This is a rather specialized offer, but if you've been searching for ways to give your Avios balance a boost without flying - and thus save a serious amount on future travel - Finnair's latest promotion may merit a second look. Finnair has been running periodic bonuses on purchased Avios since its switch to the Avios currency in 2024, and the newest offer provides one of the more compelling opportunities of the year.

Whether you're looking to upgrade to business class, unlock elite benefits or transfer Avios into another program - such as one from British Airways or Qatar Airways, for instance - understanding how this promotion works will provide you the insight to decide if it's time to buy.

Understanding Finnair's Limited-Time Avios Bonus

Finnair alternates between discounting miles and bonus miles with its promotions, and this latest offer is a straight bonus model. Through November 30th, 2025, customers can purchase Avios with up to 50% more, depending upon how many they buy in a single transaction.

Here's how the bonus tiers break down:

• 0–9,000 Avios: No bonus
• 10,000–54,000 Avios: 30% bonus + 10% Tier Point bonus
• 55,000 - 99,000 Avios: 40% bonus + 10% Tier Point bonus
• 100,000–200,000 Avios: 50% bonus + 10% Tier Point bonus

The more you buy, the better the value becomes. Under this promotion, you can buy up to 200,000 base Avios, which then increases to 300,000 Avios with the 50% bonus, for a total of $4,860. That works out at around 1.62 cents per Avios, a rate fairly consistent with Finnair's typical sales - not the lowest ever, but solid enough to consider if you have a specific redemption in mind.

The best Finnair price ever for purchased Avios was around 0.7 cents apiece, but that offer never recurred, and it is not clear if it will anytime soon.

A Hidden Benefit: Tier Points for the Status Chaser

A less publicized feature with this sale is the additional Tier Points that can allow travelers to move closer to elite status without taking to the air.

Purchasing the full 200,000 Avios gets you:

• 20,000 Tier Points are enough to get Finnair Plus Silver, which corresponds to Oneworld Ruby;
• Almost halfway to Finnair Plus Gold, which offers Oneworld Sapphire, priority services, and lounge access.

This is a shortcut to meaningful perks for travelers who want to level up their status but won't have many flights in the near future.

A couple of restrictions to keep in mind are as follows:

• In other words, you must have joined Finnair Plus prior to November 16th, 2025, in order to get the bonus Avios.
• If you want to receive any bonus, your account needs at least 50 Avios. Of course, you can still buy if you have zero, but you won't get the extra Avios.

Purchased Avios usually post within a period of 72 hours, though many customers have reported faster posting times.

How Valuable Are Finnair Avios for Award Travel?

It is almost never a good idea to buy miles speculatively since loyalty programs can always devalue their award charts without warning. That being said, this deal can be a good value if you pair it with certain high-value redemptions.

Premium Cabin Deals

One of the sweet spots in Finnair's program is long-haul business class: A one-way between the U.S. East Coast and Finland costs 62,500 Avios, even during peak summer travel. That means 125,000 Avios-or about $2,025 using this promotion-could cover a round-trip business class ticket.

Flights on this route often sell for over $4,000, so buying Avios rather than paying cash can cut the cost almost in half.

Regional Flights in Europe

Avios are also well-used on short-haul European flights, particularly if you're flying within Northern Europe. These routes tend to be a lot more expensive in cash but relatively cheap in points, which makes Avios a strategic choice.

Upgrades on Discounted Finnair Tickets

If you've already purchased an economy fare during a sale, it may be possible to upgrade to business class using Avios. These can provide great value relative to buying business class outright.

Important Note on How Avios Purchases Are Processed

Finnair sells Avios via Points.com and not directly via the airline itself. That means:

• These purchases do not count as airfare.
• You won't earn bonus points usually awarded on travel spending
• It's usually best to stick with a credit card that offers strong rewards on everyday purchases, or one with which you are currently trying to hit a welcome bonus.

This is a key detail that credit card strategists should factor in to maximize the value of both the Avios and the card rewards.

Should You Buy Finnair Avios During This Promo?

Whether this promotion is worth it depends on your situation. Here's how to evaluate it:

When It Makes Sense to Buy

Buying Avios could be a great option if:

• You already have a planned redemption in mind.
• Award seats available for your target dates
• The cost of buying Avios is lower compared to paying cash.
• You want to increase your Tier Point total for elite status
• You're going to transfer Avios to another partner program

This means that since Finnair uses the same Avios currency as British Airways Executive Club, Qatar Airways Privilege Club, Iberia Plus, and Aer Lingus AerClub, you can transfer points instantly and freely between programs. So if British Airways is offering better award space or pricing for a given flight, for example, you can buy through Finnair but redeem through BA.

When to Skip Buying

This may not be an ideal promotion if:

• You don't have an immediate use for the miles
• You're hoping to get a super-low historic price, such as the 0.7-cent offer
• You can transfer points from credit card programs instead.

Finnair is a transfer partner of Capital One, which will let you transfer your Capital One miles at a ratio of 1:1 to Avios. Many travelers like this option because it means not having to spend any real cash.

Given that you can transfer Avios freely to its partner airlines, earning via credit cards linked to Chase, Amex, or Citi can also indirectly help you build up a Finnair Avios balance.

Final Thoughts

Buying points is never the absolute most inexpensive strategy, but sometimes it can be a great way to save-particularly when booking premium cabin flights or topping off an account for a specific redemption. Finnair's latest promotion offers up to a 50% Avios bonus plus a 10% Tier Point boost on purchases made by November 30, 2025.

If you have a specific redemption in mind, or if you'd like to get closer to elite status without flying, this deal can be a practical way to bridge the gap. But if you aren't ready to redeem soon, consider earning Avios through credit card transfers instead. As with any points purchase, timing and planning are everything.

‍