Finnair Avios Promotion: Up to 50% Bonus + 10% Tier Points – Is it Worth Buying?
Unlock Cheaper Business Class and Accelerate Elite Status with this Timely Offer!
Finnair Plus is back with an enticing promotion for points and miles enthusiasts! You can now buy Avios with up to a 50% bonus and, even better, score an additional 10% bonus tier points. This is a significant opportunity, especially for those chasing elite status or looking to book aspirational award flights.
But with current exchange rates and the recent changes to the Finnair Plus program, does it make sense for you? Let’s break it down.
The Deal at a Glance:
- Offer: Up to a 50% bonus on Avios purchases AND a 10% bonus on Tier Points to accelerate elite status.
- Best Price: As low as 1.4 Euro cents per Avios.
- INR Conversion (as of today, €1 = ₹102.60): This means you could potentially buy Avios for as little as ₹1.44 per Avios.
- Promotion End Date: November 30, 2025.
- Eligibility: Must be a Finnair Plus member before November 16, 2025, with at least 50 Avios in your account.
Breaking Down the Bonus Tiers:
To get the best value, you generally need to buy larger amounts. Here’s how the bonus tiers typically work for the 50% bonus promotion:
- 1,000–5,000 Avios: No bonus (2.7 Euro cents / ₹2.77 per Avios)
- 6,000–9,000 Avios: No bonus (2.35 Euro cents / ₹2.41 per Avios)
- 10,000 Avios: 30% bonus (1.81 Euro cents / ₹1.86 per Avios)
- 11,000–54,000 Avios: 30% bonus (1.69 Euro cents / ₹1.73 per Avios)
- 55,000–99,000 Avios: 40% bonus (1.57 Euro cents / ₹1.61 per Avios)
- 100,000–200,000 Avios: 50% bonus (1.4 Euro cents / ₹1.44 per Avios)
Crucially, you’ll also earn 10% bonus tier points on any amount of Avios you purchase during this promotion. This is a powerful incentive if you’re strategising to reach or retain Finnair Plus elite status this year.
Maximise the Deal: If you buy the maximum 200,000 Avios (base) + 100,000 bonus Avios = 300,000 Avios, your total cost will be 4,200€.
- In USD: Approximately $4,865.
- In INR (using €1 = ₹102.60): Approximately ₹4,30,920. This brings your per Avios cost down to the sweet spot of ₹1.44 (or 1.4 Euro cents).
Turbocharge Your Finnair Plus Elite Status with This Promotion!
This promotion isn’t just about buying cheap Avios; it’s a fantastic opportunity to boost your Finnair Plus elite status with the included 10% bonus tier points.
Finnair Plus Status Tiers (and Oneworld Equivalents):
- Silver (Oneworld Ruby) = 15,000 Tier Points
- Gold (Oneworld Sapphire) = 45,000 Tier Points
- Platinum (Oneworld Emerald) = 80,000 Tier Points
- Lumo (Oneworld Emerald) = 300,000 Tier Points (with a minimum of 250,000 from Finnair flights)
How Purchasing Avios Help with Status:
When you buy Avios during this promotion, you’re also getting bonus Tier Points. If you maximise this promotion by purchasing 200,000 Avios (receiving 300,000 Avios with bonus), you will automatically earn 20,000 Tier Points.
- Instantly Qualify for Silver! Those 20,000 Tier Points are enough to qualify you for Finnair Plus Silver status (which is Oneworld Ruby), giving you benefits like priority check-in and extra baggage allowance.
- Nearly Halfway to Gold! 20,000 Tier Points also get you 44% of the way to Finnair Plus Gold status (Oneworld Sapphire), which offers even better perks like lounge access.
Converting Avios to Tier Points:
Beyond the bonus Tier Points from buying, Finnair Plus also allows you to convert Avios into Tier Points, a valuable option if you’re just short of a status tier. The conversion rate is typically 3 Avios = 1 Tier Point, with annual maximums based on your current status:
- Basic & Silver Members: Up to 7,500 Tier Points (requires 22,500 Avios)
- Gold Members: Up to 22,500 Tier Points (requires 67,500 Avios)
- Platinum & Lumo Members: Up to 40,000 Tier Points (requires 120,000 Avios)
Is Buying Finnair Avios Worth It? (The Indian Perspective)
The value of buying Avios always hinges on your redemption plans. Here’s a look at some potential redemptions from Helsinki, keeping in mind the new Finnair award chart and costs in INR:
Within Europe (e.g., Helsinki to Amsterdam):
- Economy (one-way): 12,000 Avios + €33.60 (~₹3,447) in fees.
