Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 242 questions answered
Everything members ask about Air France-KLM Flying Blue, answered from Air France and KLM's own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; 57 answers rely on a secondary source where the airline's page could not be read, and say so.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Create a Flying Blue account online: the "Create an account" link on KLM's Discover Flying Blue page, or on Air France's Flying Blue page at airfrance.us, opens the enrolment form. The Flying Blue terms require an individual online application and let anyone aged two or older join (art. 1.3.1 and 1.3.4). You start at Explorer level and earn XP from your first flight.
Source: KLM: Discover Flying Blue
Does it cost anything to join Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
No. KLM describes Flying Blue as a free loyalty programme, and there is no enrolment or annual fee.
Source: KLM: Flying Blue overview
Is there a minimum age to join Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and can children have their own account?
The terms (art. 1.3.1) open Flying Blue to anyone aged two or older, subject to parental or guardian approval for minors, so children can hold their own account. Companies and other legal entities cannot join.
Where do I find my Air France-KLM Flying Blue membership number?
It comes with your account: once your application is accepted, the terms give you an individual account, a membership number and a Password for the online Flying Blue services (art. 1.3.6), and Flying Blue issues a Membership Card, digital cards included (art. 1.1). Give that number whenever you book, are ticketed or check in, because Miles and XP are credited when it is provided (art. 2.1).
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
The terms provide for a Membership Card, which can be a digital card, issued once your application is accepted (art. 1.1); a lost, stolen or damaged card must be reported immediately to the Customer Service Centre and is replaced (art. 1.4.5). You don't need it to earn, since Miles and XP are credited when your membership number is given at booking, ticketing or check-in (art. 2.1), but you must present it to collect a Reward Ticket issued at an Air France or KLM office (art. 3.2.6).
Does Air France and KLM have an app for managing Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and what can it do?
Yes. The Air France app, on the App Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery, lets you prefill your travel information with your Flying Blue account, search for and buy flights, manage your booking and add extra options. Air France's app page does not mention Miles or XP counters or booking with Miles.
Source: Air France: The Air France app
I accidentally created two Air France-KLM Flying Blue accounts. Can they be merged?
Yes, in effect. The terms allow only one account per person, in your legal name (art. 1.3.2), and where duplicate accounts exist, the one with the lowest XP and Miles balance is terminated and all the XP and Miles on it are transferred to the other account.
How do I close my Air France-KLM Flying Blue account, and what happens to my miles?
Send Flying Blue a termination request: either side can end the membership at any time (art. 1.2.2). Once Flying Blue closes it at your request, you can still use your accrued Miles up to their validity date. If Flying Blue ends the membership itself, your XP are removed at the end of the qualification period, and after a misrepresentation or breach of the terms all XP and Miles expire as soon as the termination notice is issued.
Can I join Air France-KLM Flying Blue if I live outside the airline's home country?
Yes, as long as your mailing address is in a country where the programme is open to membership. The terms (art. 1.3.1) open Flying Blue on that basis to anyone aged two or older, subject to local laws.
How do I update my email, address or phone number with Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Through the Flying Blue website or in writing. The terms require you to notify Flying Blue of any change to your mailing or e-mail address without undue delay, either in writing or by means of the programme's website (art. 1.3.3).
What do I do if I am locked out of my Air France-KLM Flying Blue account?
Use the "I forgot my Flying Blue password" route on flyingblue.com (contact-us/forgot_password) or the password reset on airfrance.us or klm.com to get a reset link by e-mail. If the account was blocked because Air France-KLM spotted suspicious logins, their account terms say they block it immediately and contact you at your registered e-mail address, so check that inbox and follow up with customer service.
Source: KLM: Terms and conditions for Air France-KLM accounts
If I join Air France-KLM Flying Blue after a flight, can I still claim miles for it?
Flying Blue's terms don't say. They allow claims for missing XP or Miles within six months of the flight or transaction (art. 1.4.6), but they don't address flights taken before you joined, so join before you fly whenever you can.
Does Air France and KLM have a separate program for small businesses, and can I earn in both?
Yes: BlueBiz is the Air France, KLM and partner airlines programme for companies (legally registered businesses, not travel agencies), and its how-it-works page says joining is free. Once the company reaches EUR 5,000 of BlueBiz turnover in a calendar year it earns blue credits, each worth USD 1 towards tickets, upgrades and flight-related services, on Air France, KLM and partner flights; Transavia France counts since 1 September 2026, while Delta tickets count only if issued in Europe, the Middle East or Africa. The traveller still earns their own Flying Blue Miles on a ticket paid with blue credits, though a ticket paid with Miles earns no blue credits.
