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Air France KLM Flying Blue Program Review

Gabi Logan

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June 29, 2020

Who Is Air France & KLM Flying Blue Good For?

Though many Delta flyers end up on codeshare Air France and KLM flights, as the three airlines are technically one but operate like three independent carrier, not very many U.S.-based flyers take advantage of the Flying Blue award program, which is used by Air France, KLM and several other primarily European airlines.

While Flying Blue awards give you access to the entire SkyTeam alliance, their core airlines, in addition to Air France and KLM, are Kenya Airways, Air Europa, TAROM, Aircalin, HOP! and TwinJet. Thanks to the regional options offered by smaller carriers like HOP!, Aircalin and TwinJet, Flying Blue has excellent reach to even the smallest airports in all territories throughout the worldwide French Republic, making it an ideal program for taking advantage of many top holiday spots.

During a devaluation of their award chart in 2013, Flying Blue made many changes that actually benefit frequent flyers, most notably decreasing fuel surcharges and fees on award flights. The previous fees were approaching the highest in the industry several hundred dollars on transatlantic legs, and increasing whenever you had a connection but the new award chart keeps things under $100 for most flights, including connections.

As Delta has massively devalued its own award chart, many SkyTeam travelers are now taking a closer look at Flying Blue as their gateway to not only domestic Delta flights, but also the glamorous Air France business and first class, which is primarily only available to Flying Blue members with elite status. Booking through Flying Blue also offers more availability on Air France and KLM flights than when booking through partners.

Hubs:

Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris Orly Airport
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
Henri Coanda International Airport
Iasi International Airport
Barcelona Airport
Tenerife South Airport

How Can You Use Flying Blue Miles?

Flying Blue miles can be used for four different types of awards: promo awards, classic awards, flex awards and round-the-world awards.

Classic Award	Promo Award	Flex Award	Round the World Awards
Available to: all Flying Blue members	Available to: all Flying Blue members	Available to: all Flying Blue members	Available to: all Flying Blue members
Number of miles required: depends on booking class and destination	Number of miles required: up to 50% discount	Number of miles required: depends on booking class and destination	Number of miles required: depends on booking class (Economy or Business Class)
Airlines offering the award: Air France, KLM and all partner airlines	Airlines offering the award: Air France, KLM and some partner airlines	Airlines offering the award: Air France, KLM, Kenya Airways and Tarom	Airlines offering the award: Air France, KLM and other SkyTeam airlines
Available to: all destinations	Available to: regularly changing selection of destinations	Available to: all destinations	Available to: all SkyTeam airlines destinations
Changes/ cancelations: possible for a fee of € 45	Changes/ cancelations: not possible	Changes/ cancelations: possible free of charge	Changes/ cancelations: possible for a fee of € 45

Award tickets at a glance

Promo awards, offering 25-50 percent off the standard award chart, are available each month for select flights, but most passengers will spend the bulk of their miles on classic awards, which can be used on any partner airline but not on first class cabins.

First class awards can only be booked as flex awards, which cost substantially more than classic awards, but with no change fees and much greater availability than classic awards.

Flying Blue is one of the last airline programs to offer round-the-world tickets as awards. They can be quite affordable in economy, starting at 140,000 miles, and include six stopovers, with a maximum of three per continent.

Program Perks:

Hold reservations for up to two weeks for $20
Very low change and cancellation fees; $23 for classic awards and free for flex awards
One-way bookings allowed
Open jaws allowed
Mixed cabins allowed
Stopovers on round-trip tickets
Much greater availability on Air France and KLM than when booking these airlines though partners
Miles can pay for extra fees such as extra legroom, checked bags, lounge access and meals
Flying Blue doesn’t add large fuel surcharges to partner airlines

Booking Quirks:

Partner awards cannot be booked within two weeks of departure
Transfers between accounts are not possible
$70 fee for phone changes or bookings
45 euro change fee
Miles expire if no award-earning flight is credited to the account in 20 months

Best Value Awards:

The best value you’ll find for your reward miles lies in the monthly promo awards Air France and KLM release each month on the first of the month for travel two months out.

Though the dates are a bit restrictive you must travel in the month indicated and the booking window moderately last-minute, these awards will save you 25-50 percent of the required miles on any given route, even in upper classes.

Recent awards included Japan from Europe for 40,000 miles roundtrip in economy, JFK to Europe for 37,500 miles roundtrip in economy and Washington, D.C., to Europe for 50,000 miles roundtrip in premium economy.

Worst Value Awards:

Though the 2013 Flying Blue devaluation made flying in economy much easier, the number of miles required for first class awards increased as much as 80 percent on some routes.

If you’re looking to fly Air France first class, you’ll need to book through Flying Blue, but paying the exorbitant Flying Blue rates to fly first class on a partner airline, rather than booking those seats through that partner or another SkyTeam member with good first class redemptions, is a waste of miles, particularly if you’re transferring from a transfer program.

The Good Stuff: Upgrades and Elite Status

Upgrades with SkyTeam partners begin at 10,000 miles to go from economy to business within Europe (business to first not available in this zone); 32,500 miles to upgrade from economy to business; and 75,000 miles to upgrade from business to first between the U.S. and Europe.

