{"id":130743,"date":"2023-10-20T21:00:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T21:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=130743"},"modified":"2026-04-08T13:48:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T13:48:39","slug":"first-class-partner-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/news\/flying-blue\/first-class-partner-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Flying Blue Adds Two New First Class Partner Awards Options"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air France\u2013KLM Flying Blue has added two new first-class partner awards to its site. While you can generally book economy and business class awards across Sky Team partners<\/a>, first-class awards are much rarer and vary by the airlines' willingness to share their premium cabins with partners or those without elite status.<\/p>\n

Some airlines release first-class space to partners, and some do not \u2014 like Air France. However, in positive news, you can now redeem your Flying Blue miles<\/a> to book first-class awards on China Eastern and Garuda Indonesia.<\/p>\n

Garuda Indonesia First Class Partner Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n

The main European destination served by Garuda Indonesia is Amsterdam. We found several options when searching for award space in December 2023.<\/p>\n

\"Flying<\/p>\n

Awards will set you back 275,000 miles plus $217 in taxes and fees. While this is expensive, it is still reasonably good value for an outstanding first-class hard and soft product. Availability was good for the day we checked: Three seats were available for that price.<\/p>\n

Remember that while Garuda is an international carrier, it operates almost exclusively in Asia and Australia. The airline's only major long-haul routes are to Amsterdam plus Jeddah and Medina in Saudi Arabia. The airline does not operate any routes to North or South America.<\/p>\n

One thing to note is that we only found first-class award space on the Amsterdam route. With a cash price of $3,943, you'll get a redemption value of 1.35 cents per mile.<\/p>\n

\"Google
Credit: Google Flights<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n

Wide-open availability<\/span><\/h3>\n

Typically, first-class award space is like a needle in a haystack, and you may find the odd seat here and there. However, this does not seem to be the case with Garuda's first-class awards with Flying Blue. We found plenty of awards in January 2024. Again, these include multiple seats on the same flight, which is ideal for families.<\/p>\n

\"La<\/p>\n

Looking further ahead through March 2024, there was plenty of space available. Again, several flights offer multiple award seats.<\/p>\n

\"first-class<\/p>\n

The only issue is that booking multiple seats at 275,000 apiece can get expensive.<\/p>\n

This plentiful award space is not only on the outbound routes. Again, we found plenty of space on the return route from Amsterdam to Jakarta as far out as March 2024.<\/p>\n

\"Amsterdam<\/p>\n

On this route, you'll pay the same 275,000 miles per passenger but $225.60 in taxes and fees.<\/p>\n

Related:\u00a0Do Air France\/KLM Flying Blue Miles Expire?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

China Eastern First Class Partner Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n

You also can book China Eastern first-class awards using Flying Blue miles. However, the availability is much less generous. We found availability from Frankfurt to Shanghai in early December 2023 for 130,500 miles plus $310.90 in taxes and fees.<\/p>\n

\"China<\/p>\n

Although China Eastern\u2019s first class is nothing to write home about, this is still an outstanding deal. 130,500 points for an 11-hour flight in first class is excellent value, whichever way you look at it \u2014 especially when the cash cost is $14,068. That's a redemption value of 10.5\u00a2 per mile!<\/p>\n

Related:\u00a0Air France\u2013KLM Flying Blue Awards Permit Free Stopovers on Partner Redemptions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Route and Inventory Availability<\/span><\/h2>\n

The situation with China Eastern availability is the polar opposite of Garuda Indonesia. We had an extensive look for first-class award space on some of the major routes operated by the airline and could find no space. These include destinations such as London, Paris, New York, Sydney, and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the only route we found with plenty of space was Frankfurt to Shanghai. However, even then, this route was not bountiful with space. The few available seats were in early to mid-December 2023. Beyond those dates into 2024, we could not find any award space, which is odd for first-class awards several months in the future.<\/p>\n

Could We See Reciprocal Awards?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Considering how closely Air France guards its La Premi\u00e8re awards, it is virtually impossible that this will result in any reciprocal awards. Air France does not let non-elite members of its program book La Premi\u00e8re first-class awards. Therefore, there is little to no chance of the airline letting members of other programs book these awards.<\/p>\n

