Airline Loyalty Rewards
Flying Blue Air France KLM Loyalty Program Review
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Branded and Partnered Credit Cards
Flying Blue is one of a handful of award programs that partners with all of the flexible point programs.
Flying Blue Credit Cards
Flying Blue recently released its Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard, which is issued by Bank of America.
While the credit card comes with a 25,000 point signup bonus after making $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days, we recommend focusing your spending with credit cards by American Express, Chase, Citi, and Marriott that earn transferable points.
American Express Credit Cards
Amex credit cards are a great way to earn Amex points that can be transferred directly to Flying Blue.
With its impressive selection of personal and business credit cards, you’ll have more than enough ways to earn miles for your next redemption.
Amex also has regular bonuses with some of its airline partners when you transfer your points into airline miles, making this a valuable program to earn points in.
Brex
Brex is an interesting small-business card unlike other credit cards. Points from Brex transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio
Capital One Cards
Capital One has been upping its game in the realm of transfer partners and this includes its relationship with Flying Blue. You can transfer over your Capital One Miles to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio.
Chase Credit Cards
Chase is another flexible point program that has Flying Blue as a Chase airline partner, giving you an excellent way to earn miles.
Chase stacks up with Amex in terms of the number of personal and business credit cards it has that earn Ultimate Rewards points, which can be transferred directly to Flying Blue.
Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.The Chase Sapphire Preferred® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.
Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel worldwide
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
- Excellent travel and car rental insurance
- 10% annual bonus points
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
- Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k or 100k Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Score Requirements
- Military Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
- Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance
- Best Metal Credit Cards
- Best Credit Cards for Military
- Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance
- Best High Limit Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
- 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
- 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
- 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass airport lounge access
- TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
- Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
- Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
- $550 annual fee
- Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus Offer
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Access
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits
- Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve
- Best Credit Cards for Military
- Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
- Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance
- Best High Limit Credit Cards
If you’re a business owner, see our list of recommended Chase credit cards.
Citi Credit Cards
Citi falls short of Amex and Chase with the number of credit cards it has that earn transferable ThankYou points. But that doesn’t mean the program should be ignored!
Citi, like Amex, has regular bonuses when transferring points to some of its airline partners, which can provide significant value.
The only credit card available to new applicants that earns ThankYou points is the Citi ThankYou® Premier Card. You can find more about it here:
Citi Premier® Card
Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.
Citi Premier® Card
Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.The Citi Premier® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!
Pros
- 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
- Access to Citi transfer partners
- Annual hotel credit
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
- Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
- 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Citi Rewards+® Card
This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.
Citi Rewards+® Card
This no annual fee card rewards cardholders for everyday purchases. Earn bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations, plus your points are rounded up on every purchase.- Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
- Plus, for a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel(SM) portal through June 30, 2024.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from date of first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% – 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at Supermarkets and Gas Stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X Points thereafter. Plus, earn 1X ThankYou® Points on All Other Purchases.
- The Citi Rewards+® Card – the only credit card that automatically rounds up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase – with no cap.
- No Annual Fee
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months and on purchases. After that, the variable APR of 18.74% - 28.74%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of each purchase transaction in US dollars
Card Categories
Citi® Double Cash Card
Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!
Citi® Double Cash Card
Great card for the average spender with no specific focus category; worry-free cash-back earning on everything!The Citi® Double Cash Card has long been one of the top cash-back credit cards on the market, and the card now has the ability to earn Citi ThankYou Points!
This means that cardholders of the Double Cash card will now earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points. This means each billing cycle, you will earn 1 ThankYou point per $1 spent on purchases and an additional ThankYou point for every $1 paid on your purchase balance as long as there is a corresponding balance in your Purchase Tracker.
Citi has turned the Double Cash card into a top choice for those who are looking for an everyday, no-fuss credit card.
Pros
- Uncapped 2% for every $1 spent (1% when you buy and another 1% when you pay)
- Flexible redemption options
- No annual fee
Cons
- No bonus categories
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- Lack of premium travel benefits
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.24% - 29.24% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each purchase
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Earn big on purchases in your top eligible spend category, up to the first $500 each billing cycle, with no annual fee!The Citi Custom Cash® Card is inventive when it comes to cash-back credit cards. Instead of earning a set amount of cash-back on predetermined bonus categories, the Citi Custom Cash card earns 5% cash-back on your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle, without an annual fee.
Thanks to that unique perk, you’ll never need to worry about whether you’re using the right card for the right purchase, as your Citi Custom Cash card will always pay you 5% back on whichever category you end up spending the most on each month.
Pros
- 5% cash-back (on up to $500 each billing cycle) from your largest purchase category, including restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment
- No annual fee
- Multiple redemption options
- No redemption minimums
Cons
- Your 5% category is limited to $500 in spend ($25 in cash-back) each month
- Not particularly rewarding for any purchases outside of your top 5% cash-back category
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: 3%
Card Categories
Marriott Credit Cards
Marriott credit cards provide yet another way to earn flexible points that can be transferred directly to Flying Blue.
