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Flying Blue is the joint loyalty program of Air France and KLM. If you're looking for a versatile way to reach Europe and beyond on points, Flying Blue deserves a spot in your travel rewards strategy.
The program is a transfer partner of every major U.S. credit card rewards currency, releases discounted award tickets every single month, and opens the door to a SkyTeam partner network that spans the globe. Here's what you need to know.
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How to earn Flying Blue miles
Flying Blue miles can be earned in a few different ways. Here's how each option works.
Fly Air France or KLM
The most straightforward way to build a Flying Blue balance is by flying. When you book a ticket on Air France or KLM, you earn miles based on the price of the ticket (excluding taxes and fees), not the distance flown. Flying Blue uses euros as its unit of measure, and the earning rate scales with your elite status tier:
| Elite status | Earning rate |
|---|---|
| Explorer | 4 miles per euro. |
| Silver | 6 miles per euro. |
| Gold | 7 miles per euro. |
| Platinum | 8 miles per euro. |
| Ultimate | 9 miles per euro. |
Note that 1 euro has traded between roughly $1 and $1.20 at the time of publication. The price of your ticket in dollars and the number of miles you earn will depend on the exchange rate when you book.
Fly partner airlines
You can also credit miles to your Flying Blue account when flying SkyTeam partners — like Delta Air Lines, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic — as well as certain non-SkyTeam partners.
Earning rates on partner flights are based on the distance flown multiplied by a percentage based on your ticket's fare class and the airline. Business class tickets earn more than discounted economy fares, so the cabin you book matters. The Flying Blue website has individual partner pages with exact earning percentages.
Other ways to earn
Beyond flights and credit card spending, Flying Blue has several non-airline partners where members can earn miles. Hotel partners include Accor, IHG Hotels & Resorts and Marriott. Car rental partners include Hertz, Avis and SIXT. Members can also earn through a Flying Blue shopping portal and with financial services partners like Allianz.
» Learn more: The pros and cons of SkyTeam alliance
Which partners offer Flying Blue transfers?
One of Flying Blue's greatest strengths is how many credit card rewards programs transfer to it, generally with strong transfer ratios. Here's a current rundown.
1:1 transfer partners:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards® (select cards only).
- Citi ThankYou Rewards (select cards only).
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points, but the ratio is 3:1, so it might not be worthwhile unless you're looking to top off your balance if you're just short for a redemption.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Some rewards programs occasionally offer transfer bonuses of up to 30% or more to Flying Blue. Watching out for these limited-time promotions can make it easier to make the most of your rewards. Credit cards that earn Flying Blue miles
The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® is issued by Bank of America and is the most direct way to earn Flying Blue miles on everyday spending. It offers the following welcome bonus: Get 70,000 Bonus Miles after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Ongoing earning rates are 3 miles per dollar spent on Air France, KLM and other SkyTeam airline purchases and also on dining, and 1.5 miles per dollar on everything else. Cardholders also receive 5,000 bonus miles each anniversary year after spending at least $50 on the card.
It's best suited for travelers who regularly fly Air France or KLM.
Flexible rewards cards
Because Flying Blue partners with many credit card rewards programs at a 1:1 ratio, you'll have a lot of different options for earning Flying Blue miles without needing the co-branded card. Cards worth considering include:
How these cards compare
Annual fee
$95
$795
$95
Welcome offer
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Still not sure?
SkyTeam and other partner airlines
KLM and Air France partners include a variety of airlines. KLM and Air France’s alliance is SkyTeam, which includes the following partners:
Air France-KLM SkyTeam partners
- Aerolineas Argentinas.
- AeroMexico.
- Air Europa.
- China Airlines.
- China Eastern.
- Delta Air Lines.
- Garuda Indonesia.
- Kenya Airways.
- Korean Air.
- Middle East Airlines.
- SAS
- Saudia.
- TAROM.
- Vietnam Airlines.
- Virgin Atlantic.
- Xiamen Air.
Flying Blue also has airline partners that aren’t associated with an airline alliance:
Flying Blue non-alliance partners
- Air Corsica.
- Air Mauritius.
- Air Baltic.
- Aircalin.
- Chalair Aviation.
- Copa Airlines.
- Etihad Airways.
- GOL.
- Japan Airlines.
- Malaysia Airlines.
- Oman Air.
- Qantas.
- Transavia.
- Twin Jet.
- WestJet.
- Winair.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
Flying Blue sweet spots
Based on NerdWallet’s valuations, Flying Blue miles are worth about 0.8 cent each. This means you should generally get at least 0.8 cent in value per mile for any flight redemptions that you make.
Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, so there's no fixed award chart. The number of miles required for a given flight can vary depending on demand, the cash price of the ticket, and other factors. But the program does make saver-level award seats available, and the standard rates for those seats are quite competitive.
A few redemptions stand out as consistently strong values:
- Transatlantic business class: One-way business class awards between the U.S. and Europe start at 60,000 miles, and sometimes lower with Promo Rewards (see below).
- SkyTeam partner redemptions: Flying Blue's access to SkyTeam partners can yield solid value, though award availability and surcharge levels vary by carrier. Delta-operated flights, in particular, can sometimes be booked through Flying Blue for fewer miles than Delta's own program charges.
- Free stopovers. The ability to add a free stopover on Air France- or KLM-operated itineraries — and even on partner airlines — is a meaningful perk that lets you squeeze two destinations out of a single award booking.
Keep in mind that Flying Blue passes along carrier-imposed surcharges on most award tickets, which can add several hundred dollars in fees on European routes. This is especially notable on Air France and KLM business class redemptions. Economy awards typically carry lower surcharges, making them a more cost-effective option.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards
Promo Rewards are one of Flying Blue's most popular features and a genuinely good reason to keep a balance of Flying Blue miles. Each month, on the first day of the month, Flying Blue releases a rotating set of discounted award tickets on Air France and KLM flights. The discount is typically 25% off the standard rate.
A few things to know about how Promo Rewards work:
- Booking window: You must book during the calendar month the Promo Rewards are released. Travel dates typically extend several months into the future, so you can plan ahead.
- Flying Blue Extra: Some Promo Reward routes are reserved for subscribers of Flying Blue Extra. This is a paid membership program that starts at 379 euros (roughly $445) per year. Whether the subscription is worth it depends on your travel patterns.
- Children's discount: Children ages 2 to 11 receive an additional 25% off Flying Blue award tickets on flights marketed by Air France and KLM, including Promo Rewards.
- Changes and cancellations: Promo Reward tickets can be changed or canceled, but there's a fee of 70 euros plus any fare difference when changing.
Promo Rewards are bookable on the Air France or KLM website. Check out the current list of rewards to get a feel for routes, then you can use your Flying Blue account to search for actual dates.
Because Flying Blue partners with major transferable rewards programs, you don't need to be an Air France or KLM loyalist to take advantage of Promo Rewards. Before transferring points, though, verify that award seats are open. Then, if needed, place a hold and transfer.
» Learn more: Redeem your points for your dream trip — Here's how
Flying Blue and Air France-KLM recapped
Flying Blue is one of the more flexible loyalty programs available to U.S.-based travelers, largely because of how easy it is to earn miles without ever setting foot on an Air France or KLM flight.
Between the broad list of credit card transfer partners, the monthly Promo Rewards, and access to SkyTeam's global network, there are plenty of ways to get value out of the program. If you fly to Europe regularly (or want to), it's worth keeping a balance of miles ready to go.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
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