Earning on Air France and KLM flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
How are miles calculated on Air France and KLM flights: by fare paid, by distance, or by a fixed amount?
By fare paid. On Air France and KLM flights you earn a fixed number of Miles per euro of ticket price (carrier surcharge included, other taxes and fees excluded): 4 Miles per euro as Explorer, 6 Silver, 7 Gold, 8 Platinum and 9 Ultimate. XP for status work differently: KLM's XP and status page sets them per flight by distance band and cabin, with Economy Basic and Flex fares earning different amounts.
How many miles do I earn per dollar (or per mile flown) on Air France and KLM?
Explorer members earn 4 Miles per euro of fare, Silver 6, Gold 7, Platinum 8 and Ultimate 9. Air France gives the example of a 150 euro fare earning 1,050 Miles for a Gold member.
Do basic economy or light fares on Air France and KLM earn miles?
Yes. KLM's earning page says you earn Miles for each euro spent on KLM and Air France flights (carrier surcharge included, other taxes and fees excluded) at your level's rate, and it makes no exception for Light or Basic fares. For XP, medium-haul Light and Standard Economy fares earn 5 XP, Economy Basic earns 2 XP and Economy Flex earns 7 XP.
What elite bonus do status members earn on Air France and KLM flights?
Status raises the per-euro rate on Air France, KLM and Transavia flights: 6 Miles per euro at Silver, 7 at Gold, 8 at Platinum and 9 at Ultimate, against 4 for Explorer. On SkyTeam and other partner flights elites earn 20% (Silver), 30% (Gold), 40% (Platinum) or 50% (Ultimate) more Miles.
How long after a flight do miles post to my Air France-KLM Flying Blue account?
KLM says Miles are added to your counter within 24 hours after your flight. If they do not appear, use the Claim missing Miles link on KLM's earning page; art. 1.4.6 of the Flying Blue terms asks for retroactive claims within six months of the flight.
Do award tickets earn miles or status credit on Air France and KLM?
No. Reward Tickets are excluded from Miles and XP accrual under art. 2.4 of the terms.
Which Air France and KLM tickets earn no miles at all?
Reward Tickets, travel-industry reduced rates, and free or non-revenue tickets earn no Miles or XP (art. 2.4). Unused, forfeited, lost, expired or refunded tickets earn nothing either, and flights cancelled for weather, strikes or government directives are not credited (arts. 2.5 and 2.7).
Do taxes, fees and surcharges on an Air France and KLM ticket earn miles?
Only partly. KLM states you earn Miles on each euro of the ticket price including the carrier surcharge but excluding other taxes and fees.
If I upgrade a ticket on Air France and KLM, do I earn miles on the original fare or the upgraded cabin?
On the original fare. Art. 2.8 of the terms says that in case of upgrades, XP and Miles are awarded on the initially purchased fare, not the class of service actually flown. That covers upgrades bought with Miles too, which the terms limit to one cabin per flight per passenger (art. 3.2.16).
Do infant or child tickets on Air France and KLM earn miles?
Children aged two or older can earn; babies under two cannot. Flying Blue is open from age two (art. 1.3.1), so a child can hold their own account and earn on the flights they take, with Miles that don't expire while they are under 18 (art. 1.2.9). A baby under two cannot be a member, and a parent cannot collect Miles for the infant's ticket, because the Member must actually travel to earn (art. 2.7).
Do group bookings, tour packages or charter flights on Air France and KLM earn miles?
Group fares do: KLM's group travel page lists earning your personal Flying Blue Miles (or blue credits for your company) among the benefits of a group booking of 10 or more. Tour packages and charter flights are not addressed by name; the terms only say accrual may be reduced or excluded on certain booking classes, fare types or flight numbers, and that travel-industry reduced rates and free tickets earn nothing (art. 2.4).
Do employee, industry or heavily discounted fares on Air France and KLM earn miles?
Not employee or industry tickets: travel-industry reduced rates and free or non-revenue tickets are excluded from Miles and XP accrual (art. 2.4). Other discounted fares are not excluded outright, but the same article lets Flying Blue reduce or exclude accrual on certain booking classes, fare types or flight numbers.
