Air France-KLM Flying Blue Award Sweet Spots

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Flying Blue is one of the only frequent flyer programs that is a transfer partner for all five major flexible rewards programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. Plus, it's a transfer partner of the comparatively new Bilt Rewards. With so many partnerships, it's easy to aggregate points from a variety of sources for the redemption you want. With this in mind, we'll take a look at some of the best Flying Blue sweet spots.

The sheer number of partnerships provides the Flying Blue program with considerable value. Points earned on cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card, the Citi Premier^® Card, and The Platinum Card^® from American Express, among many others, can be transferred into Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio (and usually instantly). Additionally, you can take advantage of the occasional transfer bonus from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt, or Citi to stretch your points even further.

These are the best uses of your Flying Blue miles.

Flying Blue Award Basics

Before we review the most attractive Flying Blue sweet spots you can book with award miles, you should keep some things in mind:

1. Flying Blue passes on fuel surcharges imposed by the operating airline for award redemptions, including on their own flights. These can really increase the out-of-pocket costs of a “free” flight.
2. Flying Blue does not publish an award chart. You can see the minimum amount of miles required for any city pairing by using its award calculator. However, this calculator doesn't work for many partner routes.
3. You can book one-way awards.
4. You can book free stopovers on Flying Blue award tickets — but only on Air France and KLM flights.
5. Flying Blue releases Promo Rewards regularly. Bookmark that link to see the latest offerings.

Related: Airline Programs that Don't Add Fees and Surcharges to Award Flights

Flying Blue Promo Rewards

As we just mentioned, Flying Blue runs monthly Promo Rewards. These are KLM and Air France routes available at discounted award rates. The booking window for these awards is typically up to three months before the eligible travel period. Typical savings on Promo Rewards range from 25% to 50%, which can result in excellent deals during the promotional period.

Since only Air France and KLM flights are eligible for Promo Rewards, fuel surcharges are almost always a concern. However, many awards are still worth booking — especially if business-class awards are discounted. This is true even if you're paying $200 to $300 in taxes, fees, and surcharges.

Some of the Flying Blue promo awards for May 2023.

Now, let's dig into some of the other Flying Blue award sweet spots.

Flying Blue Sweet Spots

Partner awards between the contiguous U.S. and Hawaii

Flying Blue only requires 17,500 miles each way for an economy-class award ticket to Hawaii on Delta. Best of all, there are no fuel surcharges on this route. You can book some of the same flights using Delta SkyMiles, though those often cost more. Hawaii has sweet spots across many programs, so Flying Blue isn't your only source of great value.

Lately, the main problem with this award sweet spot is the lack of award availability on the Flying Blue website. It can be difficult to find Delta partner award space. Large swaths of the calendar have no seat availability, making this a chronic exercise in frustration. If you can find space, though, it's a great deal.

Partner awards between the contiguous U.S. and Mexico

Flying Blue puts Mexico in the same award region as the contiguous U.S. This means you'll pay 10,500–17,500 miles for most tickets. The prices are generally based on the distance flown. That makes routes between Texas airports and Mexico City the cheapest. Redeeming Flying Blue miles provides a good opportunity to leverage SkyTeam partners Delta and Aeromexico.

Award pricing options from New York City to Mexico City.

Comparatively, United charges a minimum of 17,500 miles, with 19,300 miles being a common requirement from some major airports. American Airlines prices hover around 17,500 miles one-way, though you can find flights for as cheap as 10,000 miles through AA's dynamic award pricing. You also can use British Airways Avios on nonstop American Airlines and Alaska routes for good value.

If you have Flying Blue miles and prefer to fly Delta or SkyTeam partner Aeromexico, using your miles for a trip to Mexico may be a decent bet.

Economy class awards between the contiguous U.S. and Colombia

Flying Blue awards start at 17,500 miles for a one-way economy ticket to Bogota, Colombia, with rates climbing the further north or west you go in the U.S. Prices are decent in the Midwest or Northeast. You'll pay 20,500 miles for the nonstop out of New York (JFK) — not bad for a six-hour international flight. Using Flying Blue miles for this route is a good bet considering the distance flown. Taxes and surcharges for this route are pretty reasonable at about $45.

Economy flights from the U.S. to Bogota are a good use of Flying Blue miles.

If you want to travel around South America, starting in Colombia works well. You can make your way down the continent using other miles. If you do a quick scan, there is a lot of award availability. Singapore KrisFlyer is a decent option for Avianca and Copa flights. People don't realize how large of a continent South America is. In fact, it's further to fly from Bogota to Buenos Aires than it is from New York to Bogota.

Unfortunately, business class to northern South America isn't a great deal at 55,000 Flying Blue miles one-way from most U.S. airports.

