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Transfer Avios to and from the Finnair Plus loyalty program

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Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

Finnair has now adopted Avios as its loyalty currency per the airline’s website — replacing the Finnair Plus points system.

Avios is the same loyalty currency used by British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Qatar Airways.

Exciting news for Avios collectors: Starting May 22, you can transfer Avios between the British Airways Executive Club program and the Finnair Plus program.

To do this, log in to your Finnair Plus account on finnair.com and link your British Airways Executive Club account; you will be able to transfer Avios in either direction at a 1:1 rate. While Finnair Plus is not a transfer partner of major credit card programs, British Airways is.

If moving Avios from Finnair to BA, read our guide on moving Avios to and from the other programs that use the currency.

Finnair operates flights from a handful of Oneworld hubs in the U.S., including New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), to its Nordic hub at Helsinki Airport (HEL), as well as destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Finnair Plus points are now Avios

Business class seats on a plane
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

Finnair Plus award points have been converted to Avios at a 3:2 ratio. Avios prices have also been updated with the same 3:2 ratio, and the value of current Finnair Plus points will not change.

Following the changeover, a haul of 120,000 Finnair Plus points, for example, would now be worth 80,000 Avios. TPG currently values Avios at 1.5 cents each.

Related: A review of Finnair’s business class on the A350-900 from Helsinki to Singapore

How to collect Finnair tier points

An airport lounge bar
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY

Finnair hasn’t just changed its loyalty currency. The overhaul has seen the Finnair Plus program shift to a revenue-based earning platform.

Finnair now awards Avios and elite status based on the amount spent rather than the distance flown — echoing similar moves from British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus.

You now collect tier points and Avios from travel extras for new bookings (as well as bookings made before the changeover but flown after March 9) at the following rates for Finnair-operated flights:

Ticket type Tier points for flights within Northern Europe Tier points for flights within the rest of Europe Tier points for flights between Europe and Asia, North America, Doha or Dubai
Business Flex 1,670 3,340 13,340
Business Classic 1,340 2,670 10,670
Business Light 1,000 2,000 8,000
Premium Economy Flex N/A N/A 10,670
Premium Economy Classic N/A N/A 8,000
Premium Economy Light N/A N/A 5,340
Economy Flex 1,000 2,000 8,000
Economy Classic 670 1,340 5,340
Economy Light/Superlight 340 670 2,670

You can no longer reach tiers with flights only. Your existing Finnair Plus tier points have now switched to tier points under the new system at a 3:2 ratio.

While the status levels will remain the same, the following tier points are needed to reach each membership level under the new system:

Membership tier Tier points needed
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)

New limits for Finnair Plus Lifetime tiers under the new system are as follows:

Finnair Plus Lifetime tier Lifetime tier points needed
Lifetime Gold 2 million
Lifetime Platinum 3.3 million

If your membership year ended as of January or February, revised tier limits apply. This means you will maintain your current tier or move up to a higher tier with the following tier limits:

Membership tier Tier points needed
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 tracking period ended in January and you met the tier requirements by Jan. 31, or if it ended in February and you reached the tier requirements before Feb. 29, you will automatically maintain your current tier.

The same applies to moving up to a higher tier.

Many Finnair frequent flyers may not welcome this spending-based shift, but overall, the Avios adoption will hopefully open up much better redemption opportunities across partner airlines.

New Finnair award pricing

Following the changeover to Avios, award pricing for Finnair flights will be as follows:

Zone Economy class Premium economy  Business class
Finland and Northern Europe 6,500 Avios (+10 euros or $10.96) 10,000 Avios (+10 euros or $10.96)
Central Europe 12,000 Avios (+15 euros or $16.45) 18,000 Avios (+15 euros or $16.45)
Western and Southern Europe 13,000 Avios (+15 euros or $16.45) 20,000 Avios (+15 euros or $16.45)
Canary Islands, Madeira, Eilat and Tel Aviv 15,000 Avios (+30 euros or $32.89) 25,000 Avios (+30 euros or $32.89)
Doha, Dubai and India 28,000 Avios (+30 euros or $32.89) 42,000 Avios (+35 euros or $38.38) 55,000 Avios (+60 euros or $65.79)
Most of Asia and North America 30,000 Avios (+45 euros or $49.34) 43,500 Avios (+65 euros or $71.27) 62,500 Avios (+100 euros or $109.65)
Japan, Singapore and Los Angeles 30,000 Avios (+45 euros or $49.34) 43,500 Avios (+65 euros or $71.27) 62,500 Avios (+120 euros or $131.58)

Other Finnair Plus changes

finnair economy cabin
CAROLINE TANNER/THE POINTS GUY

With the overhaul, Finnair has also increased the number of award seats available on flights, guaranteeing at least four award seats on flights within Europe. Finnair’s long-haul flights now see at least eight award seats loaded at the start of the schedule — good news for those looking for more redemption opportunities.

Additionally, Finnair Plus members can now receive extra rewards, such as upgrade benefits, upon reaching specific point limits, depending on their elite status.

Finally, Finnair Plus members now receive complimentary internet access for messaging 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 a dedicated space for top-tier members on the Schengen side of Helsinki Airport. The current Schengen lounge will remain in operation until the new lounge opens.

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