What makes this transfer even better is the fact that you’ll receive a 5,000-point bonus for every 60,000 points that you convert into airline miles.
Marriott points convert into airline miles at a 3:1 ratio, so 60,000 miles become 25,000 airline miles with the 5,000 point bonus.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.
The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Pros
- Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
- 2x points per $1 on travel purchases
- 15 Elite Night Credits each year (automatically gives you Silver Elite status)
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
Cons
- Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier
- Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase®!
- Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
- 2X points for every $1 spent on other travel purchases (from airfare to taxis and trains).
- 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, qualifying you for Silver Elite Status. Restrictions apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual free night award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.
Pros
- Earn big when you use your card at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- New benefit to earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- Automatic Silver Elite Status
- 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
- DoorDash DashPass subscription
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Marriott Silver status is the lowest status tier
- Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
- Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
- Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesMarriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.
Pros
- 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2X points)
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status
- 15 Elite Night Credits per year
- 1,000 bonus points per paid stay
- 1 Free Night Award (up to 50,000 points) when you spend $15,000 on the card in a year
- No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Cons
- $250 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit
- Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- With complimentary Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Terms Apply / Rates & FeesMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.
So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?
Pros
- 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
- 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
- 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
- 25 Elite Night Credits each year
- Priority Pass Select membership upon enrollment
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit
- Annual Free Night Award after card renewal
- Complimentary Platinum Elite status
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)
- 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
- Earn two 85K Free Night Awards after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card in your first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
- Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited access to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
Other Hotel Partner Credit Cards
Transferring other hotel points to Flying Blue will result in a terrible transfer ratio, so we recommend avoiding this if at all possible.
If you are topping off an airline account or are in a bind, this option can be used as a last-ditch effort.
Air France KLM Flying Blue Program Overview
The Air France KLM frequent flyer program is called Flying Blue, and the program can be used for SkyTeam redemptions like flights on Delta.
Both Air France and KLM fly from a number of U.S. destinations to Europe, giving you plenty of ways to fly to Europe.
Flying Blue miles can be earned in many ways — here are the 3 most common:
- Flying Air France, KLM, or its partner airlines’ flights
- Spending on flexible points program credit cards
- Spending at car rental, hotel, or retail partners
Joining Flying Blue
The Flying Blue program is free to join by simply completing this application.
When your application is complete, you’ll have the ability to earn miles by flying with Air France, KLM or their partner airlines, earn elite status, and redeem miles for award flights.
How to Sign in to Your Flying Blue Account
Head to the Flying Blue login page and enter your membership number and password.
Hot Tip: Both the KLM and Air France websites require you to log in using your Flying Blue account number to search for award flights.
Viewing Your Account Activity
The easiest way to check your Air France mileage balance is to:
- Log in to your account
- Click the grey drop-down arrow in the top right corner
- Click My Profile
- Click Activity Overview
The easiest way to check your KLM mileage balance is to:
- Log in to your account
- Click Flying Blue in the middle
- Click Log In on the left
- Click Activity Overview
Air France and KLM state that it may take a couple of weeks for qualifying activity to appear in your account.
Points Expiration
Mileage expiration will depend on your Flying Blue elite status.
Air France and KLM miles will expire after 2 years of no qualifying activity for Explorer Members.
All Flying Blue Miles are valid for life as long as one of the following is true:
- You take an eligible flight on Air France, KLM, Joon, HOP!, Aircalin, Kenya Airways, TAROM, or other SkyTeam partner at least once every 2 years
- You’re an Elite or Elite Plus member
- You make a purchase with an eligible co-branded credit card at least once every 2 years.
These “overall extending activities” extend the validity of all miles 2 years from the date of the activity.
You can also extend the validity of miles earned with all other partners (airline partners not mentioned above, car rental partners, hotel partners, and experience partners) for 2 years by earning miles with any of these other partners.
These “partial extending activities” with other partners will extend the validity of miles earned with any of these other partners by 2 years from the date of the activity.
“Partial extending activities” do not extend the validity of miles earned from “overall extending activities.”
Air France KLM Flying Blue Mileage Program
Flying Blue Elite Status
The Flying Blue program has 3 elite tiers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
Silver: The lowest elite tier offered by Flying Blue, which comes with the following benefits:
- Earn 6 miles for each euro spent*
- Access to priority lines at check-in, baggage drop-off, and boarding
- 25% discount when purchasing seats
- 1 additional baggage allowance on all SkyTeam flights
*Flying Blue will convert your currency to euros to determine the miles you will earn.
