Airlines Flying Blue: Award Pricing Changes (North America, Africa, Polynesia, and more)

To the point Several changes have been made to Air France KLM's Flying Blue Award Chat, affecting award flights.

Between Europe and North America Between North America and North Africa Between Europe and South Africa Between Europe and Polynesia Tips for finding Flying Blue Award Flights

Earn Flying Blue Miles in Canada Transfer your Membership Rewards Points to Flying Blue Miles Transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue Miles A Flying Blue credit card

Bottom Line

Air France KLM has changed its Flying Blue program’s minimum flight award prices.

Remember that the Flying Blue program has a dynamic pricing chart (i.e. fares that adapt to the cash cost of flights) with minimum award prices.

Here, we’re talking about upward and downward changes in these minimum award prices.

Flying Blue Changes - Between Europe and North America

Previously, award flight prices varied according to the distance flown. For example, the minimum award flight price between Paris and Vancouver was more expensive than between Paris and Montreal.

Award prices have now been harmonized, regardless of the distance travelled.

Here are the differences by service class.

Paris – Montreal:

Class	Before	After
Economy	15 000	20 000
Premium Economy	30 000	35 000
Business	55 000	50 000

Here are the differences:

33% price increase in Economy
16.67% price increase in Premium Economy
9% price reduction in Business

This represents a significant devaluation for travellers from Eastern Canada or Eastern USA.

Flying Blue Promo Rewards are still available at 11,500 Miles in Economy.

calendrier flying blue yul cdg nouveau tarif

Paris – Vancouver:

Class	Before	After
Economy	25 000	20 000
Premium Economy	40 000	35 000
Business	80 000	50 000

Here are the differences:

20% price reduction in Economy
12.5% price reduction in Premium Economy
37.5% price reduction in Business

This represents a clear increase in the value of Flying Blue Miles for travellers in the Western US/Canada. A market in which Air France KLM is trying to gain market share from competitors such as Air Canada.

It should be noted that even with these upward and downward changes, the Flying Blue program remains competitive with rivals such as Aeroplan.

Flying Blue Changes - Between North America and North Africa

Flying Blue has also modified pricing on flights between North America and North Africa.

It is now possible to get an award flight between Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Cairo (Egypt) for as little as:

30,000 Miles in Economy
50,000 Miles in Premium Economy
75,000 Miles in Business

Between Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Casablanca (Morocco), Algiers (Algeria) and Tunis (Tunisia ) for as little as:

20,000 Miles in Economy
35,000 Miles in Premium Economy
50,000 Miles in Business

calendrier flying blue yul cmn nouveau tarif

And if you look hard enough, you can even find flights between Montreal and Algiers (Algeria) for as little as 11,250 Miles in Economy, thanks to Flying Blue Promo Rewards:

calendrier flying blue yul alg nouveau tarif

Flying Blue Changes - Between Europe and South Africa

Flying Blue has also changed the pricing of flights between Europe and South Africa.

Previously, a flight between Paris and Johannesburg cost from 39,500 Miles in Economy and 93,000 Miles in Business.

It is now possible to get an award flight between Paris and Johannesburg for as little as:

25,000 Miles in Economy
40,000 Miles in Premium Economy
70,000 Miles in Business

calendrier flying blue cdg jnb nouveau tarif

Flying Blue Changes - Between Europe and Polynesia

Flying Blue has also changed its pricing on flights to Polynesia, a highly sought-after destination!

Previous fares between Paris and Papeete were 59,000 Miles in Economy and 110,000 Miles in Business.

It is now possible to get an award flight between Paris and Papeete for as little as:

20,000 Miles in Economy
35,000 Miles in Premium Economy
70,000 Miles in Business

calendrier flying blue cdg ppt nouveau tarif

Flying Blue Changes - Tips for finding Flying Blue Award Flights

On the Air France KLM website, there is a tip to know when searching for 30 days using your Flying Blue Miles: don’t enter anything in the date field!

This unlocks a hidden option: a 30-day flight reward calendar. As shown below:

You can then select the date with the best price in Flying Blue Miles and proceed with the booking.

Flying Blue Changes - Earn Flying Blue Miles in Canada

Transfer your Membership Rewards Points to Flying Blue Miles

The primary method of earning Flying Blue miles in Canada is through American Express Membership Rewards cards. You can transfer your Membership Rewards into Flying Blue Miles at a ratio of 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 Flying Blue Miles.

Here are the American Express Rewards Cards available in Canada:

So, with a credit card like the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3.75 Flying Blue Miles per dollar of purchases:

Category	Membership Rewards	Flying Blue Miles equivalent
Grocery	5	3,75
Food delivery	5	3,75
Restaurants and bars	5	3,75
Convenience stores	5	3,75
Streaming subscriptions	3	2,25
Gas station	2	1,5
Transportation	2	1,5
Travel	2	1,5
Other	1	0,75

There are many other American Express Membership Rewards credit cards from which you can convert your points to Flying Blue Miles.

Transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue Miles

The second method of earning Flying Blue miles in Canada is through Marriott Bonvoy Amex credit cards. You can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles including Flying Blue Miles at the ratio of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 Mile.

And if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll earn 5,000 bonus Miles. Thus, 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 25,000 Flying Blue Miles.

The two Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards available in Canada are:

A Flying Blue credit card

Since October 2022, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^® has been available in Canada. It allows you to earn Flying Blue Miles directly.

The earning rates of the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^® are as follows:

Expenses	Earning rate
Air France and KLM flight ticket (for Flying Blue members)	5 miles per euro (in addition to regular miles earned according to Elite Status)
Restaurants and bars	2 Miles per dollar
Everything else	1 Mile per Dollar
Selected BRIM retail partners	Up to 30 Miles per dollar

Bottom Line

So, it seems that the changes introduced by Flying Blue affect all markets. These can be upward or downward.

These changes will certainly be perceived as a devaluation by Economy and Premium Economy travellers between Europe and the Eastern USA or Canada. Or, on the contrary, as an appreciation of the value of Miles for passengers from other markets or travelling in Business class.

We have contacted Air France KLM for more official information about these changes.

Thanks to Prince of Travel for spotting this.

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!

Jean-Maximilien Voisine

Jean-Maximilien, President and Founder of Milesopedia, is a recognized expert in rewards programs, credit cards, and travel in Canada and France. Approaching forty and a father of two, he has travelled to over 100 countries, half of them with his children and his wife, Audrey. Specializing in top loyalty programs like Aeroplan, American Express Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy, he guides travellers to maximize their benefits across North America and Europe.

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