Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France, KLM, and several partner airlines. With its range of mile earning opportunities and a large group of airline partners, Flying Blue offers strong value to travelers.
Using Flying Blue miles for award flights is relatively simple. Many itineraries can be booked online. Award charts and routing rules are straightforward across member airlines.
Flying Blue utilizes a variable award pricing structure, and award prices change depending on the day, exact route, and even the date of search.
Plus, there are great values including monthly Promo Awards for discounts of 20% to 50%. Let’s find some of the best Flying Blue values!
Best Ways to Earn Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue miles can be transferred from American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards (all at a rate of 1:1), from Capital One at a 2:1.5 rate, or from Marriott Bonvoy at a transfer rate of 3:1.
Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)
The Platinum Card® from American Express - There's currently a new welcome bonus offer of 60,000 100,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
This is our #1 card for accessing 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Priority Pass (enrollment required). We leverage ~$4,900+ in benefits and perks from the card every year. Terms Apply. For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here. |
American Express® Gold Card - This card has a welcome bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
We love using this card as it earns 4x Membership Rewards Points at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, and earns 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x).
With an annual fee of $250, there's no better card in our opinion if you eat out and/or shop at supermarkets regularly; and you'll have access to many benefits and perks. Terms apply and for rates and fees of the Amex Gold card, click here. |
Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - This is our favorite beginners travel rewards card, which is currently offering a 60,000 point bonus after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The card earns 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on dining and 2x points on all other travel purchases, plus more. Enjoy a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, and other travel benefits such as excellent travel insurance coverage, including car rental insurance and no foreign transaction fees, this card is a very rewarding card. |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® - This premium card will get you access to 1,300+ airport lounges. as well as a number of other card benefits. The current sign up bonus is 50,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll also get a $300 travel credit per year which wipes away a big chunk of the $550 annual fee.
Earn big with this card, earn 5X total points on air travel 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. |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® - A solid, no-annual-fee card that earns you a $200 bonus after you spend $500 in your first 3 months. The newest intro offer earns an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back! This means you'll enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. |
Chase, of course, has its own business credit cards, too.
Recommended Chase Cards (Business)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card - this is our #1 recommended business card and right now comes with a 100,000 sign up bonus after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. This bonus is worth $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Pay your cell phone bill with this card to receive up to $600 in cell phone insurance coverage per year; as well as a number of other benefits.
Earn 3x on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year, plus 1x on all other purchases — with no limit to the amount you can earn. All for an annual fee of $95. |
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card - Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
This no annual fee business card earns up to 5% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year, plus 2% cash-back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary. |
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card - Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on every purchase made for your business.
Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. There's no annual fee. |
Recommended Capital One Cards That Earn Miles (Personal)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card - The newest card in the Capital One lineup with a welcome offer of 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first 6 months from account opening. Not only does the card come with up to $300 in statement credits when booking through Capital One Travel, you'll also get get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary.
Earn unlimited 10x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus unlimited 2x miles on all other purchases. |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - This card is packed with lots of benefits and perks. Earn 60,000 mile welcome bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening. We recommend this as a no-brainer card if you even semi-regularly stay at hotels since this card earns unlimited 2x miles on every purchase. |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - This is an excellent card for those looking to earn 1.25x miles per $1 on every purchase. With a 20,000 mile welcome bonus (worth $200 toward travel) after spending $500 within the first 3 months and no annual fee, it's a strong choice. |
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Marriott Bonvoy Transfers
You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer those to Flying Blue at a transfer rate of 3:1. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive a bonus of 5,000 Flying Blue miles.
The 17 Best Ways to Redeem Your Flying Blue Miles
1. Save 20% to 50% With Flying Blue Promo Awards (Air France/KLM)
Fly Air France business class. Image Credit: Air FranceThe best ways to use Flying Blue miles while getting the highest values per point are monthly Promo Awards. Discounts range 20% to 50% off of the miles price!
Promo Awards are bookable for travel within 3 months. You still pay the full fees and any applicable surcharges.
