If you are searching for a loyalty program that offers flexibility, strong partner coverage, and consistent opportunities to save on award flights, the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program deserves your attention.

Flying Blue is the joint frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and it connects members to the SkyTeam alliance, which includes global partners like Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic, and Korean Air.

Unlike some loyalty programs that rely on fixed award charts, Flying Blue uses a dynamic pricing model, which means the miles required for an award depend on the route, date, and demand. Although this structure can seem unpredictable, it also creates regular opportunities to find excellent value.

Flying Blue miles can be earned in many ways. Members can accumulate them through paid flights on Air France, KLM, or partner airlines, through everyday spending on transferable credit card programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, and through hotel, rental car, or retail partners.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Air France-KLM Flying Blue – from earning and redeeming miles to achieving elite status and leveraging transfer partners. By the end, you will understand how to stretch every mile further, discover award travel sweet spots, and confidently book your next trip for less.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue Airline Partners

One of the greatest strengths of the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program is its extensive network of airline partners. Through these partnerships, members can earn and redeem Flying Blue miles on flights operated by SkyTeam alliance airlines as well as several non-alliance partner carriers. 

This global reach makes it possible to use Flying Blue miles to travel almost anywhere in the world.

SkyTeam Alliance Partners

Air France and KLM are founding members of the SkyTeam alliance, a global network that brings together more than 15 airlines serving over 1,000 destinations worldwide. As a Flying Blue member, you can earn and redeem miles across the entire SkyTeam network, giving you seamless access to destinations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Here are the current SkyTeam member airlines:

• Aerolíneas Argentinas (Argentina)
• Aeromexico (Mexico)
• Air Europa (Spain)
• Air France (France)
• China Airlines (Taiwan)
• China Eastern Airlines (China)
• Delta Air Lines (United States of America)
• Garuda Indonesia (Indonesia)
• Kenya Airways (Kenya)
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (The Netherlands)
• Korean Air (Korea)
• Middle East Airlines (Lebanon
• SAS Scandinavia Airlines (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)
• Saudia (Saudi Arabia)
• TAROM (Romania)
• Vietnam Airlines (Vietnam)
• Virgin Atlantic (United Kingdom)
• Xiamen Airlines (China)

When you fly with any of these airlines, you can earn Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles and Experience Points (XP) toward elite status. You can also redeem miles for award tickets across the network, which adds significant flexibility when booking long-haul or multi-segment trips.

Non-Alliance Airline Partners

In addition to SkyTeam, Flying Blue has built partnerships with a number of non-alliance airlines, expanding your ability to earn and redeem miles in regions not heavily served by SkyTeam carriers.

These partnerships are especially valuable for reaching destinations across Asia, Oceania, and Africa, as well as secondary cities in Europe and the Middle East.

As of 2025, some notable non-alliance Air France-KLM Flying Blue partners include:

• Air Corsica (France)
• Air Mauritius (Mauritius)
• Air Tahiti (Tahiti)
• Air Baltic (Latvia)
• Aircalin (New Caledonia)
• Bangkok Airways (Thailand)
• Chalair Aviation (France)
• China Southern Airlines (China)
• Copa Airlines (Panama)
• El Al Israel Airlines (Israel)
• GOL (Brazil)
• Japan Airlines (Japan)
• Malaysia Airlines (Malaysia)
• Oman Air (Oman)
• Qantas (Australia)
• Transavia (Netherlands & France)
• Twin Jet (France)
• WestJet (Canada)
• Winair (Sint Maarten)

Partnerships can change over time, so it is always best to confirm current partners on the official Flying Blue website before booking.

TPA Pro Tip: Air France-KLM and Etihad Airways ended their codeshare and interline agreement earlier this year. However, Etihad has stated that the frequent flyer partnership with Flying Blue remains active. Travelers should verify award availability before transferring miles or booking.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue Member Benefits

The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program rewards loyalty with a well-structured system of elite status tiers that enhance comfort, convenience, and value for frequent travelers. Whether you are looking for faster airport service, free checked bags, or exclusive lounge access, Flying Blue offers meaningful benefits that make every trip smoother.

Members progress through four published tiers – Explorer, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – with an additional invitation-only Ultimate level for the most frequent travelers. Status is earned by collecting Experience Points (XP), not miles, which makes it easier to plan your path based on the type and frequency of flights you take.

