{"id":7711,"date":"2025-12-28T12:10:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T12:10:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/?p=7711"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:30:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T14:30:57","slug":"best-award-flights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/flying-blue\/best-award-flights\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Flying Blue Shines: Best Redemptions on Air France, KLM &amp; Partners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"\/airlines\/flying-blue\/\">Flying Blue<\/a>, the frequent flyer program for Air France and KLM, is one of the most versatile available thanks to its unusually broad list of transferable points partners. You can <a href=\"\/credit-cards\/flying-blue-transfer-partners\/\">move points from nearly every major bank<\/a> into Flying Blue, often at a 1:1 ratio and usually instantly.<\/p>\n<p>That includes popular cards such as the <a data-ccid=\"2061159\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/ChaseSapphirePreferredCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"2061159\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=g3lR0xvjyAU&offerid=1753725.10005147&type=3&subid=02dc44841843eef318222990136e413ad&subid=639396\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), <a data-ccid=\"520083\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-CitiPremierCard\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">Citi Strata Premier<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Card<\/a> (<a data-ccid=\"520083\" href=\"https:\/\/click.linksynergy.com\/fs-bin\/click?id=a3pDkecFgAg&offerid=1978593.4328&type=3&subid=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rates & Fees<\/a>), and the <a data-ccid=\"4028089\" href=\"\/blog\/link\/CR-ThePlatinumCardfromAmericanExpress\" rel=\"noopener nofollow sponsored\">American Express Platinum Card<sup>\u00ae<\/sup><\/a>. Additionally, you can take advantage of occasional <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/flying-blue-transfer-bonus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">transfer bonuses from Chase<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/amex-membership-rewards\/flying-blue-transfer-bonus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Amex<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/capital-one-rewards\/flying-blue-transfer-bonus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Capital One<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/bilt-rewards\/bilt-rent-day\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bilt<\/a>, or <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/citi-thankyou-rewards\/flying-blue-transfer-bonus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Citi<\/a> to stretch your points even further, when the timing is right.<\/p>\n<p>This level of flexibility makes it much easier to build the balance you need and unlock high-value redemptions across Air France and KLM (and their partners). With that in mind, let\u2019s take a closer look at some of the program\u2019s strongest sweet spots and why they\u2019re worth considering for your next award booking.<\/p>\n<p>But before we jump into the best uses of your Flying Blue miles, let's briefly cover some Flying Blue basics.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"toc_light_blue no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Page Contents<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Flying_Blue_Award_Basics\">Flying Blue Award Basics<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Flying_Blue_Promo_Rewards\">Flying Blue Promo Rewards<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Flying_Blue_Sweet_Spots\">Flying Blue Sweet Spots<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Partner_awards_between_the_US_and_Mexico\">Partner awards between the U.S. and Mexico<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Business_class_awards_between_the_US_and_Europe\">Business class awards between the U.S. and Europe<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Economy_awards_between_the_US_and_Europe\">Economy awards between the U.S. and Europe<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Intra-Europe_flights_on_Air_Europa\">Intra-Europe flights on Air Europa<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Awards_between_the_contiguous_US_andNorthern_Africa\">Awards between the contiguous U.S. and\u00a0Northern Africa<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Business_class_awards_between_EastSoutheast_Asia_and_Europe\">Business class awards between East\/Southeast Asia and Europe<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Awards_between_the_contiguous_US_and_CentralSouthern_Africa\">Awards between the contiguous U.S. and Central\/Southern Africa<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Kenya_Airways_flights_within_Africa\">Kenya Airways flights within Africa<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#South_America_to_Europe_and_beyond_without_massive_surcharges\">South America to Europe and beyond \u2014 without massive surcharges<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Awards_including_a_Europe_stopover\">Awards including a Europe stopover<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Best_Ways_to_Accumulate_Flying_Blue_Miles\">Best Ways to Accumulate Flying Blue Miles<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#Transfer_Points_to_Flying_Blue\">Transfer Points to Flying Blue<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Air_France_KLM_Visa_Signature_Credit_Card\">Air France KLM Visa Signature<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Buying_miles\">Buying miles<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Flying_Blue_Award_Basics\">Flying Blue Award Basics<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you're not familiar with the Flying Blue program or the sweet spots that you can book with award miles, here are some key things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Flying Blue passes along the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/airlines\/avoid-surcharges-award-flights\/\" rel=\"noopener\">fuel surcharges<\/a> set by the operating airline on award tickets, including its own. Those added fees can drive up the out-of-pocket cost of what\u2019s supposed to feel like a free flight. Some airlines tack on hefty surcharges, while others keep them relatively modest. Therefore, the final cost can vary quite a bit.