Finnair allowance at a glance
| Bag | Maximum size | Maximum weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry-on | 21.7×15.7×9.1 in55x40x23 cm | 17.6 combined lb8 combined kg | The 8 kg is a combined total covering the cabin bag plus the small item, rising to 12 kg in Business Flex. The cheapest fare, Economy Superlight, includes no cabin bag at all. |
| Personal item | 15.7×11.8×5.9 in40x30x15 cm | No stated limit | One small item, whose weight counts toward the same 8 kg combined cabin allowance. |
| Checked bag | 35x30x18 in90x75x45 cm | 50 lb23 kg |
Finnair checked bag fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| First checked bag | $100 where the fare includes no checked bag |
| Second checked bag | $100 |
| Overweight bag | $95 |
| Oversize bag | $95 |
On North America to Europe routes Economy Classic and Flex include one 23 kg bag, Premium Economy two, and Business two at 32 kg. Economy Light and Superlight include none.
This page goes deeper on one part of the policy. The full record is at Finnair Baggage Rules.
Finnair includes one 23 kg checked bag on Classic and Flex tickets. Light and Superlight include none. That is the whole Finnair checked baggage question for most US travelers: the ticket type decides whether the bag is free or costs 75 to 90 USD each way.
The Finnair record holds the cabin figures and the headline fees. This page covers the hold in full. Pieces by cabin and route, the 32 kg ceiling, what Finnair bans from checked bags, and what a heavy bag costs at the desk.
Finnair checked baggage allowance by ticket type
Finnair prices bags by piece, not by kilo, and the standard piece is 23 kg (50 lb). The size limit is 90 x 75 x 45 cm (35 x 30 x 18 in) per bag. Both figures are on the carrier’s checked baggage page.
| Ticket | North America to Europe | Europe and Finland | Asia and Middle East | Japan to Europe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy Light or Superlight | 0 pieces | 0 pieces | 0 pieces | 0 pieces |
| Economy Classic or Flex | 1 x 23 kg | 1 x 23 kg | 1 x 23 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Premium Economy | 2 x 23 kg | 1 x 23 kg | 1 x 23 kg | 2 x 23 kg |
| Business | 2 x 32 kg | 1 x 23 kg | 2 x 32 kg | 3 x 32 kg |
Finnair Plus Gold, Platinum and Platinum Lumo members get one extra 23 kg bag on top of the ticket allowance. Silver members get half price on an extra bag.
The Light fare is the trap. It is the cheapest transatlantic fare.
It includes a carry-on but no hold bag at all. Add the bag at booking and the difference to Classic usually shrinks to almost nothing.
What an extra bag costs
Finnair publishes its extra baggage fees in two columns, prepaid online and at the airport. Fees are one way. The North America figures are the ones a US reader needs.
| North America to Europe | Prepaid online | At the airport |
|---|---|---|
| First bag on a Light ticket | 75 EUR or 85 USD | 90 EUR or 90 USD |
| Second bag on a Light ticket | 90 EUR or 100 USD | 105 EUR or 110 USD |
| Third bag and beyond, any ticket | 160 EUR or 200 USD | 200 EUR or 215 USD |
Within Europe the numbers are smaller. A first bag on a Light fare is 27 to 55 EUR prepaid, 65 to 70 EUR at the airport. Asia and Middle East routes run 75 to 100 EUR prepaid for the first bag and 120 EUR at the desk.
Prepaid bags can be added until 50 minutes before departure on most routes. Extra bag fees are not refundable unless the ticket itself is refunded after a disruption. The Finnair fees page compares these against the fare bundles.
Heavy and oversized bags
A bag between 23 and 32 kg is a heavy bag. The ceiling for any piece is 32 kg (70 lb).
Heavier than that and it ships as cargo. Oversized means anything beyond 90 x 75 x 45 cm, up to a maximum of 190 x 75 x 65 cm.
On the North America route the prepaid heavy bag charge is 160 to 180 EUR (180 to 200 USD). It has to be bought at least six days before departure.
At the airport the heavy or oversized charge is 85 EUR or 95 USD. A bag that is both heavy and oversized pays both, 130 to 200 EUR at the desk depending on route.
