Flying Blue is a tremendously powerful frequent flyer program. It’s one that probably won’t be familiar to many Australian travellers, but it’s well worth putting in the time to understand its ins and outs. As the joint loyalty program of Air France and KLM, there are some very interesting opportunities for spending your Flying Blue Miles.
Of course, these begin with booking flights on Air France and KLM. As both carriers are members of SkyTeam, Flying Blue Miles can also be cashed in for flights across the alliance. On top of that, the program has a whole list of bespoke partners. Highlights include Etihad Airways, along with several oneworld Alliance members: Qantas, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and others.
While Flying Blue Miles aren’t as accessible as the likes of Qantas Points or Velocity Points, building a balance in Flying Blue is still easier than you think. Here’s how to make the most of Flying Blue when living Down Under.
How do I join the Flying Blue program?
It’s free to sign up to Flying Blue. Just follow these steps.
- Visit the sign-up page on the Flying Blue website.
- Provide your name and relevant information.
- Create a password.
- Finish up and make a note of your Flying Blue membership number. Easy!
How do I earn Flying Blue Miles?
There are many ways to earn Flying Blue Miles in Australia. Earning these rewards through credit card spend will be challenging for most, as transfer partnerships are limited. But you can convert points earned with Australia’s largest credit card issuer, CBA. From CommBank Awards, points can transfer to Flying Blue at a 2.5:1 rate.
While most of the airline conversion rates from CommBank Awards aren’t overly generous, this is one exception. Flying Blue’s conversion rate is better than CBA to KrisFlyer, on-par with CBA to Qantas (requires opting-in for monthly automatic transfers), and only marginally less rewarding than CBA to Velocity, a 2:1 conversion from most CBA cards.
Keep your eyes on the CBA Awards website for occasional points transfer promotions, which can deliver bonuses of up to 50% on Flying Blue transfers. While CBA cardholders generally earn 1-1.5 Awards points per $1 spent, there’s a sweet spot for frequent jetsetters. CBA’s Ultimate Awards Mastercard earns three CBA points per $1 spent abroad (up to AU$10,000/month). That’s akin to 1.2 Flying Blue Miles per AU$1 spent overseas, and with no international transaction fees to boot.
You can also convert points into Flying Blue Miles from a range of hotel loyalty programs. This includes Marriott Bonvoy, creating a path to get Amex Membership Rewards points into Flying Blue. Make your points transfer when Amex is running a 50% bonus on Marriott Bonvoy conversions for the best value.
Hotel points transfers are also possible from Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Radisson Rewards, Shangri-La Circle and World of Hyatt. Flying Blue Miles can also be earned on other activities such as aggregator hotel bookings and car hire.
Naturally, flying on Air France, KLM and the program’s broader web of partner airlines can be rewarding as well. You can even earn Flying Blue Miles when flying Qantas. Just note, you won’t earn Flying Blue Miles if booking Qantas’ absolute cheapest discount Economy fares, ticketed as ‘E’ class. This designation is usually reserved for cut-price lead-in fares. But anything above that generally earns with Flying Blue.
Buying Flying Blue Miles
Whether you’re in need of a small top-up or you’re wanting to go all-in on Flying Blue Miles, you can also simply trade money for miles. That is, by either subscribing to earn miles regularly, or buy making a one-off purchase.
On the subscription side, you can commit to a monthly recurring spend to access miles at reduced prices. Here are the plans you can choose from.
- Starter: 2,000 Miles for €28 per month (AU$46.23 / 2.311c per Mile, AUD).
- Smart: 5,000 Miles for €65 per month (AU$107.28 / 2.146c per Mile, AUD).
- Advanced: 10,000 Miles for €120 per month (AU$198.12 / 1.981c per Mile, AUD).
- Complete: 17,000 Miles for €187 per month (AU$308.76 / 1.816c per Mile, AUD).
AUD figures provided as a guide only, calculated in December 2024.
If you’d rather gain one lump sum of Flying Blue Miles, you can instead buy miles in bulk in USD. Like many programs, Flying Blue runs promotions on these purchases from time to time. The most recent offer, available until 19 December 2024, provides an upfront discount of up to 45% on the purchase price. Here are the discount bands.
- 35% off when buying at least 4,000 Miles.
- 40% off when buying 12,000+ Miles.
- 45% off when buying 24,000+ Miles.
For instance, with the discount included, you could purchase 24,000 Flying Blue Miles for US$402.60 (usually US$732). With US$402.60 worth around AU$632.04 at the time of writing, that purchase provides a cost per Mile of 2.63c AUD. It’s not as competitive as the subscription pricing, but you do get all the miles in one hit – perfect if there’s a flight you’re waiting to pounce on.
