Last updated 18 August 2026
This page is part of our Flying Blue Hub which pulls together all our articles on the loyalty programme of Air France & KLM
Flying Blue Status & XP: Earning, Levels & Benefits
Flying Blue is the frequent flyer scheme for KLM and Air France. For some reason it does not get much coverage in many UK based blogs but for many years KLM has been well used by UK travellers living close to airports such as Exeter, Humberside and Teesside who are not served by any other network carriers.
Flying Blue has four main membership levels: Explorer, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Members earn Experience Points (XP) from eligible flights, with higher status levels providing benefits including additional miles earning, fast track security, additional baggage and lounge access.
KLM and Air France are part of the SkyTeam global airline alliance alongside the likes of Delta and Virgin Atlantic so as a Flying Blue member you can enjoy reciprocal points earning and other benefits when flying with all other SkyTeam member airlines.
I used KLM extensively when I first started travelling regularly for business and held Flying Blue Platinum status — in one particularly busy year, I flew over 100 flight segments on KLM and Air France. This guide therefore combines the current Flying Blue rules with my own experience of earning and using elite status.
UK & Ireland Routes
KLM actually operates routes from 21 British and Irish airports to their hub at Amsterdam (for comparison, British Airways only serves 10 of these airports) and passengers are able to connect on to KLM’s 169 international destinations.
Air France serves Heathrow, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dublin and Cork from its base at Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Status Earning
Flying Blue can be a really attractive scheme to use – but as with all airline frequent flyer programmes, you do need to get your head around the rules for earning status and earning miles…
Earning higher levels of status in Flying Blue entitles you to additional benefits such as lounge access, additional baggage allowance and bonus miles on every flight.Â
There are 5 levels of status in the Flying Blue programme and qualification is based on a combination of travel class and distance flown. Each flight segment is counted separately so for the purposes of status so a Birmingham-Amsterdam-New York return flight booking would be counted as 4 different flights and each flight attracts a different number of Experience Points (XP) as shown below:
Flying Blue XP Earning
| Cabin | Domestic | Medium (<2,000 miles) | Long 1 (2,000–3,500) | Long 2 (3,500–5,000) | Long 3 (5,000+ miles) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | 2 XP | 5 XP * | 8 XP | 10 XP | 12 XP |
| Premium | 4 XP | 10 XP | 16 XP | 20 XP | 24 XP |
| Business | 6 XP | 15 XP | 24 XP | 30 XP | 36 XP |
| First | 10 XP | 25 XP | 40 XP | 50 XP | 60 XP |
* Medium range Economy Basic Fares earn 2 XP and Medium range Economy Flex Fares earn 7 XP
What flights qualify for XP (and UXP)?
XP are awarded based on the marketing carrier (ie based on the flight number shown on your ticket eg AF1559 or KL1530):
- Air France
- KLM
- Trasavia
- Air Corsica (between Paris-Orly & Corsica only)
- All other Skyteam members (including Delta and Virgin Atlantic)
Are there any other ways of earning Flying Blue XP?
- You can also earn additional XP by making a contribution to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Each contribution of €10 (or 2,000 Flying Blue miles) earns 1 XP. The contribution levels are dependent on the estimated CO2 impact of the flight you are taking and you are given 3 options per flight. SAF contributions can be made when booking your flight directly with KLM or Air France, via your online account, or during online check-in.
- Alternatively you can donate Flying Blue miles to a range of charities – each donation of 2,000 miles will earn 1 XP. This can be done on flyingblue.com
Flying Blue Membership Year
Your membership year initially begins on the day you earn your first XP.  You then have a further 12 months to earn enough XP to reach the next status level.
When you hit a higher level of status, your membership year resets on that date and you then have the next 12 months to earn enough XP to either retain that status or to get the required amount of XP to reach the next tier. When you reach a new tier, the membership year starts again for a further 12 months.Â
What are the Flying Blue status levels and XP requirements?
| Flying Blue status | XP requirement |
|---|---|
| Explorer | 0 XP |
| Silver | 100 XP |
| Gold | Silver + 180 XP |
| Platinum | Gold + 300 XP |
| Ultimate | Platinum + 900 UXP* |
* UXP = Ultimate Experience Points. To achieve ultimate status, the 900 UXP must be XP earned exclusively on KLM or Air France marketed flights.
If you achieve the required amount of XP to retain silver (or above) but enough not reach the next level, any XP earned over the threshold will carry over to the new year (maximum of 300 XP can be carried over). For example if you are Gold and earn 250 XP in the 12 months, you will carry over 70 XP (250 – 180) into the next membership year.
If you do not achieve the required amount of XP, you will receive a soft landing and will only be downgraded one level at the end of your membership year (ie from Gold to Silver).
How easy is it to earn Flying Blue Silver?
