Flying Blue Surcharges on the Rise: Real Cost for Canadians

Q: Which Canadian cards allow you to earn Flying Blue miles?

The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard ® earns Flying Blue miles directly. American Express cards like the Cobalt , Gold , and Platinum allow you to transfer Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio.

Flying Blue has just increased its surcharges on award tickets operated by Air France and KLM. For Canadian travelers who accumulate Flying Blue miles, the bill rises significantly, especially in business class. Here’s what’s changing, how much it actually costs, and which options remain worthwhile.

What’s Changing at Flying Blue

Since March 2026, Air France-KLM has increased carrier surcharges (often referred to as “YQ taxes”) imposed on award tickets booked with Flying Blue miles. These fees are in addition to the number of miles required and represent a very real dollar expense at the time of booking.

Important note: this increase only affects flights operated by Air France and KLM. Flights operated by other SkyTeam partners (Delta, Korean Air, etc.) are not affected by this increase.

Which Flights Are Affected

Air France Flights: All Air France award tickets (including those departing from or arriving in Canada)
KLM Flights: All award tickets operated by KLM (including those departing from or arriving in Canada)

SkyTeam partner flights: Flights operated by Delta, Korean Air, WestJet, or other partners are not affected by this increase

New Surcharge Amounts

Surcharges vary by class of travel and distance. Here are the approximate amounts for a round trip between Canada and Europe on a flight operated by Air France or KLM.

Cabin	Surcharges before (round trip)	Surcharges after (round trip)	Approximate increase
Economy	~$200 CAD	~$300 CAD	+$100 CAD
Premium Economy	~$250 CAD	~$400 CAD	+$150 CAD
Business	~$350 CAD	~$550 CAD	+$200 CAD
First (no flights from Canada)	~$500 CAD	~$750 CAD	+$250 CAD

Real Impact for Canadians

For a Canadian traveler booking a Montreal–Paris round trip in business class with Flying Blue miles, the surcharge bill goes from approximately $350 to $550 CAD. That’s a 57% increase. In other words, the « free » ticket now costs over $500 in fees.

In economy class, the increase is less dramatic in absolute value (+$100 CAD), but it still represents a 50% increase. For a family of four, that’s an extra $400 on a transatlantic round trip.

Flying Blue Mile Value Declining

When surcharges increase, the perceived value of each mile decreases. Let’s take a concrete example for a Montreal–Paris round trip in business:

Miles required: 100,000 Flying Blue miles (round trip, variable rate)
Equivalent paid ticket price: ~$4,000 CAD
Surcharges before the increase: $350 CAD → net value: $3,650 / 100,000 = 3.65¢/mile
Surcharges after the increase: $550 CAD → net value: $3,450 / 100,000 = 3.45¢/mile

The loss isn’t catastrophic in this example, but it adds up. Moreover, surcharges reduce the gap between an award ticket and a paid ticket purchased on sale.

Why This Increase Now

Air France-KLM has not provided an official justification. However, this decision is part of a trend observed among several airlines (such as Porter and Air Canada) following the rise in oil prices. Carrier surcharges constitute a direct revenue source for the airline, even on award tickets.

Furthermore, demand for business class award tickets to Europe remains very strong. Air France-KLM can afford to increase fees without losing many award bookings, as business class availability is already limited.

Alternatives to Limit Fees

This increase doesn’t make Flying Blue unusable. However, certain strategies can help bypass or reduce these surcharges.

Book on Partner Flights

The most effective solution: book flights operated by SkyTeam partners that don’t impose (or impose few) surcharges. Flying Blue miles remain usable on these airlines, often with fees limited to airport taxes.

Delta Air Lines: Low or no surcharges on transatlantic flights. A solid option departing from Montreal or Toronto via U.S. hubs
Korean Air: Moderate surcharges and excellent business class product to Asia
Vietnam Airlines: Very low surcharges, ideal for Southeast Asia
Saudia: Minimal surcharges on flights to the Middle East

Use Flying Blue Promotions

Flying Blue offers monthly « Promo Rewards » promotions with 25% to 50% reductions on miles required to certain destinations. These discounts partially offset the surcharge increase, especially in economy class.

Consider Other Programs

For Air France and KLM flights, other programs also allow you to book award tickets, sometimes with different surcharges. Aeroplan, for example, provides access to Air France flights through the Star Alliance–SkyTeam partnership (on certain itineraries). However, Aeroplan surcharges on Air France remain comparable.

On the other hand, for travelers flexible on the airline, the best travel credit cards in Canada provide access to programs like Aeroplan or Avios (British Airways), which sometimes offer better options to Europe.

Cards That Earn Flying Blue Miles

In Canada, few credit cards allow you to earn Flying Blue miles directly. Here are the main options:

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^® (direct accumulation of Flying Blue miles)
Cobalt Card from American Express (transfer of Amex points to Flying Blue at 1:1 ratio)
American Express Gold Card (transfer of Amex points to Flying Blue at 1:1 ratio)
Platinum Card from American Express (transfer of Amex points to Flying Blue at 1:1 ratio)

American Express cards with Membership Rewards offer the advantage of flexibility: you can also transfer to Aeroplan, Avios, or Marriott Bonvoy if Flying Blue surcharges become too high for your itinerary.

