Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can FINALLY use their miles on Finnair flights. Finnair and Alaska Airlines announced their partnership in May of 2017 and award travel was to begin in fall of 2017. Unfortunately, due the Alaska Airlines and Virgin America merger, partner award redemptions were put to the wayside and delayed! Finnair was not the only causality; Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members still cannot use their miles on Singapore Airlines. Now, this is slowly changing and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can use miles throughout the Finnair network!
Finnair is one of Alaska Airlines most robust award travel partners as they allow members to use their miles throughout their entire network of flights! Most of Alaska Airlines partners only allow flights between the US and other countries, but not from say Asia to Europe. This is why I’ve said that Alaska Airlines Mileage program is NOT a global program. However, this is improving with Finnair. Singapore Airlines and Aer Lingus not quite yet…
Award Charts on Finnair
Finnair is not the cheapest use of Alaska Airline miles, but their award chart is very robust. Award travel is possible on anywhere Finnair flies in both economy and business class. Award travel in Business class is expensive and gets even more expensive the further one travels.
| Orgin | Destination | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | Europe | 30,000 | 70,000 |
| North America | Middle East | 40,000 | 105,000 |
| North America | India | 42,500 | 110,000 |
| North America | Asia | 32,500 | 125,000 |
| Europe | Europe | 12,500 | 20,000 |
| Europe | Asia | 32,500 | 60,000 |
| Europe | Middle East | 22,500 | 40,000 |
Flights are the same price on Finnair regardless if one leaves from Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, or the lower 48! So although New York to Helsinki is expensive in business class, Hawaii to Helsinki is a steal! Interesting enough, flights to India are more expensive than Japan or Thailand! The math does not add up, but it’s good for those wanting to go to Southeast Asia!
Note – Alaska Airlines Award chart is incorrect. Some flights price higher than what the award chart shows. For example USA-Asia is 50,000 in coach not 32,500 like what the website displays.
Award Chart Thoughts
Alaska Airlines is a unique award program because partners cannot be mixed and matched on the same itinerary in the same direction and award flights are typically limited to certain regions on partners. Award flights are only Alaska Airlines plus one partner per direction. Finnair does offers some fantastic new route options for Alaska Airlines members, but not at the cheapest rates in business class. For award flights in economy, Finnair is affordable when travel between Europe and one other region.
With this new award chart, one could potential fly to Asia with a stopover in Finland for just 50,000 miles! I may cash my miles in for a flight on Finnair, but before doing so, consider other airlines and routes. Potentially, I could get to London on AA in First Class for 70,000 miles vs the same cost in business on Finnair. Yes I know, I’d rather fly Finnair too! Or if heading to Asia, using 30,000 miles on Cathay Pacific between the USA and Asia in economy or 70,000 for First class is a better deal, unless you really want to stop in Helsinki.
Finnair is now one of two Alaska Airlines partners which allow travel between Europe Asia. Although, flights on Cathay Pacific once again offer a better value!
Final note, Finnair flights are bookable online! Cathay Pacific flights are still not available online.
