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Finnair launches flights to Sapporo, bookable on Avios

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Finnair, a British Airways partner in the oneworld alliance, will launch flights to Sapporo in Japan this Winter.  It becomes the first European airline to fly to the city since KLM dropped the route back in 2002.

The service will only operate for a short period between 15th December and 27th March 2020.  Flights will depart from Helsinki on Thursdays and Sundays.

Finnair Schengen lounge

Sapporo will be the 5th Finnair destination in Japan following Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.  The direct route from the UK to Japan takes you over Scandinavia which is why the flight time from Helsinki to Sapporo is only 8hr 55 min.

Booked with Avios, Economy seats are 50,000 points + £254.  Business Class is 150,000 Avios + £362.

Finnair appears to have released two Economy and two Business Class seats per flight, and availability was good when I looked yesterday.

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How to earn Avios from UK credit cards

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

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Barclaycard Avios card

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There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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British Airways American Express

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You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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The Platinum Card from American Express

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There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

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There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

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Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Category

Finnair and Finnair Plus

Comments (154)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Rob says:
    16 Jan16 January 16:25

    I think it has now finally gone for good, it isn’t on the VS hotel partners page any longer.

  • RTS says:
    16 Jan16 January 16:57

    If I have a Plat Amex with a supp holder. If i do another supp card but Gold… does that attract another 5k points??

  • Andrew says:
    16 Jan16 January 17:13

    Just home from work and a little festive box is behind the door from Amex inviting me to “Bring More to The Table This Christmas” with a few refer a friend cards for a promotion with just 15 days remaining.

    Something seems to have gone a bit wrong with their marketing…

  • Rob mc says:
    16 Jan16 January 18:01

    Ot
    just received an email from IHG saying I have earnth my free night voucher for staying two nights at the selected hotels.. Although I have only stayed one night at one of the hotels. Can’t see the free night on my account so assume they have sent the emails out in error. Anyone else got one?

    • Alan says:
      16 Jan16 January 18:05

      Not had that email myself.

    • Russ says:
      16 Jan16 January 18:06

      Me to. I think it means everyone who is registered with IHG (that’s the earned bit covered) will get a free night cert if they spend two successive nights at select properties. That’s how I read it but perhaps someone else has another view.

      • Rob mc says:
        16 Jan16 January 18:34

        You’ve earned it. We hope you enjoyed two nights at our new UK hotels. Now you can stay anywhere, on us!

        As our gift to you, your next night is on us (*room rate only), redeemable until 31 October 2019. With over 5,000 IHG® hotels around the world to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Where will you go?

        • Alan says:
          16 Jan16 January 18:36

          Sounds good – perhaps their IT has worked in your favour? Would expect it to show on your account though (like a credit card free night cert), not sure you can do much to chase it if you’ve only stayed one night tho!

    • Lady London says:
      16 Jan16 January 18:51

      IIRC the total required was 2 nights. which could actually have been consecutive, on the same booking in the same hotel. not 2 stays (unusually).

      sounds like you’ve qualified for it.

      • Alan says:
        16 Jan16 January 18:57

        I thought Rob mc said he’d only stayed at one hotel for one night though?

        • Rob mc says:
          16 Jan16 January 19:11

          I only did one night…

        • Lady London says:
          16 Jan16 January 19:13

          Thought he might have done a 2 night stay at another and not realised that this time, that was enough to qualify rather than 2 2 night stays

      • Mikee says:
        16 Jan16 January 20:11

        Do we know if the “Mastercard Partner Rate up to 30% Off” would qualify as the T&Cs state “Members must book (Qualifying rates only)”?
        A Sunday night at Wotton House would bring the rate down to £79.

        • BJ says:
          16 Jan16 January 21:07

          According to InsideFlyerUK it does.

        • Tom1 says:
          16 Jan16 January 23:35

          I googled it before, and a “qualifying rate” is one that is up to 30% off.
          So yes, should be ok, as was the Avis preferred discount.

  • FlyUpTop says:
    16 Jan16 January 20:11

    Anyone know how long VA point transfers to Hilton are taking at the moment to credit?

  • Si**o says:
    16 Jan16 January 20:22

    OT//

    Booked 2 First Class (oneway) tickets to the US this morning to secure the seats using my 2-4-1.

    I’m awaiting for 20k Amex MR points to transfer to my BA account, Am I right to believe take it I can add the return at any point in the future It doesn’t need to be in the 24hr period? (As long as they are still there?)

    Tried to call and ask BA this morning and the guy I had wouldn’t even entertain the idea and wouldn’t let me book a oneway (so I booked online).

    • Anna says:
      16 Jan16 January 20:50

      Numerous people on this site have added return segments on a 2 4 1 booking by phone after booking the outbound when the required return seats were released, the only potential issue being that the seats might be taken by someone else before the booking can be made.

    • Stu N says:
      16 Jan16 January 20:55

      I’ve had no problems adding a return after booking outbound when released at T-355 and waiting for the return date to become available. Significance of 24h is that this is the window you can amend a booking free of charge; after that you might be charged a change fee of £35pp.

      For info I did an Amex to BAEC transfer last week and points took 48 hours to hit my BAEC account; initiated late morning on Monday and the points were there Wednesday morning.

      • GRIMZ says:
        16 Jan16 January 21:06

        i have a return to book for a Lloyds voucher booking when (if) the return becomes available. Anyone know if its BA or Avios i should call?

      • Si**o says:
        16 Jan16 January 21:10

        Thanks great! Thanks! Requested the points yesterday evening, hopefully tomorrow!

  • rams1981 says:
    16 Jan16 January 21:02

    Curve pay model free for first 6 months for Amex beta users. Not bad

    • AlexI says:
      16 Jan16 January 22:20

      Seems to be just for those currently taking part in the beta testing of using Amex via Curve. The latest email from Curve says that they will soon be rolling the new subscription service (which I assume will include Amex) out to everyone in the coming weeks but does not give a definite date.

    • Graham Walsh says:
      16 Jan16 January 22:42

      Got the email as on the beta. Interesting. Still not sure it’s worth it.

      • MD says:
        16 Jan16 January 23:32

        Interesting, thanks. I’m in the beta but haven’t got an email about this yet. For me the key will be if they raise the overall annual and monthly usage limits. Your link doesn’t mention a higher limit for the metal subscription, but surely….?

    • Genghis says:
      17 Jan17 January 00:39

      Seems a poor package tbh when compared to alternatives. I think I’ll be going down to blue once 6 months are up.

      • Optimus Prime says:
        17 Jan17 January 06:10

        I think the subscription is too expensive when compared to Revolut: £9.99 v £6.99

      • Graham Walsh says:
        17 Jan17 January 08:23

        Think I’ll be doing the same. Reminder in diary.

  • Anna B says:
    17 Jan17 January 00:30

    Terrible prices from AVIS via VFC. Double the price on the AVIS website. And then even better applying their new year discount. Paid £220 (pay on collection) instead of quoted £450 (pay now) for a five day mid range rental in May.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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