How do I add my Air France-KLM Flying Blue number to an existing Air France and KLM booking?
Give it before you fly. The terms credit Miles and XP whoever paid for the ticket, as long as your membership number is provided when booking, when the ticket is issued or when checking in (art. 2.1), so check-in is the last chance to add it. Otherwise, claim the flight retroactively within six months (art. 1.4.6).
Does Air France and KLM have a calculator to estimate miles for a flight?
For award prices, yes: Air France points to the Miles price estimator on the Flying Blue website to see the starting price in Miles for a flight. For earning, KLM's earning page gives the formula instead: 4, 6, 7, 8 or 9 Miles per euro depending on your level, on the fare including the carrier surcharge but excluding other taxes and fees.
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
All SkyTeam airlines, plus non-alliance partners Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, airBaltic, Aircalin, Chalair, China Southern, Copa, El Al, Etihad, GOL, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Transavia, WestJet and Winair. Bangkok Airways is redeem-only.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
How are miles calculated on partner airline flights credited to Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Partner flights are not fare-based: Miles are calculated from distance flown, cabin and airline, with elite members earning 20% to 50% more depending on level.
Source: KLM: Flying Blue earning details
Which booking classes on partner airlines earn miles in Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and which earn nothing?
On SkyTeam and other partner airlines Miles are calculated from distance flown, cabin or booking class and the airline, with a status bonus of 20 percent for Silver up to 50 percent for Ultimate, unlike the per-euro earning on Air France, KLM and Transavia. Art. 2.4 of the terms lets Flying Blue reduce or exclude accrual on specific booking classes, so the deepest discount classes on some partners earn little or nothing; each partner's table on flyingblue.com lists the exact percentages.
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. XP are earned on all eligible flights with Air France, KLM and SkyTeam partners, based on cabin and flight type. UXP for Ultimate work differently: only Platinum and Ultimate members earn them, on flights with an Air France or KLM flight number or when they purchase SAF.
Which non-alliance airlines partner with Air France-KLM Flying Blue for earning?
Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, airBaltic, Aircalin, Chalair Aviation, China Southern, Copa Airlines, El Al, Etihad Airways, GOL, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Transavia, WestJet and Winair all earn Flying Blue Miles.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
How long do partner airline flights take to post to Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
No timeline is published for partner flights. KLM's earning page says Miles are added to your counter within 24 hours after your flight but gives no separate timeline for partner airlines. If Miles are missing, the page links to Flying Blue's online Claim missing Miles form, and art. 1.4.6 of the Flying Blue terms asks for retroactive claims within six months of the flight.
Source: KLM: Earning Miles
Can I credit different flights on the same ticket to different programs, or must the whole ticket go to Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
The whole booking goes to one programme. Art. 2.10 of the Flying Blue terms lets a member use only one loyalty programme per booking for earning or redeeming, so you cannot send some flights on a booking to Flying Blue and others to another scheme, and once a booking has been credited to Flying Blue, even for zero Miles or XP, it cannot be withdrawn on request.
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members earn a bonus on partner airline flights?
Yes. On SkyTeam and other partner airlines Silver members earn 20% more Miles, Gold 30%, Platinum 40% and Ultimate 50%.
Source: KLM: Flying Blue earning details
Where does Air France and KLM publish the partner earning charts for Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
The per-airline earning tables live on flyingblue.com under Earn > Partners (one page per airline), which the KLM and Air France earning pages link to.
Can I earn miles on trains, buses or ferries through Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes, on trains booked with an Air France flight. Air France's Train + Air page lists Flying Blue Miles and XP earned for each trip when you book a TGV INOUI or OUIGO train and your flight together, connecting at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. KLM's Air&Rail page, which adds Eurostar or TGV legs to a KLM booking, does not mention Miles, and neither airline's pages describe earning on stand-alone train, bus or ferry tickets.
Missing miles and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing miles from Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Six months. All claims for retroactive XP or Miles should be made within six months of the flight or transaction (art. 1.4.6).
How do I file a missing miles claim with Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Use Flying Blue's online Claim missing Miles form, which KLM's earning page links to for Miles that have not been added to your account. KLM says Miles are added within 24 hours after the flight, and art. 1.4.6 of the Flying Blue terms asks for retroactive claims within six months of the flight.
What information does Air France-KLM Flying Blue need for a missing miles claim?
