Great Card If
- You frequently fly with Air France and KLM
- You want a card that will help you earn Flying Blue and SkyTeam elite status
Don’t Get If
- You rarely fly with Air France and KLM
- You want a card that earns transferable rewards
Air France KLM World Elite Card — Is It Worth It?
The Air France KLM World Elite card is a unique offering for U.S.-based flyers, but likely only makes sense for certain travelers.
flyIf you frequently fly with Air France and KLM from the U.S. to their hubs in Paris, Amsterdam, and beyond, the Air France KLM World Elite card could be worth it. especially if you want a card that can help you earn Flying Blue elite status and, by extension, SkyTeam elite status.
You’d likely be much better off choosing another card if you don’t frequently fly with Air France or KLM. Ideally, choose a card that earns transferable rewards, as nearly every major transferable rewards program can transfer its points to the Flying Blue program.
Air France KLM World Elite Card Top Benefits and Perks
Here’s a look at all of the top benefits of the Air France KLM World Elite card you’ll receive:
- Anniversary XP: Each year, on your account anniversary, you’ll receive 20 Experience Points (XP) to help you qualify or requalify for Flying Blue elite status, plus an additional 40 Experience Points (totaling 60 XP) after you spend $15,000 or more on purchases within the anniversary year.
- Anniversary miles: You will receive 5,000 miles on your account anniversary every year after you spend $50 or more on purchases within the anniversary year.
- No foreign transaction fees: You can continue to use your card while traveling overseas to keep earning more miles without accruing additional fees.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your Flying Blue Miles
You can earn more Flying Blue miles by using your card for Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member airline purchases, where you’ll earn 3x miles. You’ll earn an uncapped 1.5x miles on all other purchases you make with the card.
Once you’ve built up a stash of Flying Blue miles, you’ll have many redemption options, as the Flying Blue program can offer a lot of value to award travelers. Take the monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards. These are among the best ways to redeem Flying Blue miles, as you can score 25% to 50% on various rotating routes — including those originating in the U.S.
Alternative Card to the Air France KLM World Elite Card
If you’re looking for more of an all-around travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card would be a better option. It earns 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal, 3x on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 2x on all other travel purchases.
It also comes with perks like a $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit, 10% annual bonus points, travel and car rental insurance, and access to Chase transfer partners, including the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program.
Similarly, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card is a great option that offers better bonus categories for earning points and allows you to transfer your rewards to the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program at a 1:1 rate.
It earns 5x points on hotels, 4x on airfare, 3x on other travel and restaurants, and 1x on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll receive a $50 annual airfare credit, cell phone protection, lost baggage reimbursement, no foreign transaction fees (rates & fees), and access to the Wells Fargo transfer partners.
