Finnair and the centennial turnaround: from Avios points to the new Helsinki lounge
A historic milestone that brings with it a breath of fresh air. In 2023, the airline Finnair is celebrating the [...]
Finnair
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A historic milestone that brings with it a flurry of news. In 2023, Finnair airline is celebrating 100 years in business, an anniversary that coincided with the announced revolution of its loyalty program, namely the choice from 2024 to Finnair Plus to adopt Avios points, referring to British Airways, Iberia and Qatar Airways. Meanwhile, the airline has launched a cabin renovation plan between now and the next few years and plans to open a new lounge in Helsinki.
On the occasion of his first 100 years, Finnair also celebrated in Rome with the presence of market director Europe, Javier Roig Sanchez, who reviewed the airline's past and outlined future challenges.
"Our first flight, in 1923, was a post between Helsinki to Tallinn, while as of today we carry about 1 million passengers a month," Roig said, recalling the first operations over Italy. "We started in 1963 with flights over Milan, then in 1977 Rome was introduced and later on Venice as well. But for us at TFC - who have already analyzed Pros and cons of the "Finnair Plus revolution" - the most important issue remains precisely that of loyalty program developments.
The interview with Javier Roig Sanchez
What are the prospects for the frequent flyer loyalty program in light of the new changes?
"Finnair Plus will enter a new era at the end of January 2024. The program and the accrual of award miles will no longer be based on distance traveled, but on spending, which will allow points to be collected and the various levels to be reached based on the amount for flight purchases and travel extras. Avios will be the new loyalty currency. In addition, we will introduce new options for collecting and using points and additional new benefits. These changes will be introduced at the end of January 2024 and will require no action on the part of our customers. We have also made improvements to digital support for our customers."
Javier Roig Sanchez, Finnair's market director Europe during the airline's 100th anniversary celebrations in Rome
Basically, what changes with the adoption of Avios in the loyalty program?
"This will be a beneficial change for many of our international members who are already used to using this system with other airlines such as Iberia or British. Specifically, starting at the end of January, Finnair Plus award points will be automatically converted to Avios with 3:2 proportions. With the transition to Avios, we will update the point prices for our products and services. On average, prices will change with 3:2 proportions, but some prices may increase or decrease instead of following the exact conversion. We will publish Avios prices one month before they go into effect. Our customers will be able to collect and use Avios just as they do with the Finnair Plus award points: with Finnair, our many airline partners and loyalty program partners. From spring 2024, our customers will be able to transfer Avios between Finnair Plus and British Airways Executive Club accounts on a 1:1 ratio , thus also having access to the rewards and partnerships of the British Airways Executive Club network."
Meanwhile, a process of cabin renovation has also begun...
"Yes, particularly of the Embraers we have in our fleet. The modernization project will give new modern and comfortable interiors, with elements already experienced in the cabins of Finnair's long-haul aircraft that have recently been redesigned. The renovation will kick off in the period between 2024 and 2025, and the first planes should be operational as early as the end of next year. We are talking about 12 aircraft serving domestic and European destinations of Finnair and providing 100 seats. By next summer, however, all A350 and A330 long-haul aircraft will be equipped with new cabins."
What are the prospects for lounges?
"Our development plans also include a major investment in our Schengen lounge at Helsinki airport, which is often crowded and busy during peak hours. In this regard in the second half of 2024 this will be relocated to a much larger and more comfortable space with a dedicated area for our Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo and Platinum members."
What are the benefits for those flying from Italy with Finnair?
"To date we fly to our Helsinki hub with direct connections from the cities of Milan and Rome, and seasonally from Venice, Naples, Bologna and Verona ensuring good connections to access the international network. From Helsinki, Italian travelers can fly to numerous cities in Finland and Northern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia including Tokyo, Osaka; and the United States, such as Los Angeles.
What's new for Finnair's winter and summer network?
"We operate four weekly connections from Milan Linate Airport. From Helsinki, new for the summer season is the return of the connection to Nagoya in Japan, which will operate from May 30, 2024 with two weekly frequencies. Nagoya thus joins the flights we already operate to Tokyo Haneda and Narita and to Osaka: in this way, we will offer a total of twenty weekly frequencies to Japan in the 2024 summer season."
- 6,000 Mile Registration Bonus
- Collect miles WITH EACH PURCHASE
- Your miles with no expiration*
- No fees for ATM withdrawals and foreign purchases
- Without having to change banks
- Autonomous card activation
- Multi-function mobile application
- Free travel insurance
- Free credit for up to 7 weeks
- Contactless Payment
- Mastercard® SecureCode
- 20€ discount directly in your statement by spending €60 in one or more transactions with Carta on Italotreno.it
- Free fee the 1st year. From the 2nd €5.50 per month
- You can choose to pay in full or in installments
- Premium level of the Italo Più program
- 4 Vouchers per year for access to Italo Club Lounges
- Preferential Access to Italo's Fast Track at the station
- For every 5 purchases of Italo ticketing and/or onboard services made with Italo American Express Credit Card you will receive 1 voucher for room upgrade
- Welcome bonus of 100,000 Volare points upon reaching 6 thousand in spending in the first 3 months after card issuance
- Accumulate 1.5 qualifying Volare points for every euro spent, accumulate an additional 3 non-qualifying Volare points ( for a total of 4.5 Volare points) for every euro spent on ticketing purchases and other services offered by ITA Airways
- Access to the Premium Club of ITA Airways' Volare program.
- ITA Airways Lounge Access
- Free excess baggage
- Points Back