Finnair Plus: Your Guide to Earning and Redeeming Avios, Elite Status, and More

Finnair Plus serves as the loyalty program for Oneworld member Finnair, headquartered at Helsinki Airport (HEL). The airline boasts an extensive network of routes across Europe, North America, and Asia.

In 2024, Finnair introduced Avios as its loyalty currency, becoming the fifth major program to implement Avios, alongside:

• British Airways Executive Club
• Iberia Plus
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club

As a result, you can earn and spend Avios when flying with Finnair and its Oneworld partners, and you can also transfer Avios between any of the five programs utilizing it as a currency at a 1:1 ratio in either direction.

This creates numerous opportunities for travelers to optimize their award redemptions, even if their travels don’t take them to northern Europe.

Here’s everything you need to know about Finnair Plus.

A summary of the Finnair Plus program

Joining Finnair Plus is completely free online. You can input your Finnair Plus member number to earn Avios and tier points for qualifying elite status. Once you achieve elite status, you can enjoy benefits with these airlines and reciprocal perks with other partner airlines.

Provided there’s award availability, you can earn and redeem Finnair Plus Avios for flights on any Oneworld airline:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair
• Fiji Airways (a Oneworld Connect partner)
• Iberia, including Iberia Express and Air Nostrum
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas, including QantasLink and Jetconnect
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian
• Royal Air Maroc
• S7 Airlines (currently suspended)
• SriLankan Airlines

Moreover, Finnair collaborates with the following non-alliance airlines:

• Braathens Regional Airlines
• Juneyao Airlines
• LATAM

Be aware that there may be restrictions on the flights that qualify for earning or redeeming miles within these partnerships. Check the airline's partner page on the Finnair Plus website before planning your trip to know what to anticipate.

How to achieve Finnair Plus elite status

The Finnair Plus loyalty program features five status tiers. All members start as basic members and can advance to elite status tiers by accumulating the following number of tier points within a 12-month period (status is based on the date of joining the program, not the calendar year):

• Silver: 15,000 tier points
• Gold: 45,000 tier points
• Platinum: 80,000 tier points
• Platinum Lumo: 300,000 tier points (with at least 250,000 earned through flights with Finnair)

The program includes two Finnair Plus Lifetime tiers: Lifetime Gold, requiring 2,000,000 tier points, and Lifetime Platinum, requiring 3,300,000 tier points.

Tier points are earned by flying with Finnair at a rate of 6 tier points (for basic members) for every euro (approximately $1.12) spent on base fares, excluding taxes and fees, or through partner airlines depending on travel class, booking class, and miles traveled. You can also accumulate tier points by using the Finnair Visa Credit Card (available only in Finland). Typically, you earn the same tier points as Avios for a flight.

You can earn additional milestone rewards between tier levels; for instance, you'll receive one upon reaching 55,000 tier points, which exceeds the requirement for Gold status but falls short of Platinum status. Milestone rewards may include bonus Avios, lounge access passes, and upgrade certificates.

Finnair Plus elite status tiers

Achieving elite status in the Finnair Plus program comes with the following benefits for each level:

Finnair Plus Silver (Oneworld Ruby)

• One cabin bag permitted on Superlight tickets for Finnair short-haul flights
• A 50% discount on checked baggage fees
• Priority check-in
• Priority security screening at select airports
• Discounted access to lounges
• A 50% discount on seat selection fees (excluding Comfort seats and those with extra legroom)

Finnair Plus Gold (Oneworld Sapphire)

• All benefits of Finnair Plus Silver
• One additional checked bag on all Finnair and Oneworld flights
• Access to Finnair and Oneworld business-class lounges with one guest
• Priority boarding
• Complimentary seat selection
• Four one-way upgrade vouchers (note: multiple vouchers may be required for long-haul flights)
• Dedicated customer support by phone

Finnair Plus Platinum (Oneworld Emerald)

• All the advantages of Finnair Plus Gold
• Complimentary sports equipment on Oneworld flights
• Access to Finnair and Oneworld first-class lounges
• One complimentary drink for you and a guest on economy flights
• Access to digital newspapers
• Guaranteed seat in business class for short-haul flights
• Guaranteed seat in economy class for both long-haul and short-haul flights
• Twelve one-way upgrade vouchers (note: multiple vouchers may be required for long-haul flights)
• Travel class upgrades available for family members
• Your Avios remain valid as long as you maintain your status
• One Gold status to share with a friend or family member

Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo (Oneworld Emerald)

• All the perks of Finnair Plus Gold
• Access to Finnair lounges with four guests
• Free streaming Wi-Fi throughout Europe on Airbus flights
• A complimentary drink and snacks for you and a guest on short-haul Finnair flights
• Twenty-four one-way upgrade vouchers (note: multiple vouchers may be required for long-haul flights)

How to Earn Avios with Finnair Plus

In March 2024, Finnair Plus transitioned to a spend-based earning model for flights operated by Finnair Plus. This change affects both Avios and tier points, with earning rates beginning at 6 Avios (and tier points) for every euro (approximately $1.12) spent. Elite status members benefit from multipliers, so a Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo member would earn 10 Avios (and tier points) per euro spent.

