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Of all the programs that use Avios, Finnair Plus is one of the least talked about. But it’s not one you should overlook — Finnair offers some excellent sweet spots, both on its own flights and on select partners like
Here’s how to use Finnair Avios for maximum value.
The Best Finnair Sweet Spots You Can Book With Avios
Finnair uses the Avios currency alongside British Airways, Qatar Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Loganair, and Aer Lingus. However, the Finnair Plus program stands out in how it prices awards. Unlike most other Avios programs, which use distance-based pricing, Finnair Plus uses region-based award charts.
That key difference can unlock some excellent sweet spots — where booking through Finnair costs fewer Avios than booking the same flight through another program. On top of that, Finnair often levies far more reasonable fees than The British Airways Club or other Avios programs, which can help you save on the cash portion of your award ticket, too.
For reference, here's a look at the Finnair Plus award chart for Finnair-operated flights:
Finnair also publishes separate award charts for each of its partner airlines. Each is unique, and you can view them all here.
Without further ado, let's dive into some of the best Finnair award sweet spots.
Related: How To Avoid Paying High Fuel Surcharges When Booking Flights With Avios
Take long-haul Finnair flights from Helsinki
One of the best Finnair Plus sweet spots for travelers departing from or heading to the U.S. is booking Finnair-operated flights to Helsinki. Whether you’re flying from New York (JFK), Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), Chicago (ORD), Seattle (SEA), or Los Angeles (LAX), Finnair charges a fixed number of Avios for nonstop flights to Finland:
- Economy: 30,000 Avios
- Premium Economy: 43,500 Avios
- Business Class: 62,500 Avios
Better yet, the taxes and fees on these awards can be quite modest. On a premium economy award I booked from Dallas to Helsinki, I paid just 43,500 Avios + $107.70 per person.
Finnair also charges the same number of Avios for flights from Helsinki to/from places like Tokyo, Seoul, Phuket, and Bangkok. These flights are often pretty long, which makes the business class rate look ultra-appealing. And, if you're lucky, your flight path might take you over the North Pole — which is a pretty cool achievement if you're an aviation enthusiast.
By comparison, booking the same Finnair flight through The British Airways Club will often require the same number of Avios but come with dramatically higher surcharges. While we always advise shopping around to ensure you get the best rates, you're almost always better off booking these awards through Finnair.
Fly American Airlines and Alaska Airlines on transcontinental U.S. routes
Finnair Plus has fixed-rate award charts for flights operated by both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines — and they can offer solid value, especially on longer domestic routes.
One of the best ways to take advantage of this sweet spot is on transcontinental flights. Alaska Airlines awards start at 17,500 Avios in economy and 37,500 Avios in first class within the continental U.S. and Canada, while American Airlines awards require 16,500 Avios in economy and 40,000 Avios in first.
These rates can be particularly appealing on routes like New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX), where American flies aircraft equipped with lie-flat seats in first class. If
And even when the rates are similar, Avios are generally much easier to accumulate than AAdvantage miles or Atmos Rewards points, thanks to the large number of transferable-points programs that feed into the Avios ecosystem.
However, the big caveat is that you can’t book these awards online. You’ll need to call or chat online with Finnair to both confirm award space exists (before you transfer points) and make the reservation.
Related: The Best Ways To Book American Airlines Awards Using Partner Miles
Long-haul Cathay Pacific business class from the U.S. to Hong Kong
Finnair Plus also offers a solid partner sweet spot for long-haul travel to Asia: you can book Cathay Pacific business class from North America for 85,000 Avios plus around $200 in taxes and fees.
British Airways Club charges 119,500 Avios for the same flight. In other words, this is a fantastic deal.
If you don't mind the long flight in the back of the plane, you can make the trip in economy for as little as 35,000 Avios. However, notice the increased fees for the connection through Hong Kong en route to Taipei.
But for a flight that long, I think I'll stick to the reasonably priced awards for business class.
Fly across Europe in Finnair business class on the cheap
Intra-European business class is a bit of a hot topic — some travelers love it, others think it’s not worth the splurge. After all, it’s essentially economy with a blocked middle seat. But with Finnair Plus, you can fly to most places in Europe in business class for 20,000 Avios or less, which makes it worth considering.
On connecting itineraries — especially when one segment will have you in the air for a while — these rates can make a lot of sense. For example, flying from Copenhagen (CPH) to Madrid (MAD) via Helsinki (HEL) will cost you just 20,000 Avios in business class. You’ll get two meals on this itinerary, and honestly, it’s hard to pass up a little extra space.
But best of all, business class availability is excellent, and the premium over economy is minimal.
How To Earn Finnair Avios
To take advantage of these sweet spots, you’ll need a stash of Finnair Plus Avios. Fortunately, there are several ways to earn them.
Fly Finnair and its partners
The most straightforward way to earn Finnair Avios is by flying Finnair or its partner airlines. On Finnair-operated flights, the number of Avios you earn is based on your eligible spend and your Finnair Plus status. Here's the current earning structure:
| Membership Tier | Multipliers for tier points and Avios per €1 spent |
|---|---|
| Finnair Plus Basic | 6 tier points and Avios |
| Finnair Plus Silver | 7 tier points and Avios |
| Finnair Plus Gold | 8 tier points and Avios |
| Finnair Plus Platinum | 9 tier points and Avios |
| Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo | 10 tier points and Avios |
The earning model for partner flights is different. Avios are awarded based on the distance flown and your fare class. To earn Avios, add your Finnair Plus number to your reservation.
Transfer points and miles
In the U.S.,
There are several ways to earn Capital One miles, but the easiest is to earn a big sign-up bonus on a Capital One card. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card are two of our favorites.
$95
- 5X miles per dollar on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases
$395
- 10X miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on purchases through Capital One Entertainment
- 5X miles per $1 on flights when booking via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles per $1 on vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Related: Complete Guide to Capital One Transfer Partners
Transfer from other Avios programs
In addition to transferring Capital One miles directly to Finnair Plus, you can also move Avios into Finnair Plus from other programs that use the currency. This means several other major transferable currencies can effectively be converted into Finnair Avios as well.
American Express - Bilt Points transfer to Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways.
Chase Ultimate Rewards - Citi Thank You® Points transfer to Qatar Airways.
- Wells Fargo Rewards transfer to Aer Lingus, British Airways, and Iberia.
Once your Avios-earning accounts are linked, you can transfer points between them either directly or through British Airways — giving you the flexibility to funnel any of these currencies into Finnair Plus.
Related: Best
Buy Finnair Avios
Another way to stock up on Finnair Avios is to buy them outright. Occasionally, Finnair sells Avios at a discount or with a bonus, which can be a great way to top off your account or book a specific award for less than the airline charges if you buy your ticket with cash.
Final Thoughts
In the past, Finnair Plus might have felt like a niche program, but the massive partner portfolio and move to Avios make this program worth a second look — especially considering the Avios sweet spots available with Finnair Plus. Because you can easily earn Avios through numerous transfer partners, these sweet spots can be excellent ways to get great value from your points and miles.