Keep your boarding passes and passenger receipts (e-ticket): art. 2.9 makes it the member's responsibility to retain them for any retroactive credit. Partner claims must be supported by the relevant documents and can be sent to the Customer Service Centre or filed on the partner's site (art. 1.4.6), within six months of the flight.
How do I claim missing miles for a partner airline flight in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Use the retro claim form on flyingblue.com, which takes partner flights with the ticket number and boarding pass, within six months of the flight (art. 1.4.6 of the terms). The terms also let you send a partner claim to the Customer Service Centre by regular mail or make it on the partner's website, supported by the relevant documents, so keep your boarding passes and passenger receipts (art. 2.9).
Can I claim miles for flights taken before I joined Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Flying Blue's terms don't say. They set six months from the flight or transaction for claiming missing XP or Miles (art. 1.4.6) without addressing flights taken before you joined. See our Flying Blue missing miles guide for how to claim.
My flight was credited to the wrong program. Can Air France-KLM Flying Blue move the miles?
Flying Blue will not move it. Art. 2.10 of its terms allows only one loyalty programme per booking, and a booking once credited to Flying Blue, even with zero Miles or XP, cannot be withdrawn on request, so a flight credited to Flying Blue by mistake stays there. The terms say nothing about moving a flight over from another programme, and any retro claim to Flying Blue must be made within six months of the flight (art. 1.4.6).
What can I do if Air France-KLM Flying Blue rejects a missing miles claim?
The terms limit what you can get: if Flying Blue or a partner improperly denies XP or Miles, your exclusive remedy is the issue of the denied XP, Miles, Reward or benefit (or, at your option, a re-credit of the Miles spent), and Flying Blue may at its discretion offer another reasonable, comparable benefit (art. 1.7.3). Back up any follow-up with your boarding passes and passenger receipts, which you are responsible for keeping (art. 2.9).
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit cards, and in which countries?
In the United States the Air France KLM Visa Signature card is issued by Bank of America, for residents of the U.S. and its territories only. KLM's XP and status page also mentions an AIR FRANCE KLM American Express Card that earns XP every year, without saying in which countries it is issued.
How many miles per dollar do Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit cards earn?
The Bank of America Air France KLM Visa Signature earns 3 Miles per dollar on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam purchases, 3 per dollar on dining and 1.5 per dollar on everything else, with no foreign transaction fees.
What sign-up bonus do Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit cards typically offer?
As of 2026 the Air France KLM Visa Signature offers 70,000 bonus Miles plus 100 XP after $3,000 of purchases in the first 90 days.
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. The US Visa Signature gives 20 XP each account anniversary and up to 160 XP a year with qualifying spend, and the sign-up bonus includes 100 XP, which alone reaches Silver.
Which bank points transfer to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and at what ratio?
Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo all transfer 1:1; Marriott Bonvoy transfers 3:1 with a 5,000-Mile bonus per 60,000 points; Accor ALL transfers 1:1 (2,000 minimum). Hilton (10:1), Hyatt (1,250:500), IHG (5:1) and Best Western (6:1) also convert.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue transfer partners (secondary source)
How long do bank point transfers to Air France-KLM Flying Blue take?
Transfers from Amex, Chase, Citi and Capital One post immediately. Marriott takes one to three days and Accor ALL about ten days.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue transfer partners (secondary source)
Can I transfer miles back out of Air France-KLM Flying Blue to a bank program?
Not to a bank. Art. 1.4.7 of the Flying Blue terms says Miles cannot be transferred, assigned or combined with any other account except within a Flying Blue Family or where Flying Blue itself provides for it. One outbound conversion that does exist is to Accor: its ALL partnership page lists 4,000 Flying Blue Miles converting into 1,000 ALL Reward points.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue run transfer bonuses from bank programs?
Regularly. Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou have each run 20 to 25 percent Flying Blue transfer bonuses several times in recent years, Capital One has offered 20 percent, Bilt up to 150 percent in a one-day promotion and Accor ALL 30 percent (December 2025). They come round a few times a year, so if a redemption is not urgent it can pay to wait for one. See transfer partners.
Source: Frequent Miler: Current point transfer bonuses (secondary source)
Must the bank account and Air France-KLM Flying Blue account be in the same name for a transfer?
