Flying Blue is one of the most underrated frequent flyer programs — and one of the most valuable when you know how to use it. As the loyalty program for both Air France and KLM, Flying Blue offers access to two of Europe’s best airlines plus the entire SkyTeam alliance.
But here’s what makes Flying Blue truly special: it’s a transfer partner of ALL four major transferable points programs. That means whether you have Chase, Amex, Capital One, or Citi points, you can move them to Flying Blue.
In this complete guide, I’ll show you everything you need to know about earning and redeeming Flying Blue miles in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Transfer from 4 banks: Chase, Amex, Capital One, and Citi all transfer to Flying Blue
- Promo Rewards: Monthly discounted awards can save you 25-50% on flights
- Sweet spots: Europe for 22K round-trip, business class to Paris for 70K each way
- Dynamic pricing: Award costs vary by route and date — flexibility is key
- SkyTeam access: Book Delta, Korean Air, and other partner flights
How to Earn Flying Blue Miles
Transfer Partners (Best Option)
Flying Blue is unique because it partners with all four major credit card programs:
| Program | Transfer Ratio | Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1:1 | 1-2 days |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Citi ThankYou Points | 1:1 | Instant |
This flexibility is incredibly valuable. If one bank runs a transfer bonus to Flying Blue, you can take advantage. And since award availability can disappear quickly, instant transfers from Chase, Capital One, and Citi mean you can book immediately.
Pro tip: Keep your miles in flexible currencies until you’re ready to book. Only transfer when you see the award you want.
Flying Blue Credit Cards
The Bank of America Flying Blue Visa offers:
- 70,000 miles welcome bonus (currently elevated)
- 3x miles on Air France and KLM purchases
- 1.5x miles on all other purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
It’s worth considering if you fly Air France or KLM frequently, but transferring from other programs usually offers more flexibility.
Flying by Air France & KLM
You’ll earn redeemable miles plus status-qualifying XP on paid tickets:
- Economy Light: 4 miles + 4 XP per euro
- Economy Standard: 7 miles + 7 XP per euro
- Business: 15 miles + 15 XP per euro
- La Première (First): 20 miles + 20 XP per euro
Partner Airlines
Earn Flying Blue miles when flying any SkyTeam partner:
- Delta Air Lines
- Korean Air
- Virgin Atlantic
- Kenya Airways
- And 15+ more partners
Flying Blue Award Chart (Dynamic Pricing)
Unlike programs with fixed award charts, Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing. Award costs vary based on:
- Route
- Travel dates
- How far in advance you book
- Demand
This can work in your favor — or against you. Here’s what to expect:
Economy Class (One-Way)
| Route | Low Price | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| US → Europe | 22,000 | 35,000 | 55,000+ |
| US → North Africa | 22,000 | 30,000 | 45,000 |
| Within Europe | 6,000 | 12,000 | 25,000 |
| US → Caribbean | 15,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 |
Business Class (One-Way)
| Route | Low Price | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| US → Europe | 55,000 | 70,000 | 110,000+ |
| US → North Africa | 50,000 | 65,000 | 90,000 |
| Within Europe | 15,000 | 25,000 | 45,000 |
The key to Flying Blue: Be flexible on dates. Prices can swing wildly from one day to the next. Use the calendar view on FlyingBlue.com to spot the cheapest dates.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards (Best Value!)
This is where Flying Blue really shines. Each month, Air France and KLM release Promo Rewards — discounted award tickets to select destinations.
Recent Promo Rewards have included:
- Paris → New York: 35,000 miles in business (normally 70K+)
- Amsterdam → Tokyo: 45,000 miles in business
- US → Morocco: 18,000 miles round-trip economy
How Promo Rewards Work
- Released monthly: Usually on the last Tuesday of each month
- Limited booking window: Typically book within 2-3 weeks
- Travel dates: Usually 1-3 months out
- Destinations rotate: Different cities each month
Check our Flying Blue Promo Awards page for current deals, or sign up for Flying Blue emails to get notified.
Best Flying Blue Redemptions (Sweet Spots)
1. Round-Trip to Europe from 22,000 Miles
When you catch good availability, Flying Blue’s pricing to Europe is incredibly competitive:
- New York → Paris: 22,000 miles economy one-way
- Miami → Amsterdam: 24,000 miles economy one-way
- Add a round-trip for under 50,000 miles total
Compare to competitors: United charges 30K one-way, Delta can be 40K+.