Awards between the U.S. and Europe

With many programs increasing their award prices, Flying Blue remains a reasonable option for flying business class to Europe. You can book business class on Air France or KLM to many European destinations starting at 55,000 miles one-way. This is the typical price from the East Coast to Western Europe.

Fly in business class to Europe starting at 55,000 miles.

Prices generally climb the further you have to fly. However, you can find deals with seemingly random city pairings — like Dallas to Budapest:

Make sure you check prices on odd routes. The results may not match Flying Blue's estimator tool.

Even Los Angeles to Athens — almost 7,000 flown miles via Paris — prices at 55,000 Flying Blue miles one-way on some dates. This flies in the face of Flying Blue's own award ticket estimator, which states a starting price of 67,000 miles on this route.

Fly from the West Coast to Greece for just 55,000 miles one-way in business class.

Flying Blue occasionally puts business class tickets from North American airports in the mix of Promo Rewards.

Flying Blue also partners with Virgin Atlantic. While this has produced a host of new redemption opportunities for Flying Blue, it has specifically created a sweet spot for Virgin Atlantic Upper Class (business). Prices vary across U.S. airports but can cost as few as 56,000 Flying Blue miles and ~$200 in taxes and fuel surcharges to fly one-way to Europe.

Business-class awards on Delta Air Lines are rare, but they are a great deal if you can find them. Check for last-minute options. You may score a seat at a great price. Delta was asking 375,000 SkyMiles for this same ticket at time of writing.

Sometimes you can find great deals on last-minute Delta tickets

Even economy awards are a decent Flying Blue sweet spot, especially for cities where flights to Europe are generally expensive. Economy seats start at just 15,000 miles one-way. The taxes and fees cut into the value you get for your miles, so the value often isn't there if you're departing a major hub like JFK or LAX. But from other airports, you can sometimes score a deal.

Awards between the contiguous U.S. and Northern Africa

Flying Blue considers Northern Africa a part of Europe when it comes to award pricing. This is true about at least the areas that were previously French colonies. Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia all cost the same as Europe. This can be advantageous for all cabin classes. Flights from New York to Morocco start at 15,000 miles in economy.

Tickets to northern Africa are a great use of Flying Blue miles

Premium economy and business are a great deal as well, charging 30,000 and 55,000 miles, respectively. Factor in some slightly dynamic award calculations, so sometimes you'll pay a bit more. Taxes and fees can still hit hard, too. Even though economy costs very few miles, sometimes using cash to book is the best option.

The same is not true for business class. It's overwhelmingly an excellent deal.

Business class to northern Africa can be a steal when compared to cash prices.

Business class awards between East/Southeast Asia and Europe

This isn't so helpful for U.S. folks, unless you're trying to put together an around-the-world adventure. However, it's a good option if you want to fly SkyTeam carriers. Tickets on Air France and KLM are available from major East and Southeast Asia airports for 70,000 miles one-way in business class. Fees are around $200, like many other awards.

In addition to Air France and KLM, you can book awards on SkyTeam carriers Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines, and Korean Airlines. These aren't as great a deal. As an example, nonstop tickets in Vietnam Airlines' business class between Hanoi and Paris cost a minimum of 112,500 miles. I recommend using Delta miles between these regions — one of the few areas where you'll get a decent premium cabin award deal.

This is not a good value.

Awards between the contiguous U.S. and Central/Southern Africa

Africa can be hard to reach. But regions make for additional Flying Blue sweet spots. Economy awards to/from the U.S. awards start at only 35,000 miles for a one-way ticket to destinations like Ghana, Senegal, and Gabon. If you can find space on the nonstop Delta flight from New York (JFK) to Accra (ACC), you'll save a ton of miles compared to what Delta charges.

Use Flying Blue miles to reach Africa from the U.S.

Even flying to Johannesburg won't break the mileage bank, as it's available for 35,000 Flying Blue miles some dates.

The economy class fuel surcharges average about $160, which stings a bit. Award availability can be hit or miss at 35,000 miles. We found some award availability close-in, but your best bet is searching well in advance for award seats.

You may be able to find cheaper tickets with other airline alliances, but Flying Blue is the best SkyTeam program by far. The only thing that hurts for business class is the taxes, fees, and surcharges. You should expect to pay around $400 one-way. Business class award availability at reasonable rates is more irregular. But we consider 95,000 miles one-way to some destinations a good deal. You have your choice between flying nonstop Delta One business class for 100,000 miles or connecting in Paris to save 5,000 miles.

Business class to Africa is a solid Flying Blue sweet spot.

Personally, I'd pick Delta. You save a ton, since there are no surcharges.

