Exchange award for tier points - max limit
#1
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 13,919
Exchange award for tier points - max limit
We have a few discussions on the subject of exchanging award points for tier points, but I can't find anything about the maximum limit.
The Finnair shop, rules are stated like
From the text and the example, it seems pretty clear that a platinum member should be able to exchange up to 225k award for 75k tier. It also seems clear that a Gold member should be allowed the same (as per the "..to maintain or advance your tier " sentence).
Yet, logging in to the shop, the maximum I am able to buy is 45k tier. And because of the "once during the period" rule, splitting it into 2 purchases is not allowed either.
45k tier corresponds to half of the old Gold level, so to me this doesn't look like a random number but a deliberate limit. So...
1. Can anyone see options for more than 45k tier?
2. Has anyone exchanged via CS and had the manual fee voided due to option not available online?
The Finnair shop, rules are stated like
You can exchange points in batches of 5 000 tier points, but can acquire no more than half the tier points you need to maintain or advance your tier membership. As an example, you need 30 000 tier points to be a Finnair Plus Silver member - therefore, you can acquire a maximum of 15 000 of these tier points by points exchange.
There is a service charge of 10 € for each exchange. Please note that in web award points can be exchanged to tier points once during tier period.
There is a service charge of 10 € for each exchange. Please note that in web award points can be exchanged to tier points once during tier period.
Yet, logging in to the shop, the maximum I am able to buy is 45k tier. And because of the "once during the period" rule, splitting it into 2 purchases is not allowed either.
45k tier corresponds to half of the old Gold level, so to me this doesn't look like a random number but a deliberate limit. So...
1. Can anyone see options for more than 45k tier?
2. Has anyone exchanged via CS and had the manual fee voided due to option not available online?
#2
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Platinum (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Gold, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 3,038
#3
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 13,919
Aha, yes probably.
I only used the transfer many years ago when no online option existed.
I only used the transfer many years ago when no online option existed.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 280
#6
Moderator, Finnair
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: MMX (CPH)
Programs: Eurobonus Diamond, QR Platinum, AY+ Platinum, A3*G, Nordic Choice Lifetime Platinum, SJ Prio Black
Posts: 13,919
Great info, thanks!
(It does make you wonder why they are doing it like this - my guess is that webstore cannot have different rules/offers based on tiers, so they set a limit at half gold, which is/was what everyone was allowed to do. Then fix above 45k manually so they can make sure the rules are applied)
(It does make you wonder why they are doing it like this - my guess is that webstore cannot have different rules/offers based on tiers, so they set a limit at half gold, which is/was what everyone was allowed to do. Then fix above 45k manually so they can make sure the rules are applied)
#7
Join Date: May 2013
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+ Platinum (OWE), SK EBG (*A Gold), KQ Plat (STE+), Accor Gold, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 3,038
Oh really? I hadn't noticed it, sorry about that. I automatically assumed it was part of the same change as when points transfer fees changed.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SIN
Programs: AY+ Plat, GA Plat, SQ Gold
Posts: 316

Last edited by Unsub; Jul 12, 17 at 2:46 am
#9
Join Date: May 2014
Location: HEL
Programs: AY+Plat, ALL Gold, Scandic L2
Posts: 3,583
Not all 5k increments are (or were) available online, for some reasons. You can always call CS to handle the missing ones manually.
I vaguely recall a mention of a rule that forbade skipping one tier, but I have never actually seen it. If it really exists, then you cannot trade more than 210k for 70k to upgrade to Platinum (previously 180k for 60k). It wouldn't matter for other tiers.
IIRC, I once traded for 45k missing tier points to Plat (correctly predicting that the vouchers would more than compensate for the spent award points).
I vaguely recall a mention of a rule that forbade skipping one tier, but I have never actually seen it. If it really exists, then you cannot trade more than 210k for 70k to upgrade to Platinum (previously 180k for 60k). It wouldn't matter for other tiers.
IIRC, I once traded for 45k missing tier points to Plat (correctly predicting that the vouchers would more than compensate for the spent award points).
#10
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: try to stay home
Programs: AY, M&M, BAEC ...and don t care of status anymore
Posts: 1,951
I have in mind that somewhere in the rules you can read that you can only exchange a third of the needed qualyfication points, so if you only have 95000 points you won t be able to made it up to Platinum. Thats why I became gold on some point.
Ok now it reads that the max is 50% of the needed points, so you need at least 75000 points to stay Plat.
Ok now it reads that the max is 50% of the needed points, so you need at least 75000 points to stay Plat.
#11
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Going around Russian airspace
Posts: 617
Half of the points is the limit. So 225k->75k is the maximum.
#14
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 3
Good Evening, just been following here so far but now I do have a question.
With Finnair Plus, say that I would exchange a small amount to get close to silver, then achieve that with next SH.
Would silver then start at that point?
On my upcoming LH and SH I will benefit from the increased tier miles, and before end of tracking period be close to gold.
Then I should be able to close that gap through another exchange, just not done through the web?
Or would the silver not start until tracking period is over if it is done through an exchange?
With Finnair Plus, say that I would exchange a small amount to get close to silver, then achieve that with next SH.
Would silver then start at that point?
On my upcoming LH and SH I will benefit from the increased tier miles, and before end of tracking period be close to gold.
Then I should be able to close that gap through another exchange, just not done through the web?
Or would the silver not start until tracking period is over if it is done through an exchange?
Last edited by Soderbaum; Jul 16, 17 at 1:06 pm Reason: Clarity
#15
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 231
Silver will start when you hit the threshold. Thus the points multiplier will be effective after that.
If you know your flying in advance, you exchange the required points already before hitting silver. Thus saving a few EUR on service fees. However, you can do multiple points exchanges, if you call the customer service.
If you know your flying in advance, you exchange the required points already before hitting silver. Thus saving a few EUR on service fees. However, you can do multiple points exchanges, if you call the customer service.