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Air France-KLM Flying Blue Choice Benefits give Platinum and Ultimate members something extra for continuing to earn beyond the program's normal elite-status requirements. Members can unlock a reward at three milestones, with options including bonus miles, gifted elite status, additional XP or UXP, a mileage overdraft, and an upgrade voucher.
But the best choice depends heavily on how you travel. Bonus miles offer straightforward value, while gifted status or an upgrade voucher could be much more valuable in the right situation.
Here's how Flying Blue Choice Benefits work and what to consider before making a final selection.
What Are Flying Blue Choice Benefits?
Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members can earn Choice Benefits at the following thresholds:
| Milestone XP Threshold | Gift Status Option | Bonus Miles Option | Bonus Choice Option | Mileage Overdraft Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1: 450 (U)XP | Silver Status card to gift | 15,000 bonus miles | +20 (U)XP status boost | 20,000 mile overdraft |
| Level 2: 600 (U)XP | Gold Status card to gift | 20,000 bonus miles | +30 (U)XP status boost | 30,000 mile overdraft |
| Level 3: 750 (U)XP | Platinum Status card to gift | 30,000 bonus miles | Cabin Upgrade Voucher | 40,000 mile overdraft |
Members unlock one Choice Benefit each time they reach one of the three milestones shown above. Platinum members qualify based on XP, while Ultimate members qualify based on UXP.
Choice Benefits are only available to Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members. Silver and Gold members can't earn these milestone rewards.
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How Flying Blue Choice Benefits Work
Once you reach an eligible milestone, you have six months to select one of the available Choice Benefits. Your selection is final, so you can't exchange it for another option later. However, you'll get another choice if you reach the next milestone.
Flying Blue says selected benefits generally remain valid for 12 months. Bonus miles and additional XP or UXP are credited to your account automatically after selection. Flying Blue Status Cards and upgrade vouchers require activation through the Platinum Service Line or an Ultimate Assistant.
To view an available Choice Benefit, log in to your profile on AirFrance.com or KLM.com and open the Benefits tab.
There isn't one option that makes sense for everyone. The best selection depends on whether you value flexible miles, have someone who can use gifted status, need help reaching another milestone, or have a specific trip where an upgrade voucher would be valuable.
Which Flying Blue Choice Benefit Should You Choose?
Here's how each option works and when it might make sense.
Bonus miles
Bonus miles are the simplest and most flexible Choice Benefit. If you select miles at all three milestones during the same qualification period, you'll receive a total of 65,000 Flying Blue miles.
Those miles could cover several short-haul awards or offset a substantial portion of a long-haul premium-cabin redemption. You can stretch them further through Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards.
This will generally be the safest option when you don't have a valuable use for gifted status or the upgrade voucher.
Gifted Flying Blue status
At each milestone, you can give another Flying Blue member elite status:
- 450 XP or UXP: Flying Blue Silver status
- 600 XP or UXP: Flying Blue Gold status
- 750 XP or UXP: Flying Blue Platinum status
The value depends almost entirely on how much the recipient will travel. Gold or Platinum status can be particularly useful for someone who will take advantage of benefits such as SkyTeam lounge access, SkyPriority services, complimentary seat selection, and additional checked baggage. Terms and operating-carrier restrictions apply to some benefits.
However, gifting status provides little value if the recipient rarely flies with Air France, KLM, or their partners. Status Cards also require activation through the Platinum Service Line or an Ultimate Assistant.
Bonus XP or UXP
Flying Blue offers 20 additional XP or UXP at the first milestone and 30 at the second. Platinum members receive XP, while Ultimate members receive UXP.
This option makes the most sense when the additional points will push you across the next Choice Benefit threshold or help secure another year of your current status. Otherwise, redeemable miles may provide more tangible value.
Keep in mind that XP and UXP aren't interchangeable. Ultimate status requires UXP, so Platinum members shouldn't assume that selecting bonus XP will help them qualify for Ultimate.
Mileage overdraft
A mileage overdraft lets you use more miles than you currently have available, increasing your account's overdraft limit by 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000 miles depending on the milestone.
This is essentially a mileage loan rather than a bonus. Your account can carry a negative balance, and miles earned later will replenish it. That can be useful when award availability appears before you have enough miles, but selecting actual bonus miles will usually provide better long-term value.
Upgrade voucher
At the 750-XP or UXP milestone, members can select an upgrade voucher instead of bonus miles, gifted Platinum status, or a mileage overdraft.
This could be the most valuable option when you have a specific eligible itinerary where an upgrade would otherwise require a significant number of miles or a large cash payment. However, availability and other restrictions can limit its usefulness.
Before selecting the voucher, contact the Platinum Service Line or your Ultimate Assistant to confirm that it can be used for the itinerary you have in mind. Your Choice Benefit selection is final, and the voucher requires activation.
Our Take
Flying Blue Choice Benefits provide meaningful extra value for Platinum and Ultimate members who continue earning beyond their normal status requirements. However, the rewards aren't valuable enough to justify unnecessary flights solely to reach another milestone.
Bonus miles are the simplest and most flexible choice. Gifted Gold or Platinum status could be worth much more when the recipient will regularly use the benefits, while bonus XP or UXP makes sense when it pushes you across another milestone or helps with requalification. The mileage overdraft is more of a short-term safety net, and the upgrade voucher is only as valuable as the trip where you can use it.
Overall, Choice Benefits are best viewed as an additional return on flying you already planned. Compare the options carefully before choosing, since Flying Blue won't let you change your selection afterward.