Flying Blue Elite Status Tiers

Here is an overview of the four core elite tiers and their main benefits:

Understanding Experience Points (XP)

Air France-KLM Flying Blue uses Experience Points (XP) to determine elite status. XP are earned on flights with Air France, KLM, and partner airlines based on the cabin and distance flown.

Each flight segment counts toward your XP total, so connecting flights can help you move up faster.

• Short-haul economy flights earn fewer XP than long-haul or premium-cabin flights.
• The XP scale is reset every 12 months, starting from the date you earn your first XP.
• If you earn more XP than needed to renew your current tier, any extra XP automatically roll over to the next qualification year.

For example, if you reach Gold with 200 XP, the 20 XP beyond the 180 required will roll over, making it easier to requalify the following year.

SkyTeam Elite And Elite Plus Benefits

Holding Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite status automatically provides equivalent recognition across all SkyTeam alliance airlines, allowing you to enjoy priority services even when flying with partners like Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, or Virgin Atlantic.

• Silver members receive SkyTeam Elite status.
• Gold and Platinum members receive SkyTeam Elite Plus status.

These alliance-wide benefits include:

• Priority check-in, boarding, and security lanes
• Priority baggage handling
• Access to over 750 SkyTeam lounges when flying internationally
• Extra baggage allowance on SkyTeam-operated flights

This cross-airline recognition ensures that your Air France-KLM Flying Blue status delivers value no matter which partner you fly with.

Flying Blue Ultimate: By Invitation Only

Above Platinum is Flying Blue Ultimate, an exclusive, invitation-only level offered to the most frequent and high-spending travelers in the program. Although qualification details are not publicly disclosed, this tier focuses on personalized service and enhanced convenience.

Reported benefits include:

• A dedicated 24/7 Ultimate Service Team for travel assistance
• Airport transfer and concierge services at select hubs
• Priority access to award inventory and seat upgrades
• Complimentary lounge access for the member and multiple guests
• Ability to gift Platinum status to one companion

For travelers who regularly book business or first-class tickets with Air France and KLM, Ultimate represents the highest level of recognition within the Flying Blue ecosystem.

How To Qualify For Flying Blue Elite Status

Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite status is earned through Experience Points (XP), not through miles or money spent. This system rewards both frequent flyers and travelers who plan strategically, since even shorter or connecting flights can help build XP faster.

Understanding how XP works, how much you need for each tier, and how to accelerate your progress can make the difference between standard travel and a premium, stress-free experience.

Earning Experience Points (XP)

Flying Blue members earn XP on flights operated by Air France, KLM, Transavia, and all SkyTeam and partner airlines.

The number of XP earned depends on two factors:

• The distance category of the flight (short, medium, or long-haul).
• The cabin class booked (Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or La Première).

Each flight segment earns XP individually, so connecting flights can add up quickly.

Example:

• A flight from New York City (JFK) to Paris (CDG) earns 10 XP in Economy (classified as a “Long 2” route).
• If you upgrade to Business Class, you multiply that base XP by 3, earning 30 XP for the same flight.

This means two round-trip Business Class journeys between the U.S. and Europe could already earn you 120 XP, enough for Silver status with some extra progress toward Gold.

Elite Status Requirements

To climb the Air France-KLM Flying Blue ladder, you will need to reach specific XP thresholds within a 12-month qualification period:

Each time you reach a new tier, your 12-month qualification clock resets. This means your next year begins immediately at that new level.

Maintaining And Requalifying For Elite Status

Once you achieve a tier, you have 12 months to earn the same amount of XP again to keep it. If you earn more XP than needed, the extra automatically rolls over into your next qualification year.

If you fall short, you will only drop one level rather than losing status entirely.

For example:

• A Gold member who does not earn enough XP to maintain Gold will drop to Silver, not all the way to Explorer.

This soft-landing policy helps frequent travelers keep meaningful perks even during lighter travel years.

Fast-Track To Elite Status With Credit Cards

Flying Blue offers a co-branded Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® (issued by Bank of America in the United States) that can accelerate your XP earning.

Cardholders currently receive:

• 60 XP upon approval
• An additional XP Bonus each account anniversary

This boost helps members start their qualification journey toward Silver or Gold status faster, even with limited flight activity.

For travelers outside the U.S., Air France-KLM Flying Blue also partners with banks in select European and international markets that issue co-branded cards offering XP and mile bonuses.

XP Rollover: Keep What You Earn

One of the most traveler-friendly features of Flying Blue is XP rollover. If you exceed the XP needed to maintain your current tier, those extra XP automatically carry over to the next qualification year. This means you never lose progress if you travel more than usual in one year.

