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Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles
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Wondering how to make the most of the 100,000 Flying Blue Miles you’ve accumulated with Air France that are now sitting in your account? From North America to the Overseas Territories of France, our editors reveal the best redemptions to reach the most beautiful destinations (with an interesting market value of Miles redemption).

Based in France? See how to use your Flying Blue miles and the Air France destinations on Milesopedia France (in French).

How to Earn Flying Blue Miles

You don’t have 100,000 Flying Blue Miles yet? Don’t worry. There are a number of ways to earn Flying Blue Miles quickly, including by taking out an American Express Classic card or an Air France KLM American Express card.

Air France KLM American Express Cards

In France, the quickest way to earn Flying Blue Miles is with an Air France KLM American Express card. Unlike American Express cards, which earn Membership Rewards points, Air France KLM American Express Silver, Gold and Platinum cards, and Air France KLM Silver, Gold and Platinum Pro cards, earn Flying Blue Miles for every euro spent.

American Express (Amex) Cards

It’s not just Air France KLM American Express cards that earn Flying Blue Miles. Classic American Express cards also earn Flying Blue Miles, but indirectly.

As the American Express Membership Rewards program is a transfer partner of Flying Blue, you can easily transfer your Membership Rewards points into Flying Blue Miles.

To learn more about the intricacies of American Express transfers, please refer to our complete guide on the subject.

How to Use Your Flying Blue Miles

Flying Blue Miles can be used for:

  • Purchasing premium tickets;
  • Receiving an upgrade;
  • Opt for an in-flight option;
  • Getting your hands on an item from the Flying Blue boutique free of charge; or
  • Hotel Stays

Air France and KLM reward tickets are tickets that you can purchase with your Flying Blue Miles from Air France, Transavia, KLM, or any other airline member of the Skyteam alliance:

  • Aerolineas Argentinas
  • Aeromexico
  • Air Europa
  • China Airlines
  • China Eastern Airlines
  • Czech Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Garuda Indonesia
  • ITA Airways
  • Kenya Airways
  • Korean Air
  • Middle East Airlines
  • Saudia
  • TAROM
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Virgin Atlantic
  • XiamenAir

Air France – Destinations Reached With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles

This winter, several destinations from Paris (round-trip!) are available for less than 100,000 Flying Blue Miles in the Economy (and sometimes Business!) cabin with Air France or one of its partner airlines, including Miami, Mexico City, Montreal and Fort-de-France. Simply visit the Air France website to take advantage of these offers.

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Mauritius

During winter, you can fly to Mauritius for 48,000 Flying Blue Miles in the Economy cabin from Paris. Availability is rather scarce, so jump at the chance as soon as you see a direct flight with Air France for less than 50,000 Flying Blue Miles. You could also fly with Kenya Airways for the same price, but with a stopover.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Ile-Maurice

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – United States

New York

As we explained in our guide to the best ways to use 40,000 Flying Blue Miles, you could fly to the USA and back in the Economy cabin with less than 50,000 Flying Blue Miles in your account. But what about taking the experience to another level and crossing the Atlantic in the Business cabin? With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles, you could fly round-trip to New York with Air France in the Business cabin.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-New-York

Los Angeles

With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles, you could also make a round trip to Los Angeles, and not in Economy, but in Premium Economy! At this price, availability is pretty scarce, so don’t miss out when you see a flight for less than 50,000 Flying Blue Miles.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Los-Angeles

Miami

Still in the Premium Economy cabin, you could fly to Miami for just 70,000 Flying Blue Miles. See you in the sun!

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Miami

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Cuba

Still in North America, we’re heading for Cuba, where we’re almost guaranteed a warm winter. Air France is offering flights to Havana in the Economy cabin for as little as 48,000 Flying Blue Miles, subject to availability. Don’t delay!

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Cuba

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Mexico

Mexico is another one of those destinations you just can’t get enough of! This winter, you can fly to Mexico City for as little as 35,000 Flying Blue Miles in the Premium Economy cabin.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Mexico-City

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Canada

Everyone knows Montreal, but what about Toronto? This winter, you could fly in the Business cabin to either of these destinations for just 50,000 Flying Blue Miles, departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-YYZ

However, as you can see from the Air France website, availability at such low prices is rare. So take the time to do your research! As a general rule, airfares to Canada are twice as expensive.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Montreal

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Martinique

Don’t feel like visiting Canada when it’s cold? Then head for Martinique, a destination also accessible for as little as 100,000 Flying Blue Miles (provided you travel in various booking classes). In fact, you could fly to Fort-de-France in the Business cabin with Air France for 70,000 Flying Blue Miles. What better way to get in the vacation spirit?

