Reply To: Flight cancellation with Finnair

[Lady London]

They owe you rerouting regardless of how far ahead a flight on your itinerary is cancelled. Obvs you could choose refund but it’s your choice not the airline’s and if you request rerouting they must honour it.

Without going into detail I’d just tell them I am unable to take any earlier flight. i think any flight more than 1 hour earlier is regarded by EU judgment as equivalent to a cancellation. Doesn’t help you here as compensation would not apply this far ahead, but it does give a hint that what is reasonable for them to suggest as alternative flight should not be too much earlier.

Frankly trying it on for that much earlier feels like they’re bullying you and taking the pi$$. They’re simply trying to save tbemselves the cost of accommmodating you overnight (+ meals during the extra travel time), on the natural reroute. I wouldn’t share detail with them – not even if pressed – but just tell them it’s impossible as you are unable to get to the airport early enough to take any earlier flight. Keep in mind if they do come up with something about an hour earlier you should probably reasonably accept it.

I can imagine all sorts of other transport dependencies or dependencies on other people or family commitments or transport issues which would nake it impossible to shift to an earlier flight at an airline’s whim. Be polite but firm and don’t say too much. No you don’t have to take a refund if they try that on after that, tbey really have to reroute you.

Have you checked for other ways of departing at the same time, or at least not earlier, that could get you to your destination reasonably close to original time? Finnair is supposed to not exclude putting you on another airline if they can’t meet your rerouting need. If there is anything bring it up as a possibility and ask for that as it might make them feel a lot warmer towards putting you in a hotel if that is what a reroute at same sort of departure time would require.

Please let us know how you get on.