The Different Tiers Of The Finnair Plus Loyalty Program

Finnair Plus is the loyalty program of oneworld member airline Finnair. The program was changed significantly in early 2024, with a switch to Avios and changes in many other areas. Elite status earning has changed, too, with a new Tier Point earning system.

There are four elite levels earned with Tier Points from flying and limited credit card spending. These four levels offer improving benefits when traveling with Finnair and all other oneworld airlines. Finnair perhaps stands out for its generous complimentary upgrades – on offer from the second elite level.

The Tiers of Finnair Plus

Finnair Plus now has four elite levels of Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Lumo, plus one standard entry level of Basic.

Elite status is awarded based on the number of Tier Points received each year (based on the joining date of each member). Progression through the four levels is as follows:

Earning Tier Points from flying

Tier Points earned with Finnair Plus are separate from Avios earnings.

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

As with Avios earning, flying is the main way to earn Tier Points. Tier Points from flights with Finnair and all partner airlines are earned at the same rate as Avios.

With Finnair flights, Tier Points are earned based on the amount spent (Euros) on the ticket and travel extras. Members can also earn Avios and tier points from Finnair codeshare flights (with flight numbers AY2501-AY7000). These earn at the following rates:

• Basic: 6 Tier Points per Euro
• Silver: 7 Tier Points per Euro
• Gold: 8 Tier Points per Euro
• Platinum: 9 Tier Points per Euro
• Platinum Lumo: 10 Tier Points per Euro

Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock

As Finnair is a member of the oneworld alliance, Tier Points can be earned from flights with all 13 oneworld member airlines. These are:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• Finnair, Iberia
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• SriLankan Airlines

Photo: Kevin Hackert | Shutterstock

Avios can also be earned on non-one world partner airlines:

• Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA)
• Juneyao Air
• LATAM

With all partner airlines, Tier Points (just like Avios) are earned based on the flight distance and booking code of the ticket. Tables for all these rates are published on the Finnair Plus website – with a percentage of distance flown given for each booking class. Premium cabins tend to earn at least 100% of the distance flown (up to 300% in some first class codes), while economy class can go down to 25% or even no earnings in some cases.

The three examples below are for American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Qatar Airways.

Other ways to earn Tier Points

Although there are many other ways to earn Avios with Finnair Plus, these sources will not earn Tier Points. This includes earnings from hotel bookings, car rentals, tour operators, and shopping partners. The only exception is limited Tier Points earning from co-branded credit card spending.

Image: Finnair

Purchases made with the Finnair Visa Credit card earn Tier Points when spending over 1,500 Euros monthly. Once this amount is reached, you receive 300 Tier Points. This card is only available in Finland.

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The Different Ways To Earn Avios With Finnair Plus

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Elite status benefits with Finnair

The four elite status levels bring increasing benefits when traveling with Finnair.

Benefits offered at the first elite level of Silver include:

• Complimentary cabin bag and 50% discount on one checked bag.
• Use of priority check-in and fast-track security.
• 50% reduction on advance seat reservations.
• Complimentary internet connection for messaging on Finnair short-haul flights within Europe (when available).

Photo: Renatas Repcinskas | Shutterstock

Gold elite status adds the following benefits:

• One additional free check-in bag.
• Access to Finnair-operated lounges when traveling in any cabin
• Complimentary seat selection (including Comfort seats but excluding Extra Legroom seats).
• Four one-way upgrade benefits.
• Complimentary internet connections on all Finnair flights (30 minutes streaming in Europe and 60 minutes internet access on long-haul flights).

Photo: Finnair

Platinum elite status adds the following benefits:

• One set of special baggage is complimentary (including golf equipment or one bag of ski, snowboard, or diving equipment).
• Lounge access includes the Finnair Platinum Wing at Helsinki Airport.
• Complimentary seat selection (including Comfort seats and Extra Legroom seats).
• Availability of a confirmed seat in a full-fare business or economy class 48 hours in advance.
• Complimentary internet connections (including for full flight duration on long-haul flights).
• Free drink in Finnair economy class.
• 12 one-way upgrade benefits.

Photo: Finnair

Top-level Platinum Lumo elite status adds the following benefits:

• Free drink and snack in Finnair economy class.
• 24 one-way upgrade benefits.
• Ability to gift Finnair Plus Gold membership to any two Finnair Plus members.

Finnair Plus Milestone Rewards

Milestone Rewards are a new benefit from Finnair Plus. These are awarded separately from elite status, at various additional Tier Point earning thresholds.

These offer additional benefits to those with elite status. Further upgrade benefits are offered from Gold Tier and above. For example, members receive Gold Elite status at 45,000 Tier Points and then receive the Gold Milestone Reward (two further upgrades) at 55,000 Tier Points.

Using upgrades with Finnair

Complimentary upgrades are a great feature of the Finnair Plus program. The offering of such upgrades varies widely among loyalty programs (generally, it is more common with larger US airlines and less so in Europe). Finnair has introduced an excellent and rewarding system of upgrades.

Photo: Finnair

Upgrade benefits are given at various levels based on Tier Point earnings. The first four upgrades are earned when reaching Gold elite level, with more following Platinum and Platinum Lumo and others being offered as Milestone Rewards. Note that prior to March 2024, there were separate European upgrades and long-haul upgrades. This is no longer the case – all upgrade benefits are now the same. Long-haul upgrading, in particular, offers excellent value.

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Upgrade benefits can be used to upgrade Finnair flights (based on availability in the same way as Avios seats and upgrades) at the following rates:

Upgrades are also possible with Avios – read more about spending Avios in our guide

Elite status benefits with oneworld partners

Elite status with Finnair Plus gives an equivalent status with the oneworld alliance. This status gives very valuable benefits when traveling with any oneworld member airline.

Finnair Plus elite status gives status with oneworld as follows:

The benefits on offer include:

• Lounge access when flying any oneworld airline. Sapphire status gives business class lounge access, and Emerald status gives first class lounge access.
• Use of business class or first class check-in.
• Additional luggage allowance.
• Priority luggage handling.
• Free seat reservation. This varies by airline and may include exit row seating for Emerald members.

Related

A Complete Guide To Elite Status In The oneworld Alliance

Ruby, Emerald, and Sapphires are the tiers to strive for within the oneworld Alliance.

Do you have elite status with Finnair Plus? How do you find earning this, and what benefits do you value the most? Feel free to discuss in the comments section below.