🧳Lost baggage at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport: 2025–2026 step-by-step guide

If your suitcase does not appear on the baggage belt at Helsinki-Vantaa, the most important thing is not to panic and not to leave the arrivals area “to figure it out later”. Baggage tracing and compensation are handled by the airline or its handling partner, not by the airport operator Finavia. The first 15–30 minutes often determine how quickly your suitcase is returned and whether you receive proper compensation.

Below is a step-by-step guide for 2025–2026, from the baggage service desk all the way to compensation under the Montreal Convention.

😵 Delayed vs lost baggage: what is the difference?

In European practice, baggage issues are divided into several categories:

Delayed baggage — your suitcase did not arrive on the belt as scheduled, but it is located in the system or on its way to you. This is common with short connections.

Lost baggage — the baggage has not been found within 21 days, or the airline officially declares it lost earlier.

Damaged baggage — the suitcase arrives but is broken or part of the contents is missing.

All of these situations fall under the airline’s responsibility, not the airport’s or Finavia’s. Finnish airports provide infrastructure, but airlines and their ground handlers are responsible for checked baggage.

📝 Step 1. Go directly to the baggage service desk at Helsinki-Vantaa

As soon as it is clear that your flight has been unloaded and your suitcase is not coming, do not leave the arrivals area.

At Helsinki Airport, each airline or its ground handler operates an arrival service / baggage service desk. There, the agent will:

• check your baggage tag and ticket
• complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR)
• give you a case number (often like HELXX12345 in WorldTracer)
• ask for an address in Finland or at home for baggage delivery
  

If you have already left the baggage claim area, look for your airline’s Service Desk in the public arrivals hall — but it is always best to handle this before exiting.

After filing the PIR, you should have:

• a paper or digital PIR report
• a case number and instructions on where to track the status
  

This document is essential for all later claims.

📲 How to track baggage after filing a PIR

After the PIR is created, tracing continues via the airline’s systems.

• Major airlines (e.g. Finnair) provide online Delayed baggage tracking pages
• Tracking is done using your case number
• Typical statuses include located, in transit, out for delivery
  

Updates are often sent automatically via:

• SMS
• email
  

If nothing changes within 24–48 hours, you can:

• contact the airline via its online form
• call customer service
• ask for assistance at a transfer service desk if you are still in transit
  

If you continue traveling within Finland, update your case.
If you are heading to Rovaniemi, Levi, Tampere or Turku, the suitcase can often be forwarded directly to your next destination or hotel.

👕 What to do without your belongings: “essential purchases” and reimbursement

If you arrive in Finland with effectively no belongings, you are entitled to buy essential items and request reimbursement from the airline.

Typically accepted purchases include:

• basic clothing (underwear, socks, 1–2 outfits)
• toiletries
• a reasonable amount of warm clothing in winter

Important points:

• Purchase reasonably — luxury coats or designer shoes are rarely reimbursed in full
• Keep all receipts — without them, reimbursement is often reduced
• Airline policies vary:
  • if baggage is delayed on the way home, compensation may be limited
  • if you are starting a vacation (e.g. in Lapland), reimbursement is usually more generous

The deadline for claiming reimbursement for delayed baggage is usually within 21 days after you receive your suitcase (check your airline’s exact rules).

💶 Compensation for lost baggage under the Montreal Convention

If your suitcase is not found within 21 days or the airline officially declares it lost, the process moves from temporary expenses to final compensation.

Key points:

• Airline liability is limited to a maximum amount in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per passenger (currently around 1,300 SDR; verify the exact amount at the time of claim).
• You may claim compensation for both the suitcase and its contents, subject to depreciation and the SDR cap
• Supporting evidence is crucial: receipts, bank statements, or at least realistic valuations.

Documents usually required:

• copy of the PIR report
• boarding passes and/or e-ticket
• baggage tag
• list of contents with estimated values
• receipts for higher-value items (if available)
• bank details for payment

⚠️ Important: EU Regulation EC 261/2004 applies to flight delays and cancellations. Baggage issues are governed by the Montreal Convention. These are two separate legal frameworks.

🔁 Connections, separate tickets and low-cost airlines: who is responsible?

Complications arise when multiple airlines are involved.

1. Single booking, multiple flights

If you have one booking (e.g. regional flight → Helsinki → Lapland) and baggage is lost after a transfer at HEL, responsibility usually lies with the airline that carried you to your final destination. The PIR is typically filed at that endpoint.

2. Separate tickets (self-transfer)

If you built your itinerary from separate bookings:

• each airline is responsible only for its own segment
• proving liability may be more difficult
• the PIR is still filed with the airline of the last completed flight
  

3. Low-cost airlines

With low-cost carriers (Ryanair, Wizz, etc.), procedures are often stricter:

• claims must usually be submitted online
• deadlines and internal rules may differ from traditional airlines (though Montreal Convention limits still apply if the carrier is covered)
  

If you connect via HEL and then fly low-cost, read their baggage rules in advance and keep a link to the Helsinki-Vantaa FAQ to know where to find the correct service desk.

🧳 Lockers, Lost & Found and items forgotten in the terminal

Sometimes the situation is simpler: the baggage was not lost by the airline, but you forgot an item in the terminal.

At Helsinki-Vantaa arrivals, Excess Baggage Company operates:

• paid luggage storage
• baggage wrapping
• accessory sales
• a dedicated Lost & Found service for items forgotten in the terminal (not on aircraft)

This distinction matters: airlines do not search for items forgotten at security or cafés, and the airport does not handle checked baggage missing from flights.

❄️ Winter, snow and delays: how this affects baggage

Finnish airports, including HEL, are among the most winter-resilient in Europe. Finavia operates extensive snow-clearing fleets and established de-icing procedures.

Nevertheless, in winter:

• shorter connections increase the risk that bags do not make it
• de-icing and snowfall can extend handling times
• heavy snowstorms can trigger chain delays
  

If you are flying to Lapland with critical items (winter clothing, medication, children’s essentials), pack them in your carry-on luggage, especially when transferring in Helsinki.

✨ Conclusion: stay calm, keep documents, respect deadlines

Helsinki-Vantaa is a well-organized hub. Even if baggage is lost, tracing and compensation processes are structured. Your best allies are:

• filing a PIR immediately
• keeping all receipts
• respecting Montreal Convention deadlines
• realistic itinerary planning: more transfers mean higher risk

To avoid being stranded with just a backpack:

• allow sufficient connection time at HEL, especially in winter
• keep essentials in your carry-on
• know where to go in case of problems — this guide helps
• if continuing to Lapland (Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Levi), plan your delivery address in advance
  

Save this guide and, after your trip, share your real experience — actual cases often help more than theory.