Finland, Finnair, and credit cards - pre 2020 discussion
Feb 19, 2018, 11:16 am
#736
Join Date: Oct 2008
Programs: AY Plat Lumo+LTG, FI Gold, DL Silver, BA, SK, AX Plat, Priority Pass, Marriott Ambassador & others
Posts: 634
Matter of taste. I think both Marriott and Starwood are quite good. Having said that, I've earnead lifetime Platinum from Marriott so I am free to stay where ever I choose to. Amex shiny cards on multiple hotel chains are a nice addition.
Feb 19, 2018, 4:02 pm
#737
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
Feb 19, 2018, 4:53 pm
#738
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
If you’re okay with getting sect marketing material in your drawer along a paid stay then I don’t know. I’m not.
Feb 19, 2018, 5:12 pm
#739
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
Drawer? I never open those 
Going VERY off-topic - Book of Mormon or New Testament in the drawer, having a sign pointing to Mekka - I couldn't care less.
But why sub-par? I just stayed at the JW in BKK, impeccable.
Going VERY off-topic - Book of Mormon or New Testament in the drawer, having a sign pointing to Mekka - I couldn't care less.
But why sub-par? I just stayed at the JW in BKK, impeccable.
Feb 20, 2018, 12:44 am
#740
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
Can referrals be done across borders/markets? Or can a Finn AX holder only refer Finn cards?
Feb 20, 2018, 12:46 am
#741
Moderator, Finnair
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Gold, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 14,174
Feb 20, 2018, 2:24 am
#742
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
With 83 JW's and 800 Fairfield Inns, the property you mention is an anomaly and not the norm. MaRiot is heavy on crappy hotels whereas Starwood is heavy on luxury brands. At the former, published elite benefits are weak and confusing (you need a cheat sheet to know what you're entitled to at each brand!) in addition to their dirty brainwashing tactics.
Feb 20, 2018, 12:00 pm
#743
Join Date: May 2016
Location: BLL
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, HHonors Silver
Posts: 405
Wait, what?! You go against an entire hotel chain because they put a religion's holy book in the drawer? What about Japanese hotels that place Buddhist texts in the drawer, do you avoid those, too?
Feb 20, 2018, 1:23 pm
#744
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: HEL
Programs: SPG LTP, hotels, OWE, STE+, *G, Octopus
Posts: 5,785
additionally, you’re simplifying other aspects I wrote above.
Feb 20, 2018, 3:01 pm
#745
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
The Pontus lounge at ARN is indeed nice. 
Last edited by tsastor; Feb 20, 2018 at 9:57 pm
Feb 20, 2018, 7:39 pm
#746
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: HEL
Programs: lots of shiny metal cards
Posts: 14,106
... aaaand I suggest that we return to the subjet of Amex cards in Finland, if I may
Feb 22, 2018, 11:23 am
#747
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY, SK, TK
Posts: 7,598
True, I have been guested to their Amex plat comp'ed breakfast (fixed menu), and lunch/dinner (räkmacka) and food-wise those are better value than SK*G lounge for example. Along with the mentioned hotel gold cards, I can imagine the best value with Amex Plat comes with moderate travel pattern. Too little travel makes it useless and too much travel like myself, the benefits are nullified with already earned butt-in-bed/air cards.
Feb 22, 2018, 1:18 pm
#748
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: The Baltic Sea
Programs: AY, BT, DY and SK. Scandic, Radisson, Marriott and HHonors. ClubONE
Posts: 5,890
True, I have been guested to their Amex plat comp'ed breakfast (fixed menu), and lunch/dinner (räkmacka) and food-wise those are better value than SK*G lounge for example. Along with the mentioned hotel gold cards, I can imagine the best value with Amex Plat comes with moderate travel pattern. Too little travel makes it useless and too much travel like myself, the benefits are nullified with already earned butt-in-bed/air cards.
Apr 26, 2018, 2:42 am
#749
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: KUO
Programs: BA Gold, HH Diamond
Posts: 447
When you transfer Amex points to Finnair, seems like now you can get 50% more AY points. Need to register before April 30th.
www.finnair.com/fi/fi/plus-50
Apr 26, 2018, 3:22 am
#750
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, BT VIP, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,750
Does this work in practice? Last time there was a promotion in the raffle I changed some points and it didn't work. Would hate to make a second mistake.