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Fort-de-France-Paris

For the return journey, you could use your precious remaining Miles to purchase a ticket from Fort-de-France to Paris in Economy cabin at 25,000 Flying Blue Miles. Of course, don’t forget the airport taxes.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-Fort-de-France

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – South Africa

We’re leaving the West Indies and heading for South Africa, accessible in the Economy cabin with Air France for 50,000 Flying Blue Miles. As this is a long-haul destination, don’t forget to factor airport taxes into your budget; they can be quite high.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-CPT

100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Guadeloupe

Also in the French overseas territories, you could fly to Guadeloupe in the Business cabin with Air France for 70,000 Flying Blue Miles, and return in the Economy cabin for as little as 18,750 Flying Blue Miles.

Air France: What to Do With 100,000 Flying Blue Miles - Air-France-Paris-PTP

Flying Blue Offers to Look Out For

Flying Blue Promo Reward Tickets

Flying Blue Promo Reward tickets are standard reward tickets offered at discounted rates and changing on a monthly basis. With offers ranging from 25% to 50% off, these opportunities are worth checking out month after month. They are available in Economy, Premium Economy and Business cabins, with particularly attractive offers in the upper cabins.

Here too, however, additional taxes apply. The longer the distance and the higher the cabin class, the higher the costs.

Flying Blue Family

Launched in 2022, Flying Blue Family allows members of the same family to pool their Miles in a single account. But that’s not the main benefit when travelling with kids.

The most noteworthy aspect of this program is the discount on reward tickets for children ages 2-11. Whatever their class of travel – Economy, Premium Economy or Business – young passengers flying with Air France benefit from a 25% discount on reward tickets.

So you could fly between Paris and Montreal with a family of four for less than 100,000 Flying Blue Miles. At first glance, this amount may seem high, but when two adults earn Flying Blue Miles on the same account, the earnings are doubled.

Upgrades With Air France

There’s an urban legend that Air France frequently upgrades its passengers. Unfortunately, cases of free upgrades with Air France after boarding are rare, if not non-existent. But while the French airline is not known for granting free upgrades to its Economy cabin passengers, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to upgrade to Premium Economy, Business or La Première.

With Air France, upgrades are payable in three ways:

  1. In euros
  2. In Flying Blue Miles
  3. In Cash & Miles

The cost of an upgrade is determined by the airline, based on the number of passengers on the flight, the air route and the original booking class, and is subject to availability. The lower the initial fee you pay, the more you have to spend in compensation.

To find the number of Miles required for an upgrade, simply consult your online reservation on the Air France website and click on the « Upgrade with Miles » option. Although the Flying Blue program has not published a scale for estimating the precise value of Miles for an upgrade, the average market value is between 0.4 and 0.9 cents, depending on the flights and offers available at the time of booking.

What to Do With Air France and 100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Conclusion

Boarding a plane and heading for a sunny destination has never been so affordable. For 100,000 Flying Blue Miles, you can fly anywhere in the world, from North America to South Africa and the West Indies.

Our advice? Don’t wait too long to book, as the availability of Flying Blue Reward Tickets and Promo Reward Tickets is not always guaranteed. And if you end up changing your mind, don’t worry. Reward tickets can be changed or cancelled up to the last check-in deadline. Have a good trip!

What to Do With Air France and 100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Frequently Asked Questions

What is the value of a Flying Blue Mile?

There is no standard value for Miles, as it varies depending on the rewards you choose to receive in exchange for your Miles. On average, the market value of a Flying Blue Mile can fluctuate between 0.2 and 2.5 euro cents, or 4 Canadian cents.

How many Flying Blue Miles do I need for a flight from Paris to New York?

It’s possible to get your hands on a flight with Air France between Paris and New York in Economy for as little as 15,000 Flying Blue Miles, plus airport taxes.

Can I buy Flying Blue Miles via the loyalty program?

Yes, it is possible to purchase Flying Blue Miles. To do so, go to the Flying Blue website, log in to your Flying Blue account and follow the instructions for purchasing Miles.

What to do with Air France and 100,000 Flying Blue Miles – Recent articles

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The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

American Express Cobalt® Card welcome offer

The welcome bonus is paid out monthly over your first 12 months. You earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for each monthly billing period in which you charge $750 in net purchases to your card, in any category (1X, 2X, 3X or 5X). That adds up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points over the year, a welcome offer we value at $255.

Earning the full bonus means $9,000 in net purchases spread across 12 monthly billing periods. This offer rewards steady monthly spending rather than one large purchase.

You can use these points as statement credits on everyday or travel purchases, at the same rate either way: 1,000 points = $10.

You can also transfer them to Aeroplan, Avios (British Airways and Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors. With the full welcome bonus, that is a choice between:

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  • 18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

If hotel points are what you are after, our ultimate guide to Marriott Bonvoy and our complete map of Marriott Bonvoy hotels by category show what those points can actually buy.

