Finnair Plus Announces Spending-Based Status Thresholds for New System from 2024 + Further Details

In August, Finnair Plus announced surprisingly radical changes to its frequent flyer program. While a spending-based credit of award miles was more or less expected, it was also revealed that the future frequent flyer status would be tied to spending in Euros.

However, all the key details were missing. It was unclear how many Avios would be awarded under the new system or how much spending would be required for a frequent flyer status. Today, Finnair has provided further information, and to put it simply: it’s as bad as we had feared.

How Sevenue-Based Earning Works

For flights with a Finnair flight number, Avios and Tier Points will be earned based on the ticket price in euros. The calculation will consider the base fare plus fuel surcharge (excluding taxes and fees).

The change is expected to take effect in January 2024 for newly booked tickets. Those booked before will continue to earn miles based on the old system (converted at a 3:2 ratio).

Depending on the frequent flyer status, you will get between 6 and 10 Tier Points and Avios per euro:

• Finnair Plus Silver: 6 Tier Points + 6 Avios per € ticket price
• Finnair Plus Gold: 7 Tier Points + 6 Avios per € ticket price
• Finnair Plus Gold: 8 Tier Points + 6 Avios per € ticket price
• Finnair Plus Platinum: 9 Tier Points + 6 Avios per € ticket price
• Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo: 10 Tier Points + 6 Avios per € ticket price

For flights with partner airlines like British Airways, Iberia, AA, JAL, etc. (or flights with corresponding flight numbers), distance and booking class are still the determining factors. However, the new mileage table for this has not been released yet. In any case, the mileage earnings for other Oneworld flights with Finnair Plus have never been particularly attractive.

Status Requirements From 2024

From the next year, the following requirements are needed for a frequent flyer status:

• Finnair Plus Silver: 15,000 Tier Points
• Finnair Plus Gold: 45,000 Tier Points
• Finnair Plus Platinum: 80,000 Tier Points
• Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo: 300,000 Tier Points (of which 250,000 were earnt on Finnair flights)

These requirements cannot be directly converted to euros, as status customers will earn more Tier Points than everyone else. For those who fly only with Finnair, a frequent flyer status will be attainable with approximately:

• Silver: €2,500 ticket price
• Gold: €6,800 ticket price
• Platinum: €11,200 ticket price
• Platinum Lumo: €33,200 ticket price

Requalification in all cases would be somewhat easier but not by much.

For a lifetime status, Tier Points are also downgraded in a 1.5:1 ratio:

• Lifetime Gold: 2,000,000 Tier Points
• Lifetime Platinum: 3,300,000 Tier Points

Other Changes & Details:

• Starting from February 2024, it will no longer be possible to reach a frequent flyer status based on the number of segments. This also applies to all tickets booked before the change.
• For the newly introduced surcharges on award tickets, neither Tier Points nor Avios will be earned.
• There will be new Milestone Benefits awarded upon reaching certain Tier Point thresholds, e.g. 2 upgrade vouchers at 55,000 points. In exchange, the previous points bonuses will be removed.
• The customer service via WhatsApp will be available 24/7 and will also be available for Gold members (previously only for Platinum / Platinum Lumo members).

Further changes, such as upgrade vouchers and award miles, were announced in August.

Finnair Plus Loses All Appeal: Introducing Spending-Based Calculation of Status & Award Points (= Avios) in 2024

Conclusion

Starting in 2024, those who primarily book cheap tickets will no longer find Finnair Plus appealing. The program will then be practically only suitable for business travellers with expensive tickets.

Codeshares with other Oneworld partners are a possible way to bypass the revenue-based earning. However, to get a frequent flyer status, the BA Executive Club would generally be the better alternative.

Source: Finnair Plus