Finnair damaged baggage: report, evidence and seven-day deadline
Report damage to checked baggage immediately at arrival where possible, photograph it before repair or disposal, obtain a baggage report and send Finnair a written claim no later than seven days after receiving the bag. The Montreal Convention limit is currently 1,519 SDR per passenger in aggregate, but payment depends on proven damage, value and carrier liability. A PIR supports the facts but should not replace the written monetary claim.
Free eligibility check
Check your case in the form
Enter your route, date and type of disruption. We will check whether your case qualifies for a claim under EU 261/2004 or UK261.
What happened to your flight?
Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.
Choose the situation that applies to your flight:
Damage claims use a much shorter deadline than flight compensation. Act before debating whether the suitcase can be repaired.
Airport-to-claim timeline
| Time | Action | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| At baggage reclaim | Inspect wheels, shell, handles, frame, zip and contents | Timestamped photos |
| Before leaving airport | Report to arrival service or available Finnair channel | PIR or report reference |
| As soon as practical | Obtain repair assessment or replacement evidence | Written shop or manufacturer statement |
| Within 7 days of receipt | Send written complaint and amount | Form confirmation |
| Before disposing | Give carrier reasonable inspection opportunity | Photos and correspondence |
| If unresolved | Track two-year court-action period | Complete case file |
If damage is hidden until unpacking, document when it was discovered and submit immediately. The seven-day maximum still matters.
What damage can be compensable?
The carrier is liable for destruction, loss or damage to checked baggage while it was in charge, unless the damage resulted from the baggage's inherent defect, quality or vice. Cracked shells, broken frames, missing wheels, torn fabric and damaged contents can qualify when causation and value are proved.
Normal wear, superficial scratches, dirt and damage caused by overpacking or an unsuitable suitcase can be disputed. Finnair should not label a structural break "wear" without assessing the evidence. Compare photographs before and after travel if available.
For cabin baggage, carrier liability generally requires fault. State where and how airline staff handled the item.
The seven-day written complaint
Article 31 of the Montreal Convention requires a written complaint for checked-baggage damage immediately after discovery and at the latest within seven days from receipt. Calendar the date the bag was delivered, including where it arrived late and damaged.
Do not wait for a repair shop appointment beyond the deadline. Submit the damage description, photographs and initial amount or note that a written estimate will follow. Add the estimate to the same case reference.
The two-year court-action period does not cure a missed seven-day complaint. These are separate requirements.
Electronic reports and C-258/16 Finnair
The Court of Justice considered a Finnair baggage complaint recorded electronically by an airline employee. It held that a complaint can satisfy the writing requirement when it is entered in the carrier's information system, and an employee can record it on the passenger's behalf where the required conditions, including the passenger's ability to verify accuracy, are met.
This makes an electronic PIR or agent-entered record important evidence. Still obtain a copy or screenshot and review the description before the seven-day period expires. If the report says "minor scratch" but the frame is broken, correct it in writing immediately.
Do not rely on an oral statement to a baggage-desk employee without a record.
Repair, replacement and depreciation
The objective is to compensate proven loss, not automatically provide a brand-new premium suitcase. A repairable bag may be resolved through repair cost. If repair is impossible or uneconomic, current value can be assessed using purchase evidence, age, condition and depreciation.
Obtain a written statement from a repair service where possible. Keep the purchase receipt, product model, warranty, card statement or photographs showing prior condition. For contents, identify each item and show how the baggage event caused the damage.
Do not discard the suitcase until Finnair has had a reasonable chance to inspect it or confirms disposal is allowed. Storage should remain practical and safe.
The 1,519 SDR ceiling
Finnair's current liability notice states an aggregate baggage limit of 1,519 Special Drawing Rights per passenger for destruction, loss, damage or delay. SDR value changes daily. The ceiling is not a standard award and does not mean every broken suitcase receives the maximum.
The limit applies across baggage loss categories for that passenger. If a delayed bag also arrives damaged, the essential purchases and physical damage share the same overall ceiling, subject to Convention analysis.
A higher limit can apply where the passenger made a special declaration of interest at check-in and paid any required supplement.
Interline and codeshare baggage
Finnair tickets can contain Norra or partner flights. Montreal rules distinguish contracting and actual carriers and provide routes for successive carriage. Report at final arrival and keep the baggage tag showing where custody began and where the bag was checked.
Finnair's liability notice says a passenger can address a complaint to either the contracting or actual carrier where they differ. The most practical respondent may depend on the damaged segment and handling record.
Do not let carriers redirect the passenger past the seven-day deadline. Send the written claim to the plausible carrier, preserve proof and copy another responsible carrier where appropriate.
Damage after delayed delivery
Inspect a bag delivered by courier before accepting it as undamaged. Photograph the package, seals and suitcase at delivery. Record delivery time because it starts both the damage discovery process and the 21-day period for delayed-baggage expenses.
Submit physical damage within seven days of receipt, and delayed-baggage costs within 21 days. One claim can reference the same WorldTracer file, but label each remedy and deadline separately.
The delayed and lost baggage page covers essentials and loss valuation.
Baggage damage versus EU261
EU261 EUR 250-600 does not compensate a broken suitcase. It addresses qualifying delay, cancellation or boarding refusal. A passenger can pursue both systems where the flight and baggage each suffered a compensable event.
Example: a Finnair cancellation produces a next-day arrival and the suitcase is delivered with a broken frame. The passenger can assess cancellation compensation, care costs and Montreal baggage damage as three separate entries.
Keep receipts and legal bases separate to avoid duplicate or misrouted decisions.
Written Finnair claim package
Attach the e-ticket, baggage tag, PIR, photographs from several angles, repair estimate, purchase/value evidence and a concise description. State when the bag was received, when damage was discovered and the amount requested.
A useful sentence is:
Checked bag tag [number] was received on [date/time] with [specific damage]. I reported it under reference [number] and submit this written claim within seven days, with photographs and [repair/replacement] evidence attached.
Use Finnair's baggage or feedback and compensation channel indicated for the report, save the confirmation and add later documents to that case.
Baggage liability, deadlines and Finnair procedure checked on 15 August 2026.
FAQ
Is a PIR the same as the written damage claim?
It is important evidence, but send a specific written monetary complaint within seven days rather than relying on the report alone.
Can an electronic airport report satisfy the writing rule?
Yes, C-258/16 confirms that an electronically recorded complaint can qualify when the Convention conditions are met.
Must Finnair buy a new suitcase?
Not automatically. Repair cost or depreciated current value may be used depending on the damage and evidence.
Does 1,519 SDR apply to each bag?
No. It is generally an aggregate ceiling per passenger, not a separate maximum for every suitcase.
What if a delayed bag arrives damaged?
Use the seven-day damage complaint and the separate 21-day delayed-expense deadline, both measured from delivery.