American Express Cobalt® Card benefits

Here is what the card gives you, starting with the benefits cardholders use most.

  • 5X points on eligible eats and drinks in Canada: groceries, restaurants and bars, home food delivery and convenience stores. A spend cap applies.
  • 3X points on eligible streaming subscriptions in Canada.
  • 2X points on eligible gas, public transit and ride sharing purchases in Canada.
  • 1 additional point on eligible hotel and car rental bookings made through American Express Travel Online.
  • 1X point per dollar on everything else, with no category restrictions.
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  • No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
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The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers four kinds of merchants:

  • Groceries: Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, Safeway, Whole Foods.
  • Restaurants and bars: sit-down meals, takeout and drinks.
  • Home food delivery.
  • Convenience stores: Couche-Tard, 7-Eleven.

The 2X rate covers gas stations such as Esso, Shell and Petro-Canada, along with public transit and ride sharing.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Home food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming services 3
Service station 2
Transport 2
Travel 1
Other 1

That works out to a 1 to 5% return on those purchases. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month across groceries, restaurants and food delivery, you earn $50 back per month, or $600 per year from that category alone. Transfer the points to a program such as Aeroplan instead and the return can be higher.

You can also stack these categories with the hundreds of stores that offer 5x points.

American Express Cobalt® Card insurance coverage

The card comes with a broad insurance package. The amounts below are the coverage limits; conditions, age limits and exclusions are set out in the certificate of insurance linked in the Insurance section above.

Travel insurance

  • Emergency medical: up to $5,000,000 for the first 15 days of a trip.
  • Travel accident: accidental death and dismemberment of up to $250,000 for you, your spouse and dependent children under age 23 when travelling on a common carrier (plane, train, bus or ship) and the tickets are charged to your card. Supplementary cardholders and their families are covered too.
  • Flight delay: up to $500 for necessary hotel, meal and sundry expenses bought within 48 hours when you are delayed or denied boarding for four hours or more and no other transportation is available. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and delayed baggage coverage.
  • Delayed baggage: up to $500 for essential clothing and sundries bought within four days when your outbound luggage is delayed six hours or more. This $500 is an aggregate limit per occurrence, shared with missed connection and flight delay coverage.
  • Lost or stolen baggage: up to $500 per occurrence for all insured persons combined, for checked or carry-on baggage and personal effects in transit, when the airline tickets are charged to your card. Within that limit, jewellery is capped at $300 per occurrence and golf clubs, including golf bags, at $250 per occurrence.
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Rental car insurance

Theft and damage coverage is included for a rental car with an MSRP, for its model year, of up to $85,000 excluding all taxes, for rentals of up to 48 days. To use it, decline the Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) or any similar option from the rental company and charge the full rental to your card. There is no cost for this coverage, and it replaces the daily insurance the rental company charges, usually $16 to $23 per day.

Mobile device insurance

Your device is covered for up to $1,000 per occurrence when it is charged to the card, for up to two years from the date of purchase. The payout is based on the depreciated value of the device, which falls by 2% of the purchase price for every completed month, less a 10% deductible. Theft and accidental damage coverage starts on the 91st day after purchase, because the first 90 days are covered by purchase protection.

Purchase protection and extended warranty

Eligible items charged to your card are insured against accidental physical damage or theft for 90 days from the purchase date, up to $1,000 per occurrence for all items combined. The card also extends the original manufacturer’s warranty by up to one additional year on eligible items, with indemnification limited to $10,000 per insured item and $25,000 per Cardmember per policy year for all items combined.

American Express Cobalt® Card fees

  • Card fee: $15.99 per month, which equals $191.88 per year, for residents outside Quebec. Quebec residents are billed $191.88 per year.
  • Additional cards: $0.
  • Purchase interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Cash advance interest rate: 21.99%.
  • Foreign transaction fee: 2.5%.
  • Minimum income required: none.

Because the fee is billed monthly rather than in one annual charge, you can stop and restart the cost in step with how much you are actually using the card.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88
Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0
Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

  • 5xRestaurants
  • 5xGroceries
  • 5xConvenience
  • 3xStreaming
  • 2xTransit
  • 2xGas & EV
  • 1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,828
2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

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  • Etihad GuestAirline
  • Flying BlueAirline
  • Hilton HonorsHotel
  • Marriott BonvoyHotel

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days
Delayed BaggageUp to $500
Lost BaggageUp to $500
Flight DelayUp to $500
Hotel BurglaryUp to $500
Travel AccidentUp to $250,000

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionUp to $1,000 / 90 days
Extended Warranty+1 years
Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years
Auto Rental Collision (primary)Up to $85,000 / 48 days

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