Finnair Plus — The Ultimate Guide to Using Avios on Finnair

7 min readMay 1, 2024

Finnair has recently revamped its loyalty program by integrating Avios, the reward currency of British Airways as well as several other leading airlines. This aligns the airline more closely with its Oneworld alliance partners and makes it easier for members to manage and use their points across a broader network.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of Finnair Plus, how you can earn and redeem Avios with the program and share tips on how to maximise your Finnair Avios for British Airways reward flights.

What is Finnair Plus?

Finnair Plus is Finnair’s official loyalty program. It allows members to accrue Finnair Avios by flying with Finnair and its partner airlines.

By adopting Avios, Finnair Plus has simplified its earning and spending process and allowed members to leverage some of the world’s most recognised airline loyalty programs.

Finnair Plus Tiers and Benefits

Finnair Plus includes five tiers: Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Lumo. When you sign up, you initially become a Basic member and start your one-year tracking period. As you accumulate the required number of tier points, you’ll advance to higher membership tiers.

Each tracking period lasts for 12 months and renews automatically. Upon reaching a new tier level, your membership in that tier will extend through the remaining duration of your current tracking period and will continue for an additional 12 months.

Each tier offers distinct benefits:

Basic: This entry-level status gets you started with Avios collection.
Silver: Stepping up to Silver, members enjoy Oneworld Ruby status, which includes priority check-in, a 50% discount on advance seat reservations, and a complimentary carry-on on Finnair flights. You also get discounted prices for additional baggage and lounge access.
Gold: Gold members receive Oneworld Sapphire benefits, including business class check-in, extra baggage allowance, and complimentary lounge access. You’ll also receive a 15% bonus on Avios and tier points when you fly with American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia.
Platinum: At this tier, you enjoy Oneworld Emerald benefits. This includes first-class check-in, additional baggage allowances, and access to over 650 airport lounges worldwide. Moreover, you’ll get 25% more Avios and tier points on British Airways, and American Airlines flights.
Platinum Lumo: The highest tier available, this includes unlimited access to Finnair lounges and one guest, four upgrade vouchers per year, a dedicated customer service line, complimentary in-flight internet, and priority check-in, boarding, and security. Members also enjoy increased baggage allowances and flexibility in booking, along with special offers and experiences designed exclusively for Platinum Lumo members.

How to Collect Avios and Tier Points from Flights

As a Finnair Plus member, every flight you take not only gets you closer to your destination but also closer to your next reward. Whether you’re flying with Finnair or one of its Oneworld partners, you earn Avios points that can be redeemed for British Airways reward flights, upgrades, and more, as well as tier points that propel you towards higher levels of membership.

The number of Avios and tier points you earn depends on several factors:

Flight Distance: The longer the flight, the more Avios and tier points you accumulate. Long-haul flights, especially those transatlantic trips, are particularly lucrative.
Ticket Type: Your booking class has a significant impact on your earnings. Higher fare classes like business and flexible economy offer more Avios and tier points per mile flown compared to discounted economy tickets.
Membership Tier: Your current tier in the Finnair Plus program also affects your earning rate. Higher tiers like Gold and Platinum members earn more Avios per euro spent.

Collect Avios with Finnair Partners

Beyond flying, Finnair Plus provides its members numerous opportunities to earn Avios through a variety of non-flight activities.

Hotels:

Finnair partners with leading hotel chains and booking platforms to help you earn points for every euro spent, including Accor, Shangri-La, Intercontinental, and many more. Finnair’s partnership with Booking.com allows members to earn up to 5 Avios per €1 spent, simply by booking their stays through the Finnair portal. See the full list of partner hotels here.

Car Rentals:

Hit the road and accumulate Avios with every rental. Finnair has teamed up with major car rental companies such as Avis and Hertz to help you earn Avios on your rentals. Plus, exclusive member benefits include discounts and additional driver fee waivers, making road trips more rewarding. View the full list of current car rental partners here.

Shopping:

The Finnair Shop and various global retailers offer members the chance to earn points on every purchase. From high-end fashion to everyday essentials, linking your Finnair Plus account to online shopping portals can turn every transaction into a step closer to your next flight. View the full list of current shopping partners here.

Credit Cards:

Finnair Plus has partnered with Visa and American Express to offer credit cards that let you accumulate points on every spend. You can earn up to 2 Avios for every euro spent using the Finnair Visa credit card. As for American Express card holders, you can convert your Membership Rewards points to Avios at a rate of 17:10, meaning 17 Membership Rewards points will net you 10 Avios. These points can be transferred directly to your personal Finnair Plus account.

Tours:

Finnair Plus members can earn and redeem Avios through partnerships with various tour operators and cruise lines. See the full list of partners here.

How to Redeem Avios on Finnair Plus

You can use your points to book flights with Avios, upgrade flights, and fly with partner airlines.

Booking Reward Flights

Redeeming your points for reward flights on Finnair is straightforward and can lead to some great travel deals. Here’s how to get started:

Log into Your Account: Begin by signing in to your Finnair Plus account on the Finnair website.
Search for Flights: Navigate to the booking section. Enter your desired travel dates and destinations, and check the box that says “Pay with money + Avios” or “Pay with Avios.”
Choose Your Flight: Review the available flights. Flights that can be booked with Avios will show the amount of points required next to the fare.
Complete Your Booking: Select the flight that offers the best value for your points and follow the prompts to book flights with Avios.

Upgrading Your Flight

Upgrading with Avios can turn a standard economy seat into a luxurious business class experience on eligible Finnair flights.

Process and requirements:

Check Eligibility: Not all fares are eligible for upgrades. Check to see if your flight is eligible for an upgrade.
Log into Your Account: Sign into your Finnair Plus account and go to your upcoming flights, or call Finnair customer service for assistance.
Request an Upgrade: If your ticket is eligible, you can request an upgrade using Avios. The number of Avios required will depend on the flight length and destination.

Using Your Finnair Avios on Other Partners

Finnair Plus members can also use their Avios with a range of Oneworld alliance partners and other affiliated airlines:

Oneworld Airlines: You can book flights directly on the websites of Oneworld partners like British Airways, American Airlines, and others using your Avios.
Other Partners: Finnair also has partnerships outside of Oneworld. See the full list here. For these, you may need to book through Finnair’s service centre.

Important Considerations

Before you get too excited about shifting your points between Finnair Plus and British Airways Executive Club, there’s a timing issue to consider. Currently, direct transfers of Avios between these two programs aren’t possible, but that’s expected to change around May or June 2024. Even then, there’s a strategic consideration to weigh before you make any moves.

Generally speaking, unless there’s a specific Finnair flight that catches your eye — one that isn’t available through British Airways — it might not be in your best interest to transfer points to Finnair Plus. Why? Simply put, British Airways has a much more extensive network. This means more options for redeeming your points across a global network.

Moreover, British Airways Executive Club often provides stronger earning opportunities, particularly through its partnerships with major credit card programs like American Express and Barclaycard. These relationships not only provide lucrative avenues for accumulating Avios but also feature occasional bonuses that can amplify your rewards.

So, while the upcoming ability to transfer Avios between Finnair Plus and British Airways might seem like a new tactical tool in your travel arsenal, it’s important to consider its practicality. For most travellers, keeping your Avios pooled with British Airways could lead to broader, more flexible travel opportunities and better overall value. Save those transfers for when you have a specific, strategic use in mind, so you can make the most of what each program has to offer.

Original Source — https://rewardflightfinder.com/news-and-advice/finnair-plus-the-ultimate-guide-to-using-avios-on-finnair?utm_source=Organic&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=RFF