You need to earn 100 XP in your membership year but some examples are:
- If all your travel is to Europe via either Amsterdam or Paris, in economy, you are looking at 20 XP per trip (5+5+5+5) so you would need 5 return trips in a year
- A long haul return to New York via either Amsterdam or Paris, in economy, would generate 30 XP per trip (5+10+10+5) so 4 return trips or 3 long haul returns plus two short haul
- A long haul return to Hong Kong via either Amsterdam or Paris, in business class, would generate 102 XP per trip (15+36+36+15) so silver status after only one trip)
How easy is it to earn Flying Blue Gold?
You need to hold Silver status and then earn 180 XP in your membership year. Of course everyone’s flying habits are different but here are some examples:
- If all your travel is to Europe via either Amsterdam or Paris, in economy, you would need 9 return trips in a year
- If you regularly fly long haul to New York via either Amsterdam or Paris, in economy, you would need 6 return trips in a year
- If you regularly fly long haul to Hong Kong via either Amsterdam or Paris, in business class, you would achieve Gold status after 2 return trips
How easy is it to earn Flying Blue Platinum?
You need to hold Gold status and then earn 300 XP in your membership year
- This is 15 economy short haul return trips via Amsterdam or Paris
- Or 10 economy long haul return trips via Amsterdam or Paris to (say) New York
- Or 3 business long haul return trips via Amsterdam or Paris to (say) Hong Kong
- Or a combination of the above
How easy is it to earn Flying Blue Ultimate?
You need to hold Platinum status and then earn 900 XP exclusively on KLM/Air France marketed flights in your membership year
- This is equivalent to either 45 economy short haul return trips via Amsterdam or Paris
- Or 9 long haul return trips via Amsterdam or Paris to (say) Hong Kong in Business
What benefits do you get with your Flying Blue status?
| Explorer: | Silver: | Gold: | Platinum: | Ultimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyTeam equivalent | none | Elite | Elite Plus | Elite Plus | Elite Plus |
| Earnings per Euro spent (excluding taxes & fees) | 4 miles per euro | 6 miles per euro | 7 miles per euro | 8 miles per euro | 9 miles per euro |
| Priority Check-in & Baggage Drop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (8 people) | |
| Priority boarding | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (8 people) | |
| Free seat selection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| Free selection of the best seats | 24 hours before | 72 hours before | From booking | From booking | |
| Free checked luggage allowance | 1 additional bag | 1 additional bag | 2 additional bags on KLM & Air France | 2 additional bags on KLM & Air France | |
| Fast track security | Yes | Yes | Yes (8 people) | ||
| Lounge access | Yes (+1 guest) | Yes (+1 guest & kids) | Yes (+8 guests in AF/KLM lounges only) | ||
| Additional customer service | Platinum Service Line | Dedicated Ultimate Assistant | |||
| Additional benefits | Stay Platinum for 10 years in a row and get Platinum for life | Four one-cabin upgrade vouchers per year, One Flying Blue Platinum card for a partner | |||
| Yearly requirement to achieve or retain status | none | 100 XP | Silver + 180 XP | Gold + 300 XP | Platinum + 900 XP earned exclusively on KLM & AF operated flights |
New for 2026: Flying Blue Choice Benefits
Platinum and Ultimate members can now unlock additional benefits for reaching various XP milestones. Members can choose one option when they reach the required level of XP, and the benefit is valid for 12 months.
450 XP/UXP
- Flying Blue Silver Status (to gift to another member), or
- 20,000 Flying Blue Miles Overdraft, or
- 15.000 Flying Blue Miles, or
- 20 XP/UXP
600 XP/UXP
- Flying Blue Gold Status (to gift to another member), or
- 30,000 Flying Blue Miles Overdraft, or
- 20.000 Flying Blue Miles, or
- 30 XP/UXP
750 XP/UXP
- Flying Blue Platinum Status (to gift to another member), or
- 40,000 Flying Blue Miles Overdraft, or
- 30.000 Flying Blue Miles, or
- Upgrade voucher
The sweet spot
Whilst silver offers free seat selection, the sweet spot is definitely Flying Blue Gold. If you are a regular traveller having fast-track security when you depart plus lounge access at your departure and connection airports is incredibly valuable (and will gain you much kudos when travelling with family or work colleagues).
An important point to note
Airline status programmes are all pretty complicated and in my experience every scheme has small exceptions to the rules (that can be either positive or negative for the member). If you need to clarify anything, please see this section of the Flying Blue website.
Further Reading
How do I earn Flying Blue miles?
Earning Flying Blue miles can be done by flying with Air France, KLM or their partner airlines, plus there are various additional ways including financial services, hotels and car hire. See our comprehensive guide for more details, plus you can also setup a Flying Blue Family account and consolidate all earned miles into one account.
How is best to use my Flying Blue miles for flights?
Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for flights on Air France/KLM plus other Skyteam members such as Delta, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic. Read about your options for using Flying Blue miles for flights here.