How do I redeem Flying Blue Miles?
Despite the intricacies around earning Flying Blue Miles, Australians have plenty of opportunities to spend them. Here’s a list of airlines serving Australia upon which you can travel using Flying Blue Miles:
- Qantas
- Air Mauritius (serves Perth)
- Aircalin
- China Airlines (based in Taiwan, also flies trans-Tasman)
- China Eastern
- China Southern
- Delta Air Lines
- Etihad Airways
- Garuda Indonesia
- Japan Airlines
- Korean Air
- Malaysia Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Airlines
When travelling further afield, other highlights include:
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- airBaltic
- Air Corsica
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Bangkok Airways
- Chalair Aviation
- Copa Airlines
- El Al
- GOL
- ITA Airways
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Middle East Airlines (MEA)
- Oman Air
- Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia)
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
- TAROM
- Transavia
- Twin Jet
- Virgin Atlantic
- WestJet
- Winair
Flying Blue has great IT systems in place which allow most reward flights to be booked online and via the Air France and KLM mobile apps. This includes many partner airline flights. You can also browse for available reward seats and pricing even you don’t currently have any Flying Blue Miles.
A great aspect of Flying Blue is that you can combine multiple partner airlines onto a single reward ticket, even if those partners are from different alliances. For instance, searching from Melbourne to Los Angeles, Flying Blue might pair a Qantas domestic flight to Sydney with a long-haul Delta Air Lines flight, if that’s where the availability happens to be.
Logical connections can also be reasonably priced, including Business Class. For instance, booking KLM Business Class from London to Budapest via Amsterdam can be had from just 20,000 Flying Blue Miles plus taxes and fees. Through Qantas Frequent Flyer, the same KLM flights would cost 30,000 Qantas Points, and higher amounts in carrier charges.
Some more booking tips:
- Flying Blue doesn’t have specific reward charts that guarantee reward seat prices. Instead, the charts merely show the minimum number of miles needed for reward seat bookings. The actual amount can be more, depending upon demand.
- Reward seat availability tends to be strong on Air France and KLM, but that’s offset by greater mileage requirements during busy periods.
- Air France La Première (First Class) can only be booked using miles by Flying Blue Platinum members and above. However, any member can book Air France Business Class and try for a discounted paid upgrade in the days before departure.
- Not every cabin on every partner airline is bookable. For instance, on China Airlines, Flying Blue can only book reward seats in Business Class and Economy. If you’re chasing China Airlines Premium Economy, you’ll need to use other programs such as Qantas Frequent Flyer.
- Taxes and fees on reward bookings are generally payable in USD.
- Flying Blue’s mileage expiry rules are a little complicated. In short, unless you have elite status, you’ll need to take a paid, mileage-earning flight with Air France, KLM, SkyTeam and selected partner airlines at least once every two years to keep your entire balance of Miles alive. Notably, the list of eligible airlines excludes Qantas.
To keep your Miles from expiring, you might consider transferring to Flying Blue only when you’re ready to book a reward flight. Also keep your eyes peeled for ‘promo reward’ tickets, which significantly reduce the asking price in Miles. Right now, you can book New York to Europe for just 15,000 Miles in Economy. For Business Class, Ottawa to Europe is currently discounted to 37,500 Miles. Routes and dates change regularly.
How do I earn Air France/KLM elite status?
On the status side of the spectrum, Australian airlines use Status Credits to assess your progress to perks like lounge access. Flying Blue, on the other hand, uses Experience Points (XP). Yes, it’s a little bit like a video game. Flying Blue also tracks Ultimate Experience Points (UXP), but these are only relevant for the highest of high flyers.
Another quirk of Flying Blue is that when you move up to the next tier, your XP count is reset when your status changes. So, if you ascend from the entry-level Explorer rank to Silver, Gold isn’t your next goal. You first need to work on retaining the Silver status you’ve literally just earned, and then continue flying to reach Gold. The same happens again when you move up to Gold, and so on. In that sense, it’s a bit like the Cathay Pacific approach to status, rather than mirroring Qantas or Virgin Australia, where one busy year can ascend you from zero to top-tier, step by step, without having to first retain anything.
Not all partner airline flights earn XP or UXP. Here are the ones that qualify.
- Earn XP: Take flights marketed or operated by Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Transavia (Plus and Max fares only), Air Corsica (between Paris Orly and Corsica only), and on all SkyTeam Alliance members.
