All you need to know about the Air France KLM Flying Blue program

Flying Blue is Air France KLM’s loyalty program. Since August 19, 2021, a relatively recent development in Air France’s long history, this program has partnered with American Express Membership Rewards in Canada, allowing it to reach many more Canadians and gain interest.

Thus, in this ultimate guide to the Flying Blue program in Canada, you will discover all the options to earn and use Flying Blue Miles, how Flying Blue statuses work, and some of the program’s sweet spots.

Joining the Flying Blue program is free and easy. You can do this directly on this page by creating a Flying Blue account.

You can also enroll your children in the Flying Blue program.

The main method for earning Flying Blue Miles in Canada: American Express Membership Rewards cards. You can transfer your Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue Miles at a ratio of 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Flying Blue Miles.

Here are the American Express Rewards Cards available in Canada:

Thus, with a credit card like the American Express Cobalt^® Card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 5 Flying Blue Miles per dollar spent:

There are many other American Express Membership Rewards credit cards from which you can convert your 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:

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:

In addition to extending the validity of your Flying Blue Miles with each purchase, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^® offers you 30 XP per year, making it easier to obtain or renew Flying Blue status.

In France, there are 3 American Express Flying Blue credit cards. Their welcome bonus is unparalleled compared to what is typically seen in North America:

• 6,000 miles for the Air France KLM – American Express Silver Card
• 10,000 miles for the Air France KLM – American Express Gold Card
• 30,000 miles for the Air France KLM – American Express Platinum Card

Rather, their value lies in the benefits provided, including:

• Earning Flying Blue miles on every purchase (which is rare in France and Europe)
• Extending the validity of your Flying Blue Miles with each purchase
• Earning between 15 XP and 60 XP per year to get or renew a Flying Blue Elite status more easily

Benefits	AF KLM Amex Silver Card	AF KLM Amex Gold Card	AF KLM Amex Platinum Card
Bonus	6,000 Miles	10,000 Miles and First year free	30,000 Miles
Annual Fee	€0	€165	€570
XP per year	15	30	60
Accumulation	10 € = 10 Miles	10 € = 15 Miles	10 € = 20 Miles
Miles validity extension	Yes	Yes	Yes
Insurance	Standard	Optimal	Maximum
Concierge	No	No	Yes

In the United States, in partnership with Bank of America, Air France has launched the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard, which usually offers a welcome bonus of 25,000 to 50,000 Flying Blue miles.

With this card, you get :

• 3x Flying Blue miles for Air France KLM and Skyteam airlines like Delta Airlines
• 1.5X miles everywhere else
• 5,000 Flying Blue Miles each year upon renewal
• 60 XP the first year (20 XP the following years)
• 40 additional XP if you spend US $15,000 with the card
• No FX fee

You can earn Flying Blue Miles with your flights on Air France KLM and the Skyteam alliance airlines.

The number of Flying Blue Miles earned depends on two factors:

• the price of the ticket in €
• the status you hold in the Flying Blue program

The Flying Blue program is subdivided into 4 membership categories:

The expense taken into account is the ticket cost (excluding taxes and fuel surcharge known as YQ). All ancillary expenses will also allow you to earn miles such as:

• Selecting a seat
• Purchase of an additional baggage allowance
• Selecting an à la carte menu
• Buying an upgrade

This method of earning tends to favour travellers paying full fare tickets, especially those travelling in the premium cabins (business, first).

This calculation is only taken into account for flights on Air France KLM.

For other Skyteam member airlines and Westjet, the number of miles earned for flights depends on a percentage based on the booking class and distance flown. You can calculate this on the dedicated Flying Blue page.

For example, here is the chart used for WestJet flights:

Here is, for example, the scale taken into account for international flights operated by Delta Airlines:

Beyond airlines, Flying Blue partners with hotels and car rental agencies, as well as other companies like Allianz Travel and Amazon.

Flying Blue has Accor Live Limitless as a preferred partner through Miles+Points.

You can earn points for your stays in the group’s hotels and also Flying Blue Miles. Which is a pretty unique combination.

Apart from Accor, Flying Blue is partnered with :

• Booking.com
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• Best Western Rewards
• Radisson Hotel Group
• Golden Tulip
• World of Hyatt
• IHG Rewards
• Shangri-La
• WorldHotels
• YOTEL

However, for these hotels, you will have to choose between earning points (for free hotel nights) or Flying Blue Miles.

You can also earn Flying Blue Miles when you rent a car from one of these agencies:

• Review
• Budget
• Enterprise
• Europcar
• Hertz
• Sixt
• Thrifty

There is a shopping portal offering Flying Blue miles for your online shopping with partners such as Apple, Indigo, Nike, Sephora, etc.

For your first purchase on the portal, you can earn 500 Flying Blue Miles.