Two things follow from this. First, on the North America route the airport heavy bag fee is cheaper than the prepaid one.
That is the reverse of every other Finnair fee. Second, a 24 kg bag pays the same heavy charge as a 32 kg bag, so there is no such thing as slightly over.
The general guide to overweight and oversize baggage fees shows how flat bands like Finnair’s compare to per kilo pricing. Finnair caps the total at 10 pieces per passenger.
What Finnair bans from the hold
The carrier’s restricted items page is clear on the things that get bags pulled at the belt. Power banks and spare lithium batteries may not go in Finnair checked baggage at all. Electronic cigarettes are carry-on only.
A smart bag whose battery cannot be removed is forbidden as checked baggage. Any battery over 160 watt-hours is banned from both cabin and hold.
Lighters and matches cannot go in either bag. One small packet of matches or one lighter is allowed on your person.
Skiing and golf equipment never count against the normal allowance. They are always special baggage and are priced the same as an extra bag. Bicycles and boards have their own bands, 73 to 140 EUR for a bike in Europe.
The site’s page on power banks on a plane explains the watt-hour math behind the 160 Wh line.
Connecting flights and partner airlines
Finnair states that on partner airline flights the fees are set by the operating carrier. On a single ticket that continues on another oneworld airline, the allowance printed on the booking governs the whole trip.
On two separate tickets you collect the bag and check it in again under the second airline’s rules. When linked tickets are involved, the DOT most significant carrier rule decides whose allowance applies. The checked bag weight limits guide has the same rule in plain words.
Packing to the 23 kg piece
A 24 kg bag pays the full heavy charge, so the empty weight of the suitcase matters more here than on a per kilo airline. The Travelpro Maxlite 5 25 inch is the usual choice. Customer reviews commonly mention how little of the 23 kg it uses up, and it sits well inside the 90 x 75 x 45 cm box.
The Samsonite Omni PC 24 inch is the hardside alternative for a week away. On paper it is heavier than the Maxlite. Owners note that a full 24 inch hardside lands closer to 23 kg than they expect.
Weigh the packed bag at home with an Etekcity digital luggage scale. The Finnair heavy bag fee is 95 USD at the airport.
The scale costs a fraction of that and settles the question before you leave. The baggage cost calculator adds the fees up for a whole itinerary.
The bottom line
Finnair checked baggage is simple once you know the fare. Classic and Flex include one 23 kg bag; Light and Superlight include none. Buy the bag online if you are on Light, and keep every piece under 23 kg.
Keep power banks, spare batteries and vapes in the cabin. The wall is 32 kg. On the transatlantic route the airport heavy bag fee is oddly cheaper than the prepaid one, but a lighter suitcase beats both.
Common questions
Does Finnair Economy include a checked bag?
Economy Classic and Flex include one 23 kg bag on most routes and two on Japan to Europe flights. Economy Light and Superlight include no checked bag, and one has to be bought separately.
How much is a checked bag on a Finnair Light fare from the US?
The first bag prepaid online is 75 EUR or 85 USD each way, and 90 USD at the airport. A second bag is 90 EUR or 100 USD prepaid and 105 EUR or 110 USD at the desk.
What is the maximum weight for a Finnair checked bag?
The standard piece is 23 kg (50 lb). A bag up to 32 kg (70 lb) is accepted as a heavy bag for a fee, and nothing over 32 kg is accepted as baggage at all.
What is the Finnair heavy bag fee?
A bag between 23 and 32 kg on a North America route costs 160 to 180 EUR prepaid at least six days ahead, or 85 EUR (95 USD) at the airport. Within Europe the airport charge runs 65 to 100 EUR depending on route.
Can I put a power bank in my Finnair checked bag?
No. Finnair bans power banks and spare lithium batteries from checked baggage entirely. They travel in the cabin, and any battery over 160 watt-hours is not allowed on the aircraft at all.
Do Finnair Plus members get extra checked baggage?
Gold, Platinum and Platinum Lumo members get one extra 23 kg bag beyond what the ticket includes. Silver members get a 50 percent discount on an extra bag.
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