Growing wings: young travellers share their Finnair Plus Junior stories

The lounge regular

Stella, 13 years old, has her Helsinki Airport routine down to a science. First stop: the lounge, straight to the familiar blue bowls of porridge. "I always look for the ‘puuro’ and fresh fruit – it makes me happy to start a trip with something healthy and tasty," she explains.

Stella has been flying with Finnair since she was a baby, but now her Junior membership makes her feel like a real traveller. What excites her most about flying? The moment she can message her friends from the sky. "I tell them, 'Guess what, I'm flying right now!' and send them a picture of the clouds. It feels magical to stay connected whilst I'm high in the sky."

For Stella, being a Finnair Plus Junior member means more than just collecting Avios. "It means growing up with Finnair and feeling part of something special every time I travel," she says. Her goal? To save enough Avios for a solo trip to Tokyo – one of her favourite destinations to remember.

From baby passenger to future pilot

Ten-year-old Niko has quite possibly logged more transatlantic miles than many business travellers. The American Finnish boy, currently living in Florida, has crossed the Atlantic with Finnair at least 25 times since his very first flight at just three months old.

"Niko is a real Finnair boy!" laughs his mother, Eeva. "He's literally grown up on Finnair's wings." The frequent flights have created something special: Finnair has become a huge part of Niko's Finnish identity, something that makes Eeva genuinely happy as a parent.

Thanks to all those flights, Niko has developed an incredibly warm relationship with Finnair. "He feels at home the moment we sit down on the plane here in America," Eeva explains. Over the years, Niko has met amazing flight attendants and captains who have left lasting impressions.

The result? Niko dreams of becoming a Finnair captain himself one day. "He always says he trusts Finnair pilots the most out of all airlines," Eeva shares proudly. Currently holding Silver status as a Junior member for the second year running, Niko has countless warm experiences from Finnair's lounges and always wears his special aeroplane shirt when flying — something even the captains have complimented!

The country collector

Thirteen-year-old Daniela has been a Finnair Plus Junior member since she was young, and she typically takes at least a few Finnair flights each year. Over the years, she's used her Avios for cinema tickets, but now that she's experienced business class a few times, "we're going to save Avios for possible cabin upgrades," explains her mother, Nina.

What makes Daniela specifically wish to fly with Finnair? "The staff is always friendly and in a class of their own, children are noticed and acknowledged, and the planes are in good condition," Nina says. Despite her young age, Daniela has already travelled to over 30 countries. "We'll see what kind of amazing lifestyle membership she'll accumulate with Finnair over the years!"

First flight magic

Eight-year-old Safina's first flight was filled with wonder. She watched the de-icing process in Helsinki with fascination, experienced security checks, and felt the mechanical thunder of takeoff – everything was exciting and new. When the flight to Málaga ended, she found the captain with a rehearsed message: this was her first flight and thank you for the smooth landing.

The return flight taught another lesson. When the plane was delayed, the crew explained that they'd rather be a little late to ensure a safe flight home. Safina nodded seriously, understanding completely. During boarding, the captain jokingly told Safina he was going on holiday after the flight and would like to borrow her sun hat. Safina laughed and offered to give it to him once they reached Helsinki-Vantaa, wishing him a lovely holiday.

Her little sister Venla flew for the first time at just six months old, bound for Venice and a Mediterranean cruise – and she's already quite the "flyer" at age one. Meanwhile, seven-year-old Yasmine has even tried flying solo with Finnair's unaccompanied minor service from Kajaani back to Helsinki. "Yasmine wasn't nervous or scared at all, and the flight attendant took really good care of her!" says their mother, Erika.

The family discovered Junior memberships mid-flight whilst Erika was browsing Finnair's website during their Spain trip. "I enrolled all the children before landing – their memberships began somewhere over the Baltic Sea."

One of the highlights for the young travellers is collecting cabin crew signatures in their logbooks that can be downloaded from Finnair’s website. "It's fun for the kids to collect these signatures, and when they complete ten flights, Finnair sends them a gift!"

Building tomorrow's travellers

What emerges from these stories is something beautiful: children who started as the tiniest passengers are now dragging their own carry-ons, choosing their meals, and navigating airports with the confidence of seasoned travellers. For these families, the Finnair Plus Junior programme offers more than just benefits – it provides recognition that their children's travels matter.

"Finnair has become the connecting factor for our family," explains Niko’s mother Eeva about the countless happy reunions strongly connected to Finnair memories. "Besides our original hometown Helsinki, Finnair has also brought Niko to Lapland to meet Father Christmas."

These young travellers are already planning their futures in the sky. Stella saves her Avios with the patience of someone planning independence. Niko dreams of captain stripes. Daniela calculates upgrade costs with the precision of a small accountant.

They're not just passengers – they're Finnair's next generation, learning that home isn't just where you land, but how you get there. And judging by their stories, the future of travel looks bright indeed.

Starting your child's journey

Ready to give your young traveller their own wings? Complimentary Finnair Plus Junior membership opens up a world of benefits designed just for children under 18. Junior members can collect both tier points and Avios – and here's the best part: their Avios never expire during their Junior membership, giving them plenty of time to save up for that dream destination.

Just like adult members, Junior travellers can move through Finnair Plus membership tiers, access exclusive member offers, and redeem Avios for valuable rewards. They'll also enjoy complimentary messaging on short-haul European flights operated by Finnair's Airbus fleet, keeping them connected with friends and family on the ground.

The logbook feature adds an extra element of excitement – after collecting ten flight entries with cabin crew signatures, Finnair sends a special reward to recognise their travel adventures.

Getting started is simple: a parent or guardian can register their child through the online sign-up form, taking responsibility for the account whilst the young traveller starts building their own relationship with the skies.

Learn more about Finnair Plus Junior membership and help your child start collecting memories that will last a lifetime.