Finnair Plus’ loyalty program has adopted Avios as its loyalty currency, and you can now transfer Avios between Finnair Plus and British Airways Executive Club, opening up all sorts of new earning and redemption opportunities.
Finnair joins British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Qatar Airways and other airlines that use this popular loyalty currency.
While Finnair Plus has standardized some of its redemption pricing to match British Airways Executive Club (which in turn largely matches Iberia Plus and Qatar Airways Privilege Club), there are some new sweet spots to be found.
Unlike other Avios programs, which use a distance-based award chart, Finnair Plus uses a zone-based chart.
Here are some sweet spots where using Finnair Plus Avios makes sense.
Finnair flights from the United States to Helsinki
One-way flights operated by Finnair from the United States to Helsinki Airport (HEL) are priced as follows:
- 30,000 Avios in economy
- 43,500 Avios in premium economy
- 62,500 Avios in business class
These are the same prices that BA’s Executive Club charges, though BA adds surcharges, so it will be cheaper to book Finnair-operated flights across the Atlantic through Finnair Plus than through Executive Club.
Note that a connecting flight on Finnair beyond Helsinki will be charged separately unless it is a domestic flight in Finland.
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Related: Long-haul with no recline: A review of Finnair’s business class on the A350-900
Transcontinental domestic flights in economy
Domestic flights anywhere within the continental United States on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines cost 11,000 Finnair Plus Avios each way in economy class. For short flights of up to 650 miles in length, it’s cheaper to use Avios through British Airways, which charges just 8,250 Avios for the same flights.
For flights of 651 to 1,151 miles in length, both programs charge 11,000 Avios.
However, a sweet spot within the Finnair program is domestic flights longer than 1,152 miles, such as from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) to Miami International Airport (MIA), or any coast-to-coast services. These routes cost just 11,000 Finnair Plus Avios, while BA will charge up to 16,000 Avios for the same flights.
Cathay Pacific business-class flights
Another notable sweet spot is flights operated by Cathay Pacific from anywhere in North America to Asia.
Although award availability in premium cabins is hard to find, British Airways Executive Club charges a steep 108,250 Avios plus 118.50 British pounds (about $151) for the long-haul journey from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) in Cathay Pacific’s business class.
Meanwhile, you can book the same flight through Finnair Plus for just 75,000 Avios plus the same minimal fees, taxes and surcharges, saving you more than 30,000 Avios.
Unfortunately, premium economy redemptions on Cathay Pacific, including the exciting new premium economy seat Cathay will start flying later this year, are unavailable through Finnair Plus.
Economy seats from North America to Asia cost just 35,000 Finnair Plus Avios, and in the unlikely event you can find first-class award seats on Cathay, they will cost 120,000 Finnair Plus Avios.
Finnair Plus pricing from Europe and South America to Asia is similar to BA pricing, though still slightly cheaper at 31,000 Avios (economy), 72,500 Avios (business class) and 110,000 Avios (first class).
Flights from the East Coast to Hawaii
Another Finnair Plus sweet spot is if you want to travel from the East Coast to Hawaii on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines. While nonstop flights from the West Coast are a great use of BA Avios at just 13,000 miles, if you need to connect from somewhere else in the country to Hawaii, BA charges per flight segment.
Fortunately, Finnair Plus, with its region-based award chart, charges a single price. For example, American Airlines flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) with a connection at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) will cost 15,000 Avios.
Looking at Alaska Airlines itineraries, you will need just 13,500 Avios to travel to Hawaii from anywhere in the U.S. This is an excellent deal if you are coming from the East Coast and connecting via an Alaska hub in, say, San Diego International Airport (SAN) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
You will need to fly the same carrier on both legs as, unfortunately, you cannot combine carriers on a single award (unless Finnair is one of the carriers).
Related: I had sworn off Hawaii during the pandemic — here’s why I went back (and plan to again)
When should you avoid using Finnair Plus Avios?
Finnair Plus’ region-based award chart has unique advantages over other programs’ distance-based award charts, but there are some downsides.
Shorter flights from one zone to another — for example, the fairly quick American Airlines route from New York to Heathrow Airport (LHR) — will be cheaper through British Airways Executive Club or Iberia Plus.
Finnair has adopted the same prices for British Airways-operated flights as BA’s Executive Club, so there’s no need to complicate your travel by adding another Avios program to your repertoire if you want to fly BA.
Qatar Airways Qsuite flights are cheaper through BA or Qatar Airways Privilege Club, as are the Iberia business-class sweet spots to Spain through Iberia Plus.
Related: A review of Iberia’s business-class suite on the A350-900 from Madrid to Mexico City
How to earn Finnair Plus Avios
The easiest way to earn Finnair Avios without flying is by applying for a Capital One credit card, as Capital One miles can be directly transferred to Finnair Plus.
Here’s a list of some currently available consumer cards that earn transferable Capital One miles:
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases. Plus, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening; $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases. Plus, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening; $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on other purchases. Plus, you can earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening; $0 annual fee (see rates and fees).
If you’re looking for a business card, here are some options that earn Capital One miles:
- Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases. Plus, you can earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 in the first three months from account opening; $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases. Plus, you can earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening; $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 after (see rates and fees).
- Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on purchases. Plus, you can earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $4,500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening; $0 annual fee.
The information for the Capital One Spark Miles Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
Avios is a popular and valuable loyalty currency, so it’s no surprise that Finnair has adopted it.
The ability to transfer Avios in any direction at a 1:1 rate between so many different programs opens up many great options for travelers. While much of the pricing is standardized between Finnair Plus and British Airways Executive Club (the largest Avios-using program), some unique sweet spots are currently available within the Finnair program. So, if you have Avios in any program, you may want to consider moving them to Finnair Plus if you have a redemption in mind.
