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If you’re a member of Flying Blue — the joint loyalty program for Air France, KLM, and a few smaller airlines — understanding the Flying Blue miles expiration policy is crucial to preserving your hard-earned miles.
Here’s everything you need to know about Flying Blue miles expiration and how to keep your miles from expiring.
Do Flying Blue Miles Expire?
Yes, Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles expire if you don't have qualifying activity on your account for a two-year period. 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.”
However, 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.
Track your points and miles expiration for 630+ loyalty programs and get email alerts before your miles expire by signing up for a free AwardWallet account.
How to Keep Flying Blue Miles From Expiring
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”
- Use a Flying Blue co-branded credit card to make a purchase.
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.
“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
By far, 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 World Elite Mastercard®. The card is currently offering a 70,000 bonus miles and 40 XP after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening, plus 60 XP upon approval.
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.
Boosting Your Air France KLM Flying Blue Mileage Balance
You have plenty of options if you need to boost your Flying Blue Mileage. 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. That means you should only transfer points to top off your account 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 just two years 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 of the airline members, meaning you can choose to 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
Our Take
Flying Blue’s mileage expiration policy is one of the more complex airline expiry policies since it has two types of qualifying activities. That's why it's especially helpful to use AwardWallet to keep on top of your Flying Blue expiration dates. With proper tracking and qualifying activity, you can ensure you never let your Flying Blue miles expire.
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