Avios transfer issue BA -> Finnair. Identity verification email every time, followed by a transfer unsuccessful email after identity is verified.
Background:
I need to book an AA flight through Finnair using Avios. I transferred Amex points to BA which worked instantly. I then go to transfer Avios from BA to Finnair on the Avios.com site. Everything looks normal and the transfer says it was successful on the Avios website. I will then get an email from Avios asking me to verify my identity which I complete (have tried both my DL and Passport) and it says verification complete. As soon as I do this I get another email saying the Avios transfer was unsuccessful.
I have found a few similar examples to this but never a straight up answer on what the issue is.
Some other data points:
- My name, email, phone number, address, DOB, and passport info is identical across BA and Finnair (Qatar too).
- My name in all places is only First and Last.
- My BA and Finnair accounts have both been open >30 days.
- My BA and Finnair accounts are linked. I can see both of them in the Avios website with my account numbers and Avios balances.
- 2FA is set up on all accounts.
- I'm only trying to transfer 30k points so its not a large amount.
- My Qatar and BA accounts are also linked and I can see my BA Avios balance on the Qatar website without having done anything else.
There are only 2 possible causes of this I could find but not verify if either is true. I'm hoping anyone here may have better information on what the issue is.
- My DL and Passport both list my middle name but none of my accounts (including Amex) have my middle name. I do not list my middle name ever when flying and have never had a single issue with it. Could the verification not work because my middle name is listed on my DL and Passport but not the accounts?
- I saw one unverified comment on one thread that there could be a 7 day waiting period between transferring in Avios (via Amex) before you're able to move them between Avios accounts.