Kenya Airways flights within Africa

Flights within Africa can be mind-bogglingly expensive. Consider that Kenya Airways charges around $900 for an economy round-trip ticket between Nairobi and Johannesburg.

You can get this same ticket for just 18,500 Flying Blue miles and ~$100 each way. Business class is 55,000 miles, though, which I don't consider worth it for a four-hour flight.

Use Flying Blue miles on expensive intra-Africa routes.

Even paying 24,000 to 29,000 miles for tickets on some destination pairs isn't terrible (e.g. Nairobi–Accra or Zanzibar–Lagos). Having Kenya Airways as a SkyTeam partner opens up some destinations you might not think of immediately and is great since SkyMiles finds almost zero availability within Africa. United MileagePlus is another program that is useful for flights within Africa. This is because it partners with Ethiopian Airlines — a major carrier on the continent.

South America to Europe and beyond — without massive surcharges

You might not know that flights departing Brazil are not subject to massive taxes, fees, and surcharges. Brazil is one of several countries that ban or limit additional surcharges on award tickets. What's cool is that this carries over for your entire itinerary. So if you can find a business class award that normally has high fees — say, to an African country — you'll pay far less out of pocket. This is a great option to keep in mind if you're trying to piece together an around-the-world trip.

Take advantage of Brazil's laws to save on taxes, fees, and surcharges.

Awards including a Europe stopover

Flying Blue recently improved its program by allowing free stopovers on one-way award tickets. It's one of few programs — Alaska Mileage Plan being the other — that offer free stopovers on one-way award tickets. Some other programs, such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer, allow stopovers for a reasonable cost.

The catch with Flying Blue is that the stopover must be on either Air France or KLM flights. This is still an excellent benefit, though, as you can add a stint in Europe before continuing on to Africa, for example. Or simply stop in Paris or Amsterdam for a few days before continuing on to another European city. This is a great way to stretch the value of your Flying Blue miles, as it saves on the cost of the next flight.

Best Ways to Accumulate FlyingBlue Miles

Transfer Points to Flying Blue

It's pretty easy to get Flying Blue miles, considering that it is a transfer partner of multiple reward programs. You can use the following transfer partners:

• American Express Membership Rewards: 1:1 transfer rate; most transfers process immediately
• Bilt Rewards: 1:1 transfer rate; most transfers process immediately
• Brex Cash: 3:2 transfer rate; most transfers process within 24 hours
• Capital One Rewards: 1:1 transfer rate; most transfers process immediately
• Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1:1 transfer rate; most transfers process immediately
• Citi ThankYou Points: 1:1 transfer rate; most transfers process immediately
• Marriott Bonvoy: 3:1 transfer rate plus a 5,000-point bonus for each 20,000 points received; most transfers take one to three days

The abundance of transfer options means you don't need to worry about building up a balance with Flying Blue. Instead, you can focus on a strategy to accumulate the flexible points. Then, you can transfer to Air France or KLM when needed. And keep an eye out for transfer bonuses, where you may get 15%–25% bonus miles when sending your credit card points to Flying Blue.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^®

In addition to the various bank transfer partners, you can earn Flying Blue miles directly with the Air France KLM Mastercard. The card earns 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases miles on everyday spending, which is better than many cards if you compare miles on a 1:1 basis. You also can use the card to augment earning Flying Blue elite status:

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles plus 60 XP after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
• Earn 3 miles per $1 spent directly on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member airlines purchases.
• Earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases per $1 spent on all other purchases.
• Receive 20 XP every year on your account anniversary.
• Receive 5,000 bonus miles each account anniversary after you spend $50 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• $89 annual fee.

Keep in mind that Bank of America issues the card and has a 2/3/4 rule for new card approvals.

Related: Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^®

How to Apply

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard^®

Annual Fee$89

Welcome Bonus Earn 50,000 bonus miles plus 60 XP after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.

Buying miles

We don't generally recommend buying airline miles, but there can be situations where this is advantageous. This is usually when you're close to having enough miles for a specific redemption or when you can immediately use them for a ticket that would ordinarily cost a ton in cash. Flying Blue occasionally sells miles at reasonable rates during promotions. A recent promotion offered 100% bonus miles, bringing the cost to around 1.53 cents per mile.

Book park this page for future deals to buy Flying Blue miles at a discount or with a bonus.

Final Thoughts

Given the relative ease of earning miles through ubiquitous transfer options, it's valuable for you to know the Flying Blue award sweet spots. It's true that you'll pay hefty taxes, fees, and surcharges in some circumstances. But if you're saving a significant amount of miles, the cost could be worth it. Make sure you keep an eye on the monthly Promo Rewards and also look out for transfer bonuses to the Flying Blue program. Both of these will let you maximize the value of your hard-earned miles and points.

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