Gold: After earning this status level, you’ll have access to additional benefits including:
- All of the benefits of Silver, plus;
- Earn 7 miles for each euro spent
- Lounge access with a guest of your choice
- SkyPriority access at the airport
- 50% discount when purchasing seats
Platinum: The highest elite tier that you can earn comes with the following benefits:
- All of the benefits of Gold, plus;
- Earn 8 miles for each euro spent
- Free choice of any preferred seat
- Exclusive Platinum Service Line
If you’re interested in diving into more detail about the elite benefits at each tier, go here.
Value of Flying Blue Elite Status
Earning elite status with Flying Blue makes the most sense if you fly Air France and/or KLM regularly, or you are looking for elite benefits when flying a SkyTeam partner like Delta.
If you meet one of these criteria, access to premium lounges and earning additional miles when flying are benefits to consider.
Earning Flying Blue Elite Status
The number of XP you earn is based on your flight type and cabin.
For example, fly New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) in Economy and you’ll earn 10 XP; New York to Paris in Economy is “Long 2” in the chart below.
The best way to determine the number of XP that you’ll earn is to use both the chart below and the flight simulator at the bottom of this page.
You have a 12-month window to earn enough XP to move up to the next elite tier. The 12-month period begins as soon as you earn your first Flying Blue miles or you earn your first XP after joining the program.
Once you earn enough XP to move up to the next level, you’ll be upgraded to that level instantly.
Elite tiers work as follows:
- If you’re an Explorer, earn 100 XP to move up to Silver. When you reach Silver, you’ll enjoy the benefits of Silver for the next 15 months. After you earn Silver, you’ll have 12 months to earn 100 XP to maintain Silver.
- If you’re Silver, earn 180 XP to move up to Gold. When you reach Gold, you’ll enjoy the benefits of Gold for the next 15 months. If you earn less than 100 XP within 12 months, you’ll move down to Explorer.
- If you’re Gold, earn 300 XP to move up to Platinum. When you reach Platinum, you’ll enjoy the benefits of Platinum for the next 15 months. If you earn less than 180 XP within 12 months, you’ll move down to Silver.
- If you’re Platinum, earn 300 XP to maintain Platinum. If you earn less than 300 XP in 12 months, you’ll move down to Gold.
Find more details about the requirements for each elite tier level here.
How to Earn Flying Blue Miles
With Flying Blue, you’ve got 3 main ways to earn miles:
- Spend with and transfer points from flexible point credit cards
- Transfer points from Marriott’s loyalty program
- Fly on Air France, KLM, or partner airline flights
Using a combination of all 3, you’ll have no problem earning Flying Blue miles.
Earning Miles Through Flying
The number of Flying Blue miles that you earn on flights marketed by Air France, KLM, Joon and HOP! is driven by 3 factors: cost of the ticket, carrier surcharge, and your elite level.
If you are flying other Flying Blue or SkyTeam partner-marketed flights, the miles you earn are based on distance, booking class earning percentage, and elite bonus earning percentage.
The booking class earning percentage determines the earning percentage to apply to the distance. Each airline has a different earning percentage that can be found on this page.
Elite bonus earning percentage are the additional miles that you earn based on your elite status. Flying Blue offers bonus miles for elites at the following rates:
- Silver – 50%
- Gold – 75%
- Platinum – 100%
The elite bonus is applied to the distance multiplied by the booking class earning percentage.
Here’s an example of how this works in practice:
A Japan Airlines flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT): 5,451 miles
- Distance = 5,451 miles
- You book a business class “C” ticket, so the earning percentage is 125%
- As a Gold member, your elite bonus earning percentage is 75%
Miles earned = (5,451 x 125%) + Elite Bonus (5,451 x 75% x 75%) = 6,814 + 3,066 = 9,880 miles
Earn Miles With Credit Cards
The best way to earn points from credit card spending is to focus on the cards offered by flexible point programs. When you earn flexible points, these points can be transferred directly to the program’s airline partners.
Flying Blue partners with all 4 major flexible point programs, giving you more than enough ways to earn points for a redemption.
Earning Bonus Miles in Other Ways
The Flying Blue program has a number of ways to earn Flying Blue miles without flying.
The airline partners with hotels like Hyatt and car rental companies like Enterprise.
How to Redeem Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue does not have an award chart. The number of miles for your flight will vary, so it’s best to use the Miles Price Estimator and either the Air France or KLM search engine.
The program also uses Promo Awards that offer discounts of up to 50% on award tickets between select destinations.
Hot Tip: If you’re trying to determine how to use your miles, we put together a piece with the best ways to use Flying Blue miles.
SkyTeam Alliance and Partner Awards
Since Flying Blue is in the SkyTeam alliance, you can use Flying Blue miles to fly on any airline in the alliance.
Separately, you can use your Flying Blue miles to fly on the airline’s partners outside of the SkyTeam alliance.