<\/li>\n<li>Flying Blue does not publish an award chart. You can see the minimum number of miles required for any city pairing by using its <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flyingblue.nl\/en\/flights\/reward-tickets\" rel=\"noopener\">award calculator<\/a> (scroll to near the bottom of the page). Keep in mind, however, that this calculator doesn't work for all partner routes.<\/li>\n<li>You can book one-way awards in addition to round-trip awards.<\/li>\n<li>You can book <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/flying-blue\/flying-blue-stopover\/\" rel=\"noopener\">free stopovers on Flying Blue award tickets<\/a>, now including partner awards.<\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/flying-blue\/promo-rewards\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Flying Blue releases Promo Rewards<\/a> each month. Bookmark that link to see the latest offerings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/avoid-surcharges-award-flights\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Airline Programs that Don't Add Fees and Surcharges to Award Flights<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238373\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"600\/373\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238373 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/sidhardha-kadamati-5a-6dzFsVNE-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of a KLM plane that is flying above the clouds.\" width=\"600\" height=\"373\" \/><center><em>Photo Credit: Sidhardha Kadamati, Unsplash<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Flying_Blue_Promo_Rewards\">Flying Blue Promo Rewards<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As we just mentioned, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flyingblue.us\/en\/flights\/promo-rewards\" rel=\"noopener\">Flying Blue runs monthly Promo Rewards<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 especially if business-class awards are discounted. Taxes, fees, and surcharges for business class flights come out to around $200 to $300 each way.<\/p>\n<p>Now, let's dig into some of the other Flying Blue award sweet spots.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238374\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/465\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-238374 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/flying-blue-promos.png\" alt=\"A sample of some of the current Flying Blue promo award flights. \" width=\"750\" height=\"465\" \/><center><em>Credit: Flying Blue<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h2><span id=\"Flying_Blue_Sweet_Spots\">Flying Blue Sweet Spots<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Partner_awards_between_the_US_and_Mexico\">Partner awards between the U.S. and Mexico<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>You can leverage SkyTeam partners Delta and Aeromexico to redeem Flying Blue miles on flights between the U.S. and Europe for low rates. Generally, you'll find shorter routes like those between Texas airports and Mexico City (MEX) are the cheapest, but even longer flights like this one between New York (JFK) and Mexico City can be a great deal at just 12,5000 miles each way \u2014 or 25,000 round-trip.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238496\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/487\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238496 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/JFK-to-MEX.jpg\" alt=\"A screen shot of a flight option from JRK to MEX on Delta booked through Air France.\" width=\"750\" height=\"487\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Comparatively, United redemptions can vary, with up to 20,000 points commonly needed from 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 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/american-aadvantage\/dynamic-pricing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">AA's dynamic award pricing<\/a>. You can also use British Airways Avios on nonstop American Airlines and Alaska routes for decent value.<\/p>\n<p>But if you have Flying Blue miles and prefer to fly Delta or SkyTeam partner Aeromexico, using your miles for a trip to Mexico could be a solid choice.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Business_class_awards_between_the_US_and_Europe\">Business class awards between the U.S. and Europe<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sadly, the days of booking Air France and KLM business class flights from anywhere in the U.S. to Europe for just 50,000 miles are gone. Like many other mileage programs lately, Flying Blue <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/flying-blue\/award-pricing-changes-2025\/\" rel=\"noopener\">recently hiked award rates<\/a>. But there's still plenty of value to be had for business class awards.<\/p>\n<p>Flying Blue dynamically prices awards on its own flights (e.g., Air France and KLM), with many awards now costing well over 100,000 miles. However, you can still find awards as low as 60,000 miles to fly business class to Europe on some routes. Currently, 60,000 miles is the best price you can find for business class between the U.S. and Europe \u2014 unless you score a promo reward.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238613\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/232\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-238613 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/dtw-to-cdg.png\" alt=\"Award flight from DTW to CDG on Air France for 60K in Business Class\" width=\"750\" height=\"232\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Prices generally climb the further you have to fly. However, you can find deals with seemingly random city pairings, such as Dallas to Budapest for 60,000 miles each way in business class:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238498\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/426\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238498 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/DFW-to-BUD-AF.jpg\" alt=\"An Air France redemption of 60,000 points for a flight from Dallas to Budapest.