Each Promo Award specifies the available dates, route, airline (Air France and/or KLM) and class (economy or business). Some Promo Awards are between 2 specific cities, while others are between a city and region.
Example: A U.S. city may offer 50% off to Europe, so one-way economy is anywhere from 10,750 to 14,500 miles. Check regularly as these offers come and go. You must book online.
Hot Tip: Even if there is no Promo Award from your home airport, it might be a good deal to buy a Promo Award from another airport and a separate, cheap ticket to get to that airport. This is called a positioning flight.
2. Israel and North Africa
Visit Chefchaouen in Morocco for the same number of miles as going to Europe with KLM/Air France Flying Blue. Image Credit: Robert Brands via UnsplashFlying Blue places Israel, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and the Canary Islands as part of Europe as far as pricing goes, even though the model is variable. Most other programs put these countries in the Middle East or Africa regions which are more expensive than Europe when coming from North America.
Coming from the U.S., Classic Awards range from only 43,000 to 58,000 miles round-trip in economy and 106,000 to 135,000 in business.
When these go on Promo Award sale you have huge savings!
In addition to Air France/KLM flights, Delta flies to Israel and Alitalia to North Africa.
The flip side of this is an Israel to Middle East award is quite expensive even if just a short flight.
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- Chicago (ORD) – Paris (CDG) – Tunis (TUN) on Air France round-trip economy for 43,000 miles or business for 106,000 miles
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Moscow (SVO) – Tel Aviv (TLV) on Aeroflot round-trip economy for 58,000 miles or business for 106,000 miles
- San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) – Algiers (ALG) on Air France round-trip economy for 58,000 miles or business for 106,000 miles
3. The Contiguous U.S. to Hawaii (Delta and Alaska Airlines)
Using your Flying Blue to get to Hawaii can present some incredible value! Image Credit: Katie SeemannUsing Flying Blue partner airlines Delta and Alaska, a great Flying Blue redemption is for flights from the contiguous U.S. to Hawaii. Round-trip starts at only 35,000 Flying Blue miles in economy and less than $10 in fees, and 86,000 miles in business class.
This is less than U.S. programs charge their own members!
Hot Tip: If you’re flying Delta, The Platinum Card® from American Express will grant you access to the Delta Sky Club lounge for your flight.
4. The Contiguous U.S. to the Caribbean (Delta and Alaska Airlines)
Relax on a Caribbean beach for only 30,000 Flying Blue miles. Image Credit: Christine KrzysztonLike Hawaii, the contiguous U.S. to the Caribbean on Delta is a good deal at 29,000 to 35,000 miles round-trip in economy.
Delta has many Caribbean flights from New York and Atlanta.
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- Atlanta (ATL) – Aruba (AUA) on Delta round-trip economy for 29,000 miles or business for 72,000 miles
- New York City (JFK) – St. Maarten (SXM) on Delta round-trip economy for 35,000 miles or business for 86,000 miles
5. Caribbean to Hawaii (Delta and Alaska Airlines)
Even cheaper than the U.S. to Hawaii flights are the Caribbean to Hawaii flights for just 25,000 miles round-trip!
6. The Caribbean to Europe (Air France/KLM)
Air France/KLM has many routes between the Caribbean and Europe.
A one-way economy class award ticket will cost 25,000 to 27,000 Flying Blue miles and a one-way business class award ticket will cost 67,500 to 79,000 miles.
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- Havana (HAV) – Moscow (SVO) on Aeroflot for 27,000 miles in economy or 67,500 miles in business
- Punta Cana (PUJ) – Paris (CDG) on Air France for 27,000 miles in economy or 79,000 miles in business
7. U.S. to Mexico (AeroMexico, Delta, and Alaska Airlines)
Flights between Mexico and the U.S. are ridiculously cheap, too!
Round-trip economy is around 29,000 miles, which can be even cheaper than U.S. domestic awards.
