Finnair has officially implemented Avios as the currency for its Finnair Plus loyalty program, following through on plans announced last summer.
As of March 2024, Finnair Plus members will now earn and redeem Avios, joining other oneworld partners like British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways in utilising this currency for their frequent flyer programs.
This change allows Finnair Plus members, numbering over four million, to transfer Avios between their Finnair Plus and British Airways Executive Club accounts starting from later this spring. Additionally, Finnair has shifted to a spend-based model for earning Avios, similar to the structures already in place for Iberia Plus and British Airways Executive Club.
One of the key benefits of adopting the Avios system is an increase in the availability of award seats for members. For instance, there will now be a guaranteed number of economy and business class seats available on certain routes, improving the options for members when redeeming their Avios.
Furthermore, new milestone benefits are being introduced to reward members within different tiers of the loyalty program. For example, Finnair Plus Silver members will receive two lounge passes upon earning 20,000 tier points.
Ole Orvér, Finnair’s chief commercial officer, expressed enthusiasm about the change, stating that adopting Avios as the new loyalty currency will bring significant benefits to the airline’s loyal customers. He emphasised Finnair’s commitment to enhancing the customer proposition and believes this change will open up new opportunities for members to enjoy even more rewards.