\" width=\"750\" height=\"426\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Flying Blue occasionally throws business class tickets from North American airports in the Promo Rewards mix. But more often, you'll only find economy or premium economy in the list.<\/p>\n<p>Business class awards on Delta 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. But these are a unicorn if you find them. You used to be able to find plenty of Virgin Atlantic awards via Flying Blue, but these seem to have dried up as well.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Economy_awards_between_the_US_and_Europe\">Economy awards between the U.S. and Europe<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Even economy awards are a decent Flying Blue sweet spot \u2014 especially for cities where flights to Europe are generally expensive. Standard economy seats start at just 25,000 miles one-way \u2014 even from the West Coast connecting through to Rome (FCO):<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238506\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/510\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238506 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/lax-to-fco-on-af.png\" alt=\"A screen shot of the the award calendar for flights between LAX and FCO.\" width=\"750\" height=\"510\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>You can also book Premium Economy for as low as 40,000 miles, but I will attest that it's not an especially appealing product. I'd honestly rather save the miles and fly economy.<\/p>\n<p>The taxes and fees (around 100 euros each way in economy) cut into the value you get for your Flying Blue miles. So, check cash prices if you're departing a major hub like New York (JFK) or Los Angeles (LAX). But from other airports, you can often get a solid redemption rate.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238614\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/465\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238614 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AF-Premium-Economy.png\" alt=\"A screen shot shows premium economy options for a flight on Air France.\" width=\"750\" height=\"465\" \/><center><em>Credit Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Intra-Europe_flights_on_Air_Europa\">Intra-Europe flights on Air Europa<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Flying Blue\u2019s pricing on Air Europa\u2019s short-haul routes within Europe isn\u2019t widely talked about, but it can deliver sneaky value. Business class often appears for 15,000 miles one way with low taxes and fees \u2014 frequently a better return on your miles given that cash fares on these routes often run $300-$500.<\/p>\n<p>Economy awards can drop to 7,500 miles, which is an easy, low-cost way to move around Europe, though the cents-per-point value is typically lower since cash tickets on these routes are usually inexpensive. The onboard product is perfectly serviceable rather than luxurious, but for travelers looking to preserve miles while still flying comfortably, Air Europa redemptions through Flying Blue can be a smart, efficient play.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238776\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/229\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238776 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/aireuropa.png\" alt=\"Screenshot of award availability on Air Europa booked through Air France\" width=\"750\" height=\"229\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Awards_between_the_contiguous_US_andNorthern_Africa\">Awards between the contiguous U.S. and\u00a0Northern Africa<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Flying Blue considers Northern Africa a part of Europe when it comes to award pricing \u2014 or at least the areas that were previously French colonies, such as Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. This can be advantageous for all cabin classes. Flights from New York to Morocco start at 25,000 miles one-way in economy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_207452\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/325\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-207452 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blu-sfo-rak-awards.png\" alt=\"25,000 miles pricing from San Francisco to Marrakech in economy\" width=\"750\" height=\"325\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blu-sfo-rak-awards.png 1373w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blu-sfo-rak-awards-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blu-sfo-rak-awards-1024x444.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blu-sfo-rak-awards-768x333.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Tickets to northern Africa are a great use of Flying Blue miles.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Premium economy and business are a great deal as well, charging 40,000 and 60,000 miles, respectively. But this pricing is less frequently available. Factor in the slightly dynamic award calculations, so sometimes you'll pay a bit more. Or <em>much<\/em> more, as you can see in the image above. Taxes and fees can still hit hard, too. Even though economy costs very few miles, sometimes using cash to book is the best option.<\/p>\n<p>The same is not true for business class. It's overwhelmingly an <em>excellent<\/em> deal.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238615\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/104\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238615 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ORD-to-TUN.png\" alt=\"A screen shot of a flight from ORD to TUN on Air France bookable in business class for 60K miles.\" width=\"750\" height=\"104\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Business_class_awards_between_EastSoutheast_Asia_and_Europe\">Business class awards between East\/Southeast Asia and Europe<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This isn't so helpful for U.S. folks, unless you're trying to put together an around-the-world adventure. Tickets on Air France and KLM are available from major East and Southeast Asia airports for 85,000 miles one-way in business class. Fees are around $200, like many other awards.