Hot Tip: Look for routes with AeroMexico’s 787 Dreamliner: New York City (JFK) – Mexico City (MEX) often has 1 flight daily with this plane featuring lie-flat seats in business class.
8. Cheap Economy Flights to the South Pacific (Air France, Aircalin, Delta)
The contiguous U.S. to the South Pacific ranges from only 51,000 to 97,000 miles round-trip in economy. Air France flies Los Angeles to Tahiti.
In addition, you can fly to South Pacific via Japan on Aircalin or via Australia on Delta.
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Sydney (SYD) on Delta round-trip economy for 97,000 miles or business for 242,000 miles
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Tahiti (PPT) on Air France round-trip economy for 51,000 miles or business for 128,000 miles
- Tokyo-Narita (NRT) – Noumea (NOU) on Aircalin round-trip economy for 69,000 miles or business for 173,000 miles
9. Pacific Island Hopping (Aircalin)
Dive the South Pacific and see the sharks in New Caledonia with a Flying Blue award on Aircalin. Image Credit: Damsea via ShutterstockAircalin is a South Pacific airline that connects some of the most remote and beautiful islands in the world.
With the South Pacific, flights are around 35,000 miles round-trip in economy, often a great deal for how expensive these tickets can be. Visit Wallis and Fortuna, so small the 2 islands share only 1 ATM!
10. Central America Beaches and Jungles (Copa)
Copa is a Star Alliance airline yet partners with Flying Blue. From its hub in Panama City, you can reach Central and South American destinations that are often expensive cash tickets.
The U.S. to Central America round-trip is just 35,000 miles round-trip in economy. Within Central America, flights are 23,000 to 29,000 round-trip in economy.
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- New York City (JFK) – Panama City (PTY) on Copa Airlines round-trip economy for 35,000 miles or business for 86,000 miles
- Panama City (PTY) – Guatemala (GUA) on Copa Airlines round-trip economy for 26,000 miles or business for 56,000 miles
- Panama City (PTY) – San Salvador (SAL) on Copa Airlines round-trip economy for 23,000 miles or business for 56,000 miles
11. Europe Domestic Flights
Air France, KLM, and their partners such as Alitalia and Czech Airways cover much of Europe. Awards start starting at just 10,000 miles one-way. Focus on economy because intra-Europe business class is not much different from economy.
Always shop around because Europe flights usually have a high cash component due to taxes that are passed on for awards. It may be better value on some trips to buy a cash ticket.
12. Visit Corsica, Napoleon’s Home Island (Air France, Air Corsica)
What better than a combination of France and Italy with spectacular beaches and towering mountain villages? Image Credit: Jon Ingall via ShutterstockCorsica is a ravishing island blending French and Italian culture; it is the birthplace of Napoleon.
Air France and Air Corsica awards are available to the island’s 4 airports: AJA, BIA, CLY and FSC. You have many options and it is really hard to choose where to go for your Corsica vacation!
Hot Tip: When visiting tourist attractions, you can often get 2x points when you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
13. Into India (Jet Airways)
Flying Blue now partners with India’s Jet Airways so you no longer have to book an award to New Delhi or Mumbai and then add a separate domestic ticket to continue to India’s many wonderful destinations.
Now you can add a Jet Airways segment to your award to India.
The U.S. to India starts from 68,000 miles round-trip in economy. Business is more expensive at 170,000 miles.
In contrast, because domestic flights in India are typically cheap, it is not often a good award value to use Flying Blue for purely domestic India award flights.
14. Into Japan (Japan Airlines)
SkyTeam lacks a Japanese partner airline, so it is great that Flying Blue partners with Japan Airlines.
Like using Jet Airways in India, if you are booking a Flying Blue award to Japan, you can fly Japan Airlines all the way or fly another airline and add a Japan Airlines domestic flight in Japan.
The U.S. to Japan award price is more expensive than India’s, despite being closer to the U.S. Awards start at 92,000 miles round-trip in economy class, while business is prohibitively expensive at 190,000 miles.
Hot Tip: You can read about more ways to fly to Japan using points and miles here.
