Finnair Plus to Adopt Avios as Currency and Become a Spend-Based Platform

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(17/08/23)
 Finnair has confirmed that it will introduce Avios as
the new currency of its loyalty programme in early
2024 and move to a new spend-based platform.

Avios is the loyalty
currency used by Finnair’s oneworld partners’ loyalty programs –
British Airways Executive Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, and
Iberia Plus.

Finnair Plus award points will be converted
to Avios with a 3:2 ratio, and the purchasing power of the current
points remains unchanged – Avios prices are also updated with the
same 3:2 ratio.

Becoming a spend-based platform, means that
members will earn Avios according to how much they spend rather
than by the number of flights flown.

Finnair Airbus A320 reg: OH-LXC. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

Established in 1992, the Finnair Plus
loyalty programme today has over four million members worldwide.

“2024 marks the start of a new era with
our loyalty program, with new benefits and improved options for
our members to use their earned Avios – both within Finnair and
IAG Loyalty’s partner network,” said Ole Orvér, Finnair’s Chief
Commercial Officer. “The move to a spend-based
program rewards customers directly for their spend, just like many
retail loyalty programs do. These moves allow us to leverage the
full potential of our loyalty program and make it attractive to a
wider audience.”

Finnair Plus
members will be able to earn Avios when they shop online with
thousands of leading brands via the shopping channel on British
Airways’ website and with IAG
Loyalty’s growing list of partners around the world that range
from BP, Nectar and Uber in the UK, Areas airport retail, and
Cabify in Spain, as well as Bilt in the US.

As
part of the changes, Finnair will also increase the number of
award seats, the most popular award among members, and guarantee
at least 4 award seats on Finnair flights within Europe and 8 on
Finnair long-haul flights.

Plus, as an extra incentive to join the Finnair Plus
program, members will now also receive complimentary internet
access for messaging as a new benefit on Finnair’s short-haul
European flights operated with the narrow-body Airbus fleet,
regardless of their tier status.

Finnair will also invest
in new, more spacious lounge premises on the Schengen side of
Helsinki Airport, Finnair’s home hub. The lounge will move to new
premises in 2024 and feature a dedicated area for top-tier
members. The current Schengen lounge will continue to serve
customers until the new lounge opens.

Tier limits will be revised to reflect the switch
to Avios and the new spend-based earn of tier points. Collecting
tier points and loyalty currency on partner-marketed or operated
flights will continue to be based on the travel class, booking
class and distance flown. However, one important difference is
that members will collect Avios based on miles, not kilometres, flown.

“Finnair’s
adoption of Avios is a recognition of the global significance of
the currency, and the incredible value it has for members
worldwide. They join a leading global network of airline partners,
including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling, and Qatar
Airways,” said Adam Daniels, CEO of IAG Loyalty. “We are excited to play a central role in Finnair’s new
era for their loyalty program and for their members.”