How Qantas Platinum members can get free Premium Economy seat upgrades on Finnair

Psst: I’m about to let you in on a little secret. It’s a trick that can turn your cheap-as-chips Finnair Economy Superlight ticket into a seat in Finnair Premium Economy – for free. It’s a travel hack that I was able to enjoy myself on a recent flight from London to Helsinki, and it’s the very reason I booked with Finnair.

Here’s the scene. Finnair has a fleet of long-haul aircraft, which you’ll see zipping across continents. On these flights, Premium Economy is sold as its own cabin: which means you can’t use this perk to get a free upgrade there. But these long-haul planes also regularly appear on short, high-volume flights within Europe. For instance, London to Helsinki. Herein lies the opportunity.

On these shorter hops, Finnair only sells seats in Business Class and Economy Class. As for the Premium Economy rows, travellers can pay a higher seat selection fee to sit here. But when you have Qantas Platinum – or another oneworld Emerald card – that seat selection fee is waived.

In other words, you can book any Finnair Economy Class fare. Even the cheapest Superlight category… and fly in a Premium Economy seat. I’ve just found my favourite way to fly ‘Economy’ across Europe!

Finnair Premium Economy seating for oneworld Emerald

You know, this isn’t just one ‘hack’, it’s several. For the typical traveller, Economy Superlight is Finnair’s way of competing against Europe’s low-cost carriers. Normally, Superlight just gets you a seat – no checked baggage and no carry-on baggage. Just one small bag that fits underneath the seat in front. But it gets even better when you’re oneworld Emerald.

With a shiny Emerald card like Qantas Platinum, you’ll get one 23kg bag at no charge – even on the fare that doesn’t even include a cabin bag. Speaking of carry-on, you’ll also get an 8kg cabin baggage allowance that includes a larger wheeled cabin bag, not just the tiny bag pushed under the seat. Again, when you’ve just purchased an Economy Superlight ticket.

We’re going strong on value, but we’re not done yet. Of course, as Emerald, you can expect priority check-in, priority boarding and priority baggage handling, too. That brings me to lounge access – and out of London, it’s a real treat.

You see, Finnair uses Terminal 3 at Heathrow Airport… which is home to the excellent Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge. Even though I’m on a two-hour flight – and booked on an Economy Superlight fare – I’m allowed in. Some people go out of their way to visit a Qantas First Lounge in Australia before short flights, especially before a cheeky domestic hop on a ‘D sticker’ flight. But here in London, it’s child’s play. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I can walk straight in.

So, there you have it. Buy a ticket that’s priced to compete with the likes of Ryanair and EasyJet… but fly in an international-grade premium cabin with the royal treatment in just about every way. Don’t you just love frequent flyer status?

Benefits for oneworld Sapphire and Ruby members

While you’ll need to be oneworld Emerald to get Finnair Premium Economy for free on flights like this, there are still some perks ready and waiting for those at the other ranks.

If you’re oneworld Sapphire – Qantas Gold, for instance – you’ll also get some reprieve from Finnair’s usual Economy Superlight restrictions. You can bring a 23kg checked bag plus a proper cabin bag for the journey, too. For oneworld Ruby (e.g. Qantas Silver), Finnair waives its cabin baggage fee too (but not its checked baggage charge).

Naturally, oneworld Sapphire also qualifies for Business Class lounge access. (First Class is reserved for Emerald, though). As well, Sapphire and Ruby also let you side-step the lines at check-in. At the boarding gate, Emerald goes with the first group, with Sapphire invited to board next. In a perk that not all airlines follow, Finnair even allows oneworld Ruby members to board with priority (in group three), before general boarding commences.

Just remember, even if you’re Emerald and nab a great Premium Economy seat on a short-haul Finnair flight, you’re still flying in the ‘Economy’ zone. This means that service in the cabin is at the same standard as normal Finnair Economy. Read: You’ll need to pay for meals, snacks and most drinks. Even so, when you’ve managed to grab just about everything else for free on the cheapest possible ticket, well… that’s still a pretty good deal in my book.

You know what’s the clincher? My Finnair Economy Superlight ticket (London to Hamburg via Helsinki) cost 60% less than British Airways’ best-priced direct Economy flight on the same day. Choosing Finnair wasn’t just cheaper but also more rewarding. I’d have earned 100 Qantas Points plus 10 Qantas Status Credits on BA. On Finnair, I get 375 Qantas Points plus 25 Status Credits. That’s for a cheaper ticket and in a better seat – on the A350 leg, at least. The secret’s out.

Also read: How oneworld Emerald can get you into a Cathay Pacific First Class suite

All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled at Point Hacks’ expense.