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If you’ve been using credit card points to travel for quite some time, you know that the “holy grail” of frugal travel is flexibility.
The more places your points can go, the more value you can squeeze out of them.
Because Finnair is part of the Avios family, you can transfer points seamlessly between programs to maximize value.
By moving your British Airways Avios over to Finnair Plus, you can unlock redemptions that are often cheaper than booking through British Airways directly.
This is particularly recommended if you’re looking to avoid those notorious London Heathrow surcharges.
However, before you can start booking that “sofa in the sky” Business Class, you have to get your accounts talking to each other.
It’s a 1:1 transfer ratio and completely free, but there are a few technical hurdles you need to clear first.
It can be a bit finicky if your info doesn’t match perfectly.
This blog post will walk you through linking your British Airways Executive Club and Finnair Plus accounts so you can start transferring your Avios today.
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Summary
| Key Details | |
|---|---|
| Transfer Ratio | 1 : 1 |
| Transfer Cost | Free |
| Transfer Minimum | 1 Avios |
| Transfer Maximum | None |
| Speed | Instant |
| Restriction | You can only transfer between your accounts; you cannot transfer to someone else’s Finnair account from your British Airways Executive Club account. |
Guide to Linking British Airways Avios to Finnair Plus
Step 1: Audit Your Personal Details
Before you even touch a “Link” button, log in to both your Finnair Plus and British Airways Executive Club accounts and ensure your first name, last name, and date of birth match exactly.
- If one account has a middle name and the other doesn’t, or if you use a suffix like “Jr.”, the linking process might fail. Update these in your profile settings first.
- Make sure the email addresses for both accounts are identical; otherwise, linking will be unsuccessful.
| Personal Information Checklist |
|---|
| First Name Last Name Date of Birth Email Address |
Step 2: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
This is the part that trips most people up.
Ensure Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is active on both accounts, as this is a standard security requirement for linking loyalty programs.
Step 3: Initiate the Link via Finnair
While you can technically start from several places, the most reliable path is through the Finnair website.
- Log in to your Finnair Plus account.
- Navigate to the “Balance and transactions” page.
- Look for the button that says “Link my accounts“ (specifically for British Airways).
Step 4: Authenticate with British Airways
Once you click “Link my Accounts“, Finnair will redirect you to a British Airways login portal.
- Enter your BA Executive Club credentials.
- You will likely be asked for your BA 2FA code here as well.
- Once authenticated, you’ll see a confirmation screen asking to “Link accounts now.” Click it!
Step 5: The Double Check (and Final Confirmation)
Sometimes the system asks you to log back into Finnair one last time to “seal the deal.”
Once finished, you should see both balances displayed on your Finnair dashboard and the option to transfer Avios between programs.
You’ll also receive a confirmation email once linking is successful.
Keep this for your records!
Step 6: Transfer Your Avios
After successfully linking my accounts, I tested the transfer process by moving 100,000 British Airways Avios to Finnair Plus.
The system required an additional two-factor authentication (2FA) step for security, but once verified, the transfer was instantaneous.
Important: Because British Airways acts as a central hub, I can easily transfer these points from Finnair to Qatar Airways or Iberia by first moving them back to my BA Executive Club account.
Troubleshooting Issues
I initially had issues linking my accounts because my personal information did not match across both profiles, despite checking them before starting this process.
I investigated further and realized that my British Airways Avios profile somehow shows my birthdate as invalid (see screenshot).
I reached out to British Airways and submitted a copy of my passport as proof of my date of birth.
Within 24 hours, I received an email confirming the correction.
Once this hurdle was cleared, I was finally able to transfer my Avios successfully.
Pro-Tip: While links are generally permanent, it’s good practice to verify the connection once a year or if you haven’t moved points in a long time.
Why Link These Accounts?
- More Award Availability: Sometimes Finnair shows better availability for its own flights than partner sites.
- Avoid High Fees: Depending on the route, booking through one portal might save you hundreds in “carrier-imposed surcharges.”
- The 30-Day Rule: A common rule for Avios transfers is that accounts must be open for at least 30 days before transfers are allowed. If you’re planning a trip, link them now so you’re ready when seats open up!
Pro-Tip
Note on the “Avios Points Relay”:
If your Avios are currently sitting in your Qatar or Iberia account, don’t panic if you can’t see a “link” button for Finnair.
You just need to take the scenic route:
- Move the Avios from your Iberia or Qatar account to British Airways first.
- Then, transfer those Avios from British Airways to Finnair.
It’s a quick double-hop that unlocks some of the best award rates in the sky.
Final Thoughts
Linking these accounts is a “set it and forget it” task that every Avios collector should do immediately.
Even if you don’t have a flight to Helsinki on the horizon, having this bridge built allows you to react quickly when award space opens up.
One last thing to keep in mind: while the transfer between BA and Finnair is instant, your account generally needs to be at least 30 days old before you can move points.
If you’re a new member, don’t wait until you see the “perfect” flight to link them.
Do it now so you’re ready to pounce when the time comes.
ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All information about the American Express Schwab Platinum has been collected independently by The Frugal Tourist.
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