about it. Otherwise, you must collect it in the baggage claim area and check it for your connecting flight at the bag drop desk. You may have to go through customs when leaving the baggage claim area.

You can always ask the agent at the bag drop of your origin airport if your bags are tagged to your final destination. Your bag tag also shows the airport codes and the flight numbers to which your baggage has been checked in.

How do I get a boarding pass for my connecting flight?

You often receive your boarding pass for your connecting flight when checking in for your first flight. If not, you can print your boarding pass from a check-in kiosk near Finnair transfer desks after arriving in Helsinki. You’ll find our transfer desks near gates 29 and 52.

How to spend time during transfer at the airport?

Your transfer time at Helsinki Airport and its spacious premises can be fun! Helsinki Airport has been selected among the best airports in Europe several times.

You can kill time in its numerous shops, cafés and restaurants, and you will find things to do on both the Schengen and non-Schengen sides of the airport. Please note that in order to enter the non-Schengen area, you must have a flight ticket to a non-Schengen destination.

When it comes to what to buy at Helsinki Airport, it offers shopping options for all tastes, from fashion to groceries. While in Finland, why not check out the stores for iconic Finnish brands Iittala and Marimekko, which you may also encounter on Finnair flights? Also Moomin lovers will find their souvenirs at Helsinki Airport.

Travelling with children? Check out the play area near gates 16 and 20.

Can I visit Finnair lounges during my transfer?

Yes, you are welcome to our lounges! Finnair lounges are perfect for relaxing and recharging before your next flight. We have lounges in the Schengen and non-Schengen areas, designed with your comfort in mind. If lounge access is not included in your ticket or Finnair Plus tier benefits, you can purchase it as a travel extra, and we recommend you do so in advance, for example, via Finnair app.

Do I need a transit visa at Helsinki Airport?

Which travel documents you need for your journey depends, for example, on your nationality and departure and destination countries.

If you are changing between the Schengen and non-Schengen areas of the airport, you need to go through border control, where your passport and other possible travel documents, such as a visa, will be checked. Finnair, as an airline, will check your travel documents at the departure gate if the authority of your transit or destination country requires us to do so.

You, as a traveller, are always responsible for ensuring that you fulfil the requirements of your destination and possible transit country and that you have the required travel documents for your journey. We recommend you check the requirements from your destination country's government or embassy website. You might also find our travel documents map helpful when preparing for your journey.

Is my connection time long enough to make it to the connecting flight?

You can see your connection time when buying flights and later in the Finnair mobile app and Manage booking on our website. Minimum connection times apply when your flights are on the same ticket. At best, changing flights at Helsinki Airport takes just 35 minutes, when you transfer within the Schengen area. When changing between Schengen and non-Schengen sides, the minimum connection time is 40-45 minutes, as you may need to go through border control and sometimes also a security check on the way. Please go straight to your next gate, especially if you have a tight connection.

What happens if I miss my connecting flight?

If you do not make it to your connecting flight due to a delay on our incoming flight and your flights are on the same ticket, we will reroute you to your destination as soon as possible. You will automatically receive information about the new flight by email and/or SMS, and it will also be updated in the Finnair mobile app and Manage booking. Please ensure we have your up-to-date contact information in Manage booking on our website.

The decision on whether a flight can wait for passengers arriving late is made on a flight-by-flight basis. Therefore, we unfortunately cannot promise that your connecting flight will be waiting for you if you arrive late at the departure gate. 

Can I purchase travel extras for my connecting flight operated by Finnair?

We recommend that you purchase any travel extras in advance. For example, pre-order meals must be purchased up to 36 hours before the flight’s departure.

Last-minute upgrades can be purchased even at the gate if there is availability. Transfer time passes smoothly in the lounge, and it is advisable to purchase access through the Finnair app in advance, but you can also ask for availability at the lounge reception.