In 2023, the Finnair Plus program adopted Avios as its rewards foreign money. I’d contemplate this to be a optimistic growth, given the power to switch Avios between the assorted “flavors” of the rewards, with applications like British Airways Government Membership and Qatar Airways Privilege Membership.
When Finnair adopted Avios as its rewards foreign money, the airline additionally launched an award seat assure, whereby the oneworld provider ensures a sure variety of award seats per flight when the schedule first opens. The factor is, many individuals have been pissed off and dissatisfied by this function, as a result of they don’t truly see the award seats when the schedule opens.
Properly, there’s a trick to unlocking this award house, so I needed to cowl that on this publish.
Particulars of Finnair’s award seat assure
As anybody who has ever tried to redeem miles can attest to, discovering saver degree award availability will be tough at occasions. That’s why it’s at all times nice when an airline ensures a sure variety of award seats.
Alongside these strains, Finnair has an award seat assure, promising anyplace from six to eight award seats per flight:
- On quick haul flights, Finnair guarantees a minimum of six award seats, comprised of two in enterprise class and 4 in economic system
- On lengthy haul flights, Finnair guarantees a minimum of eight award seats, comprised of two in enterprise class, two in premium economic system, and 4 in economic system
To be clear, this is applicable when reserving by Finnair Plus, and that assure doesn’t exist when reserving by companion frequent flyer applications, like Alaska Mileage Plan and American AAdvantage (although they could generally have entry to award house as effectively). There are some further exclusions to concentrate on:
- The award seat assure doesn’t apply on flights to and from Doha
- The award seat assure doesn’t apply on flights that aren’t to and from Helsinki
- The award seat assure doesn’t apply on flights the place tour operators have reserved the vast majority of seats
Traditionally Finnair hasn’t been nice about making award seats accessible, so I’d contemplate this assure to be an excellent perk, because you a minimum of know that you just’ll get entry to an honest quantity of house when the schedule opens. Given the restricted charges for redemptions on Finnair, that is additionally an excellent use of Avios. I’m additionally typically a fan of Finnair’s lengthy haul enterprise class, because it’s a unusual product, because of the no-recline seat.
The key to Finnair’s award seat assure
I’ve seen lots of people point out how Finnair’s award seat assure doesn’t truly appear to exist. And certainly, I can see how individuals attain that conclusion.
In the event you go to Finnair’s web site in america and seek for two enterprise class award seats between New York and Helsinki as far out because the schedule goes, you may not truly see any award availability. I did precisely that search with versatile dates, and obtained a message saying that there aren’t any seats accessible.
That is the place the trick comes into play. In the event you change the nation of the web site to Finland (even in case you maintain English because the language), it’s best to all of a sudden see that award house.
I did precisely the identical search once more…
…and as you may see under, each date had two enterprise class award seats accessible (every seat prices 62,500 Avios, which is the place the price of 125,000 Avios comes from).
So yeah, to make use of Finnair’s award seat assure, it’s a must to use the Finland model of Finnair’s web site.
Now, I can’t truly inform you why this quirk exists. I’m undecided if it’s intentional or if it’s a tech glitch. Regardless, it’s good for individuals who are within the know, because it makes award availability simpler to search out. And simply to be completely clear, you’re not violating any guidelines by visiting the Finland model of the Finnair web site, as you’re not claiming to dwell there, or something.
Backside line
Finnair has an award seat assure, whereby the airline guarantees a minimum of two enterprise class award seats on just about all flights (together with a sure variety of seats in different cabins).
The catch is that you just’ll typically solely discover this award availability when accessing the Finland model of Finnair’s web site. So in case you don’t see availability when the schedule opens, simply change the web site location to Finland, and it’s best to have significantly better luck.
Have you ever taken benefit of Finnair’s award seat assure?
