Finnair adds extra Bangkok flights, bookable with Avios
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With British Airways unlikely to return to Thailand for a few years, due to a shortage of long haul aircraft and the unattractive economics of a route with modest premium traffic, you need to look elsewhere for Avios earning and redeeming options.
Qatar Airways is the obvious choice, especially if you are paying cash. Not only do you get the hugely impressive Qatar seat and service, plus earn Avios, but a return Business Class flight earns 560 British Airways Executive Club tier points. That’s 90% of the way to Silver status.
Finnair is another option. We rate the new Finnair business class which we reviewed here, and it is offered on the Bangkok route. I also took a look at Finnair’s new Premium Economy seat here.
You will also earn Avios and British Airways tier points on Finnair, although fewer than with Qatar Airways. A Business Class return from the UK would earn 80 + 140 + 140 + 80 = 440 tier points. (Qatar Airways via Doha is 140 + 140 + 140 + 140 = 560, since each leg is over 2,000 miles.)
Finnair has announced that it is adding three additional Bangkok flights per week for the winter season, starting on 29th October.
This means that the existing 11 flights per week will increase to 14, all operated with an A350. I’m not sure what Avios availability will look like, but 14 weekly flights means that there are a lot of Business Class and Premium Economy seats to fill.
Remember that you can connect via Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin as well as from Heathrow. The Finnair website is here.
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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:
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
British Airways American Express
5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review
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
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
Run your own business?
We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, and the standard card is FREE. Capital on Tap cards also have no FX fees.
Capital on Tap Visa
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
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.
American Express Business Platinum
50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
American Express Business Gold
20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review
Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.