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_207454\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/222\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-207454 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-sgn-cdg-business-award.png\" alt=\"Southeast Asia to Paris screenshot of Flying Blue award pricing; this is one of the program's best business class sweet spots\" width=\"750\" height=\"222\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-sgn-cdg-business-award.png 1373w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-sgn-cdg-business-award-300x89.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-sgn-cdg-business-award-1024x303.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-sgn-cdg-business-award-768x227.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>A decent deal, but not super useful if you're coming from the U.S.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>In addition to Air France and KLM, you can book awards on SkyTeam carriers Vietnam Airlines, China Airlines, and Korean Airlines. These can be hit or miss, however, and often you'd actually be better off using Delta SkyMiles between these regions. This is one of the few areas where you'll get a decent premium cabin award deal. Delta will actually outdo Flying Blue in many cases, and can be one of the <a href=\"\/airlines\/delta-skymiles\/best-ways-to-use-delta-miles\/\">best ways to use Delta SkyMiles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238616\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/260\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238616 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SGN-to-MUC-on-Delta-One.png\" alt=\"A screenshot shows a Delta flight bookable with miles from SGN to MUC.\" width=\"750\" height=\"260\" \/><center><em>Credit: Delta Airlines<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<h3><span id=\"Awards_between_the_contiguous_US_and_CentralSouthern_Africa\">Awards between the contiguous U.S. and Central\/Southern Africa<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Africa can be hard to reach, but several regions make for additional Flying Blue sweet spots. Economy awards to or from the U.S. start at only 40,000 Flying Blue 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. But, like so many other Delta routes, partner award availability can be extremely rare.<\/p>\n<p>Even flying to Johannesburg won't break the mileage bank, as it's available for 40,000 Flying Blue miles on some dates. This is a decent deal, given how expensive tickets to southern Africa can be. The fuel surcharges for economy tickets average around $200, which stings. Award availability can be hit or miss at 40,000 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 award space on Kenya Airways as well to many destinations.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238617\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/211\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238617 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ATL-to-JNB.png\" alt=\"A screenshot shows a flight from ATL to JNB bookable with Flying Blue\" width=\"750\" height=\"211\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>Decently priced business class awards can be a bit more of a challenge to find, not to mention more expensive. You may be able to find cheaper tickets with other airline alliances, but Flying Blue is the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/delta-skymiles\/book-delta-flights-with-partners\/\" rel=\"noopener\">best SkyTeam program<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n<p>Business class award availability at reasonable rates is more irregular. But we consider 115,000 miles one-way to some destinations about the best deal you can find. Seats between the U.S. and Accra at this rate were rare, though.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_207841\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/322\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-207841 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-jfk-acc-award-business.png\" alt=\"Flying Blue award from JFK to ACC\" width=\"750\" height=\"322\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-jfk-acc-award-business.png 1375w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-jfk-acc-award-business-300x129.png 300w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-jfk-acc-award-business-1024x439.png 1024w, https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/flying-blue-jfk-acc-award-business-768x330.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><center><em>Flying Blue is your best Sky Team program for flying business to Africa, even though prices have increased.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>If you find space on Delta, book it. You save the most, since there are no surcharges.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Kenya_Airways_flights_within_Africa\">Kenya Airways flights within Africa<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Flights within Africa can be mind-bogglingly expensive. Consider that Kenya Airways typically charges over $600 for an <em>economy<\/em> round-trip ticket between Malawi and Nairobi, and fares can climb above $800. In some cases, one-way tickets can be more expensive than a return. It's crazy.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238618\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/287\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238618 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Kenya-Airways-comparison.png\" alt=\"A comparison of a cash price for an intra-Africa flight with an award ticket.\" width=\"750\" height=\"287\" \/><center><em>A Google Flights search shows that the same flight would cost you $416 in cash or only 9,000 miles booked with Air France.<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>As you can see, you could get this same ticket for just 9,000 Flying Blue miles and ~$90 each way. Business class is a reasonable 32,000 miles. But for a mere 4-hour flight, that really isn't worth it.