Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to upgrade Finnair flights with Avios
Upgrading with Avios on Finnair means spending Avios — the reward currency of Finnair Plus, Finnair's frequent flyer programme — to move up a travel class, and Finnair Plus names Business Class and Premium Economy as the cabins its Avios travel-class upgrade covers. [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Finnair Plus members can use Avios to upgrade their travel class to Business Class or Premium Economy. [4]
- Travel-class upgrade benefits also sit inside the Finnair Plus tier ladder, with four one-way upgrades at Gold, 12 at Platinum and 24 at Platinum Lumo. [3]
- Tier benefits apply on Finnair flights carrying an AY code and operated by Finnair or Norra. [3]
- The Avios behind an upgrade come from the same balance members build on flights: a Basic member collects 6 Avios per €1 spent on Finnair flights and travel extras. [2]
Which cabins can you upgrade to with Avios on Finnair?
Finnair Plus presents travel-class upgrades as one of the everyday uses of Avios, alongside award flights, travel extras and partner services such as hotel stays. [4] Its description of the benefit names two cabins — Business Class and Premium Economy — and promises a better seat, meals and more comfort when the upgrade is paid with Avios. [4]
Avios themselves are described by Finnair as working like currency inside the programme, usable on things such as an extra bag or an award flight. [2] That is the same balance an upgrade draws on. [2]
The Finnair Plus flight-benefits table also includes a row for upgrading family members to Business Class for fewer Avios when the member flies Business Class. [3]
Which Finnair Plus tiers include upgrade benefits?
Upgrade benefits enter the tier ladder at Gold: the benefits table shows four one-way upgrades for Gold, 12 for Platinum and 24 for Platinum Lumo. [3]
| Tier | One-way upgrades | Tier points needed |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | — | Entry tier |
| Silver | — | 15,000 |
| Gold | 4 | 45,000 |
| Platinum | 12 | 80,000 |
| Platinum Lumo | 24 | 300,000, of which 250,000 collected from Finnair |
Tier points are collected inside a tracking period that always lasts 12 months, after which the balance resets and a new period begins. [3] Reaching a new tier keeps that membership for the rest of the previous tracking period plus the following 12 months. [3] How those thresholds fit together is covered in the Finnair Plus status guide.
Tier points also unlock milestone rewards inside a tier, and some of those rewards are upgrades: two upgrade benefits at 55,000 tier points for Gold members, four at 95,000 for Platinum members, and eight at 310,000 plus a further four at 320,000 for Platinum Lumo members. [3] Milestones can only be reached within your own membership tier, so a Gold member works towards Gold milestone rewards. [3]
How do you earn the Avios you spend on an upgrade?
On Finnair flights numbered AY0001–AY2000 and AY7001–AY7500, Avios and tier points are calculated from the money spent: the base fare excluding most taxes, fees and charges, any airline surcharge shown as an "Extra fee" in the booking's price breakdown, and the total price of travel extras. [2] The spend in euros is multiplied by a factor set by the member's tier at the time of flying. [2]
| Finnair Plus tier | Avios and tier points per €1 |
|---|---|
| Basic | 6 |
| Silver | 7 |
| Gold | 8 |
| Platinum | 9 |
| Platinum Lumo | 10 |
Members collect an equal number of Avios and tier points, and the credit appears after the flight, dated by travel rather than by purchase. [2] Avios and tier points are collected only from the member's own ticket, even when that member pays for the whole family's bookings. [2] Spend paid in another currency is converted into euros before the calculation. [2] Award bookings and travel extras bought alongside award bookings do not earn Avios or tier points. [2]
Exceptions and limits
- Finnair Plus tier benefits, including travel-class upgrade benefits, are given on Finnair flights that carry an AY code on the ticket and are operated by Finnair or Norra. [3]
- When a member flies with a carrier in the oneworld alliance, or takes a Finnair flight whose marketing carrier on the ticket is not AY, the oneworld benefits apply instead of Finnair Plus benefits. [3]
- Finnair Plus summarises Platinum Lumo as including eight confirmed travel class upgrades [3], while the detailed flight-benefits table on the same page lists 24 one-way upgrades for that tier. [3]
- Milestone rewards are tied to the member's own tier and cannot be earned from another tier's threshold. [3]
- Junior members aged 2 to 17 can move through the same tiers and receive the same tier benefits as adult members. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Can you upgrade to Business Class with Avios on Finnair?
Yes. Finnair Plus lists Business Class and Premium Economy as the cabins available when a member upgrades their travel class with Avios. [4]
How many one-way upgrades do Finnair Plus tiers include?
The benefits table shows four one-way upgrades at Gold, 12 at Platinum and 24 at Platinum Lumo. [3]
Do Finnair Plus upgrade benefits work on partner airlines?
No — when a member flies a oneworld airline, or a Finnair flight where the marketing carrier is not AY, oneworld benefits apply in place of Finnair Plus benefits. [3]
How many tier points are needed for Gold, where upgrade benefits begin?
Gold requires 45,000 tier points within the 12-month tracking period. [3]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers published Finnair Plus upgrade rules for Finnair-marketed flights; partner-operated upgrades and operational upgrades at the airport are not covered here, and the upgrade rules of other Avios programmes such as The British Airways Club and Iberia Plus are also outside this page.
- Finnair — Collect Avios and tier points from flights, checked 18 October 2026
- Finnair — Finnair Plus membership tiers and benefits, checked 18 October 2026
- Finnair — Finnair Plus loyalty programme, checked 18 October 2026