Air France KLM American Express Cards: Everything You Need to Know
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Air France KLM American Express cards are now among the most attractive credit cards for travelers, offering the opportunity to earn Miles in Air France-KLM’s prestigious frequent flyer program, Flying Blue. Air France KLM American Express cardholders can earn Flying Blue Miles not only when flying with sister airlines, but also on everyday purchases. And in addition to this unrivalled collection capacity, these credit cards offer their holders a full range oftravel insurance, as well as a host of exclusive benefits. Milesopedia reviews these cards today.
In France, the Air France-KLM cards are issued by American Express. See the Amex Flying Blue cards guide on Milesopedia France (in French).
What Is American Express…?
Everyone knows American Express, but few people really know what sets it apart from the other major financial institutions. Ranked third worldwide after Visa and Mastercard, American Express, commonly known as Amex, is a world-renowned international financial company. Founded in the United States in 1850, it has established itself as one of the leading companies specializing in financial services, particularly payment card distribution.
One of American Express’s key strengths is its ability to offer exclusive benefits to its cardholders. These benefits include attractive loyalty programs, comprehensive travel insurance, renowned customer service and global acceptance in many stores around the world. Thanks to its collaboration with partners such asApple Pay, American Express is positioned at the forefront of technology, facilitating contactless transactions and offering convenient and secure payment solutions.
… And What Is Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the Air France-KLM frequent flyer program. Launched in 2005, it enables frequent flyers to benefit from exclusive advantages and attractive rewards, and to earn Miles when they travel with Air France-KLM’s partner airlines, i.e. SkyTeam member airlines such as Kenya Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic. These miles can then be redeemed for award tickets, upgrades, in-flight options and more.
The Flying Blue program is structured into four statuses, offering additional benefits as members reach specific mileage thresholds. The levels are Explorer, Silver, Gold and Platinum, each offering privileges such as access to Air France lounges, additional baggage allowance and priority boarding.
In addition to the possibility of earning Miles on flights, Flying Blue also offers opportunities to earn Miles through a network of partners, including Allianz Travel, hotels, car rental companies – such as Sixt and Europcar – restaurants and financial services, such as American Express. In this way, members can increase their miles and enjoy a wide range of travel experiences with Air France-KLM and/or the Group’s partner airlines.
What Are the Different Air France KLM American Express Cards?
There are three Air France KLM American Express cards for individuals: the Silver card, the Gold card and the Platinum card. Each card offers a full range of benefits and privileges for passionate travelers and lovers of quality banking services.
There are also Air France KLM American Express cards for professionals, namely the Pro Silver, Pro Gold and Pro Platinum cards, but we will concentrate here only on cards for private customers.
| Silver Card | Gold card | Platinum card | |
| Rate | Free | 16 € / month | 53 € / month |
| Flying Blue Miles | Up to 10 Miles earned per €10 spent | Up to 15 Miles earned per €10 spent | Up to 20 Miles earned per €10 spent |
| Experience Points (XP) | 15 XP free / year | 30 XP free / year | 60 XP free / year |
The Air France KLM American Express cards offer different benefits depending on the level chosen, just like traditional American Express cards. But instead of earning Membership Rewards points like traditional American Express cards, the Air France KLM American Express cards earn Flying Blue Miles. They are therefore particularly attractive for travelers with a status in the Air France-KLM frequent flyer program.
What Are the Benefits of Air France KLM American Express Cards?
Whichever card is chosen, Air France KLM American Express cardholders benefit from the expertise and commitment of two renowned brands in the travel and financial services industry. Whether you’re an occasional traveler or a seasoned globetrotter, these cards will offer you unique benefits, attractive rewards and an unforgettable travel experience.
Air France KLM American Express Silver Card
- No annual fee: The Air France KLM American Express Silver cardis completely free of charge. For such a card, this is a big plus.
- Flying Blue Miles: The main benefit of the Air France KLM American Express Silver card is the access to the Air France KLM Flying Blue frequent flyer program. For every euro spent with the card, you earn Miles that are valid for two years. Cash withdrawals are the only transactions excluded from Miles accumulation. These Miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, purchases in the Flying Blue boutique, car rentals and hotel stays.
- Flying Blue status: With the Air France KLM American Express Silver card, you can maintain your current Flying Blue status and even upgrade to a higher one, thanks to an annual bonus of 15 Experience Points (XP).
- Travel insurance: The Air France KLM American Express Silver card offers a range of insurance and assistance services for travelers. These include purchase protection, which covers goods purchased in the event of accidental damage or breakage, and travel incident cover, which reimburses hotel and restaurant expenses and essential purchases in the event of flight or baggage delays. Travel assistance is also included to provide advice and assistance when you need it on the road.
- Bonus: When you sign up for the Air France KLM American Express Silver card, you’ll receive a welcome offer of 3,000 Flying Blue Miles.
Air France KLM American Express Gold Card
- No annual fee in the first year: The Air France KLM American Express Gold card is completely free in the first year. From the second year onwards, a monthly fee of 15 euros applies. However, you can cancel your subscription at any time to avoid these charges.
- Flying Blue Miles: For every euro spent with the Air France KLM American Express Gold card, you earn Miles that are valid for two years. While the Air France KLM American Express Silver card earns one Flying Blue Mile per euro spent, the Gold card earns 1.5 Miles per euro spent. Here too, cash withdrawals are the only transactions excluded from mileage accumulation.
- Flying Blue status: With the Air France KLM American Express Gold card, you can maintain your current Flying Blue status and even upgrade to a higher one, thanks to a 30 XP annual bonus.