It works in a similar way to other online shopping portals: you log in to the portal, choose the merchant you’re interested in and click on the corresponding link.

Make sure your shopping cart is empty before you do this!

Please note that Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^® holders also have dedicated offers (inCard and eShop) to earn more Flying Blue Miles through their purchases.

Flying Blue Family is the possibility offered by the program to share Miles between family members.

Up to 8 Flying Blue members can be part of a Flying Blue Family: 2 adults and 6 children maximum.

To create a Flying Blue Family account, go to this page.

The Flying Blue Family member is the only person who can transfer Miles from the accounts of Flying Blue Family members.

The Flying Blue Family member can transfer some or all of the Miles. After each transfer, all Flying Blue Family Miles will be valid for two years. Miles transfers are final, and you will be notified by email if your Miles have been transferred.

Flying Blue is also the best loyalty program for family travel. You receive a 25% discount on reward flights booked for children aged 2 to 11 years travelling with an adult. Whether in economy, premium economy or business class! Read our article on this benefit here.

And children’s Miles do not expire until they are 18 years old.

The best way to redeem Flying Blue Miles is by booking airline tickets called flight rewards. You will get the best value from your Flying Blue Miles this way, especially by traveling in higher travel classes (premium economy, business, first class).

Flying Blue members have access to all available seats on any flight. This means that the fare in miles for seats varies according to the number of seats remaining.

Therefore, there is no fixed award chart as in other programs. However, for flights between Canada and Europe, fares start at 21,500 Flying Blue miles in economy and 53,000 Flying Blue miles in business class.

To book a flight, you must log in with your Flying Blue account on the Air France or KLM website. You book a reward flight like a paid one.

Here is, for example, the cost of a one-way flight between Montreal and Paris in Economy starting from 21,500 Miles and $135:

In Premium Economy from 44,500 miles and $224:

And in business class from 53,000 miles and $348:

You will notice that the fare changes significantly from day to day: this is the principle of a flexible award chart.

Also, you’ll notice that the premium the cabin you travel in (premium economy, business, first), the higher the cost in cash: these are the fare surcharge .

It is also possible to pay in miles + cash (maximum of 25% of the ticket price can be paid in cash).

You can calculate the number of miles needed on this page.

With your Flying Blue Miles, you can travel on Air France KLM, all Skyteam alliance airlines and their airline partners such as WestJet.

Reservations can be made online on the Air France KLM website for flights with:

• Air France
• KLM
• Aircalin
• GOL
• Japan Airlines
• Kenya Airways
• TAROM
• WestJet
• Skyteam Partners: Aeroflot, Aerolineas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Alitalia, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Delta Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, Vietnam Airlines, Xiamen Airlines

You can book Transavia flights with your Flying Blue Miles directly on the Transavia website.

In North America, you can use Flying Blue Miles to travel on partner airlines: WestJet and Delta Airlines.

Here is, for example, a fare for a one-way flight between Montreal and Toronto with WestJet for 11,500 Miles and $42:

Here is, for example, a fare for a one-way flight between Montreal and Vancouver with WestJet for 14,500 Miles and $42:

Here is, for example, a fare for a one-way flight between Montreal and Los Angeles with WestJet for 14,500 Miles and $99:

Here is, for example, a fare for a one-way flight between Montreal and Atlanta with Delta Airlines for 14,000 Miles and $93:

And undoubtedly one of the most affordable options to get to Hawaii thanks to Flying Blue Miles!

Here is a fare for a one-way flight between Montreal and Honolulu with WestJet for 17,500 Miles and $112:

Every month, the Air France KLM Flying Blue frequent flyer program runs a promotional offer called Promo Rewards.

You can book flight rewards at a discounted rate during the month: from 25% to 50% off depending on the itinerary and travel cabin.

For example, I was able to book a Promo Reward for travel on the Air France A350 between Toronto and Paris for only 32,000 Flying Blue miles in Business Class.

On the Air France KLM website, there is a tip you need to know to run a 30-day search using your Flying Blue Miles.

Instead of doing a one-way search as you would typically do when searching for a flight reward, search for a round-trip flight. By indicating the same date for the outbound and inbound flights.

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.

As we saw above, Hawaii is one of the sweet spots for Canadians with the Flying Blue program: 17,500 Miles and $112 is a good deal (especially from Eastern Canada).

Mexico is also a good option for Canadians with the Flying Blue program: 14,500 Miles and $104 for this one-way flight between Montreal and Cancun with WestJet.