- Earn UXP: Only flights marketed by Air France and KLM count.
XP and UXP can also be earned on selected purchases of sustainable aviation fuel in conjunction with an eligible flight.
Flying Blue Explorer
To achieve/maintain: Just sign up
Explorer is Flying Blue’s entry-level tier. Flying Blue also awards Miles on Air France and KLM flights based on Euros spent, so your Flying Blue tier influences this.
- Earn four Miles per €1 spent on eligible airfares.
- Free Avis Preferred membership.
Flying Blue Silver
To achieve/maintain: 100 XP
Silver marks the first elite level of Flying Blue. Key benefits include:
- SkyTeam Elite recognition across the alliance.
- Priority check-in, boarding, baggage delivery, standby and waitlist.
- One extra free checked bag on SkyTeam flights.
- Earn six Miles per €1 spent on eligible airfares.
- Free standard seat selection on Air France and KLM.
- Some additional seat selection fees waived 24 hours before departure.
Flying Blue Gold
To achieve/maintain: Earn or retain Silver, then earn a further 180 XP.
Gold is the next rung up. In addition to the benefits of Flying Blue Silver, Flying Blue Gold offers:
- SkyTeam Elite Plus recognition with SkyTeam.
- Priority at all airport touchpoints, where available, including security screening.
- Earn seven Miles per €1 spent on eligible airfares (in place of 6/€1 for Silver).
- SkyTeam global lounge access when travelling on a same-day international itinerary. In some markets, domestic lounge access may be offered as well.
- Additional favourable seating options on Air France and KLM from 72 hours before departure.
- Complimentary Avis Preferred Plus membership.
This level could be said to be the ‘sweet spot’ of Flying Blue. You get to enjoy some of the most coveted benefits – namely, fast-track lines and airport lounge access – without having to climb the whole status ladder.
Flying Blue Platinum
To achieve/maintain: Earn or retain Gold, then earn another 300 XP beyond that.
Lifetime status: Enjoy Platinum for Life if you remain Platinum for 10 consecutive years.
Whether you earn Flying Blue Platinum for a year or for a lifetime, it comes with many benefits above Gold:
- Earn eight Miles per €1 spent on eligible airfares (in place of 7/€1 for Gold).
- Where available, choose the most favourable seats in your ticketed cabin on Air France and KLM from the time of booking. This can include bulkhead and extra legroom seats.
- Access to a dedicated Platinum Service Line.
- Use a ‘Miles Overdraft’ of 50,000 Miles to book reward flights costing in excess of your current mileage balance.
- Avis President’s Club membership.
While it’s not possible to earn lifetime Gold status with Flying Blue, Platinum for Life is a path to lifetime SkyTeam Elite Plus recognition instead. Just note, the 10-year requirement doesn’t consider your tenure if you were gifted Platinum status by an Ultimate member, as below.
Flying Blue Ultimate
To achieve/maintain: Requires 900 UXP per year.
This level can only be earned by amassing UXP, not regular XP. In other words, Flying Blue Ultimate comes as a reward for those who travel with Air France and KLM more than most.
Technically, Flying Blue also has a ‘Platinum for Life Ultimate’ tier, which designates those who’ve earned Ultimate on an annual basis, who have simultaneously achieved Platinum status for a lifetime. That’s a serious amount of flying. Based on the requirements, you could liken it to a traveller who has Qantas Lifetime Gold while also hitting Qantas Platinum One every year. Back to Flying Blue, the perks of Ultimate are:
- Earn a total of nine Miles per €1 spent on eligible airfares.
- Access to a dedicated, 24/7 Ultimate Travel Assistant.
- Access Air France and KLM lounges with eight additional guests. That’s not a typo – bring the whole family!
- ‘Ultimate airport assistance’: the VIP treatment where you’re whisked past the queues, where permitted.
- Four upgrade vouchers per year.
- Give Flying Blue Platinum status to one person of your choosing.
- Receive a weighted metal Flying Blue membership card.
- ‘Miles Overdraft’ of 100,000 miles, allowing you to book reward flights that leave your account with a negative mileage balance.
- Highest priority to travel with a vacant seat next to you (a true ‘frequent flyer shadow’).
- Free same-day flight changes on Air France and KLM.
- Free inflight Wi-Fi on Air France and KLM.
- Complimentary Comfort+ seating on Delta.
- Invitation-only status with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards: Hertz Platinum.
Club 2000
To achieve/maintain: By invitation only, from Air France.