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Green Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offerAfter $1,000 in 3 months 10,000 points After $1,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Gold Rewards Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$250	Welcome offerAfter $12,000 in 12 months Up to 60,000 points After $12,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express^® Business Gold Rewards Card^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$199	Welcome offerAfter $30,000 in 12 months Up to 70,000 points After $30,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare
Business Platinum Card^® from American Express Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months Up to 120,000 points After $15,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express Platinum Card^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$799	Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months Up to 100,000 points After $10,000 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare

Is Flying Blue Still Worthwhile?

Yes, but in a more targeted way than before. Flying Blue retains several advantages despite this surcharge increase.

Monthly promotions: Promo Rewards regularly offer significant discounts on miles required
Dynamic pricing: On certain itineraries, mile prices remain very competitive, especially in low season
Dense European network: Air France and KLM offer unmatched coverage to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East
Partners without surcharges: Flights on Delta, Korean Air, and other SkyTeam partners remain an excellent option

High surcharges: On Air France/KLM flights, dollar fees reduce mile value significantly
Expensive business class: The increase is proportionally higher in premium cabins, where surcharges weigh the most
Upward trend: There’s no guarantee that surcharges won’t increase further in the coming months

Bottom Line

The increase in Flying Blue surcharges on Air France and KLM flights is bad news for Canadian travelers. In business class, the bill increases by approximately $200 CAD per round trip. The most effective workaround remains booking on SkyTeam partners like Delta or Korean Air, which don’t impose these surcharges.

For those accumulating Flying Blue miles through cards like the Cobalt Card from American Express or the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^®, the program remains relevant provided you’re strategic in your bookings. Always compare surcharges before transferring your points.

Check out our selection of the best credit cards in Canada to maximize your rewards, regardless of the program chosen.

Compare

American Express Cobalt^® Card

American Express Amex Membership Rewards

Annual fee: $191.88
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$255Total$255Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $255
Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months: Up to 15,000 points

The American Express Cobalt^® Card is a versatile American Express card, 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 valued 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:

15,000 Aeroplan points
15,000 Avios points
15,000 Flying Blue Miles
18,000 Marriott Bonvoy points

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, and home food delivery. 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.
Points that hold the same value either way: 1,000 points = $10 as a statement credit, or a 1:1 transfer to several airline and hotel loyalty programs.
No minimum income requirement, as with every American Express Canada card.
Additional cards at no extra cost: the first and every other supplementary card is $0.
The Hotel Collection: a room upgrade when available, 12pm check-in and late check-out when available, and up to $100 USD in hotel credit on amenities charged to the room for a stay of two or more consecutive nights, booked through American Express Travel.
Front Of The Line^® presale and reserved tickets for concerts and theatre performances, plus offers and events curated for cardmembers through Amex Experiences.
A soft credit check before you apply: you can see whether you will be approved with no impact to your credit score. This applies to American Express personal card applications.

The 5X categories and where they apply

The 5X rate is the reason most people carry this card. In Canada it covers three 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): not part of 5X, 1 point per dollar.

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	1
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.
Hotel and motel burglary: up to $500 against the loss of most personal items if your hotel or motel is burglarized, when the stay is charged to your card.

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.

Legal

American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information, click the Apply Now link. If you apply and get approved for an American Express Card, we may receive compensation from American Express, which can be in the form of monetary payment.

Annual fee

Primary card$191.88

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
3xStreaming
2xTransit
2xGas
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$1,675

2nd Year Value$799

Transfer partners

AeroplanAirline
British Airways ClubAirline
Cathay Asia MilesAirline
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

Flying Blue Surcharges – Frequently Asked Questions

How much are Flying Blue surcharges increasing?

Surcharges are increasing by approximately $100 CAD in economy and up to $250 CAD in first class, for a Canada–Europe round trip on flights operated by Air France or KLM. Exact amounts vary by itinerary.

Are Delta flights affected by this increase?

No. The increase only affects flights operated by Air France and KLM. Delta, Korean Air, and other SkyTeam partner flights booked with Flying Blue miles retain their usual surcharges, often low or nonexistent.

How can I avoid high Flying Blue surcharges?

The best strategy is to book flights operated by SkyTeam partners like Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, or Vietnam Airlines. These airlines don’t impose (or impose few) carrier surcharges on Flying Blue award tickets.

Which Canadian cards allow you to earn Flying Blue miles?

The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^® earns Flying Blue miles directly. American Express cards like the Cobalt, Gold, and Platinum allow you to transfer Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio.

Is Flying Blue still worth it for Canadians?

Yes, provided you’re strategic. Monthly Promo Rewards offer significant discounts on miles required. Additionally, flights on SkyTeam partners (without high surcharges) remain very attractive. Always check the total amount before transferring your points.

Are surcharges the same departing from Montreal and Toronto?

Carrier surcharges (YQ taxes) are generally similar, but local airport taxes vary. The total dollar amount may therefore differ slightly depending on your departure city. Compare both options on the Flying Blue website before booking.

Can you use Aeroplan to avoid Air France surcharges?

Aeroplan allows you to book certain Air France flights, but carrier surcharges also apply. The amount may vary slightly between the two programs. It’s therefore not a miracle solution to avoid surcharges on Air France flights.

Will surcharges continue to increase?

Impossible to predict with certainty. However, the trend among European airlines has been toward increasing surcharges for several years. Transfer your points at the time of booking rather than in advance to avoid suffering a future devaluation.

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

What’s Changing at Flying Blue

Important note: this increase only affects flights operated by Air France and KLM. Flights operated by other SkyTeam partners (Delta, Korean Air, etc.) are not affected by this increase.