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Earning a status in an airline’s frequent flyer program is the key to an outstanding flying experience, with benefits rising in line with the status. Flying Blue, Air France–KLM‘s frequent flyer program, is no exception. It offers five different statuses, enabling its loyal travelers to get their hands on important benefits. But how do we get there? Here’s an overview.
Flying Blue is Air France-KLM’s frequent flyer program which offers travelers worldwide the opportunity to maximize their travel experience by using Miles. These can be used as currency to obtain certain benefits, such as award tickets, upgrades, free Flying Blue Store merchandise or hotel stays.
It also allows you to obtain different statuses, depending on the number of flights completed in a year. The more you fly with Air France, Transavia and KLM airlines, as well as Skyteam member airlines, the more Experience Points (XP) you earn, and the higher your status. The higher your status, the more exclusive benefits you’ll enjoy, including priority access to certain Air France airport lounges, such as the Air France Lounge – Paris Charles De Gaulle Terminal 2E Hall L, the Air France Lounge Montreal-Trudeau and the Air France-KLM Lounge Toronto.
The Flying Blue program has five status levels:
Explorer status is available to everyone who creates a Flying Blue account. All you have to do is register on the loyalty program website. It offers the following benefits:
Silver status is the first level that can be acquired after accumulating a certain number of XP. It offers the following benefits:
As mentioned above, Gold status is the most attractive Flying Blue status. It offers the following benefits:
Gold status is the most attractive, thanks in particular to its access to SkyPriority. SkyPriority members enjoy VIP treatment from the moment they arrive at the airport, with dedicated check-in counters that allow them to avoid queues and save valuable time at nearly 1,000 airports worldwide. They are then directed to priority security lanes for smooth and efficient passage. Once at their destination, members are also entitled to priority baggage delivery, minimizing time spent in airports.
Passengers also have exclusive access to prestigious airport lounges, including the Air France – Terminal 2F lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and the Air France Montréal-Trudeau YUL lounge, where they can relax in sophisticated surroundings before their flight.
Finally, when it comes to boarding, SkyPriority members enjoy priority access, allowing them to avoid the crowds and board at their own pace.
Platinum status was the highest status in the Flying Blue program, until the creation of Ultimate status in 2024. Although this is particularly difficult to achieve, it doesn’t offer much more profitable benefits than Gold status. It offers :
Ultimate status is now the highest status in the Air France frequent flyer program. This offers even more benefits than Platinum status:
Unfortunately, upgrades cannot be made in the La Première cabin, but only in the Business cabin.
To move up in the Flying Blue program, it is essential to accumulate XPs, which are earned by flying on an eligible flight with Air France, KLM, Transavia, SkyTeam member airlines, as well as certain Air France-KLM partner airlines.
Here is the number of annual XPs required to obtain each Flying Blue status:
For Ultimate status, the highest status, the scale is somewhat different. Rather than accumulating XP, passengers must accumulate UXP. These can only be earned by flying on flights marketed by Air France and KLM, or by purchasing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Explorer status is offered to anyone who registers with Flying Blue. After registration, you have 12 months to earn enough XP to upgrade to the next level. At the end of the 12 months, your XP counter returns to zero. This qualification period begins as soon as you earn your first Miles or XP after joining the Flying Blue program.
To achieve Silver status, you need to earn 100 XP.
To achieve Gold status, you need to earn the 100 XP required for Silver status, plus 180 XP. All in all, you’ll need to accumulate 280 XP in one year.
To achieve Platinum status, you need to earn the 100 XP required for Silver status, the 180 XP required for Gold status, and 300 XP. In total, in one year, you’ll need to accumulate 580 XP.
To achieve Ultimate status, you need to earn 900 UXP in one year.
To become Platinum for Life, you must achieve Platinum (or Ultimate) status for 10 consecutive years. Years spent as a “Platinum for 2” member or as a Platinum guest do not count towards eligibility for Platinum for life status.
To earn XP, you have to fly. However, the earning varies according to two factors:
In France, every Air France KLM American Express cardholder receives Experience Points every year:
Signing up for a banking card is therefore one of the most beneficial ways of quickly replenishing the number of XP earned on an annual basis.
The Flying Blue program has a rather unique way of working, notably with the awarding of XPs. To optimize your earning of Experience Points and maximize your chances of obtaining Flying Blue status, don’t hesitate to read our guide on the best ways to earn XP.
To maximize your Flying Blue Miles earning, check our complete Flying Blue program guide and our best credit cards to earn Flying Blue Miles in Canada ranking. And if a Miles purchase promotion is running, take advantage via our Flying Blue Miles purchase guide with Air France.
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