Assistance at the airport
Assistance is available for you at all airports within the European Union and in other Finnair destination airports as well. You can find more information also on the airports’ websites.
- You’ll meet the pre-booked assistant at the airport either at the check-in desk or at one of the pick-up points marked with the international symbol of access.
- If you wish for assistance before check-in, please arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight departure. At Helsinki Airport, there are several pick-up points. You can check the pick-up points here.
- If you need assistance only from the check-in onwards, we ask you to be there at least one hour before the check-in for your flight closes. See the check-in times. At Helsinki Airport, our Special Assistance desk is at your service.
- If you are using a wheelchair, on most airports you can choose to move from the check-in to your departure gate using your personal wheelchair or you can check in your wheelchair and borrow one for the time spent at the airport. Read more about travelling with a wheelchair or mobility aid.
- After the check-in, we will assist you through the security control to your departure gate and your seat in the aircraft.
- We recommend you to travel with your own personal assistant if you need help with taking medication, eating, visiting the toilet, getting up or communicating.
- You will board the aircraft among the first customers. In this way we can offer you a hassle-free start for your flight and our cabin crew can discuss with you about your needs during the flight. To allow enough time for boarding, please be at the gate well in advance before the boarding starts.
- You can read more about Helsinki Airport’s services here.
Services on board the flight
- All our aircraft have several seats with movable armrest to make it easy for you to move to your seat. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer you assistive devices, such as elevating seat cushions, on board.
- Please note that you must be able to sit in your seat with the seatbelt fastened whenever the seatbelt sign is on. If necessary due to medical reasons, you can use a five-point harness, which is a flight-certified safety device. Please confirm the suitability of your assistive device with us through the assistance request form latest 48 hours before the start of your trip. We accept e.g. the following restraint harnesses with prenotification:
- Postural support – AMsafe
- Postural support – firefly GoTo Sunrise medical
- Postural support – Crelling Harness (Model 27)
- You may want to make an advance seat reservation to, for example, ensure extra legroom on board. You can do this for a fee when booking your ticket or afterwards through Manage booking.
- It is good to know that for safety reasons customers with reduced mobility can’t sit at an exit row, as sitting there requires you to be able to help our cabin crew and for example, open the aircraft door if needed.
- All our long-haul flights operated with Airbus A330 and A350 aircraft are equipped with a wheelchair for visiting the toilet. Our cabin crew will help you set up the chair and move it in the cabin when you wish. Please note that you must be able to lift yourself to and from the seat on your own or with the help of your personal assistant.
- If you have a visual impairment or hearing defect, please let our cabin crew know so that they can provide you with the best possible service on board.
- We recommend you to travel with your own personal assistant if you need help with taking medication, eating, visiting the toilet, getting up or communicating.
After the flight
The assistance service is available for you also at your transfer or destination airport.
- The assistant will meet you at the aircraft and help you to move from your seat or the aircraft door to the wheelchair. To ensure we can help you with no hassle, we let other customers deboard the aircraft first.
- If you have a connecting flight, the assistant will escort you all the way to your next flight. If you arrived at your destination, the assistant will take you through the arrivals hall to your next mode of transportation.
Flight and bus connections
Accessibility
Finnair's bus connections to Turku and Tampere are primarily operated with high-floor buses, which unfortunately cannot accommodate customers in wheelchairs.
If you are using a wheelchair, please inform us at least 48 hours before the departure time, so we can request the bus company to allocate a bus equipped with a wheelchair lift and space for the upcoming journey. The maximum load capacity of the wheelchair lift is 250kg. The bus driver will assist in securing both the wheelchair and the person in the wheelchair safely onto the bus.
Assistance dogs, such as hearing or guide dogs, are welcome on the bus with you at no extra charge.
Special needs complaints on USA flights
Part 382 of the US Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel and applies to carriers operating flights to and from the USA.
The Department of Transportation has published a document called the Bill of Rights for travellers with disabilities. This Bill of Rights describes the fundamental rights of air travellers with disabilities under the Air Carrier Access Act and its implementing regulation, 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 382.
Should you encounter any issues throughout your journey to/from the USA with Finnair, we kindly ask that you seek assistance from our dedicated crew members or ground staff. They will be pleased to assist you in connecting with a Complaint Resolution Official (CRO), specially trained to handle any concerns related to disabilities. Our CROs are available during operational hours and can be reached via telephone. If you need to make a complaint after your flight, you can do so using this feedback form.