Although Flying Blue is the joint frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM, Club 2000 is a secret tier specifically given by Air France.
Benefits of Club 2000 are rather hush-hush. But some Club 2000 members remark that their travel experience resembles that of Platinum members, just with a little more proactive effort. Think boarding into one seat, to be offered a better seat that remains free when the aircraft door is about to close.
Club 2000 Ultimate
To achieve/maintain: Requires at least 900 UXP per year plus a Club 2000 invitation.
Remember how you can have ‘Platinum for Life Ultimate’ membership, blending the two together? Flying Blue has an equivalent for those granted Air France VIP status, who happen to also fly a lot: ‘Club 2000 Ultimate’.
Picture the subtle benefits of Club 2000 together with the overt benefits of Flying Blue Ultimate. It’s a pretty exciting card to have.
Skipper of the Flying Dutchman + Club 2000
To achieve/maintain: By invitation only, from KLM.
Okay, of all the frequent flyer tiers anywhere in the world, this level of Flying Blue has perhaps the most interesting name. Forget the likes of Gold or Platinum. Become a VIP traveller with KLM and you’ll be recognised as none other than ‘Skipper of the Flying Dutchman’.
Honestly, this works on so many levels. VIP tiers are most often given to captains of industry. And as a ‘Skipper’, you’re essentially captain of the legendary ship that never stops travelling. It’s also a nod to one of the early taglines of KLM – The Flying Dutchman. That was also the name of KLM’s frequent flyer program before it merged into Flying Blue back in 2005.
As for its benefits, Skippers begin with also being designated as Club 2000 members. However, Club 2000 cardholders don’t automatically get Skipper status. So, if you’re going to get VIP status from somewhere, get it from KLM.
Other benefits are similarly tight-lipped, but it’s been said that Skipper members can visit KLM Crown Lounges with a guest, regardless of their airline or class of travel. It’s mainly a benefit for those frequently flying through Amsterdam, who might be booked onto a flight operated by a carrier other than a partner airline.
Skipper of the Flying Dutchman Ultimate + Club 2000
To achieve/maintain: Requires at least 900 UXP per year plus a KLM Skipper invitation.
Okay, could you be any more VIP? It’s not enough to have one invitation-only status that becomes two invitation-only levels, but you also went and actually earned highest-tier traveller status on top with that shiny Ultimate designation. Seriously, if you make it to this level, the airline should offer helicopter transfers from your house!
As for the benefits, hey, you’re not going to be left wanting. Enjoy the very best in service from the Air France, KLM and Ultimate airport teams. Unless the local laws require it, you’re probably never going to see an airport queue again. Welcome to seriously VIP.
How do I contact Flying Blue?
If you’re one of Flying Blue’s ‘special people’, call the exclusive number on the back of your card. For everybody else, here’s how to find help:
- Call +61 2 8223 9835 between 9 am and 7 pm on weekdays and until 6 pm on weekends.
- Submit an online enquiry.
Don’t forget, most reward flight bookings can be made online and in the Air France and KLM mobile apps. Give that a try before calling to book a flight. ‘Promo’ reward bookings can only be made online/in-app. Call centre staff don’t have access to these reduced rates.
Summing up
What Aeroplan is to Star Alliance, Flying Blue is to SkyTeam. Flying Blue a very powerful loyalty program, and one that more Australians should know about and engage with. Given the ability to book across all of SkyTeam plus a host of other partners, including Qantas itself, the opportunities are significant.
In terms of earning miles, more on-ground opportunities would be welcome in our region. It’s certainly one thing to earn Miles from a hotel stay, but if travellers could notch up Flying Blue Miles from a broader range of credit card spends, things would get very interesting. Especially so given the relatively limited ability to otherwise earn miles with SkyTeam airlines in Australia.
For now, Flying Blue is something of a secret for clued-in frequent flyers. If you can get miles into the program, you’ll have access to a fantastic number of reward seats. Because, think about it. Most Australians can’t earn SkyTeam Miles in a meaningful quantity. This means lots of SkyTeam flights come and go from Australia with reward seats left unsold. You’re practically doing the airline a favour by booking that flatbed!
If you fly a lot with Air France and KLM, the Flying Blue elite program is also quite attractive. And if you can pull off the triple play of simultaneous Skipper, Ultimate and Club 2000 status, well… all that’s left is Platinum for Life. Go on, you like a challenge…
Also read: You can now convert PayRewards Points to Marriott Bonvoy
Featured image designed by Chris Chamberlin with underlying photography courtesy of Nil Castellvi/Unsplash.
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