Booking Online
The Flying Blue website search engine can be a great way to book Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam flights.
For Star Alliance partner flights, you’ll want to use United Airlines, Aeroplan, or ANA to search for award space.
If you’re looking to book a Oneworld partner flight, you’ll want to use British Airways or Qantas to search for award space.
The Flying Blue website will allow you to book most SkyTeam partner flights. If the partner you are trying to book can’t be booked on Air France or KLM, call the program at 800-375-8723 to search for award space and ticket the award flight.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Flying Blue is the free frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM. By signing up for a membership, you’ll have the ability to earn and redeem Flying Blue miles, as well as work your way toward elite status.
The benefit of the program will vary depending on your elite status. Flying Blue has 3 elite tiers in Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
The higher your elite status, the more benefits you will have access to, like earning bonus points when flying.
The number of Flying Blue miles that you earn is driven by 3 factors: cost of the ticket, carrier surcharge, and your elite level.
With enough Flying Blue miles earned by flying Air France, KLM, or its partner airlines, you’ll be able to book Air France, KLM, and partner award flights online (or by calling Flying Blue to book partner airline flights).
Flying Blue is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and separately has partnerships with individual airlines.
You can find a list of Flying Blue’s airline partners here.
Flying Blue also has other partners like hotels and car rental companies. You can transfer airline miles directly to these partners if you need points for a redemption.
You can sign in to Flying Blue here. If you are searching for award space, you can sign in to KLM here and sign in to Air France here.
Sign up to the Flying Blue program by filling out this online form.
You can find your Flying Blue number by signing in to your account, on your membership card, or through a variety of marketing emails they send to you.
If you can’t find it there, try using the “forgot my password” tool to reset your account so you can get in. Alternatively, try calling the customer service desk to find your number.
Your Miles will automatically be credited to your account after your flight. If you traveled with Air France or KLM, this can take up to 2 weeks. If you’ve earned Miles with one of the program’s other partners (including hotel partners, car rental partners, etc.), it may take up to 8 weeks.
All Flying Blue Miles are valid for life as long as one of the following is true:
- You take an eligible flight on Air France, KLM, Joon, HOP!, Aircalin, Kenya Airways, TAROM, or other SkyTeam partners at least once every 2 years
- You’re an Elite or Elite Plus member
- You make a purchase with an eligible co-branded credit card at least once every 2 years. These “Overall extending activities” extend the validity of all Miles 2 years from the date of the activity.
You can also extend the validity of miles earned with all other partners (airline partners not mentioned above, car rental partners, hotel partners, and experience partners) for 2 years by earning miles with any of these other partners. These “partial extending activities” with other partners will extend the validity of miles earned with any of these other partners by 2 years from the date of the activity. “Partial extending activities” do not extend the validity of Miles earned from “overall extending activities.”
- If you’re an Explorer, earn 100 XP to move up to Silver. You’ll then get to enjoy the benefits of Silver for the next 15 months. After you become a Silver member, you’ll have another 12 months to maintain Silver.
- If you’re Silver, earn 180 XP to move up to Gold. When you reach Gold, you’ll enjoy the benefits of Gold for the next 15 months. If you earn less than 100 XP within 12 months, you’ll move down to Explorer.
- If you’re Gold, earn 300 XP to move up to Platinum. When you reach Platinum, you’ll enjoy the benefits of Platinum for the next 15 months. If you earn less than 180 XP within 12 months, you’ll move down to Silver.
- If you’re Platinum, earn 300 XP to maintain Platinum. If you earn less than 300 XP in 12 months, you’ll move down to Gold.
Flying Blue doesn’t currently offer a credit card for the U.S. market.
The Flying Blue terms and conditions do not address the ability to hold an award flight.
However, based on data points from other articles, it appears Flying Blue is willing to put a flight on hold for you if you ask.
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About Michael McHugh
Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.
Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare. That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.
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5 comments
Osilaja Toyedayo
August 20, 2019
I’m just wondering if Flying Blue has a lifetime status tier. For instance, if one maintains Gold status for 10 years continuously without breaking, does one get Gold status for life?
Andrew Kunesh
August 21, 2019
Hi Osilaja, we’ve heard rumors that those who maintain Flying Blue Platinum status for 10 years are awarded Platinum For Life status. We haven’t been able to verify this beyond first-hand accounts around the internet, though. There is no mention of lifetime Gold status. Thanks!
Rex
November 17, 2020
What makes Flying Blue unique if we compare them with other Sky Team airlines? Thanks!
George
September 22, 2021
Hi, just a question. My miles expire at the end of the year. Is it enough to buy a ticket this year or do I have to fly this year as well to keep them?
Jarrod West
September 22, 2021
Hi George,
Any sort of qualifying activity, like earning new miles or redeeming some of your current miles, should renew your miles. Thanks for reading!
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