Finnair Plus Avios, Tier & Cash Upgrade Changes From June 4, 2025 + No Longer Extra Bag

Finnair has issued an update on how it processes Avios, cash, and tier upgrades, effective June 4, 2025. From that date, upgrades confirmed won’t include extra checked luggage. Cash upgrades won’t be available until 30 days before departure, while currently this is 59. You can […]

May 28, 2025 - 06:45

Finnair has issued an update on how it processes Avios, cash, and tier upgrades, effective June 4, 2025. From that date, upgrades confirmed won’t include extra checked luggage.

Cash upgrades won’t be available until 30 days before departure, while currently this is 59. You can upgrade using vouchers or Avios before this. The waitlist will start clearing up to 30 days before departure, now 20, but it will close 48 hours before departure (currently 37 hours).

You can access Finnair’s page for upgrades here.

Finnair’s Announcement:

New in travel class upgrades

Starting from 4 June 2025, we’ll introduce the following updates to travel class upgrades.

Being a Finnair Plus member is worth it! Upgrades will be exclusive to members until 30 days before the flight’s departure instead of the previous 60 days.

Instead of the previous 20 days, we will clear the waitlist and start confirming upgrades depending on availability for the first time 30 days before the flight and thereafter whenever upgrades become available or at least every 4 days. This means you’ll spend less time on the waitlist.

We will do the final waitlist clearance 48 hours before departure, instead of 37 hours, to let you know if your upgrade was successful. This way, you’ll have more time to prepare and purchase travel extras if your upgrade wasn’t successful.

Upgrades purchased at the airport will also include complimentary seat reservation.

You can follow the status of your waitlisted upgrade request in Manage booking or the Finnair app. We will email you as soon as your request is approved or declined but at the latest 48 hours before departure.
Business Class upgrade purchased on 4 June or after does not include one extra piece of checked baggage. This means that your baggage allowance follows your original ticket. The change does not apply to tier benefits or upgrades purchased or waitlisted before 4 June.
We continue to develop your digital purchase experience. You can upgrade from Premium Economy Class to Business Class on our website without contacting customer service. This feature will be added to the Finnair app later.

Upgrade Purchase Deadline:

Upgrades are offered online or through the Finnair app until 3 hours before departure when your flight departs from Helsinki, 8 hours before departure when your flight departs from North America, Asia, Dubai or Doha, and 24 hours before departure when your flight departs from Europe.

Conclusion

It has been a no-brainer to purchase these upgrades on short-haul flights if you have purchased a light ticket, need to check a bag, and don’t have status with Finnair or Oneworld, as you then receive all the Priority Services and a piece of checked luggage.

The checked luggage allowance from June 4^th onwards will be based on the original ticket, and you will not receive an additional bag.

I am not sure if there is a big difference in these Avios, voucher, and cash upgrade processing, as the availability on long-haul flights has been very challenging. Short-haul is usually not an issue, but remember that you get an economy seat.

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