For example:

If you need 180 XP to maintain Gold but earn 220 XP, the additional 40 XP roll over to your new qualification year, giving you a head start toward requalification.

Paid Status Match Opportunities

From time to time, Air France-KLM Flying Blue offers status match promotions that allow travelers with elite status in other airlines’ programs to match their status for a limited period.

In 2024, for example, Flying Blue introduced a paid status match for travelers in the U.S. and Mexico holding elite tiers with airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Alaska Airlines.

Participants paid a small fee – approximately $99 for Silver or $299 for Gold – and received equivalent Flying Blue status for one year.

Although these offers are not always available, Flying Blue frequently partners with programs like Bilt Rewards for targeted status matches. 

TPA Pro Tip: It is worth subscribing to Flying Blue emails or checking the Promotions page regularly for new opportunities.

How To Earn Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Earning Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles is the foundation of unlocking free flights, upgrades, and premium travel perks. The program offers many ways to build your balance, from booking paid flights to using the right credit cards or taking advantage of transfer bonuses.

The key to success is combining multiple earning methods so that every purchase, trip, or hotel stay brings you closer to your next redemption.

Earn Miles By Flying

The most direct way to earn Flying Blue miles is by flying with Air France, KLM, or one of their partner airlines. Your mileage earning rate depends on how your ticket is marketed and which airline operates the flight.

Air France And KLM Flights

For flights marketed by Air France or KLM, miles are earned based on the amount spent, not the distance flown. Earning rates are tied to your Flying Blue elite status and apply to the base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges (excluding taxes and airport fees).

Example: If you book a €500 Air France ticket as a Gold member, you would earn 3,500 Flying Blue miles (500 × 7).

SkyTeam And Partner Flights

When you fly with SkyTeam alliance or non-alliance partners, miles are earned differently. Partner flights credit based on distance flown, booking class, and elite bonus percentage rather than fare amount.

Each airline has its own earning chart. Higher fare classes (Premium Economy, Business Class, or First Class) earn more miles than discounted Economy Class fares.

Example:

If you fly Delta Air Lines from Atlanta (ATL) to Amsterdam (AMS) in a Premium Economy fare class, you will earn a set percentage of the miles flown – plus any elite bonus depending on your Air France-KLM Flying Blue status.

TPA Pro Tip: You can find current earning rates for each partner airline on the official Flying Blue partner earning charts page. Checking these charts before booking helps you maximize earning potential on every trip.

Earn Miles With Air France-KLM Credit Cards

Air France-KLM Flying Blue offers co-branded credit cards in several countries, allowing members to earn miles on everyday spending. 

In the United States, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®, issued by Bank of America, is the only co-branded option. This card provides a strong combination of benefits for travelers who frequently fly Air France, KLM, or SkyTeam partners:

• Earn Flying Blue miles for every dollar spent.
• Receive 60 XP upon approval to jump-start your progress toward elite status.
• Earn annual XP bonuses on each card anniversary.
• Get a bonus miles offer for meeting a minimum spend in the first 90 days (subject to change based on the current public offer).

While the Air France-KLM Mastercard is ideal for loyal travelers, most members can earn miles even faster by using flexible points cards that transfer to Flying Blue.

Transfer Points To Flying Blue

One of the best ways to earn Flying Blue miles is through transferable credit card programs. Air France-KLM Flying Blue is a transfer partner of almost all major U.S. bank points programs, which makes it one of the easiest airline programs to top up.

You can transfer points to Flying Blue from the following programs, generally at a 1:1 ratio:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One Miles
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Points
• Rove Miles
• Wells Fargo Rewards

Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Flying Blue at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

Transfers typically process within minutes to a few hours, although Marriott transfers may take longer.

Watch For Transfer Bonuses

Air France-KLM Flying Blue frequently partners with banks like American Express, Chase, and Capital One to offer transfer bonuses, often ranging from 20% to 30%. Timing your transfers during one of these promotions can significantly boost your balance and make redemptions more affordable.

Earn Miles Through Travel And Retail Partners

Flying Blue also partners with hotels, rental car companies, and shopping platforms, allowing you to earn miles even when you are not flying.

Hotels For Miles

Members can earn Flying Blue miles when booking through Hotels for Miles, a platform that includes well-known chains like Hilton, Marriott, IHG, and Accor. Booking through this portal or linking your Flying Blue number during eligible stays adds miles automatically to your account.

