Flying Blue Hub
For those who are new to the Flying Blue programme or those who are frequent flyers with KLM and Air France, this page brings together the various guides we have written on Flying Blue.
Why join Flying Blue?
- Free to join
- Earn Flying Blue Miles
- Redeem miles for flights on a wide range of airlines or upgrade your cabin
- Spend miles in the Flying Blue Store or on experiences, including at the Accor Arena in Paris. Alternatively use them to buy duty free goods, hotels and car hire.
- Elite status benefits
Start Here
New to Flying Blue
Flying Blue is the loyalty programme of Air France and KLM. It claims to have nearly 30 million members around the world.
Earning Flying Blue Miles
Members of Flying Blue earn miles for each flight taken with Air France, KLM, Skyteam members and other partner airlines. Flying Blue miles can also be earned in many other ways such as with car rentals and hotel stays. In addition, American Express Membership Rewards and HSBC Premier Reward Points can be converted into Flying Blue miles.
Burning Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for flights on Air France and KLM plus also other Skyteam member airlines such as Delta and Virgin Atlantic. There are also a range of other ways to spend your miles including on shopping, experiences, hotels and car hire.
Earning Status
Based on their activity with Air France, KLM and their partners, frequent flyers can also earn status within the Flying Blue programme. This entitles them to enhanced mileage earning levels plus extra benefits such as fast-track security, business lounge access and priority boarding.
Our Guides to Flying Blue
Earning Flying Blue Miles
Flying with Air France and KLM is one of the main ways to earn Flying Blue miles but you can also earn on all Skyteam airlines, including Delta and Virgin Atlantic, plus other partner airlines as well. In addition members can convert American Express Membership Rewards, Revolut RevPoints and HSBC Premier Rewards Points into Flying Blue Miles. If you ever stay in an Accor hotel, Miles+Points is a joint venture between Flying Blue and Accor which allows you to earn Flying Blue miles on your hotel stays and hotel points on your flights. There are also a range of other hotel and car hire earning opportunities, and if you need to top up your balance quickly, you can buy or subscribe to miles as well. Read our detailed guide to earning miles with Flying Blue.
Redeeming Flying Blue Miles for Flights
Booking a redemption flight with your miles can be a fantastic way to pay for flight at to destinations where cash prices are expensive plus it can also offers the opportunity to fly long-haul business class relatively inexpensively. Learn how Flying Blue’s dynamic reward pricing works, the different bands of reward tickets, monthly promo rewards and the cost of taxes & charges.
Using Flying Blue Miles to Fly on Virgin Atlantic
Redeeming miles for flights on Virgin Atlantic is an attractive proposition for many Flying Blue members, especially as flying with Virgin avoids taking a connecting flight to either Paris or Amsterdam. Our article covers the Virgin Atlantic route network, the miles & taxes required, finding availability and compares using miles on Virgin versus Air France & KLM.
Flying Blue Experiences
You can also use FLying Blue miles to attend events at the Accor Arena and Stade de France in Paris. Learn more in our article.
Earning Flying Blue Status & Status Benefits
Frequent flyer status in Flying Blue offers additional benefits when flying with Air France, KLM and their partner airlines. Status is gained by earning Experience Points (XP) which trigger tiers when XP thresholds are met. Gold status is the sweet spot, offering fast track security, lounge access and priority boarding. Our guide covers how to earn (& retain) status in the Flying Blue programme.
Flying Blue Family
Flying Blue Family lets up to eight family members combine their miles for free, making it easier to build a balance for reward flights. The Family Leader can transfer miles from other members when needed, helping prevent small or expiring balances from going to waste. Read our guide to Flying Blue Family, the benefits and also what to watch out for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Flying Blue miles expire?
Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Using miles for reward flights or buying miles is not classed as activity and the only way to extend their lifetime is to credit a flight/hotel/car hire or transfer miles from another scheme.
Can I transfer Flying Blue Miles?
Yes, you can transfer miles although there is a very significant charge to do so, linked to the number of miles transferred. I would personally advise against doing so unless you need to top up an account in order to make a redemption.
Do I have to pay Taxes & Fees on Reward Flights?
Yes, although no carrier surcharges are added to short-haul redemptions on KLM and Air France. One way flights from the US to Europe on Virgin Atlantic have low taxes, especially in Upper Class.
Can I upgrade any ticket with Miles?
Yes, although pricing is dynamic and can only be seen by logging in to the Air France or KLM website or calling Flying Blue customer service. Generally, the lower the cash price of the ticket, the more miles you will have to pay to upgrade. Additional taxes & charges are also payable.
How do I earn XP?
XP are earned Tier points are earned based on the distance travelled and the cabin class. See our guide to earning status.
Is it free to join Flying Blue?
Yes it is free to join – you can join on the Flying Blue website.