Boosting Your Flying Blue Mileage Balance<\/span><\/h2>\n

When it comes to boosting your Flying Blue Mileage balance to book an award, you are spoiled for choice. You can buy Flying Blue points<\/a>, but the program is a transfer partner for every major point currency on the market. This makes it the perfect spot to consolidate small balances to book one premium cabin award that you cannot book from an individual points pool.<\/p>\n

From<\/div>
To<\/div>
Transfer Ratio<\/div>
Min.Transfer<\/div>
Average Time<\/div><\/div>
Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>
Canada<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>
Germany<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
5:4<\/div>
625<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,250
25% transfer bonus through June 30, 2026<\/a>.<\/div><\/div>
-<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>
United Kingdom<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
250:250<\/div>
500<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Amex (Membership Rewards)<\/a>
United Kingdom<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
250:250<\/div>
500<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Capital One<\/a>
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
100:100<\/div>
1,000<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Chase (Ultimate Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Chase (Ultimate Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Citibank (ThankYou Rewards)<\/a>
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Marriott (Bonvoy)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
3:1<\/div>
3,000<\/div>
1 day - 3 days<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Accor Group (ALL - Accor Live Limitless)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
2,000:2,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Accor Group (ALL - Accor Live Limitless)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
2,000:2,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Barclaycard
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
7,000:5,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Best Western (Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
6,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Best Western (Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
6,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Bilt Rewards<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:1,000<\/div>
2,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Brex Cash<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
3:2<\/div>
500<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Choice Hotels (Choice Privileges)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:200<\/div>
5,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Choice Hotels (Choice Privileges)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,000:200<\/div>
5,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
e-Rewards
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
2,000:500<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Hilton (Honors)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
10,000:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
HSBC Rewards
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,250:1,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Hyatt (World of Hyatt)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,250:500
Bonus for transferring 50,000+ points<\/div><\/div>
5,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Hyatt (World of Hyatt)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,250:500
Bonus for transferring 50,000+ points<\/div><\/div>
5,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
IHG Hotels & Resorts (One Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
10,000:2,000<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Klarna
United States<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1:71<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Klarna
United Kingdom<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1:71<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Livelo (Clube Livelo)
Brazil<\/div><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,750:500<\/div>
35,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Radisson Hotels (Radisson Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
2,000:260
30% bonus (deal ends 6\/17\/26)<\/div><\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Radisson Hotels (Radisson Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
2,000:260
30% bonus (deal ends 6\/17\/26)<\/div><\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Ramp (Ramp Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
150:100<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Ramp (Ramp Rewards)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
150:100<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Revolut (RevPoints)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1:1<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Rove<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
100:100<\/div>
2,000<\/div>
Immediate<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Shangri-La (Circle)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
500:500<\/div>
1,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Shangri-La (Circle)<\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
KLM (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
500:500<\/div>
1,000<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div>
Wells Fargo (Go Far Rewards)<\/a><\/div>\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div>
\u2794<\/span>
Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
1:1<\/div>
-<\/div>
Unknown<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

However, remember to keep your eyes open for the odd transfer bonus. That can significantly improve the value of your Amex Membership Rewards<\/a>, Chase Ultimate Rewards<\/a>, Capital One Miles<\/a>, Citi ThankYou Points<\/a>, Marriott Bonvoy<\/a> points, and Bilt Rewards<\/a> points.<\/p>\n

Related: Which Points Transfer To Flying Blue?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our Take<\/span><\/h2>\n

More uses of your miles are always welcome news. While the new Garuda first-class awards are wide open on one route, they are not fantastic value. That said, it is still a decent first-class product, so make of that what you may.<\/p>\n

The China Eastern redemptions are another picture. The pricing is good value, and the airline has a much more developed route network, even though the product is not as good as some others. However, while this is useful, the rare availability and routing option make this a much more difficult option to use and get value from.<\/p>\n

Page Contents<\/p>