- Full range of travel insurance: The Air France KLM American Express Gold card protects you in the event of accidental damage to or breakage of your purchases up to 90 days after purchase, up to a maximum of 1,200 euros per claim. It also reimburses the cost of postponed travel up to 7,000 euros per family. In the event of flight delays or missed connections, it covers your hotel and restaurant expenses, as well as essential purchases in the event of baggage delays. It also covers your medical expenses up to 50,000 euros per event and per insured person in the event of accident or illness during your trip abroad, and organizes your medical repatriation if necessary. For your mountain holidays, it offers comprehensive assistance, covering rescue and medical costs, and reimbursing unused lessons, lift passes or ski rentals in the event of an accident. What’s more, if you’ve paid for your rental with your card, you’ll be covered for deductible redemption in the event of theft or damage to the rented vehicle, up to a maximum of 75,000 euros.
- Second card free of charge: The Air France KLM American Express Gold card offers the possibility of obtaining a second card, free of charge. This second card benefits from the same advantages, such as the full range of insurance and assistance services, and every purchase made with this card generates Miles which are added directly to your Flying Blue account.
- Bonus: When you sign up for the Air France KLM American Express Gold card, you’ll receive a welcome offer of 6,000 Flying Blue Miles.
Air France KLM American Express Platinum Card
- Flying Blue Miles: The Air France KLM American Express Platinum card earns 2 Miles per euro spent. Here too, cash withdrawals are the only transactions excluded from mileage accumulation.
- Flying Blue status: With the Air France KLM American Express Platinum card, you can maintain your current Flying Blue status and even upgrade to a higher one, thanks to a 60 XP annual bonus.
- Full range of insurances: The Air France KLM American Express Platinum card offers the same range of insurances as the Air France KLM American Express Gold card, but with even higher limits. In the event of accidental damage to or breakage of your purchases, you can obtain up to 2,500 euros per claim, and in the event of trip cancellation, you can obtain up to 10,000 euros per family. It also covers your medical expenses up to 2,000,000 euros per event and per insured person in the event of accident or illness while traveling abroad. Last but not least, it also offers a deductible buy-back in the event of theft or damage to the rented vehicle, up to 100,000 euros if you have paid for the rental with your card.
- Exclusive invitations to events: You benefit from special privileges, such as first-class reservations for prestigious events like the Opéra Bastille, Palais Garnier and Opéra Royal de Versailles, as well as VIP hospitality and reserved seats at the Stade de France.
- Five free additional cards: The Air France KLM American Express Platinum card offers up to five free additional cards, with no annual fee.
- Bonus: When you sign up for the Air France KLM American Express Platinum card, you’ll receive a welcome offer of 20,000 Flying Blue Miles.
How To Get an Air France KLM American Express Card?
Before applying for an Air France KLM American Express card, you must ensure that you have a Flying Blue card number and a euro bank account. You must also be over 18.
When you’re ready to apply, you’ll need to access the American Express website and complete the application form, providing information such as your personal details, income and credit history. Everything is done online. Once your request has been submitted, it will be processed as quickly as possible by the relevant teams. Please note that approval of your application is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and to the credit policy in effect.
Bottom Line
Air France KLM American Express cards stand out from the crowd in the French banking market, both for their excellence and for their comprehensive range of insurance products. The ability to earn Flying Blue Miles, a comprehensive range of insurance products, access to exclusive airport lounges and excellent customer service make the Air France KLM American Express cards attractive travel companions. It’s worth pointing out, however, that the annual fee is higher than that of other cards, making it a real investment. But a worthwhile investment for any globetrotter.
Frequently Asked Questions About American Express Air France Cards
How Can I Earn Flying Blue Miles with American Express?
To earn Flying Blue Miles with an American Express card, you need an Air France KLM American Express card. Instead of earning Membership Rewards points with every purchase, these cards earn Flying Blue Miles.
Why Don't the American Express Cards Work Everywhere?
In France, American Express cards are accepted in more and more stores. Admittedly, they are less widespread than Visa and Mastercard, but their popularity is soaring. By 2022, 70,000 new establishments had joined the American Express network, agreeing to offer this payment solution.
What Is the Minimum Wage for an Air France KLM American Express Card?
For a long time, a minimum annual income was required to apply for an American Express credit card. Today, however, things are different. American Express France has abandoned the eliminatory nature of this criterion as of autumn 2022. The entity now analyzes files using the scoring method, a risk management approach based on certain criteria that are intended to be more objective than a purely revenue-based approach.
How Much Does an Air France KLM American Express Card Cost?
The Air France KLM American Express Silver card is available free of charge. The Air France KLM American Express Gold card is available for 15 euros a month. The Air France KLM American Express Platinum card is available for 53 euros per month.
What Kind of Travel Insurance Cover Do the Air France KLM American Express Cards Offer?
Air France KLM American Express cards offer a comprehensive range of insurance products to ensure peace of mind when traveling and shopping. They include Purchase Protection to cover goods against damage, Trip Cancellation and Postponement Insurance to reimburse cancellation costs, Travel Incident Insurance to reimburse hotel and restaurant costs in the event of flight delays or missed connections, Medical Assistance and Medical Expenses to cover medical expenses abroad, Snow and Mountain Assistance for comprehensive assistance during stays in the mountains, and Rental Vehicle Guarantee for coverage in the event of theft or damage to the rented vehicle.
Go further with Flying Blue
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.
Go further with American Express Membership Rewards
To maximize your Membership Rewards earning, check our complete American Express Membership Rewards program guide and our best American Express Membership Rewards credit cards ranking, updated monthly by the Milesopedia team.
