Finnair will begin offering a new baggage collection and check-in service from London Heathrow to enhance its customer experience in partnership with leading airport baggage innovators, AirPortr.

The digital ancillary service is designed to enhance the customer experience for the airline's London-based travellers, enabling them to arrange the collection of their baggage from the doorstep of their home or hotel, which is delivered and checked-in to their flight on their behalf.

For Finnair customers who have checked in online, baggage can be collected at their London location up to a few hours prior to departure. This means all customers can now head straight through airport security when departing, enjoying hassle-free boarding and a smoother, more enjoyable journey - next seeing their baggage at their destination airport.

Finnair customers will be able to book the AirPortr service online at www.airportr.com/finnair and through Finnair.com, Finnair's pre-departure e-mails and Manage Booking section.

"As an airline committed to innovation, we believe this trial with AirPortr will offer customers a smoother and easier journey, without having to personally take their baggage to the airport and spend time queuing at both check-in and security," says Sari Nevanlinna, Head of Ancillary Business at Finnair. "Based on the upcoming feedback we receive on this initiative, we'll also look into expanding the service to other markets in the future."

The new service will have particular benefits for business travellers. They will be able to have their bags collected, delivered to the airport and checked-in for their flight, direct from their hotel room, allowing them to attend meetings without having to worry about their baggage.

For those Finnair customers arriving into London from Helsinki, they can also have their baggage picked up from the airport and delivered directly to their home or hotel. This will offer them greater freedom to attend important meetings or to explore London at their own pace, without having to worry about their baggage.

Finnair will become the third oneworld carrier to make use of the service; AirPortr currently works with Finnair's alliance partners British Airways and American Airlines at Heathrow, and with British Airways at Gatwick.

Contributed by Finnair