Flights on all SkyTeam members: Aeroflot, Aeromexico, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Czech Airlines, Korean Air and Tarom are eligible for upgrades.

Flying Blue Elite Levels and Perks

Flying Blue categorizes its basic member level, which affords the ability to book economy flex awards, as Ivory.

Membership level	Required number of Level Miles		Required number of qualifying flights
Ivory	entry level		entry level
Silver (Elite)	25,000 Level Miles (30,000 in France and Monaco)	or	15 qualifying flights
Gold (Elite Plus)	40,000 Level Miles (60,000 in France and Monaco)	or	30 qualifying flights
Platinum (Elite Plus)	70,000 Level Miles (90,000 in France and Monaco)	or	60 qualifying flights

Each subsequent level includes the perks of the previous level, unless stated otherwise.

Silver: 50 percent bonus miles, first checked bag free, exclusive check-in counters, one additional piece of luggage permitted, priority check-in, priority boarding, priority baggage drop-off, lounge access with copay, 25 percent on economy comfort seats on Delta and KLM flights and Seat Plus premium economy on Air France flights, ability to carry over level miles to the following year
Gold: 75 percent bonus miles, free transfers between Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris, priority immigration screening, priority security screening, priority service at ticket offices and desks, complimentary lounge access for member and one companion on SkyTeam itineraries, ability to bring extra guests to the lounge with a copay, 50 percent on economy comfort seats on Delta and KLM flights and Seat Plus premium economy on Air France flights
Platinum: 100 percent bonus miles, free economy comfort seats on Delta and KLM flights and Seat Plus premium economy on Air France flights

Associated Credit Cards

There are no credit cards associated with Flying Blue or its primary airlines Air France and KLM available in the U.S., but here are few cards you can transfer your awards to Flying Blue from:

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

UGC Disclosure: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

How to Book Air France/KLM Flying Blue Awards

Andy Shuman

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June 24, 2020

Although Flying Blue is touted as the frequent flyer program for Air France and KLM, several other airlines also use the program, including Air Europa, Kenya Airways and TAROM. It’s a flexible program, since it has members from all three of the major airline alliances, as well as some nonalliance carriers.

Flying Blue can be complicated, in part because of the sheer quantity of its members. Since the program represents so many airlines, the way it defines some of its fare regions can be unexpected. But that can work in your favor, allowing for some valuable redemptions.

Getting Flying Blue miles is easy, because it is partners with several U.S.-based programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou and Starwood Preferred Guest.

When Should You Use Flying Blue Awards?

You’ll get the best value for your miles for coach redemptions. Business class awards are often overpriced, while some coach tickets are unbeatable.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind while trying to get the most for your miles:

Flying Blue considers Israel to be part of Europe, so round-trip economy tickets cost only 50,000 miles
Strangely, Hawaii is lumped in with the Caribbean. A round-trip economy ticket between Hawaii and the Dominican Republic, for example, costs only 30,000 miles.
Round-trip flights in economy between the U.S. and French Polynesia are a bargain at only 60,000 miles.
Flights between the U.S. and northern South America are only 35,000 miles roundtrip. Flights to the rest of South America are only 50,000 miles.

Be sure to keep an eye out for Flying Blue’s monthly Promo Awards. They offer discounts between 25 and 50 percent on flights in various regions.

When to Book by Phone:

If a partner airline doesn’t show up in an online search
To book complex itineraries
When changing an existing itinerary

See below for our phone booking tips.

How to Search for Flying Blue Award Seats Online:

Go to the Flying Blue Web page, and log in.

Enter your flight information, and click “FIND FLIGHTS.” Remember to check “You are looking for a flight around these dates” to see the most flight options.

On the next screen, choose your flight dates. Be sure to pay attention to the taxes and fees, since they will vary by airline. If you want to check other dates, click “show earlier dates” or “show later dates” at the bottom of the calendar. Click “NEXT, SELECT FLIGHT” after selecting a date.

Once you’ve decided on the date, you’ll need to pick the flight. In the example below, you have the option of flying direct on Air France, or paying less while making one connection on Delta. After choosing, click “NEXT, FILL IN PASSENGER DETAILS” to see the trip overview.

How to Confirm and Book Flying Blue Flights Online:

If you have enough miles, you’ll be given the option to pay for the taxes and fees, and finalize your booking.

Phone Booking Tips

U.S. booking number: 1-800-375-8723

Flying Blue’s U.S. office is in New York. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Flying Blue’s customer support can be quite good, but it can sometime be difficult to book complex itineraries, particularly on lesser-known airlines. Try to research to find the flights you want in advance of calling. Then you can feed that information to the agent.

Important Award Booking Considerations:

One-way redemptions allowed
Free stopover and open jaw on a round-trip flights
Miles expire in 20 months without activity
No cash-plus-miles awards
Low change fees
Fuel surcharges on some partners
Flat surcharge for intra-Europe flights on Air France and KLM
Monthly reduced mileage Promo Awards

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