Yes, at least at Capital One: its transfer guide says the name on your Capital One account has to match the name on the travel loyalty account, so Venture miles can only go to a Flying Blue account in your own name. Transfers to Flying Blue run at 1:1 from a 1,000-mile minimum and cannot be reversed once completed.
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
The Air France KLM Visa Signature has an $89 annual fee, offset by 5,000 anniversary Miles (after $50 of spend), 20 anniversary XP, no foreign transaction fees and 3x earning on Air France, KLM, SkyTeam and dining.
Do any Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
Not the US card. The Air France KLM Visa Signature's listed perks are Miles, XP, anniversary Miles and no foreign transaction fees, and its page lists no companion fare or flight certificate.
Is there a business credit card for Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Not in the US. KLM's credit card page offers only the Air France KLM Visa Signature from Bank of America and mentions no business card, and Air France's US card page likewise shows only that card, for residents of the U.S. and its territories.
Source: KLM: Flying Blue credit card
Can I get an Air France-KLM Flying Blue credit card if I live outside the United States?
Yes in Canada: Air France Canada offers the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard, issued by Brim Financial, which earns 1 Mile per dollar (2 on food and drink), 5 extra Miles per euro on Air France and KLM tickets, and 30 XP a year plus 30 bonus XP in the first year. The Bank of America Air France KLM Visa Signature, by contrast, is for residents of the US and its territories only, according to KLM's credit card page.
Source: Air France Canada: Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying miles.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue have an online shopping portal, and how does it work?
Yes, Flying Blue Shop for Miles (earnonline.flyingblue.com). Log in first, then reach the retailer's website through the portal's links. Miles show as pending and are credited within 48 hours of the retailer approving the purchase, which takes 90 to 120 days (90 to 120 days after your stay for hotel or travel bookings); claims for missing Miles must be made in writing within 90 days of the purchase.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue have a dining rewards program?
Through its online shopping portal: the Food & Drink section of Flying Blue Earning Online (earnonline.flyingblue.com) pays, as of September 2026 on the US site, 84 Miles per $10 at Restaurant.com and 8 Miles per $10 at Darden Restaurants, and meal kits earn per subscription: 1,264 Miles at HelloFresh, Green Chef or EveryPlate and 632 at Blue Apron. Food and wine retailers such as Omaha Steaks (13 Miles per $10) and wine.com (25 Miles per $10) sit in the same section.
Which hotel chains earn miles in Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and can hotel points be converted?
Accor stays earn 1 Mile per euro once accounts are linked, and Hyatt gives 500 Miles per stay. Hotel points convert in: Accor ALL 1:1, Marriott 3:1, Hyatt 1,250:500, Hilton 10:1, IHG 10,000:2,000, Best Western 6:1, Choice 5:1 and Shangri-La 1:1.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue transfer partners (secondary source)
Which car rental companies earn miles in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
KLM's partner page names Hertz, Thrifty and Dollar: renting with them through KLM earns up to 12 Miles per euro, with 15% off Hertz rentals worldwide and 10% off Thrifty, and CarTrawler car and rail transfers booked there earn Miles too. Flying Blue Ultimate members also get a Hertz Platinum Card, according to KLM's membership-levels page.
Source: KLM: Booking hotels, cars and tours via KLM partners
Can I buy miles from Air France-KLM Flying Blue, at what price, and is there a yearly cap?
Yes, through the Miles Hub in 2,000-Mile increments from a 2,000 minimum. Explorer members can buy up to 100,000 Miles per calendar year while elites have no annual cap; Miles post within 72 hours and a full purchase can be withdrawn within 14 days. Base price is about 3.2 cents a Mile, falling to 1.69 cents in the 80% bonus sales.
Source: AwardWallet: buying Flying Blue Miles (secondary source)
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue run bonus promotions on buying miles?
Yes, frequently. The autumn 2026 sale offered up to an 80% bonus (1.69 cents per Mile on 25,000 or more) until 16 September, and a separate Multiply your Miles offer let members buy up to 16x the Miles they had earned between January and May 2026.
Source: AwardWallet: buying Flying Blue Miles (secondary source)
Can I gift miles to another Air France-KLM Flying Blue member?