2. Business Class to Europe from 55,000 Miles
Air France and KLM both offer excellent business class products:
- Lie-flat seats
- Multi-course French/Dutch cuisine
- Lounge access
- Priority everything
Finding 55-70K one-way awards requires flexibility, but they exist — especially on Tuesday/Wednesday departures.
3. North Africa = Same Price as Europe
Flying Blue prices North Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt) the same as Europe. That means:
- Marrakech from 22,000 miles economy
- Cairo from 55,000 miles business
Most other programs charge significantly more for Africa.
4. Partner Sweet Spots
Use Flying Blue miles on SkyTeam partners:
- Korean Air: Fantastic business class to Asia
- Delta: Domestic US flights when Delta charges more for SkyMiles
- Vietnam Airlines: Southeast Asia on the cheap
Flying Blue Elite Status
Status Tiers
| Tier | XP Required | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer | 0 | Basic earning |
| Silver | 100 XP | Priority check-in, +50% bonus miles |
| Gold | 180 XP | Lounge access, +75% bonus miles, extra baggage |
| Platinum | 300 XP | SkyPriority, +100% bonus miles, guaranteed economy seat |
| Ultimate | 500 XP | Everything + companion voucher |
Status Match
Flying Blue occasionally offers status matches or challenges. If you have elite status with another airline, it’s worth reaching out to see what they can offer.
Fees and Surcharges
Here’s the catch with Flying Blue: fuel surcharges can be brutal on Air France and KLM flights.
A business class ticket to Europe might have:
- 70,000 miles + $500-700 in fees
However, there are ways around this:
- Book partner airlines: Delta, Korean Air, and some others have lower surcharges
- Promo Rewards: Often have reduced fees
- Originate elsewhere: Fees vary by origin country
Always check the total cost (miles + cash) before transferring.
Booking Flying Blue Awards
Where to Search
- FlyingBlue.com: Best interface, shows all availability
- Air France/KLM apps: Good for mobile searches
- ExpertFlyer: For deep partner availability searches
Tips for Finding Awards
- Book 11 months out for peak season travel
- Check multiple dates — pricing varies significantly
- Try Tuesday/Wednesday departures for lower prices
- One-ways are fine — no penalty for not booking round-trips
- Look at Promo Rewards each month
Transfer Bonuses
Flying Blue occasionally receives transfer bonuses from credit card programs:
- Chase has offered 25-30% bonuses historically
- Amex runs periodic bonuses
- Capital One and Citi less frequently
Our transfer bonuses page tracks current offers.
Warning: Only transfer when you have a specific award in mind. Transferred miles can’t be moved back.
Flying Blue vs. Other Programs
vs. Delta SkyMiles
- Flying Blue often prices awards lower
- But surcharges can negate savings
- Flying Blue has better partner redemptions
vs. United MileagePlus
- United has no fuel surcharges
- But Flying Blue Promo Rewards can be cheaper
- Air France/KLM have better business class products
vs. Direct Credit Card Programs
- Transfer to Flying Blue only when getting 1.5+ cpp value
- Otherwise, book through Chase Travel or Amex Travel
Should You Collect Flying Blue Miles?
Flying Blue is best for:
- ✅ Flexible travelers who can pounce on Promo Rewards
- ✅ People wanting lie-flat business class to Europe
- ✅ North Africa travelers (Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia)
- ✅ Those with points in multiple programs (ultimate flexibility)
Flying Blue isn’t ideal for:
- ❌ Those who hate fuel surcharges
- ❌ Fixed-date travelers (dynamic pricing hurts you)
- ❌ Domestic US flyers (other programs better)
Final Thoughts
Flying Blue is a powerful tool in any points collector’s arsenal. The combination of four transfer partners, monthly Promo Rewards, and solid redemption values makes it worth understanding.
The key to Flying Blue success:
- Stay flexible on travel dates
- Watch Promo Rewards monthly
- Keep points liquid until ready to book
- Factor in surcharges before transferring
For flights to Europe, North Africa, or on partner airlines worldwide, Flying Blue deserves a spot in your redemption strategy.
Have questions about Flying Blue? Drop them in the comments below!
💬 Comments
Have questions or thoughts? Join the discussion below!