Finnair Plus to go spend based and implement Avios

In August 2023, Finnair announced that its Finnair Plus frequent flyer program will enter new era. Finnair Plus will become spend based program and it will not use anymore Finnair Plus points, but it will implement Avios as their loyalty "currency". These changes will take place in late January 2024.

These changes are very major and it will have major impact on how many people are capable earning higher tier levels with Finnair. One of the changes is that you can't earn your tier level with number of flown flights. So this is cut out people who are normally flying in economy class domestic flights or flights with Nordic region.

How to earn tier points & Avios with Finnair Flights

As in the old system you would earn extra multiplier based your on Finnair Plus tier level. In the new system you will also earn extra multiplier based your tier level. Big difference is that in the system you will earn based spent on euro. Example if you have Finnair Plus Platinum tier level you will earn 9 tier points per spent 1€. It is important to understand that payed taxes are not included, but if you pay for any extra services example extra luggage, those are included for your points calculation. In table below you see can how many tier points and Avios you earn in all the of the tier levels. Other important aspect to remember is that in the system you won't earn more if you fly in business class than in economy class if the price is same.

(Tier multiplier for Finnair Flights. Finnair.com)

I have created an example here. In below picture base fare is 1554€ that is where you points are calculated. So if you have Finnair Plus Gold tier level then you would 1554€ x 8 (your tier multiplier) = 12 432 tier points and Avios. The ticket I chose for this example was return Premium Economy flex ticket from Helsinki to Bangkok. In old system, as Finnair Plus Gold tier level member you would have earned 36 800 Finnair Plus points. So it is major cut from the old system.

How to earn tier points & Avios with partners flight

As above example shows earning tier points & Avios will be receive major cut. However, flights operated by partner airlines and codeshare flights will continue being based on travel class, booking class and distance flown. Only difference is that flown distance will be based on miles not kilometers as it was in the old system.

For those flying lot of codeshare flights and with Finnair Plus partners this will be good news. It should allow you to earn your tier level easier than you just flying with Finnair. However, Finnair has not yet announced earning table for partners and codeshare flights.

Flight booked before late January and flown after late January

If you book your flight before late January 2024, but you will fly after that example. in May 2024, you will still earn based on old system. Only difference is that points are converted from kilometers to miles (3:2 ratio). Below you can see your earnings after points are converted from kilometers to miles.

Finnair has also said that you will get old multiplier in one of their Q&A sessions.

(Finnair Plus earnings for flights bought before late January and operated after late January. Finnair.com)

New tier point limits

As Finnair Plus is changing from kilometers to miles it is also changing it tier limits from kilometer based to mile based. It is also lowering its tier limits if we compare to old system.

Good news is that you benefit these changes now. Example if you have earned 120 000 Finnair Plus points during your period, you won't need to fly more. Those 120 000 points will be converter with 3:2 ratio, and it will give you 80 000points in the new system and that will be enough to earn Finnair Plus Platinum tier level.

Under the new system if you are Finnair Plus Platinum member you would want to maintain your current tier level it would cost you 8888€ and that is not including taxes. So including taxes it will more than 10 000€ if you fly only with Finnair. Exact value is impossible to say as it depends where you are flying and what kind of taxes you pay. Example flights to Bangkok has lower taxes than New York.

Also Finnair Plus Lifetime tier levels will get new limits based on miles.

(New Finnair Plus tier limits - finnair.com)

Milestones

Finnair is implementing a new benefit to their program. It is called milestones, and it will give you rewards within your current tier level. Milestones will be implemented as time with other changes in late January 2024.

From below you can see these rewards that you are earning with your current tier level. For Gold and higher rewards are fairly good as you will earn upgrade benefits.

(Finnair Plus milestones. finnair.com)

Travel Class Upgrades

Finnair is also simplifying their upgrade system. Earlier there were separate long-haul and short-haul upgrade certificates and now this will change that there will be only one type of upgrade certificate.

Good news is that number of certificates needed for upgrades is not increasing. From economy to business class you will still need 4 upgrade vouchers. When it comes upgrading from premium economy to business class needed upgrade vouchers is decreasing. Earlier you needed one-haul upgrade vouchers or four short-haul upgrade vouchers to upgrade yourself, but in the new system you will need three upgrade vouches.

(Needed upgrade vouchers for upgrade. Finnair.com)

Amount of upgrades certificates that you receive in every tier level will not change. Example. Finnair Plus Gold tier level members will receive four upgrade vouchers. However, in the new system you can receive extra upgrade vouchers. Example if your current tier level is Gold by reaching your milestone you will extra two upgrade voucher.

(Number of upgrade vouchers per tier level. finnair.com)

More award seats

Finnair is also increasing number of guaranteed award flight seats. Long-haul flights there is always guaranteed two award seats available.

Finnair has not announced needed points for award tickets. But it is expected that levels will be at least the same as before, but those will be converted with 3:2 ratio.

Summary

In general Finnair's change to have spend based program is bad for frequent flyer. Biggest losers are those who have earned their tier level earlier by flown flights and not by earned tier points. However, to earn example Finnair Plus Platinum only by flying with Finnair will be much more expensive. During the old system you could earn Finnair Plus Platinum with around 3000€ including taxes.

For those who have membership period ending close to the cut-off date that will be somewhere in late January, have the possibility to earn their tier level with decreased points. Example. for those going for Finnair Plus Platinum have the possibility to earn it with 120 000 tier points.

Interesting part is how flights with Oneworld Alliance partners and codeshare flights will earn tier points. Hopefully, this would be announced soon. This move also means that Finnair gets closer to those partners who are already using Avios as their miles currency. These airlines are British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Qatar Airways.

Finnair has announced that it will be possible to move Avios between Finnair and British Airways. Between British Airways and other airlines it possible to move points. So it can good idea to open account with British Airways Executive Club and by doing that you could move points from BA to Qatar Airways if you have account with Qatar Airways.