Yes. You can gift Miles to another Flying Blue member from the Miles Hub; a fee applies that depends on how many Miles you transfer and is shown when you choose the amount, and the Miles are transferred within 72 hours.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Are there phone, internet, energy or subscription partners that earn miles in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Air France-KLM's June and July 2026 Flying Blue releases name none; the everyday partners they cite are Apple, Uber, Booking and SNCF. Since the June 2026 announcement, members in the US, UK, France and the Netherlands earn Miles on Apple devices, from iPhone and iPad to MacBook and Apple Watch, bought through dedicated storefronts such as us.apple.flyingblue.com, with direct shipping from Apple.
Source: Air France-KLM newsroom: Miles on every Apple device purchase
Can I earn miles on fuel or groceries with Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Only indirectly. Air France-KLM's June 2023 release says members in France, the Netherlands and Sweden earn 3 Miles per euro spent at Amazon, with books, gift cards, game consoles and nicotine or tobacco items excluded. In the US, Flying Blue's Earning Online portal lists Sam's Club at 8 Miles per $10 in its Food & Drink section, and the Air France KLM Visa Signature card earns 1.5 Miles per $1 on purchases outside its bonus categories.
Source: Air France-KLM newsroom: Flying Blue and Amazon expand ways to earn Miles
Can I earn miles on Airbnb, vacation rentals or cruises with Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Vacation rentals yes, through Booking.com rather than Airbnb: KLM's partner page pays 2 Miles per euro on stays booked through its Booking.com link, which covers more than a million hotels, apartments and villas. The same page lists Hertz car rental, GetYourGuide tours and CarTrawler transfers as earning partners but no Airbnb or cruise partner.
Source: KLM: Booking hotels, cars and tours via KLM partners
Does in-flight Wi-Fi, duty free or onboard purchases earn miles on Air France and KLM?
Paid extras such as extra baggage, seats and à la carte meals earn Miles for each euro spent, but Wi-Fi is not among the listed earning extras; KLM's inflight Wi-Fi page makes it a member perk instead, with a free Message Pass on intercontinental flights and a free Wi-Fi Pass on European flights for Flying Blue members. Duty-free and other onboard purchases are not listed as Miles-earning on the KLM earning page.
Source: KLM: Earning Miles
Where does Air France-KLM Flying Blue list its current earning promotions?
On flyingblue.com and by e-mail. KLM's pages link to the Earn section of the Flying Blue website (flyingblue.com/en/earn) under Flying Blue discounts, and KLM says the monthly Promo Rewards, which discount reward tickets, are posted on the Flying Blue website (flyingblue.com/en/spend/flights/rewards) and sent by e-mail to members who have opted in.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Five levels: Explorer (entry), Silver, Gold, Platinum and Flying Blue Ultimate.
How do I qualify for elite status in Air France-KLM Flying Blue: by spending, segments, distance or points?
By XP (Experience Points), which are fixed per flight by cabin and distance band rather than by spend, plus a few extras such as credit card XP and 1 XP per 10 euros of sustainable aviation fuel. Ultimate starts from 900 UXP, which Air France's status levels page says Platinum and Ultimate members earn on flights with an Air France or KLM flight number and on SAF purchases.
What are the qualification thresholds for each Air France-KLM Flying Blue tier?
Silver needs 100 XP, then 180 XP more for Gold, each within a 12-month qualification period, and Air France's Gold benefits page adds that 300 XP moves a Gold member up to Platinum. Ultimate needs 900 UXP. Maintaining a level takes 100, 180 or 300 XP a year respectively.
When does the Air France-KLM Flying Blue qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
Your 12-month qualification period starts as soon as you earn your first Mile or XP. Reaching a level deducts the XP needed and starts a fresh 12 months; keep earning the level's XP (100, 180 or 300) each period to hold it.
Do partner airline flights count toward Air France-KLM Flying Blue status?
Yes, XP are earned on all eligible flights with Air France, KLM and SkyTeam partners. UXP for Ultimate are narrower: Platinum and Ultimate members earn them on flights with an Air France or KLM flight number and when they purchase SAF.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer a status match or status challenge?
Only in selected markets. Flying Blue's status match portal lists offers for residents of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Israel (Silver USD 99, Gold USD 299, Platinum USD 399, with Platinum not available in Brazil) and for Greece (Silver EUR 89, Gold EUR 199, Platinum EUR 349), while the US offer (Silver USD 99, Gold USD 199) appears under recently ended offers, as of September 2026. A match gives status for 12 months, only one match is allowed per person, the decision comes within three business days, and keeping the status after that means requalifying under the normal rules.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer lifetime or million-miler status?
