Table of Contents
The Introduction
Upgrading a Finnair flight with Avios can be a practical way to experience Premium Economy or Business Class without purchasing a full-price premium ticket. Depending on your route, original fare, and upgrade availability, you may be able to use your Finnair Plus Avios to improve your travel experience.
However, not every booking qualifies, and an upgrade is not guaranteed simply because you have enough Avios. Understanding eligibility rules, fees, and availability can help you decide whether upgrading is better than booking an award flight outright.
In this article, we explain how a Finnair upgrade with Avios works, what travelers should know before requesting one, and how to evaluate the potential value of Finnair Avios upgrades.
The Key Takeaways
- Finnair Plus members can use Avios to request eligible cabin upgrades on qualifying Finnair-operated flights.
- Upgrade availability depends on the route, ticket conditions, and available premium-cabin inventory.
- Booking an upgrade in advance can provide more benefits than purchasing one at the airport.
- Comparing cash fares, Avios costs, and alternative award flights helps determine whether an upgrade offers good value.
How Does a Finnair Upgrade With Avios Work?
Finnair Plus uses Avios as its loyalty currency, allowing eligible members to redeem points for rewards, including cabin upgrades on qualifying flights.
A Finnair flight upgrade can move you from Economy to Business Class or, on eligible long-haul routes, from Economy to Premium Economy or Premium Economy to Business Class.
Upgrade prices and options depend on the route and cabin combination. Finnair publishes its applicable redemption rates and conditions, which can change over time. Check the current terms through Finnair Plus resources before committing your Avios.
It is also important to distinguish an upgrade from an award booking. An upgrade generally requires an eligible existing ticket, while a Classic Award flight is booked directly using Avios.
Which Tickets Are Eligible for Finnair Avios Upgrades?
Eligibility is one of the most important factors to check before planning a Finnair business class upgrade.
Generally, upgrades are subject to the operating airline, flight number, ticket type, and availability. Finnair-operated flights marketed under an AY flight number may qualify, but travelers should verify the conditions for their specific itinerary.
Some important considerations include:
- Revenue tickets: Eligible cash tickets may qualify even when they have restrictive change conditions. A nonrefundable ticket is not automatically ineligible.
- Classic Award tickets: Award tickets booked entirely with Avios are generally not eligible for a further cabin upgrade.
- Money + Avios bookings: Tickets purchased using certain Money + Avios options may be excluded.
- Partner-operated flights: A flight marketed by Finnair but operated by another airline may have different restrictions.
Before purchasing a ticket specifically to upgrade it, review the fare conditions and current upgrade rules. The oneworld alliance guide can also help explain how Finnair fits into the wider partner network, although alliance membership does not make every partner flight eligible for a Finnair upgrade.
How Much Does a Finnair Business Class Upgrade Cost?
The Avios required for an upgrade depend on the route and the cabin you are moving into. Long-haul upgrades generally require more Avios than shorter European journeys.
Finnair may also apply a service charge when an upgrade request is handled through customer service rather than an eligible online channel. Confirm the current fee before submitting your request.
To assess the cost, compare the upgrade with other redemption options:
- Check the cash price of your existing ticket.
- Confirm the Avios required for the desired cabin.
- Review any additional charges.
- Compare the combined cash fare and upgrade cost with a direct award booking.
The Points Calculator and CPP Calculator can help estimate redemption value. The Points or Cash tool can also help frame the decision around your available rewards and cash budget.
Tips for Getting a Finnair Flight Upgrade
Request upgrades early
Upgrade availability is limited, particularly on popular long-haul routes. Check availability as soon as your ticket is confirmed, and review the current rules for joining a waitlist if your preferred cabin is unavailable.
Understand the benefits
An upgrade confirmed in advance may include additional premium-cabin benefits, subject to Finnair’s conditions. Airport upgrades can have different entitlements, so do not assume they automatically include lounge access, priority services, or Wi-Fi.
Check the baggage allowance attached to your original fare, too. Upgrading does not necessarily change every condition of the original ticket.
Compare alternative routes
Flexibility with departure dates or connecting airports may reveal other ways to use your Avios. The Availability Calendar, Map View, and Routes pages can help with broader award-trip planning.
Avoid transferring points too early
If you plan to transfer credit card rewards into an eligible loyalty program, first confirm the transfer terms and upgrade availability. Transfers are often irreversible, and an unsuccessful upgrade request could leave you with Avios you did not intend to use.
You can explore potential transfer options through the Transfer Partners guide and review relevant card guides.
Important Things to Know Before Requesting an Upgrade
- Availability is limited: Having enough Avios does not guarantee that an upgrade will clear.
- Waitlists carry uncertainty: Requests may remain unconfirmed, so have a backup plan for your original cabin.
- Fees and rules can change: Confirm the latest pricing, service charges, and cancellation conditions before redeeming.
- Ticket conditions still matter: An upgrade does not necessarily replace every restriction or baggage condition attached to the original fare.
- Award seats and upgrade seats are different considerations: Availability for a new award booking does not necessarily establish that an upgrade is available.
How Flightpoints Helps You Compare Award Travel
Finding a suitable upgrade is only one part of planning an award trip. Travelers may also need to compare alternative dates, routes, loyalty programs, and the overall value of using points instead of cash.
Flightpoints provides award-flight search and comparison resources that can support this research. Its Explore page and Where Can I Go tool can help travelers investigate possible destinations, while the browser extension offers another way to access award-travel resources.
These tools can support your wider redemption strategy, but they should not be treated as confirmation of Finnair’s upgrade inventory. Verify upgrade eligibility and availability directly with Finnair before transferring points or making a booking decision.
The Bottom Line
A Finnair upgrade with Avios can offer good value when the original ticket is eligible, upgrade space is available, and the combined cash and Avios cost compares favorably with other options. The best approach is to confirm the fare rules, compare redemption alternatives, and understand exactly which benefits your upgrade includes.
Finnair Avios upgrades can be worth considering for both short-haul and long-haul journeys, but flexibility and careful planning matter. Always verify the latest conditions and final availability with Finnair before committing your points.
Discover the True Value of Your Points
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Get Flightpoints ProFAQs
Q: Can I upgrade a Finnair flight with Avios?
A: Yes, eligible Finnair Plus members can use Avios for qualifying cabin upgrades on eligible flights, subject to ticket conditions and upgrade availability.
Q: Can I upgrade an Economy ticket to Business Class?
A: Depending on the route, ticket, and available inventory, an Economy ticket may qualify for an upgrade to Business Class. Check the current Finnair Plus rules for your specific booking.
Q: Can I upgrade a Finnair award ticket?
A: Classic Award tickets are generally not eligible for further cabin upgrades using Avios. Review the ticket conditions before assuming an upgrade is possible.
Q: Do Finnair upgrades include lounge access?
A: An upgrade confirmed in advance may include lounge access and other premium-cabin benefits, subject to the applicable conditions. Airport upgrades may offer fewer benefits, so verify the entitlements before purchasing.
Q: What should I do if no upgrade seats are available?
A: Check whether Finnair permits a waitlist request for your booking, monitor alternative dates, and compare the cost of a direct award booking. Do not assume a waitlist request will clear, even if seats appear available in another booking channel.