Israel is one of the most interesting sweetspots in the Flying Blue program for Canadians. For example, with this one-way flight between Montreal and Tel Aviv for 34,000 miles and $171:

There are also some program anomalies, such as this flight between Montreal and Papeete (Polynesia) which will first take you to Paris and then to Los Angeles for 34,500 Miles and $254:

You might prefer this direct flight from Los Angeles to Papeete for only 25,500 miles and $87:

Or that business class flight from Los Angeles to Papeete for only 64,000 miles and $279:

Or this flight between Montreal and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) via Paris for 29,000 Miles and $259:

Or this flight between Montreal and Buenos Aires (Argentina) via Amsterdam for 29,000 Miles and $230:

More seriously, it would be better to aim for domestic flights like this flight between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia for only 17,500 Miles and $8:

There are also several other interesting flights, such as the one between Tokyo and Nouméa (New Caledonia) with Air Calin for 34,500 Miles and $281:

Having Flying Blue Miles can be a good opportunity to save money on certain flights in Europe. Consider, for example, baggage (it is included with Flying Blue tickets, unlike low-cost airlines like Easyjet).

For example between Paris and Nice for 6,000 miles and $49:

Or between Paris and Athens (Greece) for 11,500 miles and $46:

The Air France KLM website sometimes has surprises in store, displaying flights and then no longer displaying availability. It is impossible to book otherwise (or you can do it by phone).

Before searching for availability, learn your “Skyteam and partners” geography by browsing a site like Flight Connections. You will be able to discover airlines and flights in the destinations you plan to visit.

For example, in Argentina with Aerolinas Argentinas.

You can then find the flight you are interested in directly on the Air France KLM website.

See these flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia for only 17,500 Miles and $8:

You can use your Flying Blue Miles to upgrade your flight.

This can be done in advance (up to 24 hours before the flight), subject to availability in the award booking class. The ticket must have been booked in an eligible booking class, excluding award tickets (all classes are detailed here for partner airlines).

It is possible to request a last-minute upgrade just before boarding. Or even once on board! This time, even award tickets are eligible for upgrade.

Air France’s first class, La Première, is one of the best first classes in the world.

To afford this luxury with Flying Blue Miles, one must be an Elite member of the Platinum level program.

You can use Flying Blue Miles for various options:

• Additional luggage (details)
• Seat selection (between 2,000 and 6,000 miles)
• Premium meals on board (from 2,700 miles)
• Air France KLM or Skyteam lounges(from 6,000 miles)

Why not, for example, try the Air France Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau (unless you already have a credit card that grants you access, such as the American Express Platinum Card^®)!

Flying Blue Miles remain valid for life provided that one of the following conditions is met:

• you travel on an eligible flight at least once every 2 years with Air France, KLM, or one of the partner airlines
• you are a Silver, Gold or Platinum member
• you make a purchase with an eligible partner bank card at least once every 2 years.

For eligible credit cards, only cards bearing the Flying Blue logo are eligible. This excludes transfers of American Express Membership Rewards points.

Therefore, remember to book at least one flight every 2 years with Air France KLM or a partner airline (Delta Airlines, WestJet, etc.) by providing your Flying Blue number.

To earn a Flying Blue Elite status, it is necessary to earn Experience Points (XP):

Thus, to access Gold status, an Explorer member must obtain:

• 100 XP to become Silver
• Then 180 XP to become Gold

Once a status is reached, the XP counter is reset to 0 and the member has one year to earn the necessary Experience Points.

It is therefore very difficult for occasional travelers to access higher statuses.

Experience Points are calculated based on:

• flight type: domestic/medium-haul/long-haul (subdivided into 3 categories)
• the cabin

These rates apply to all flights on Skyteam member airlines.

In France, American Express cards earn Experience Points:

• Air France KLM American Express Silver Card: 15 XP
• Air France KLM American Express Gold Card: 30 XP
• Air France KLM American Express Platinum Card: 60 XP

Many benefits are reserved for members who have achieved status with Flying Blue. A table is available here.

Aside from Platinum, which is primarily for very frequent business travelers, the status that offers the best benefits is Gold level. This status corresponds to SkyTeam Elite Plus status with other SkyTeam carriers.

With this status, you have :

• free access for you and a guest to all Air France KLM and Skyteam lounges worldwide
• access to SkyPriority lanes (priority check-in, priority bag drop, priority boarding, priority at immigration and security checks, priority bag delivery)
• discounts on Air France KLM seat options (and free standard seat selection)
• access to the possibility of booking a ticket for La Première

To maximize your chances of accumulating Experience Points (XP), you will need to be strategic and be prepared to make connections. Indeed, each flight allows you to earn XP… and international flights give you more.

For example, you could prioritize flights with WestJet or Delta Airlines to travel to the United States. Or choose to transit via Amsterdam to go to France.

The Air France KLM Flying Blue loyalty program is worth knowing, especially since it is now easier to earn Flying Blue Miles thanks to the partnership with Membership Rewards.

Cover photo: Thomas Arnoux