Buy Avios Sale: How you can book direct flights to Europe for under $350

Attention points and miles enthusiasts: Finnair Plus is offering up to 50% off when you purchase Avios from now until November 20, 2024.

This is not only a great value but because Avios is a shared loyalty currency of some frequent flyer programs, purchasing them can open up many redemption opportunities. We even found nonstop economy fares to Europe for as low as 13,000 Avios each way, or about $325 when you factor in taxes and fees.

Related: When does it make sense to buy points and miles?

Buy Avios with up to 50% off through Finnair Plus

Through November 20, you can save between 35% and 50% on Avios from Finnair Plus, depending on the number of Avios you buy. You must purchase at least 5,000 Avios to get the 35% discount, and the savings increase from there:

• 35% off when purchasing 5,000 to 19,000 Avios
• 40% off when purchasing 20,000 to 49,000 Avios
• 45% off when purchasing 50,000 to 74,000 Avios
• 50% off when purchasing 75,000 to 200,000 Avios

These discounts reduce the cost to between 1.12 and 1.87 cents per Avios, depending on how many you buy. That could be a pretty good deal considering TPG’s November 2024 date valuation pegs Avios at 1.4 cents each.

You must purchase Avios in increments of 1,000, and you can purchase a maximum of 200,000 Avios through Finnair Plus in a calendar year.

But just because the sale is run by Finnair Plus doesn’t mean you have to redeem your Avios through the program. In fact, Avios is used by four other programs — Aer Lingus AerClub, British Airways Executive ClubIberia Plus and Qatar Airways exclusive club — and you can transfer Avios between any of these devices at a 1:1 ratio.

Some of our favorites and Best value Avios redemption are with these airlines. Here are some examples of how far your Avios can go if you decide to participate in this promotion.

Related: Best credit cards for buying points and miles

Is it worth buying Avios?

For example, you can transfer your Avios over Iberia Plus and book an off-peak one-way ticket from New York to Madrid for just 17,000 Avios in economy or 25,500 Avios in premium economy. Note that business class seats for off-peak days cost 34,000 Avios but are harder to find.

If you buy 17,000 Avios at the current 35% discount, you’ll pay 243.10 euros (about $260 at the current exchange rate). With the award ticket’s $86 in taxes and fees, the total is $346 – compared to the cash price of this ticket, which starts at $454.

Premium economy seats are an even better deal. You can buy 26,000 Avios for just $367 during this sale, then book an award ticket and pay $97 in taxes and fees, for a total of $464 – compared to paying as little as $1,228 for cash tickets.

There are also plenty of prizes available for Ireland if you transfer your Avios to Aer Lingus AerClub. For example, you can fly to Dublin from several major US cities, including Chicago, for just 13,000 Avios. With the current promotion, purchasing the required number of Avios will only cost about $200 with this promotion, plus $126 in taxes and fees on award tickets, for a total of $326. This is a great deal for a transatlantic flight, as the regular cash price of this economy ticket will set you back almost $800.

But booking a transatlantic trip isn’t the only way to use your Avios. You can too Book domestic flights on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines through Finnair Plus, and because the loyalty program operates using a regional award chart, you can currently fly from the US to Hawaii on Alaska Airlines for 13,500 Avios in economy or 50,500 Avios in premium class. best. If you book a one-way American Airlines flight via Finnair Plus from the continental US to Hawaii, you’ll pay 15,000 Avios in economy, 38,000 Avios in business class, and 47,500 Avios in first class.

However, Finnair Plus requires travelers who want to book award flights with partner airlines to contact the carrier via chat or call customer service. We recommend that you research Alaska and American Airlines award availability and have your flight number and trip information ready before contacting the customer service line.

For more information on how to book awards on Finnair Plus partner flights, check out website.

Related: The best way to redeem British Airways Avios tickets: From flights to Hawaii to island hopping in the Caribbean

Bottom line

If you intend to redeem rewards, purchasing points or miles may make sense, especially if you can take advantage of a big sale. This is especially useful because you can use Avios with so many airlines and even book partner award flights.

Additionally, if you’re short a few Avios to redeem, this is a great opportunity to top up your account. Or if you find an award ticket you like, you can even buy all the Avios you need from Finnair between now and November 20.