How to transfer Avios to and from the Finnair Plus loyalty program
Finnair has now applied Avios as its loyalty currency according to the airline’s website — replaces the Finnair Plus points system.
Avios is the loyalty currency used by Airline BritishIberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Qatar Airways.
Exciting news for Avios collectors: Starting May 22, you can transfer Avios between the British Airways Executive Club plan and the Finnair Plus plan.
To do this, Sign in to your Finnair Plus account on finnair.com and link your British Airways Executive Club account; you will be able to turn Avios in either direction at a 1:1 ratio. While Finnair Plus is not a transfer partner of the major credit card schemes, British Airways is.
If transferring Avios from Finnair to BA, Read our guide about moving Avios to and from other programs that use currency.
Finnair operates flights from a limited number Oneworld Center in the United States, including John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and New York’s Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), to the Nordic hub at Helsinki Airport (HEL), as well as destinations in Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Finnair Plus points are now Avios
Finnair Plus Points have been converted to Avios at a ratio of 3:2. Avios prices have also been updated with the same 3:2 ratio and existing Finnair Plus points values will remain unchanged.
For example, after conversion, an amount of 120,000 Finnair Plus points would now be worth 80,000 Avios. TPG currently has Avios value at 1.5 cents each.
Related: Finnair business class review on the A350-900 from Helsinki to Singapore
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How to collect Finnair level points
Finnair isn’t just changing its loyalty currency. The overhaul has seen the Finnair Plus program move to a revenue-based monetization platform.
Finnair now awards Avios and elite status based on amount spent rather than distance flown – echoing similar moves from British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus.
You now collect tier points and Avios from additional travel rewards on new bookings (as well as bookings made before the change but flown after March 9) at the following rates for flights operated by Finnair:
| Ticket type | Tier points for flights within the Nordic region | Tiered points for flights within the rest of Europe | Tier points for flights between Europe and Asia, North America, Doha or Dubai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexible business | 1,670 | 3,340 | 13,340 |
| Classic business | 1,340 | 2,670 | 10,670 |
| Business lighting | 1,000 | 2,000 | 8,000 |
| Premium Economy Flex | do not apply | do not apply | 10,670 |
| Premium Economy Classic | do not apply | do not apply | 8,000 |
| High-end economy class lamp | do not apply | do not apply | 5,340 |
| Flexible savings | 1,000 | 2,000 | 8,000 |
| Classic universal | 670 | 1,340 | 5,340 |
| Economical/Ultra-light lamp | 340 | 670 | 2,670 |
You can’t gain levels with just flying anymore. Your existing Finnair Plus level points have now converted to level points in the new system at a 3:2 ratio.
While status levels will remain the same, the following level points are required to achieve each membership level in the new system:
| Membership level | Level points required |
|---|---|
| Finnair Plus Basic | 0 |
| Finnair Plus Silver | 15,000 |
| Finnair Plus Gold | 45,000 |
| Finnair Plus Platinum | 80,000 |
| Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo | 300,000 (with 250,000 collected from Finnair) |
The new limits for Finnair Plus lifetime levels in the new system are as follows:
| Finnair Plus Lifetime Level | Lifetime level points required |
|---|---|
| Gold for life | 2 million |
| Platinum for life | 3.3 million |
If your membership year ends in January or February, revised tier limits will apply. This means you will maintain your current level or move to a higher level with the following level restrictions:
| Membership level | Level points are required |
|---|---|
| Finnair Plus Silver | 22,500 |
| Finnair Plus Gold | 67,500 |
| Finnair Plus Platinum | 120,000 |
| Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo | 450,000 (350,000 must be from Finnair flights) |
If your track period ends in January and you meet level requirements by January 31, or if your track period ends in February and you met level requirements before February 29, you will automatically maintain your current level.
The same applies to moving up to a higher level.
Many Finnair frequent flyers may not welcome this spend-based change, but overall, the adoption of Avios will hopefully open up much better redemption opportunities for partner airlines.
New Finnair award prices
After switching to Avios, award prices for Finnair flights will be as follows:
| Region | Economy class | Top economics | Business class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland and Northern Europe | 6,500 Avios (+10 euros or $10.96 USD) | — | 10,000 Avios (+10 euros or 10.96 USD) |
| European Center | 12,000 Avios (+15 euros or 16.45 USD) | — | 18,000 Avios (+15 euros or 16.45 USD) |
| Western and Southern Europe | 13,000 Avios (+15 euros or 16.45 USD) | — | 20,000 Avios (+15 euros or 16.45 USD) |
| Canary Islands, Madeira, Eilat and Tel Aviv | 15,000 Avios (+30 euros or 32.89 USD) | — | 25,000 Avios (+30 euros or 32.89 USD) |
| Doha, Dubai and India | 28,000 Avios (+30 euros or 32.89 USD) | 42,000 Avios (+35 euros or 38.38 USD) | 55,000 Avios (+60 euros or 65.79 USD) |
| Most of Asia and North America | 30,000 Avios (+45 euros or 49.34 USD) | 43,500 Avios (+65 euros or 71.27 USD) | 62,500 Avios (+100 euros or 109.65 USD) |
| Japan, Singapore and Los Angeles | 30,000 Avios (+45 euros or 49.34 USD) | 43,500 Avios (+65 euros or 71.27 USD) | 62,500 Avios (+120 euros or 131.58 USD) |
Other changes to Finnair Plus
With the overhaul, Finnair has also increased the number of award seats available on flights, ensuring at least four award seats on flights within Europe. Finnair’s long-haul flights currently have at least eight award seats filled at the start of the schedule – good news for those looking for more redemption opportunities.
Additionally, Finnair Plus members can now receive additional rewards, such as upgrade benefits, when they reach a specific points limit, depending on their elite status.
Finally, Finnair Plus members now receive free Internet access for texting on short-haul European flights operated by the airline’s narrow-body Airbus fleet. This perk will be available regardless of elite status.
In 2024, the airline will create a new Finnair lounge with dedicated space for top-level members on the Schengen side of Helsinki Airport. The current Schengen lounge will remain operational until the new lounge opens.
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