Flying Blue is the joint loyalty scheme of Air France and KLM, and if you’re a frequent flyer with either airline – or one of their many partners – it’s well worth a look. The program strikes a decent balance between rewards and effort, and if you know where to look, there are some excellent sweet spots for both earning and burning points. In this Air France – KLM Flying Blue review, we’ll break down how the scheme works, how to earn elite status faster, and where you’ll get the most bang for your miles.
Points Earning Rates On Short, Mid, And Long-Haul Flights
Flying Blue takes a revenue-based approach, so the number of miles you earn is tied to what you spend (excluding taxes), not how far you fly. Entry-level “Explorer” members earn 4 miles per euro spent, while Silver, Gold, and Platinum elites get 6, 7, and 8 miles per euro respectively. Spend big in premium cabins, and the rewards rack up quickly – especially on long-haul business class. Flying with SkyTeam or non-alliance partners also earns miles, though rates can vary.
How Easy Is It To Redeem Points For Flights?
Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, so redemption rates can swing wildly depending on route, demand, and travel dates. That said, the website makes it easy to search and book, with the added flexibility of using “Miles & Cash” (up to 25% paid in cash) and the ability to change or cancel bookings for a fee. Promo Rewards – monthly deals with slashed mile prices on select routes – are the best-value redemptions, and often worth planning trips around.
Introduction To The Status Tiers
There are four main tiers: Explorer (free to join), Silver, Gold, and Platinum. There’s also a unicorn fifth tier – Ultimate – for serious high-spenders loyal to Air France and KLM. Status perks improve significantly as you climb the ladder, with lounge access, extra baggage, and priority services unlocked from Silver and up. Hit Platinum and maintain it for 10 straight years, and you’ll unlock Platinum for Life.
Tier Point Accrual Rates On Short, Mid, And Long-Haul Flights
Flying Blue ditches the usual “tier point” lingo and instead uses XP (Experience Points). Short-haul economy flights earn as little as 5 XP, while long-haul business class hauls in 30–36 XP. It’s a fairly transparent system once you get the hang of it – and yes, you can track your XP accrual and expiry dates directly in your account.
Approximate Cost And Travel Required To Reach Equivalent SkyTeam Status
To get Silver (roughly SkyTeam Elite), you need 100 XP in a rolling 12-month period. That could be 20 short-haul economy flights, or just 3–4 long-haul business class trips. Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus) comes in at 180 XP, and Platinum at 300 XP. Unlike some programs, your status year starts the day you qualify – not on the calendar year – giving you flexibility on when to push for it.
Sweet-spot for earning status
The quickest route to elite status is loading up on business class flights between Western Europe and the Middle East, West Africa, or the US East Coast. These routes can return big XP hauls for relatively modest fares. While you’ll earn XP on SkyTeam partners too, Air France and KLM-marketed flights are your best bet – especially if you’re gunning for that Ultimate tier, which requires 900 XP in a year exclusively on their metal.
Overall Quality Of The Lounges And Cabin Products
Flying Blue elites benefit from solid lounge access when travelling with SkyTeam – particularly in Paris CDG and Amsterdam Schiphol, where Air France and KLM lounges are well-equipped. Cabin-wise, Air France long-haul business class is excellent on newer aircraft, and KLM’s World Business Class has improved a lot in recent years. Economy cabins are standard fare, but Premium Economy can be a decent middle ground on long-haul routes.
BG1 Verdict
This Air France – KLM Flying Blue review shows it’s a strong all-rounder for European-based travellers, with solid status perks and good partner coverage. The XP system takes a bit of effort to grasp, and redemptions can be hit-and-miss, but the monthly Promo Rewards and fast-track status routes keep it interesting.
Take a look at our other SkyTeam frequent flyer reviews.
Where Can I Sign-Up?
You can sign up for Flying Blue for free on the Air France website or via KLM’s Flying Blue page. Just don’t forget to link your number before your next flight – every euro counts.
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