<\/p>\n<p>Even paying 23,000+ miles for tickets on some destination pairs isn't terrible (e.g., Zanzibar\u2013Lagos). Having Kenya Airways as a SkyTeam partner opens up some destinations you might not think of immediately, and it is great since SkyMiles finds almost zero availability within Africa.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/united-mileageplus\/\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>United MileagePlus<\/em><\/a><em> is another useful program for flights within Africa. This is because it partners with Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways \u2014 major carriers on the continent.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"South_America_to_Europe_and_beyond_without_massive_surcharges\">South America to Europe and beyond \u2014 without massive surcharges<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Brazil is one of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/countries-that-limit-fuel-surcharges\/\" rel=\"noopener\">several countries that ban or limit additional surcharges on award tickets<\/a>. What's cool is that this applies to your entire itinerary. So if you can find a business-class award that normally has high fees \u2014 say, to an African country \u2014 you'll pay far less out of pocket.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_238771\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-aspectratio=\"750\/224\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-238771 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/gru-to-RAK.png\" alt=\"A screen shot from Air France for a flight from GRU to RAK\" width=\"750\" height=\"224\" \/><center><em>Credit: Air France<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\n<p>The downside is that where these tickets used to be reasonably priced, you'll now be lucky to find options that are a little more than 100,000 miles. In many cases, you'll have to pay far more miles, which really negates any savings on taxes and fees. Plus, you have to get to Brazil first. This is still a great option to keep in mind if you're trying to piece together an around-the-world trip. Plus, you'll want to work in the next use of Flying Blue miles.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Awards_including_a_Europe_stopover\">Awards including a Europe stopover<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Flying Blue <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/flying-blue\/flying-blue-stopover\/\" rel=\"noopener\">allows free stopovers on one-way award tickets<\/a>. It's one of a few programs \u2014 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/alaska-atmos-rewards\/free-stopover\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards<\/a> being the other major one \u2014 that offer free stopovers on one-way award tickets. Some other programs, such as <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/air-canada-aeroplan\/how-to-book-aeroplan-stopover-awards-online\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Air Canada Aeroplan<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/singapore-krisflyer-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Singapore KrisFlyer<\/a>, allow stopovers for a reasonable cost.<\/p>\n<p>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 to Africa, for example. Or simply stop in Paris or Amsterdam for a few days before continuing 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.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Best_Ways_to_Accumulate_Flying_Blue_Miles\">Best Ways to Accumulate Flying Blue Miles<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span id=\"Transfer_Points_to_Flying_Blue\">Transfer Points to Flying Blue<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It's pretty easy to get Flying Blue miles, considering that the program is a transfer partner of multiple reward types. You can use the following transfer partners:<\/p>\n<div class=\"transfer-times\"><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-head tt-from\">From<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-to\">To<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-ratio\">Transfer Ratio<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-mintransfer\">Min.Transfer<\/div><div class=\"tt-head tt-avg\">Average Time<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-row\"><div class=\"tt-body tt-from\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><div><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/hotels\/marriott-bonvoy\/marriott-transfer-partners\/?cid=transfer-times-transfer&mid=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marriott (Bonvoy)<\/a><\/div><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-to\"><div class=\"tt-body-wrap\"><span class=\"tt-arrow\">\u2794<\/span><div><a href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/credit-cards\/flying-blue-transfer-partners\/?cid=transfer-times-transfer&mid=web\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Air France (Flying Blue)<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-ratio\">3:1<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-mintransfer\">3,000<\/div><div class=\"tt-body tt-avg\"><div class=\"tt-avg-days\">1 day - 3 days<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>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 flexible points. Then, you can transfer to Air France or KLM when needed. And keep an eye out for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/credit-card-transfer-bonuses\/\" rel=\"noopener\">transfer bonuses,<\/a> where you may get 15%\u201325% bonus miles when moving your credit card points to Flying Blue.<\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Air_France_KLM_Visa_Signature_Credit_Card\">Air France KLM Visa Signature<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In addition to the various bank transfer partners, you can earn Flying Blue miles directly with the Air France KLM Visa. 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 can also use the card to help boost your progress toward Flying Blue elite status:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 100 XP after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.