- Business Class (one-way): 18,000 Avios + €33.60 (~₹3,447) in fees.
From Helsinki to North America (e.g., Chicago, New York, Miami):
- Economy (one-way): 30,000 Avios + €101.64 (~₹10,430) in fees.
- Premium Economy (one-way): 43,500 Avios + €121.64 (~₹12,480) in fees.
- Business Class (one-way): 62,500 Avios + €156.64 (~₹16,066) in fees.
Between Europe and Asia (e.g., Helsinki to Hongkong in Business Class):
- Economy (one-way): 30,000 Avios + €64.48 (~₹6,616) in fees.
- Premium Economy (one-way): 43,500 Avios + €84.48 (~₹8667.65) in fees.
Our Take: At ₹1.44 per Avios, these redemption rates for Business Class, especially to North America or Asia, can offer excellent value compared to paying cash fares. For economy within Europe, it might also be a decent deal depending on the cash price of the ticket.
Finnair Avios: Part of a Bigger Family!
One of the biggest advantages of Finnair’s move to Avios is the ability to transfer points 1:1 between several programs:
- Aer Lingus AerClub
- British Airways Executive Club
- Finnair Plus
- Iberia Plus
- Qatar Airways Privilege Club
This means Avios purchased through Finnair Plus can be a gateway to redemptions across the entire Avios ecosystem, opening up many more possibilities for using your points efficiently!
How to Maximize Your Purchase (Credit Cards in India)
Finnair, like many other airlines, often partners with Points.com for Avios sales. This typically means your purchase won’t code as a “travel” or “airline” expense on your credit card. Instead, it might code as a general online purchase or a specific vendor.
To maximize your earnings and negate forex charges (Finnair deals in Euros!):
- Use a Card with Low/Zero Forex Markup: Cards like Niyo Global (0% markup), Axis Bank Forex Card (low markup), or HDFC Infinia/Diners Black (1.99% markup + GST, but high earn rate) are ideal to minimise conversion costs.
- Credit Cards with High General Spend Multipliers:
- Axis Magnus for Burgundy (post-₹1.5 Lakh spend): 35 Edge Reward Points for every ₹200 spent.
- HDFC Infinia / Diners Club Black: Strong base earnings that can offset some forex fees.
- Amex Platinum Charge / Gold Charge: Excellent Membership Rewards earning, though forex might apply depending on the card variant.
Remember: Always calculate the total cost, including any forex charges (typically 1.5% – 3.5%) and GST (18%) on foreign transactions.
Get Finnair Avios Without Buying Them
If buying points isn’t for you, there are other ways to accumulate Avios:
- HDFC Infinia/Diners Black: Transfer HDFC Points to Finnair at a 1:1 ratio.
- Transfer via British Airways: Transfer points from other Indian credit card programs (like Amex Membership Rewards, HDFC Bank (Infinia/Diners Black), Axis Edge Miles/Edge Rewards to British Airways Executive Club, and then from BA to Finnair Plus (all 1:1).
- Other Avios Partners: Keep an eye out for promotions from other Avios partners (British Airways, Qatar, Iberia, Aer Lingus) as they might offer better buying rates at times.
The Golden Rule: Buy for Immediate or Short-Term Use ONLY!
While this is a strong promotion, never buy points speculatively. Loyalty programs are subject to devaluations and changes. Only purchase Avios if you have:
- A specific redemption in mind: A dream flight, a particular hotel stay.
- A clear plan for short-term use: Within the next 6-12 months.
Finnair Avios expire after 18 months of inactivity, so factor that into your planning.
Our Final Verdict
This 50% bonus on Avios + 10% Tier Points from Finnair Plus is one of the better promotions we’ve seen, especially with the added incentive for elite status. The ability to buy Avios for as little as ₹1.44 (approx. 1.4 Euro cents) makes many aspirational business class redemptions highly attractive.
If you have a concrete travel plan for the upcoming months, are close to achieving Finnair Plus elite status, and have a good credit card to minimize forex costs, then this deal could definitely make sense for you.
Don’t delay – this promotion expires on November 30, 2025!
Are you planning to leverage this Finnair Avios promotion? Share your thoughts and redemption strategies in the comments below!