The Avios earned from flights operated by partner airlines credited to Finnair Plus vary by airline, are not based on spending, and depend on the booking class and distance traveled. You can find each airline's specific earning rates here.

For instance, here are the earning rates for Avios (and tier points) for flights operated by American Airlines:

You can also accumulate Avios through non-airline partners.

• Hotels: There are 25 accommodation providers, loyalty programs, and booking platforms, including IHG One Rewards, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Booking.com, and RocketMiles. Be aware that booking through Finnair Plus typically means you forfeit earning points or elite nights with the hotel program, and you usually cannot enjoy your hotel status benefits when booking through third parties, so consider whether this is the best way to book compared to directly with the hotel.
• Car rentals: Choices include Hertz, Sixt, Avis, Europcar, as well as airport transfers and car rental comparison websites.
• Tour operators: Options include Silversea Cruises, Helsinki Citycopter, and other Finnish-specific operators.
• Online shopping: Partners for online purchases include Samsonite, Decanter, Belizia, and GoGift, among others.

One simple way to earn Finnair Avios without flying is by applying for a Capital One credit card, as Capital One miles can be transferred directly to Finnair Plus.

Here’s a list of some of the top 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 and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Additionally, you can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. The card has a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases. Plus, earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening. The card has a $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. Additionally, earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 within the first three months from account opening. The card has a $0 annual fee (see rates and fees).

If you're in the market for a business credit card, here are some options that allow you to earn Capital One miles:

• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 5 miles for every dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per dollar on other purchases. Additionally, you can earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first three months from account opening. The card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 thereafter (see rates and fees).
• Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business: Earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all purchases. Plus, earn a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $4,500 within the first three months from account opening. This card comes with a $0 annual fee.

The details for the Capital One Spark Miles Select have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information on this page has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Keep in mind that you can also transfer Avios from British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club at a 1:1 ratio, and these programs are linked with other transferable credit card currencies.

How to Redeem Avios with Finnair Plus

Finnair Plus employs zone-based award charts for redeeming flights on Finnair and its partner airlines. Economy class flights within Finland and northern Europe start at just 6,500 Avios, while business class travel from Helsinki to Asia and North America can cost up to 62,500 Avios.

Finnair does not feature a first-class cabin.

The pricing for one-way flights operated by Finnair from the U.S. to Helsinki is as follows:

• 30,000 Avios for economy
• 43,500 Avios for premium economy
• 62,500 Avios for business class

These redemption rates match those of the British Airways Executive Club. However, since British Airways includes surcharges, booking Finnair-operated flights across the Atlantic through Finnair Plus is often more economical.

You can also apply your Avios to upgrade on Finnair Plus flights as follows:

Be aware that a connecting flight on Finnair beyond Helsinki will incur a separate charge unless it is a domestic flight within Finland.

Finnair Plus Avios redemptions for flights operated by partners have a unique award chart for each airline, which you can check here.

Here are some of the top ways to redeem Avios via the Finnair Plus program:

• Domestic flights with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines: Traveling within the continental U.S. (and Canada) costs just 11,000 Finnair Plus Avios each way in economy. You can even connect within the region at the same rate; for instance, you can fly from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to San Diego International Airport (SAN) via Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) if nonstop options aren’t available. British Airways charges per leg, making domestic itineraries through British Airways Executive Club pricier than those booked with Finnair Plus. Note that you must fly the same airline on both legs, as combining carriers (like American Airlines and Alaska Airlines) on a single award is not allowed unless Finnair is one of them.
• Flights from the East Coast to Hawaii: With British Airways now charging 20,000 Avios from the West Coast alone, using Avios through Finnair Plus is more advantageous. Thanks to its region-based award chart, Finnair Plus offers a fixed price for all flights from the continental U.S. to Hawaii, although the rate varies by airline. You'll only need 13,500 Avios for itineraries on Alaska Airlines, while American Airlines flights cost 15,000 each way.
• Cathay Pacific business class to Asia: While finding award availability in premium cabins can be challenging, the British Airways Executive Club demands a hefty 108,250 Avios plus 118.50 British pounds (around $151) for a long-haul journey in Cathay Pacific's business class from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). In contrast, you can book the same flight through Finnair Plus for only 75,000 Avios along with the same minimal fees, taxes, and surcharges — a savings of over 30,000 Avios.

Additionally, you can redeem Avios with nonairline partners for perks such as baggage, lounge access, or charitable contributions; however, this isn’t typically the best way to use your Avios for maximum value.

Bottom line

Finnair Plus may have previously been overlooked, but its adoption of Avios as its loyalty currency in 2024 has significantly elevated its importance. Although earning valuable Oneworld elite status might be easier through the British Airways Executive Club, the benefits of Finnair Plus Platinum and Platinum Lumo are quite similar, especially given the substantial difference in the number of tier points needed.

Finnair Plus partners exclusively with one transferable credit card currency (Capital One miles), but other credit card rewards can connect with different Avios programs. You can transfer Avios between these programs and then to Finnair Plus, opening up excellent redemption opportunities, such as using 11,000 Avios for domestic redemptions throughout the U.S.