15. Visit Africa From Tip to Toe (Air France/KLM and Kenya Airways)
With the colonial legacies of France and the Netherlands, Air France and KLM have extensive Africa networks. Add in Nairobi-based Kenya Airways and you have one of the most extensive Africa networks in the sky.
Many of these tickets are extremely expensive in cash so use your Flying Blue miles to travel around Africa!
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- Addis Ababa (ADD) – Nairobi (NBO) on Kenya Airways round-trip economy for 27,000 miles or business for 54,000 miles
- Marrakesh (RAK) – Nairobi (NBO) on Kenya Airways round-trip economy for 48,000 miles or business for 113,000 miles
- Paris (CDG) – Johannesburg (JNB) on Air France round-trip economy for 54,000 miles or business for 165,000 miles
16. Indian Ocean Island Hopping (Air Mauritius)
Air Mauritius is a key Flying Blue partner that gets you to magnificent Indian Ocean islands such as Mauritius, Reunion, and Madagascar.
The U.S. to these islands is 92,000 miles round-trip in economy and 170,000 to 220,000 in business.
If you love flying business class, you can sometimes go from 1 island to the other via Paris on Air Mauritius or Air France. Don’t do this in economy!
Here are some great example routes you can take:
- Los Angeles (LAX) – Paris (CDG) – Antananarivo (TNR) on Air France round-trip economy for 92,000 miles or business for 182,000 miles
- New York City (JFK) – Rome (FCO) – Mauritius (MRU) on Delta and Alitalia round-trip economy for 92,000 miles or business for 170,000 miles
- San Francisco (SFO) – Paris (CDG) – St. Denis (RUN) on Air France round-trip economy for 92,000 miles or business for 182,000 miles
17. The Remote African Beaches of Cabo Verde (Transavia)
Drift away your cares in the Cabo Verde Islands. Image Credit: Panayu Chairatananond via ShutterstockThe beaches of the islands of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) are not easy to reach but are oh-so-beautiful.
Transavia is a subsidiary of Air France/KLM and you can use Flying Blue miles for awards to its destinations around Europe, Morocco, and all the way to Praia and Sal in Cape Verde.
Check the Transavia website for Flying Blue award availability.
More Ways to Earn Flying Blue Miles
Citi ThankYou Rewards Credit Cards
Citi ThankYou Rewards also transfer to Flying Blue at the same rates of 1,000 points for 1,000 Flying Blue miles. Transfers take about 48 hours.
Hotel-Branded Credit Cards
You can transfer several major hotel program points to Flying Blue miles:
*Must transfer a minimum of 20,000 Honors Points; can then increase in increments of 10,000 points
**Convert 60,000 points to receive a 5,000-mile bonus
Flying Blue Program
To get started earning and redeeming Flying Blue miles, you simply need to sign up for the loyalty program. Sign up with Flying Blue for free here.
Award Booking Guidelines
Flying Blue allows one-way and round-trip awards.
What Flying Blue calls a “multi-destination award” online is really an open-jaw, meaning you can fly to 1 destination and return from another. You cannot add additional stops and you must return to your origin.
Most partner airlines can be searched on the Air France website. For others, you can search alternate sites or call Air France for availability.
Hot Tip: Not all partner airlines show on award searches with Air France/KLM. For example, you can use American Airlines’ website to check Alaska Airlines award availability.
Phantom Partner Award Availability
The Air France website is great for searching partners. It has 1 big flaw: so-called phantom availability on partner airlines.
Sometimes an award will show as available but then be impossible to book. Either the award is not available or the routing is not possible to book with Flying Blue.
It is always best to call Air France to confirm an award is available prior to transferring miles to Flying Blue.
There are no award holds, however, American Express and Chase transfers are instant, so if the agent confirms availability, you can immediately transfer and book the award. There is no phone booking fee.
Classic Awards and Flex Awards
The main types of Flying Blue flight awards are Classic Awards and Flex Awards.