Yes: Platinum for Life is granted after holding Platinum for 10 consecutive years. There is no million-miler style distance track.
Source: One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue elite status guide (secondary source)
If I fall short of requalifying, does Air France-KLM Flying Blue drop me one tier or all the way?
One level only. If you miss the XP by the end of your qualification period you drop to the next level down (Platinum to Gold, Gold to Silver), not all the way to Explorer.
What baggage benefits do Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members get?
Platinum gets one free additional checked bag on SkyTeam flights or up to two on Air France and KLM flights. Air France's Silver and Gold pages give those levels one free additional checked bag on SkyTeam flights, which include Air France and KLM, and its Ultimate page says Ultimate includes all Platinum benefits.
Which Air France-KLM Flying Blue tiers get lounge access, and where?
Gold and above. KLM gives Gold and Platinum members free lounge access with one guest, who must be on the exact same flight, when the flight is operated by KLM, Air France, a SkyTeam partner or one of a few other listed partners, and Air France's status page calls this access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide. Ultimate members can bring up to eight travel companions into KLM and Air France lounges. Silver's listed benefits include no lounge access.
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
There are no complimentary space-available upgrades for Silver, Gold or Platinum. Ultimate members receive four one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year.
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
Silver and above get free standard seat selection. Silver can take some paid seat options free from 24 hours before departure, Gold from 72 hours, and Platinum and Ultimate can choose any seat free from booking.
Which fees does Air France-KLM Flying Blue waive for elite members?
Platinum and Ultimate members pay no change or refund fees on award tickets, including Light awards that are otherwise non-changeable. Silver and Gold get seat and baggage inclusions rather than fee waivers.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
What do Air France-KLM Flying Blue tiers map to in the alliance (Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus)?
Silver is SkyTeam Elite; Gold, Platinum and Ultimate are SkyTeam Elite Plus, which is what unlocks SkyPriority and partner lounges across the alliance.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Can elite benefits in Air France-KLM Flying Blue be shared with family or a companion?
Only partly. Gold and Platinum lounge access includes one guest on the same flight, and Ultimate extends SkyPriority to companions and comes with a Flying Blue Platinum card for one travel companion.
Do surplus qualifying points roll over to the next year in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. When you move up or requalify, the XP needed are deducted and any surplus carries into the next period, capped at 300 surplus XP (one extra year of Platinum).
Can I gift or nominate someone for status in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Only Ultimate members can: they receive one Flying Blue Platinum card to give a travel companion. No other level can gift or nominate status.
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Not directly. Air France's status page lets you top up XP by contributing to sustainable aviation fuel, at 1 XP for every €10 or 2,000 Miles. Separately, Flying Blue's status match portal sells elites of other airlines 12 months of Silver, Gold or Platinum, but only in selected markets: as of September 2026, residents of several Latin American countries, Israel and Greece, with the US offer listed as ended.
Will Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Yes. Air France's Gold and Platinum pages give both levels access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest (conditions apply) and priority airport access with SkyPriority, and its Silver, Gold and Platinum pages each include one free additional checked bag on SkyTeam flights.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer selectable benefits or milestone rewards for elites?
No selectable benefits menu. The only milestone-style perks sit at Ultimate: four upgrade vouchers a year, a companion Platinum card and a Hertz Platinum card.
Redeeming on Air France and KLM
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for Air France and KLM flights?
Dynamic, with no published chart. Since 8 September 2026 each Air France and KLM award comes in Light, Standard and Flex fares; US to Europe one-way starts at 25,000 Miles in Economy, 40,000 in Premium and 60,000 in Business for Light, rising to 30,000/50,000/75,000 for Standard. See our award chart page.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
What is the cheapest award ticket in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Short intra-European hops start at 10,000 Miles one-way in Light (Berlin to Barcelona is the published example). Transatlantic Economy starts at 25,000 Miles, or 18,750 in a monthly Promo Reward.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Can I book one-way awards in Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes. Air France says you can use Miles to buy a one-way or return ticket in the Economy, Premium or Business cabin on all Air France and KLM flights, up to the last available seat. The page does not say a one-way costs half a return; it points to the Miles price estimator on the Flying Blue website for the starting price in Miles of each flight.
How do I search for award seats on Air France and KLM?