<\/li>\n<li>Earn 3 miles per $1 spent directly on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member airlines purchases.<\/li>\n<li>Earn 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases per $1 spent on all other purchases.<\/li>\n<li>Receive 20 XP every year on your account anniversary.<\/li>\n<li>Receive 5,000 bonus miles each account anniversary after you spend $50 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year.<\/li>\n<li>No foreign transaction fees.<\/li>\n<li>$89\u00a0annual fee.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keep in mind that Bank of America issues the card and has a <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/bank-america-234-policy\/\" rel=\"noopener\">2\/3\/4 rule<\/a> for new card approvals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/credit-cards\/rewards-card-application-rules\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Understanding Rewards Credit Card Application Rules and Restrictions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div class=\"qs-card\" data-id=\"17\">\n            <div class=\"qs-data\">\n                <div class=\"qs-view\">\n                    <div class=\"qs-cardname\">Air France KLM Visa Signature<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-image\"><img data-aspectratio=\"150\/95\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/CardArt-AirFranceKLMVisaSignature.png\" width=\"150\" alt=\"Air France KLM Visa Signature\u00ae Credit Card\" \/ class=\"lazyload\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-apply\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-rates\"><\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Limited-time Offer<\/strong> Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 100 XP after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"qs-info\">\n                    <strong class=\"qs-cardname\">Air France KLM Visa Signature<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Credit Card<\/strong>\n                    <div class=\"qs-offer\"><strong>Limited-time Offer<\/strong> Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 100 XP after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.<\/div>\n                    <div class=\"qs-fee\"><strong>Annual Fee:<\/strong><b>$89<\/b><\/div>\n                    \n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <a class=\"qs-share\" href=\"\/find-a-card\/AirFranceMC\/\" title=\"copy\"><svg width=\"12\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><use href=\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/awardwallet\/public\/builds\/icon\/icon-sprite.svg?v2026-5-15b009cd64#share-square\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/use><\/svg><\/a>\n        <\/div><\/p>\n<h3><span id=\"Buying_miles\">Buying miles<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>We don't generally recommend <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/current-promotions-buy-points-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">buying airline miles<\/a>, but there can be situations where this is advantageous. Examples include when you have nearly enough miles for a specific redemption or when you can immediately use miles for a ticket that would ordinarily cost a ton of money.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/airlines\/flying-blue\/buy-miles\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Flying Blue occasionally sells miles at reasonable rates during promotions<\/a>. A recent promotion offered 100% bonus miles, bringing the cost to around 1.53 cents per mile. If used for a Flying Blue business class sweet spot, these could be worth purchasing.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"Final_Thoughts\">Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Flying Blue\u2019s best award opportunities are well worth understanding, especially given how easy it is to build a balance through so many transferable points programs. While certain routes come with higher taxes and surcharges, the mileage savings can offset those added costs. And in many cases, out-of-pocket charges settle around $200, which remains fairly reasonable compared to what some other programs require.<\/p>\n<p>Make sure you keep an eye on the monthly Promo Rewards and also look out for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/news\/chase-ultimate-rewards\/flying-blue-transfer-bonus\/\" rel=\"noopener\">transfer bonuses to the Flying Blue program<\/a>. Both of these will let you maximize the value of your hard-earned points and miles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We explore the Air France\u2013KLM frequent flyer program, taking a look at some interesting Flying Blue award sweet spots. Flying Blue is a valuable program given its relationship with all six flexible rewards programs: American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou\u00ae, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, Marriott Bonvoy, and Bilt.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":43409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":null,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"default","_twitter_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type":"default","_pinterest_share_type":"default","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"default","_medium_share_type":"default","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12068],"tags":[12777,12641,12629],"coauthors":[36394,36458],"class_list":["post-7711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-award-programs","tag-air-france-flying-blue","tag-sweet-spots","tag-using-points"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7711","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7711"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7711\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142727,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7711\/revisions\/142727"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7711"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7711"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7711"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=7711"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}