Classic Awards are lower-priced and less available. All partner awards except Kenya Airways and TAROM are Classic Awards.
Flex Awards are higher-priced awards on Air France, KLM, Kenya Airways, and TAROM. While Classic Awards may be hard to find, Flex Awards are available for most flights.
Hot Tip: If you must take a specific flight and have enough miles, you can lock in a Flex Award since it is free to change or cancel, then keep checking back to see if a cheaper Classic Award becomes available.
How Much Do Flights Awards Cost?
Flying Blue does not publish full award charts. Instead, check the cost of award flights using the Flying Blue Miles Calculator.
Use Air France’s award search function to plan your travel. Image Credit: Air FrancePricing is variable and will fluctuate depending on many factors. Unlike many other airlines, award prices in miles are the same regardless of airline.
What can differ among airlines is the cash component since some Flying Blue partner airlines assess fuel surcharges and others do not. Always check alternate Flying Blue partner options for your trip.
Example: Taipei-based China Airlines does not have fuel surcharges while Shanghai-based China Eastern and Guangzhou-based China Southern, do. A similar itinerary may cost several hundred dollars more on China Eastern or China Southern.
Flying Blue vs. Delta SkyMiles
Air France/KLM and Delta are both SkyTeam members, so in many cases you can use either program’s miles for the same trip.
Generally, the differences are:
- Air France first class can only be booked with Flying Blue miles and only by Flying Blue elites (same for Flex Business Class awards)
- U.S. domestic awards on Delta will have less availability for Flying Blue but often lower prices
- International awards typically cost fewer miles but higher cash on Flying Blue than SkyMiles
- Flying Blue has partners such as Air Mauritius and Aircalin that are not SkyMiles partners
- SkyMiles has partners such as Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia that are not Flying Blue partners
- SkyMiles has award blackout dates on China Airlines, China Southern, and Korean Air, while Flying Blue has no partner blackout dates
What are Flying Blue Promo Awards?
Released monthly, Flying Blue Promo Awards are discounts of 20% to 50% of the mileage for award travel.
Check Flying Blue Promo Awards for new offers every month! Image Credit: Flying BlueYou must book Promo Awards online. If you call to book you will be charged the full price.
Promo Awards offered for travel between 2 specific cities or regions. You can travel in either direction, one-way or round-trip.
Each promo award is specified for Air France or KLM or both.
You cannot change, cancel or refund Promo Awards.
Book Upgrade Awards
Upgrade awards are available on Air France, KLM, and several partner airlines (Delta, Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Aircalin, China Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Korean Air).
You can upgrade paid flights on Air France, KLM, and select airline partners. Image Credit: Flying BlueAir France and KLM upgrades are the most flexible. They can be requested online up to 24 hours departure and may also be available at the airport or on board the aircraft.
Partner awards are subject to availability and various restrictions specific to the airline, route, and fare class of ticket. It is best is to contact Flying Blue at least 72 hours prior to departure for availability and price. See upgrade award terms here.
Check the cost of upgrade awards using the Flying Blue Miles Calculator.
Fees, Changes, and Cancellations
There are 3 different types of awards: Classic, Flex, and Promo.
- Classic Awards have a €45 (~$54) change or cancel fee
- Flex Awards are free to change or cancel
- Promo awards cannot be changed or canceled
There is no phone booking fee, thankfully. However, Promo Awards must be booked online.
Mileage Expiration Caveat
To keep miles from expiring, you need to meet at least one of these conditions:
- Take an eligible flight at least once every 2 years with Air France, KLM, Joon, HOP!, or any SkyTeam partner
- Earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum status
- Make a purchase with an eligible partner bank card at least once every 2 years
Final Thoughts
Flying Blue is a versatile airline frequent flyer program with strong mileage values and a wide range of partners. Flying Blue has some great values like Promo Awards and Israel in the Europe region. It is a contender for the best overall SkyTeam loyalty program.
Now that you know some of the best ways to use Flying Blue miles, we hope you’ll enjoy your next redemption!
