Flying Blue is one of those loyalty programs that doesn’t always get the spotlight. It doesn’t always get the same attention as Delta SkyMiles or United MileagePlus, but trust me… it should.
Between the monthly Promo Rewards (which we love!), easy ways to earn miles through credit card transfers, and solid redemption options, Flying Blue could be your new BFF.
Let’s break it all down so you know exactly how to earn, redeem, and maximize Flying Blue miles.
What Is Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the joint loyalty program for Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. It’s also used by their smaller partners like Transavia and Aircalin.
As a member, you’ll earn Flying Blue miles when you fly with these airlines or their SkyTeam partners (think Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, etc.). You can then redeem those miles for flights, upgrades, and extras, but the best part comes from their flexible award pricing and frequent promos.
Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing. That means the number of miles you’ll need for a flight depends on the route, demand, and cash price. While that sounds a little complicated, it also means you can find surprisingly good deals if you’re flexible. But heads up… it can also make for randomly high redemptions as well, so it’s best to play around with dates.
Flying Blue Elite Status
Flying Blue elite status is earned with XP (Experience Points), not “miles.” Every eligible flight with Air France, KLM, or a SkyTeam partner earns you XP. How much you earn depends on your cabin and the type of flight.
Here’s a quick look at the tiers:
Tier | XP Needed | Renewal / Downgrade | Key Perks |
Explorer | Free | Entry level; 12 months to start earning XP before counters reset | Access to Promo Rewards, standard earnings |
Silver | 100 XP | 100 XP per year to keep; drop to Explorer if not met (extra XP rolls over) | Priority check-in and boarding, one free checked bag, 25% discount when purchasing seats, +50% bonus miles earned |
Gold | 180 XP | 180 XP per year to keep; drop to Silver if not met (rollover applies) | SkyPriority, lounge access with guest of choice, 50% discount when purchasing seats, 75% bonus miles earned |
Platinum | 300 XP | 300 XP per year to keep; drop to Gold if not met (rollover up to 300 XP) | Unlimited lounge access, preferred seats, exclusive Platinum Service Line, 100% bonus miles earned |
Ultimate | 900 UXP | 900 UXP per year to keep; drop to Platinum if not met | Dedicated support, guaranteed seats, all Platinum perks and extras |
👀 Pro Tip: If you fly mostly on Delta in the U.S., chasing Flying Blue status probably won’t make sense. But if you’re based in Europe or fly Air France/KLM often, the mileage bonuses at higher tiers can add up fast.
How to Earn Flying Blue Miles
There are a few main ways to build up your Flying Blue balance: flying, credit card transfers, and partners.
Flying: You’ll earn miles based on the cost of your ticket (not distance flown):
Explorer: 4 miles per euro spent
Silver: 6 miles per euro spent
Gold: 7 miles per euro spent
Platinum: 8 miles per euro spent
Ultimate: 9 miles per euro spent
Shopping and hotels: You can also earn by booking hotels, rental cars, and shopping through Flying Blue’s partners.
But for all of my U.S. travelers, the best option is credit card transfers.
Credit Card Transfer Partners
Flying Blue is one of the easiest programs to top off because it partners with almost every major issuer.
Screenshot from Daily Drop
You can transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Flying Blue’s program (in nearly an instant for most cases), from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou points, and even Bilt rewards.
Best Cards to Earn Flying Blue Miles
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — great all-around travel card with 1:1 transfers
American Express® Gold Card — strong on dining and groceries
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — 2x miles on everything and has lounge access
Citi Strata Premier® Card — 3x on hotels and air travel, restaurants, and supermarkets
Bilt Mastercard — earn points on rent (up to 100,000 points per calendar year) and send them right to Flying Blue
🌟 Another Pro Tip: Always check for transfer bonuses. Flying Blue often runs 25% bonuses from Amex, Chase, Citi, or Bilt, which means a 55,000-mile business class ticket to Paris might only cost you 44,000 points.
How to Redeem Flying Blue Miles
Here’s where Flying Blue gets real good. Because it doesn’t use a fixed award chart, you’ll sometimes find incredible deals that beat almost any other program.
Flying Blue Sweet Spots
U.S. to Europe in business class — Often available for as low as 60,000 miles one-way. With a transfer bonus, it’s even better.
Monthly Promo Rewards — Discounts of 25% to 50% off select routes, which can drop economy flights to Europe below 19,000 miles one-way.
Intra-Europe flights — Short hops like Paris to Rome or Amsterdam to Berlin can cost just 7,500 miles.
Air France La Première — A unicorn-level redemption, but one of the most luxurious first-class experiences out there.
Flying Blue Stopover Benefit
One of the best-kept secrets is that Flying Blue allows a free stopover on one-way award tickets. That means you can fly from New York to Rome and spend a few days in Paris or Amsterdam along the way for the same number of miles.
✈️ Heads Up: Stopovers can only be booked by phone, but they’re well worth the extra effort…. trust me!
Bottom Line
Flying Blue is one of the most versatile, flexible, and rewarding programs out there. With multiple credit card transfer partners, monthly Promo Rewards, and the ability to add free stopovers, it should absolutely have a place in your points-and-miles world.
Keep an eye on transfer bonuses, and you could be sipping champagne in business class for fewer miles than you’d spend with most U.S. carriers.
