Flying Blue Status: How to Upgrade from Silver to Gold, Platinum and Ultimate

To the point We explain how you can become a Silver, Gold, Platinum or Ultimate member of Air France-KLM's frequent flyer program, Flying Blue, and enjoy a host of exclusive advantages both at the airport and on board.

How does the Flying Blue program work?

What are the advantages of Flying Blue status? Explorer Silver Gold Platinum Ultimate

How do I obtain Flying Blue status? XP and UXP scale

How do I earn XP? Flying Using certain credit cards

Bottom Line Frequently asked questions

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.

Last update: June 20, 2024

How does the Flying Blue program work?

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.

What are the advantages of Flying Blue status?

The Flying Blue program has five status levels:

Explorer
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Ultimate

Apart from the Platinum and Ultimate statuses, which are mainly aimed at very frequent business travelers, Gold status offers the most attractive benefits.

Air France Flying Blue status - Explorer

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:

Earn 4 Miles for every euro spent
10% on your first purchase of an additional Baggage Option

Air France Flying Blue status - Silver

Silver status is the first level that can be acquired after accumulating a certain number of XP. It offers the following benefits:

Earn 6 Miles for every euro spent
Priority access for check-in and baggage drop-off
Free selection of your standard seat
Free seating options 24 hours before flight departure
An additional checked baggage offered on all SkyTeam member airline flights

Air France Flying Blue status - Gold

As mentioned above, Gold status is the most attractive Flying Blue status. It offers the following benefits:

Earn 7 Miles for every euro spent
Access to Skyteam lounges worldwide, with a guest, as well as Eurostar lounges when traveling with Train + Air
Access to SkyPriority
Free selection of your standard seat
Free seating options 72 hours before flight departure
An additional checked baggage offered on all SkyTeam member airline flights

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.

Flying Blue Gold status is matched by SkyTeam Elite Plus status with other SkyTeam carriers.

Air France Flying Blue status - Platinum

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 :

Earn 8 Miles for every euro spent
Access to Skyteam lounges worldwide, with a guest, as well as Eurostar lounges when traveling with Train + Air
Access to SkyPriority
Free selection of your standard seat
Seat options
An additional checked baggage offered on all SkyTeam member airline flights
Exclusive access at all times to the Platinum Service Line
Possible upgrade to La Première cabin
Miles overdraft up to 50,000

Air France Flying Blue status - Ultimate

Ultimate status is now the highest status in the Air France frequent flyer program. This offers even more benefits than Platinum status:

Earn 9 Miles for every euro spent
Dedicated Ultimate advisor available at all times
Access to Air France and KLM lounges worldwide, with eight guests
An additional checked baggage offered on all SkyTeam member airline flights
Ultimate or SkyPriority access for you and up to eight travel companions
Possible upgrade to La Première cabin
Miles overdraft up to 100,000
Four superior cabin upgrade vouchers per year
A Flying Blue Platinum partner card
A Hertz Platinum card
Free Wi-Fi on board
Side seat blocked (subject to availability)
Pre-boarding (on request)

Unfortunately, upgrades cannot be made in the La Première cabin, but only in the Business cabin.

Air France flights	KLM flights
From Economy to Premium Economy	From Economy to Premium Comfort
From Premium Economy to Business class	From Premium Comfort to World Business Class

How do I obtain Flying Blue status?

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.

From April 1, 2024, XP bonuses will no longer be credited on flights marketed by airlines that are not SkyTeam partners.

XP and UXP scale

Here is the number of annual XPs required to obtain each Flying Blue status:

STATUS	EXPERIENCE POINTS (XP)
Explorer	0
Silver	100 XP
Gold	100 XP + 180 XP
Platinum	100 XP + 180 XP + 300 XP
Ultimate	900 UXP

The statuses are valid for 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, your XP counter returns to zero. If you fail to accumulate the required number of XPs in the year following your award, you will lose your current status and be demoted.

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).

How to obtain Explorer status

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.

How to upgrade from Explorer to Silver status

To achieve Silver status, you need to earn 100 XP.

How to upgrade from Silver to Gold status

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.

How to upgrade from Gold to Platinum status

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.

How to obtain Ultimate status

To achieve Ultimate status, you need to earn 900 UXP in one year.

How to get Platinum for life

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.

How do I earn XP?

Flying

To earn XP, you have to fly. However, the earning varies according to two factors:

Flight type: Domestic, medium-haul or long-haul (subdivided into 3 categories)
Travel cabin: Economy, Premium Economy, Business or La Première

EXPERIENCE POINTS	DOMESTIC	MEDIUM (LESS THAN 2,000 MILES)	LONG 1 (2,000 – 3,500 MILES)	LONG 2 (3,500 – 5,000 MILES)	LONG 3 (OVER 5,000 MILES)
Economy	2	5	8	10	12
Premium Economy	4	10	16	20	24
Business	6	15	24	30	36
La Première (First Class)	10	25	40	50	60

These rates apply to all flights operated by Skyteam member airlines.

Using certain credit cards

In France, every Air France KLM American Express cardholder receives Experience Points every year:

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
Air France KLM American Express Silver Card: 15 XP
Air France KLM American Express Gold Card: 20 XP
Air France KLM American Express Platinum Pro Card: 30 XP

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.

Bottom Line

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.

Flying Blue Status - Frequently asked questions

Which airlines are part of Flying Blue?

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer program of Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin and Tarom.

How many XP can you earn per flight?

Earnings vary according to flight type (domestic, medium-haul or long-haul) and travel cabin (Economy, Premium Economy, Business or La Première). You can earn between 2 and 60 XP per flight.

What are Flying Blue Elite and Flying Blue Elite Plus?

All Flying Blue status holders (Silver, Gold and Platinum) are Flying Blue Elite members. All holders of Flying Blue superior status (Gold and Platinum) are Flying Blue Elite Plus members.

Can I buy XPs with Air France?

Flying Blue offers you the opportunity to contribute to reforestation projects or buy SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) in cash to help you earn XP. To do this, go to the “My reservations” or “My trip” section of the Air France and KLM websites.