Flying Blue to Simplify Mileage Expiration Policy in May 2026 — Here's the Current and New Policies

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Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. Through May 3, 2026, Flying Blue uses different rules depending on how you earned your miles. Starting May 4, 2026, all miles will follow a single 24-month validity period that resets whenever qualifying activity posts to your account.

Here’s what counts as activity, which members are exempt, and how to keep your Flying Blue miles from expiring.

Flying Blue Miles Expiration Policy

Air France KLM Flying Blue has a new mileage expiration policy coming into force on May 4, 2026. From that date, Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles expire if you don't have qualifying activity on your account for a 24-month period. Per the Flying Blue new policy page:

“Starting May 4, all Miles will share a single validity period of 24 months. Whether earned through flights or partner activities, every Mile will now follow the same expiration date. No more surprises, no more juggling multiple deadlines.” 

This is a small departure from the current policy (a two year validity) — which remains in place through May 3, 2026. Per the Flying Blue Terms and Conditions:

“For Explorer Members aged 18 years and older, Miles are valid for two (2) years, after such time the Company shall cancel the Miles in case no registered Earn Activity extends the validity of the Miles.”

Track your points and miles expiration for 620+ loyalty programs and get email alerts before your miles expire by signing up for a free AwardWallet account.

Exceptions to Flying Blue Mileage Expiration

Flying Blue exempts certain members from its mileage expiration policy.

Under the current rules, if you are an elite member (Silver, Gold, or Platinum) in the Flying Blue program, your miles will not expire as long as you retain your elite status. Once you lose your status, the standard 24-month expiration rule applies.

Once the new policy takes effect on May 4, 2026, Flying Blue miles will not expire for the following members:

• Elite and Elite Plus members (Silver, Gold, Platinum, Ultimate).
• Flying Blue Extra Subscribers.
• Holders of a co-branded credit card.
• Flying Blue members who are minors (under 18).

If your Flying Blue account is based in Germany, the new policy will not apply and you will still enjoy the current 3-year validity.

Credit: Emiel Molenaar / Unsplash

How to Keep Flying Blue Miles From Expiring

New policy (starting May 4, 2026)

Effective May 4, 2026, Flying Blue will massively simplify what counts as eligible activity, moving away from the overly complex method it previously used (see below). From that date, any of the following will count towards resetting your mileage expiration clock.

• Taking a flight with Air France-KLM
• Taking a flight with a partner airline.
• Earning miles on a hotel stay with Accor, IHG, and more.
• Earning miles from your next car rental with brands including Hertz, Budget, and Avis.
• Shop with Air France KLM Flying Blue partners.
• Earn miles for experiences, including surveys and concert tickets.
• Earn miles with a host of financial partners, including Revolut, Allianz, and more.

Current policy (through May 4, 2026)

The current policy is one of the most complicated mileage expiration rules we’ve seen. Fortunately, Flying Blue will replace it with a much simpler policy on May 4, 2026.

In its wisdom, Air France-KLM Flying Blue decided that one type of qualifying activity isn't complicated enough. Instead, Flying Blue uses a complex system with two types of qualifying activity: “Overall” and “Partial.” Both types extend the validity of miles earned, though in different ways.

“Overall extending activity”

You can extend the validity of all your Flying Blue miles — regardless of how they were earned — for 24 more months from the date of one of the following activities:

• Taking a qualifying flight with Air France, KLM, Aircalin, Kenya Airways, TAROM, Transavia, Air Corsica, or with one of Flying Blue's SkyTeam partners. The flight must earn XP to qualify as an “overall extending activity”
• Making a purchase with a Flying Blue co-branded credit card.

This is where Air France-KLM's extensive airline partnerships through the SkyTeam airline alliance come in handy. For example, U.S.-based travelers can list their Flying Blue account number on a Delta flight to earn Flying Blue miles and XP. This one flight activity will prevent your Flying Blue miles from expiring for another two years.

SkyTeam member airlines

“Partial extending activity”

All other ways that you can earn Flying Blue miles — including car rental partners, hotel partners, experience partners, and some select airlines — are considered partial extending activities.

Earning miles with any of these partners resets the clock by two years — but only for the miles earned from these types of partners.

Here's an example: If you earn Flying Blue miles from booking a hotel stay, that activity also extends the life of the miles earned from car rentals, experience partners, etc. However, it will not extend the life of miles earned from flying with Air France, KLM, or any SkyTeam members. These Flying Blue miles will expire without an “overall extending activity.”

Earning Flying Blue Miles Through Credit Cards

The easiest option for U.S. residents to earn bonus Flying Blue miles and maintain account activity is by spending on the Air France KLM Visa Signature^® Credit Card. The card is currently offering a 70,000 bonus miles and 100 XP after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.

American Express also issues Flying Blue co-branded cards for residents of France and The Netherlands, while residents of Switzerland can apply for a co-branded Mastercard.

Spending on all these cards will ensure your Flying Blue miles don't expire for another two years — or as long as you hold the card, once the new policy takes effect.

Boosting Your Air France KLM Flying Blue Mileage Balance

You have plenty of options if you need to boost your Flying Blue mileage balance. The program is a partner with every single major transferable flexible points currency around.

Just keep in mind that point transfers do not extend the validity of your flown miles (until the new policy takes effect May 4, 2026). Regardless, it's still best to wait to transfer points right before redeeming miles for the long list of Flying Blue sweet spots, such as the monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards.

Use AwardWallet to Track Flying Blue Miles Expiration

Since Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, it pays to keep close tabs on your Flying Blue account. The easiest way to do so is to use AwardWallet to keep track of your balance and expiration date. By doing so, you will receive a timely reminder if you have any miles in danger of expiring.

Flying Blue can be accessed through either airline member, so you can link either your Air France or your KLM Flying Blue account to AwardWallet. Once linked, you are set with AwardWallet keeping an eye on your account.

Related: How to Track Your Rewards Using AwardWallet

Bottom Line

Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, but the program’s rules will become much easier to follow starting May 4, 2026. From that date, any qualifying activity will reset the same 24-month expiration clock for all miles.

If you don’t want to keep track of those dates manually, use AwardWallet to track your Flying Blue account and get reminders before your miles are set to expire.