Accor Live Limitless (ALL) Partnership

Air France-KLM Flying Blue has a reciprocal partnership with Accor Live Limitless (ALL).

Members earn:

• 1 Flying Blue mile per €1 spent at participating Accor hotels, and
• 1 ALL point per €2 spent on eligible Air France or KLM flights.

This is an excellent way to earn both hotel points and airline miles for the same stay or flight.

Car Rentals And Retail

Flying Blue has earning partnerships with Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and other major rental agencies.

Members can also earn miles by shopping online through the Flying Blue Shop For Miles portal, which features dozens of retail brands.

Buy Miles When You Need Them

If you are just a few miles short of a desired redemption, you can purchase Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles directly through your account. Buying miles is not usually the best long-term strategy, but it can be useful for topping up your balance for a specific award.

TPA Pro Tip: Occasionally, Flying Blue runs bonus promotions that make buying miles a better value.

How To Redeem Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

Once you have built up a balance of Flying Blue miles, the real fun begins – redeeming them for flights, upgrades, and travel experiences. The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program is known for its flexibility, allowing members to redeem miles across Air France, KLM, SkyTeam, and non-alliance partners to destinations around the world.

While Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing rather than a fixed award chart, there are still plenty of ways to find excellent value, especially if you are flexible with your travel dates and routes.

Understanding Dynamic Award Pricing

Air France-KLM Flying Blue does not use a traditional award chart. Instead, the number of miles required for a flight depends on:

• The route and distance flown
• The travel date and demand
• The cabin class selected

Example:

A one-way ticket between New York City (JFK) and Paris (CDG) may start around:

• 25,000 miles in Economy Class
• 40,000 miles in Premium Economy
• 60,000 miles in Business Class

Prices can rise or fall based on demand, season, and availability, so it pays to search multiple dates.

How To Search And Book Award Flights

You can search and book award flights directly on the Air France or KLM website:

• Log in to your Air France-KLM Flying Blue account.
• Select the option to “Book with Miles.”
• Enter your departure, destination, and preferred dates.
• Use the flexible calendar view to compare mileage prices across a range of dates.
• Choose the combination of flights that offers the best value.

TPA Pro Tip: Leave the date field blank for award flight searches. This allows the Air France of KLM website to show a full calendar view of available award prices across multiple days.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue makes it easy to book one-way or round-trip tickets online in Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or, on select Air France routes, La Première (First Class) for Platinum members.

If a partner flight does not appear online, contact the Flying Blue customer service for assistance with booking. Not all partner airlines are displayed in the online search results.

SkyTeam And Partner Award Flights

Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for flights on all SkyTeam alliance airlines, such as Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. You can also redeem miles on a range of non-alliance partners, including Japan Airlines, Qantas, and Oman Air, among others.

When booking partner awards:

• Search first on the Air France or KLM “Book with Miles” page.
• If a partner flight does not display, call Flying Blue for manual assistance.
• Always compare taxes and surcharges, as these vary by airline.

For example, long-haul flights on Air France often have higher fuel surcharges than those on KLM, meaning you can sometimes save money by selecting a KLM-operated route.

Flying Blue Promo Rewards

One of the best features of the Flying Blue program is the monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards. Released on the first day of each month, these offers discount select routes by up to 25 percent off the required miles in Economy Class, Premium Economy, or even Business Class.

Promo Rewards are available on Air France and KLM-operated flights and are published on both airlines’ websites.

How to make the most of Promo Rewards:

• Visit the Promo Rewards page on the first day of each month.
• Check both Air France and KLM websites, as offers can differ slightly.
• Be flexible with travel dates – availability at discounted rates is limited.
• Book early; Promo Rewards often sell out quickly.

These monthly deals can reduce the cost of a transatlantic business-class flight by tens of thousands of miles, making them one of the best-value redemption opportunities in the program.

Stopovers On Flying Blue Awards

Air France-KLM Flying Blue allows members to add a free stopover of at least 24 hours on itineraries that include Air France or KLM-operated flights. Stopovers can be booked only through Air France-KLM Flying Blue customer service, not online.

This feature is ideal for travelers who want to break up long trips or visit two cities on one ticket – for example, stopping in Paris for a few days before continuing to Nairobi.

Upgrades With Miles

Flying Blue miles can be used to upgrade paid tickets on Air France, KLM, and select partner airlines.

