Why am I considering Finnair Plus for premium cabin tickets
I'm always looking for the best ways to redeem my hard-earned points and miles, and with so many program changes and devaluations, it can be quite time-consuming.
But Finnair Plus, Finnair's loyalty program, recently caught my attention. In May 2024, the program adopted Avios, the same currency used by Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Qatar Airways.
More than 90% of my redemptions are for premium cabin tickets, so finding sweet spots or programs with optimal rates is the best way to maximize my rewards.
Here are some reasons why I'm considering Finnair Plus for future premium cabin redemptions.
Ability to book airfare earlier than most Oneworld programs
The best way to book award seats, especially for premium cabins, is to book as far in advance as possible.
This translates into knowing when airlines open up award seats because even a few days can make the difference between snagging a premium seat in first or business class or missing out entirely. I usually travel with my family, so finding three tickets on the same flight is quite the challenge.
Here's a look at some Oneworld airline frequent flyer programs and approximately when they open their schedule for award tickets.
| Airline loyalty program | How far in advance can you book |
|---|---|
330 | |
331 | |
355 | |
360 | |
Finnair Plus | 361 |
360 | |
353 | |
361 |
Finnair Plus opens up award seats 361 days in advance, beating commonly used programs such as British Airways Club, American Airlines AAdvantage and Alaska Mileage Plan.
It's important to note that for partner awards, you have to account for both the calendars of the airline you're flying with and the airline program you're booking with.
For example, when searching through Finnair Plus, you can see award seats 361 days out, but if you're looking to purchase an American Airlines flight, the AAdvantage program only allows you to book 331 days in advance. So, in this case, you'll need to wait until you're 331 days out to book an American Airlines award ticket with Finnair Plus.
I'm a huge fan of the AAdvantage program, and one of my favorite redemptions is to book business class from the U.S. West Coast to Tokyo on JAL for 60,000 miles or first class for 80,000 miles.
When searching for business-class award availability for JAL through AAdvantage, the calendar stops in June; however, when searching through Finnair Plus, I can book award seats into July 2026.
The Finnair award cost is higher: 94,000 Avios versus 60,000 AAdvantage miles. However, since three tickets are sometimes hard to come by, it's worth the added cost for me. Using Finnair, I'd spend 282,000 Avios for my family, which would otherwise cost around $8,400, giving me a value of 2.9 cents per Avios. According to TPG's August 2025 valuations, Avios are worth 1.4 cents each, meaning this redemption would give me over two times the value.
More premium seat award availability (especially for Finnair flights)
Having earlier access to premium cabin award tickets is a great perk, but it's even more useful when you factor in the number of seats available for redemption.
If you're new to points and miles, an important aspect to remember is that an airline will always release more award seats to its own program than to other partner airlines.
For example, if you're looking to book a business-class award ticket on an American Airlines flight, the AAdvantage program will show you more availability than booking an American Airlines award through British Airways Club. Similarly, Finnair Plus offers more business-class award tickets for booking flights on Finnair.
One-way Finnair flights from the U.S. to Helsinki Airport (HEL) cost 62,500 Avios in business class, with much lower surcharges than those that British Airways charges.
One of the biggest constraints with award bookings is the availability of limited seats per plane. Since getting to Europe is the expensive part, I find it quite easy for my family to fly direct from the U.S. to Helsinki in Finnair business class and then purchase a cheap cash ticket to our next destination in Europe.
Finnair Plus is a good program to use if you're looking to travel to Europe with minimal taxes and fees for premium cabin award tickets.
Based on several searches, partner airlines also seem to release more seats to Finnair Plus than they do to other Oneworld programs. Cathay Pacific is notorious for being tight with opening premium cabin award space to partners, but Finnair seems to be the exception.
The January 2026 Cathay Pacific business-class flight listed above from Hong Kong to London showed up during my search results. However, availability for the same flight failed to appear when searching on AAdvantage and Alaska Mileage Plan.
I have yet to fly Cathay Pacific business-class on a long-haul flight because there is such sparse availability through AAdvantage, but with Finnair Plus, I'll be able to check off that bucket list item.
Related: Move over, British Airways — Finnair Plus now has some excellent Avios sweet spots
There's no shortage of earning Avios thanks to transferable rewards
Now that we know you can book award flights through Finnair Plus sooner than other programs and have access to more premium cabin seats, here's how to start taking advantage of it.
Since Finnair adopted Avios as its currency, the program has become easily accessible for U.S.-based customers. For example, you can transfer Avios to Finnair Plus from your British Airways Club account.
Luckily, British Airways Club partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Wells Fargo Rewards. You can also transfer Avios from Iberia and Qatar Airways to Finnair via British Airways.
Additionally, you can transfer points from American Express cards to Qatar Airways Privilege Club and link the account with a British Airways Club account. From there, you'll see your Qatar Avios balance and can transfer Avios to Finnair Plus when logging in through British Airways.
Before discovering Avios, I leaned on using my AAdvantage miles for flight bookings. Until recently, the AAdvantage program did not partner with any transferable rewards credit cards, so I am usually frugal with my redemptions. However, cardholders of eligible Citi cards can transfer ThankYou points to AAdvantage, which introduces some flexibility on how often I can redeem my miles.
A great way to earn transferable points is to apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), which has a lucrative welcome offer. New cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
How I'm earning Avios to make it work
I'm currently earning Avios through three credit cards in my wallet: The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
My wife also holds several credit cards that can transfer to Finnair Plus (via British Airways Club), so it makes for an even better chance of getting premium cabin tickets.
Since I have ample opportunities to earn Avios with each of these cards, I don't have to feel so pressed about my AAdvantage account dwindling, as that used to be my primary way of making premium cabin redemptions for Oneworld airlines.
Sure, some awards cost more through Finnair Plus, but I'd rather secure premium cabin tickets for my family to have a more comfortable travel experience than miss out entirely.
Related: The credit cards that help fuel my luxury travel
Bottom line
The Finnair Plus program wasn't even on my radar, but thanks to the program using Avios, it has become more accessible. The ability to transfer several different transferable rewards to Finnair via British Airways or other Avios-earning airlines now gives me more ways to redeem points for premium cabin tickets.
The program's biggest perk is the ability to search for award tickets further out than other Oneworld frequent flyer programs, which is handy for those booking flights well in advance. Overall, I look forward to taking advantage of booking hard-to-find awards, such as with Cathay Pacific and JAL.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.