To the point
Several changes have been made to Air France KLM's Flying Blue Award Chat, affecting award flights.
Between Europe and North America
Between North America and North Africa
Between Europe and South Africa
Between Europe and Polynesia
Tips for finding Flying Blue Award Flights
Earn Flying Blue Miles in Canada
Transfer your Membership Rewards Points to Flying Blue Miles
Transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue Miles
A Flying Blue credit card
Bottom Line
Air France KLM has changed its Flying Blue program’s minimum flight award prices.
Remember that the Flying Blue program has a dynamic pricing chart (i.e. fares that adapt to the cash cost of flights) with minimum award prices.
Here, we’re talking about upward and downward changes in these minimum award prices.
Flying Blue Changes - Between Europe and North America
Previously, award flight prices varied according to the distance flown. For example, the minimum award flight price between Paris and Vancouver was more expensive than between Paris and Montreal.
Award prices have now been harmonized, regardless of the distance travelled.
Here are the differences by service class.
Paris – Montreal:
| Class | Before | After |
| Economy | 15 000 | 20 000 |
| Premium Economy | 30 000 | 35 000 |
| Business | 55 000 | 50 000 |
Here are the differences:
- 33% price increase in Economy
- 16.67% price increase in Premium Economy
- 9% price reduction in Business
This represents a significant devaluation for travellers from Eastern Canada or Eastern USA.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards are still available at 11,500 Miles in Economy.
Paris – Vancouver:
| Class | Before | After |
| Economy | 25 000 | 20 000 |
| Premium Economy | 40 000 | 35 000 |
| Business | 80 000 | 50 000 |
Here are the differences:
- 20% price reduction in Economy
- 12.5% price reduction in Premium Economy
- 37.5% price reduction in Business
This represents a clear increase in the value of Flying Blue Miles for travellers in the Western US/Canada. A market in which Air France KLM is trying to gain market share from competitors such as Air Canada.
It should be noted that even with these upward and downward changes, the Flying Blue program remains competitive with rivals such as Aeroplan.
Flying Blue Changes - Between North America and North Africa
Flying Blue has also modified pricing on flights between North America and North Africa.
It is now possible to get an award flight between Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Cairo (Egypt) for as little as:
- 30,000 Miles in Economy
- 50,000 Miles in Premium Economy
- 75,000 Miles in Business
Between Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Casablanca (Morocco), Algiers (Algeria) and Tunis (Tunisia ) for as little as:
- 20,000 Miles in Economy
- 35,000 Miles in Premium Economy
- 50,000 Miles in Business
And if you look hard enough, you can even find flights between Montreal and Algiers (Algeria) for as little as 11,250 Miles in Economy, thanks to Flying Blue Promo Rewards:
Flying Blue Changes - Between Europe and South Africa
Flying Blue has also changed the pricing of flights between Europe and South Africa.
Previously, a flight between Paris and Johannesburg cost from 39,500 Miles in Economy and 93,000 Miles in Business.
It is now possible to get an award flight between Paris and Johannesburg for as little as:
- 25,000 Miles in Economy
- 40,000 Miles in Premium Economy
- 70,000 Miles in Business
Flying Blue Changes - Between Europe and Polynesia
Flying Blue has also changed its pricing on flights to Polynesia, a highly sought-after destination!
Previous fares between Paris and Papeete were 59,000 Miles in Economy and 110,000 Miles in Business.
It is now possible to get an award flight between Paris and Papeete for as little as:
- 20,000 Miles in Economy
- 35,000 Miles in Premium Economy
- 70,000 Miles in Business
Flying Blue Changes - Tips for finding Flying Blue Award Flights
On the Air France KLM website, there is a tip to know when searching for 30 days using your Flying Blue Miles: don’t enter anything in the date field!
This unlocks a hidden option: a 30-day flight reward calendar. As shown below:
You can then select the date with the best price in Flying Blue Miles and proceed with the booking.
Flying Blue Changes - Earn Flying Blue Miles in Canada
Transfer your Membership Rewards Points to Flying Blue Miles
The primary method of earning Flying Blue miles in Canada is through American Express Membership Rewards cards. You can transfer your Membership Rewards into Flying Blue Miles at a ratio of 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 750 Flying Blue Miles.
Here are the American Express Rewards Cards available in Canada:
So, with a credit card like the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn the equivalent of up to 3.75 Flying Blue Miles per dollar of purchases:
| Category | Membership Rewards | Flying Blue Miles equivalent |
| Grocery | 5 | 3,75 |
| Food delivery | 5 | 3,75 |
| Restaurants and bars | 5 | 3,75 |
| Convenience stores | 5 | 3,75 |
| Streaming subscriptions | 3 | 2,25 |
| Gas station | 2 | 1,5 |
| Transportation | 2 | 1,5 |
| Travel | 2 | 1,5 |
| Other | 1 | 0,75 |
There are many other American Express Membership Rewards credit cards from which you can convert your points to Flying Blue Miles.
Transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue Miles
The second method of earning Flying Blue miles in Canada is through Marriott Bonvoy Amex credit cards. You can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points into airline miles including Flying Blue Miles at the ratio of 3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 Mile.
And if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll earn 5,000 bonus Miles. Thus, 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points = 25,000 Flying Blue Miles.
The two Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards available in Canada are:
A Flying Blue credit card
Since October 2022, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has been available in Canada. It allows you to earn Flying Blue Miles directly.
The earning rates of the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® are as follows:
| Expenses | Earning rate |
| Air France and KLM flight ticket (for Flying Blue members) | 5 miles per euro (in addition to regular miles earned according to Elite Status) |
| Restaurants and bars | 2 Miles per dollar |
| Everything else | 1 Mile per Dollar |
| Selected BRIM retail partners | Up to 30 Miles per dollar |
Bottom Line
So, it seems that the changes introduced by Flying Blue affect all markets. These can be upward or downward.
These changes will certainly be perceived as a devaluation by Economy and Premium Economy travellers between Europe and the Eastern USA or Canada. Or, on the contrary, as an appreciation of the value of Miles for passengers from other markets or travelling in Business class.
We have contacted Air France KLM for more official information about these changes.
Thanks to Prince of Travel for spotting this.