Eligible upgrades include:

• Economy Class to Premium Economy
• Premium Economy to Business Class
• Business to La Première (available only to Platinum members holding paid Business tickets)

Important details:

• Reward tickets (flights booked entirely with miles) can only be upgraded after online check-in opens.
• XP and miles are earned based on the original ticketed fare class, not the upgraded cabin.
• Upgrade prices vary based on route and fare type.

Upgrading with miles can be a smart way to experience a premium cabin without paying the full mileage price for a business-class award.

Cash And Miles Redemptions

Air France-KLM Flying Blue also offers “Miles & Cash” options on many flights, allowing you to use a combination of miles and money to reduce the total cost of a ticket. This feature gives members flexibility, especially if they are just short of the miles needed for an award.

While this option can be convenient, the value per mile is usually lower than for full award redemptions. It is best used when you want to conserve cash or top off your balance for a specific trip.

How Much Are Flying Blue Miles Worth

Because Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, the value of your miles depends on how you redeem them. TPA values Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles at 1.30 cents per mile when used for award flights. 

To estimate value:

Value (cents per point) = ((Cash Price – Taxes and Fees) / Points Required) × 100

Example:

If a Business Class ticket from New York City (JFK) to Paris (CDG) costs €1,200, and the same flight costs 60,000 miles + €250 in taxes and fees, you can calculate the value like this:

((1,200 – 250) ÷ 60,000) × 100 = 1.58 cents per mile

In this case, you would be getting 1.58 cents of value per mile, which is an average redemption for Flying Blue miles.

Advanced Tips For Maximizing Flying Blue

Once you understand how to earn and redeem Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles, the next step is learning the strategies that experienced travelers use to unlock maximum value. The Flying Blue dynamic pricing model, wide partner network, and regular promotions give members plenty of opportunities – but also a few pitfalls to watch out for.

Here are some advanced techniques and common mistakes to avoid that will help you make the most of your miles.

• Search Before You Transfer Points. Always confirm award availability on the Air France or KLM website before transferring bank points, since transfers are final.
• Combine Transfer Bonuses With Promo Rewards. Stack a credit card transfer bonus with a Flying Blue monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards to cut redemption costs by up to half.
• Search Nearby Airports. Compare departure cities like Boston (BOS), Washington D.C. (IAD), and Montreal (YUL) – these often price lower than major hubs such as New York City (JFK) or Los Angeles (LAX).
• Book One-Way Awards For Flexibility. Air France-KLM Flying Blue charges half the round-trip price for one-ways, allowing you to mix cabins or airlines for the best value.
• Add A Free Stopover. Book a complimentary stopover of at least 24 hours in Paris or Amsterdam on Air France or KLM flights by calling customer service.
• Watch Surcharges Carefully. Long-haul Air France flights can have higher fees, so check KLM or partner airlines for lower out-of-pocket costs.
• Use XP Rollover Strategically. Any extra XP beyond your requalification threshold carries into the next year, helping you maintain or reach higher status faster.
• Keep Your Miles From Expiring. Complete at least one qualifying activity – such as flying, using a partner card, or booking a hotel – every two years to keep your balance active.
• Mix SkyTeam And Non-Alliance Partners. Combine airlines like Air France, Kenya Airways, and Japan Airlines on one itinerary to reach unique destinations for fewer miles.
• Set A Monthly Promo Rewards Reminder. Check new Flying Blue Promo Rewards on the first day of each month for discounted routes in Economy Class, Premium Economy, and Business Class.

Final Thoughts

The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program is one of the most flexible and rewarding airline loyalty programs available today. It offers travelers valuable ways to earn and redeem miles across a wide network of SkyTeam alliance and non-alliance partners, making it possible to reach nearly any destination worldwide.

The monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards remain a standout program feature, providing frequent opportunities to book discounted award flights. Combined with the ability to earn miles through flights, credit card transfers, hotel stays, and retail partners, Flying Blue makes it easy to build a balance and turn everyday activity into premium travel.

Earning elite status adds another layer of value, unlocking priority services, lounge access, and extra baggage allowance. Members can also use miles to upgrade paid tickets, enjoying premium comfort without paying full fare.

With thoughtful planning and a clear earning strategy, Air France-KLM Flying Blue members can unlock exceptional travel value. Whether booking a Promo Reward to Europe or adding a free stopover in Paris or Amsterdam, the program rewards travelers who stay flexible and strategic.

By mastering its features and using miles intentionally, you can travel farther, spend less, and experience more, transforming every journey into an unforgettable adventure.

Kevin Zanes