Finnair Plus - Milage accrual on partners on AY itinerary

I've noticed that on most of the destinations in Asia and Australia Finnair sells where the last leg is operated by a partner, the partner flight carries the partner's own code. Eg. an itinerary HEL-HKG-SYD with Qantas on the last leg would have an AY-code HEL-HKG and a QF-code HKG-SYD.

How does this play out when the partner doesn't earn miles on Finnair Plus or your preferred Oneworld FFP? I'm thinking in particular about MH, which has no agreements with Oneworld airlines whatsoever as far as I can see. Could I for instance credit the AY-operated flights to a Oneworld-FFP and the MH ones to Delta?

The same question also partly applies to CX: since AA has 100% accrual on cheap economy AY-tickets it would make sense to credit AY flights there, but AA also has 0% accrual on CX low economy :td:

I realize this has got to have been discussed before somewhere, but my googling skills seem to be on vacation still.

I've noticed that on most of the destinations in Asia and Australia Finnair sells where the last leg is operated by a partner, the partner flight carries the partner's own code. Eg. an itinerary HEL-HKG-SYD with Qantas on the last leg would have an AY-code HEL-HKG and a QF-code HKG-SYD.

This is not exactly accurate. Most of the time you can book the QF flight with AY code, often this is the only possiblity.

How does this play out when the partner doesn't earn miles on Finnair Plus or your preferred Oneworld FFP? I'm thinking in particular about MH, which has no agreements with Oneworld airlines whatsoever as far as I can see. Could I for instance credit the AY-operated flights to a Oneworld-FFP and the MH ones to Delta?

You can theretically have different frequent flyer numbers associated with each leg, but in practice it might not work. If you end up not receiving miles for a given leg, you can later retroclaim it for another program.

The same question also partly applies to CX: since AA has 100% accrual on cheap economy AY-tickets it would make sense to credit AY flights there, but AA also has 0% accrual on CX low economy :td:

I realize this has got to have been discussed before somewhere, but my googling skills seem to be on vacation still.

There are several different possible scenarios.

Finnair Plus:
An AY coded flight operated by a oneworld or non-oneworld partner airline earns as it would be a AY flight.
A flight with a code of a partner airline earns according to the earning table for that partner in AY+ (unless it is an out of oneworld airline operated codeshare that earns nothing).

Other oneworld FFPs:
An AY coded flight operated by a oneworld partner airline earns as it would be a AY flight. An AY coded flight operated by a non-oneworld partner airline earns nothing.
A flight with a code of a partner airline earns according to the earning table for that partner in the given FFP (unless it is an out of oneworld airline operated codeshare that earns nothing).

CX at least is quite good about different FFP numbers on different legs of the itinerary. Can't speak to other airlines/programs but I've had no trouble matching up AA and CX FFP numbers on different legs to make sure that I get at least some credit on each leg. Reason is the same--not all low booking classes earn, and sometimes the last leg comes out as a CX code rather than a codeshare.

The general advice when crediting different legs to different programs is to not have any FF# added to the booking/BPs and after flights do retro claims.
It is much easier/quicker to retro claim if no number is present at all.

This is not exactly accurate. Most of the time you can book the QF flight with AY code, often this is the only possiblity.


You're right. Seems like my randomly chosen example was an exception. Most partner flights to Asian destinations I can find are on the partners own code though, including Philippine Airlines to MNL, Garuda and Valuair to CKG or Malaysia Airlines to KUL as well as CX, TG, SQ etc. from their respective hubs.


Finnair Plus:
An AY coded flight operated by a oneworld or non-oneworld partner airline earns as it would be a AY flight.
A flight with a code of a partner airline earns according to the earning table for that partner in AY+ (unless it is an out of oneworld airline operated codeshare that earns nothing).

Other oneworld FFPs:
An AY coded flight operated by a non-oneworld partner airline earns nothing.
A flight with a code of a partner airline earns according to the earning table for that partner in the given FFP (unless it is an out of oneworld airline operated codeshare that earns nothing).

Thanks, very useful ^ I wasn't aware of the "no accrual on non-OW metal" rule. Makes multiple FFPs even more necessary. Seems like some of the weird rules of *A are present in OW as well :rolleyes:

The general advice when crediting different legs to different programs is to not have any FF# added to the booking/BPs and after flights do retro claims.
It is much easier/quicker to retro claim if no number is present at all.

Depends on how good the FFP is on retro claiming. I'm still waiting for SK to credit a partner flight I did in April (and not holding my breath) :td:

I have a perhaps related question. How does one add a FF# to an AY booking in the first place? My booking lists me as having none and the add FF# box is not functional. My flight begins and ends on AA and I was able to enter my AA FF# for those two flights but the number does not show up on the remainder of the AY itinerary.

Yeah, AY IT is not the best! :td:

But you could try calling customer service, I'm sure they would add it for you. Or then you can wait and have them swipe your card at check in.

Good luck! :)