Use the reward booking search. KLM's Flying Blue page has a Book reward ticket link that opens KLM's flight search in reward mode, and Air France's Miles page says reward tickets cover Air France, KLM, Transavia and partner airlines. The monthly Promo Rewards are listed on the Flying Blue website at flyingblue.com/en/spend/flights/rewards.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Flying Blue does not use saver and standard; since 8 September 2026 it sells Light, Standard and Flex award fares. Light is cheapest but non-changeable with no checked bag in Economy; Standard adds a bag and 70 euro changes; Flex costs more Miles but includes free changes, seat selection and lower surcharges.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
A free stopover in Paris or Amsterdam is available on awards for no extra Miles (taxes and fees may apply), but it must be booked by phone with Flying Blue. Connections on an award must otherwise be under 24 hours.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue guide (secondary source)
Can I book a mixed-cabin award in Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and how is it priced?
The online engine sells each award in one cabin, and Flying Blue publishes no mixed-cabin rule; because pricing is dynamic and per airline, a booking that mixes cabins across carriers is simply priced per segment by phone. Expect to pay the higher cabin's rate on the long-haul leg rather than any blended discount.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue free stopover awards, the rules (secondary source)
Can I pay part in miles and part in cash with Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes, both ways: on a reward ticket you can pay up to 25% of the Miles price in cash, and on a regular cash ticket you can pay up to 25% with Miles (earning Miles only on the cash part).
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Book the baby with the airline. For a child under two, the adult travelling on the Reward Ticket must make the infant's reservation with the airline that issued the Reward Ticket, at that airline's applicable tariff (art. 3.2.12).
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
There is no round-the-world or multi-city award product. What you can do is build a multi-stop trip by phone using free stopovers: an award prices origin to destination for the contiguous segments on one airline, and as soon as you switch carriers or backtrack outside Europe each airline's legs are priced separately and added up, so a "round the world" is really two or more one-way awards stitched together.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue free stopover awards, the rules (secondary source)
Do awards in Air France-KLM Flying Blue book into basic economy or a regular fare?
The cheapest awards book as Light fares, which work like basic economy: no checked bag in Economy or Premium, paid seat selection, and no changes or refunds unless you are Platinum or above. Standard and Flex include a bag.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
What are the best-value redemptions in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
The monthly Promo Rewards at 25% off (about 18,750 Miles Economy, 30,000 Premium and 45,000 Business to Europe one-way), transatlantic Business at 60,000 Miles in Light, and Flex fares that cut the cash surcharge from about $608 to $302 on Paris to New York Business.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Does flying on an award ticket in Air France-KLM Flying Blue earn status or miles?
No. Reward Tickets are excluded from Miles and XP accrual (art. 2.4).
Can I select seats on an award ticket in Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and is there a charge?
Advance seat selection costs extra on Light and Standard awards and is included on Flex. Silver and above get standard seats free regardless of fare, and Platinum can pick any seat.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
What baggage allowance do I get on an award ticket in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Economy Light includes no checked bag, Economy Standard and Flex one 23 kg bag; Premium Standard and Flex two 23 kg bags; Business Light one 32 kg bag and Business Standard and Flex two. Elite allowances still apply on top.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with miles from Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
All SkyTeam members plus Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, airBaltic, Aircalin, Bangkok Airways, Chalair, China Southern, Copa, El Al, Etihad, GOL, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Transavia, WestJet and Winair. See how to book partner awards.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
Which partner awards can be booked online with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and which need a phone call?
Most SkyTeam partners (Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, China Airlines and so on) appear in the Air France and KLM award search and can be booked online, but not every partner shows up, and anything with a stopover or a partner that does not display has to be booked by calling Flying Blue (800-375-8723 in the US). See how to book partner awards.
Source: Upgraded Points: Best ways to redeem Flying Blue Miles (secondary source)
How are partner awards priced in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Partner awards were not moved to the Light, Standard and Flex structure in September 2026 and keep their previous pricing, which is distance and cabin based rather than dynamic.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue charge a fee for partner awards?
No booking fee: partner awards cost the same online or by phone as Air France and KLM ones, and you pay only the partner's taxes and any carrier surcharge. Changing or cancelling a partner award costs EUR 70 (waived for Platinum and Ultimate), the same as a Standard award on Air France or KLM.
Source: One Mile at a Time: Air France-KLM Flying Blue guide (secondary source)
Which partner airlines add fuel surcharges to Air France-KLM Flying Blue awards?
Air France and KLM themselves add carrier surcharges that often exceed USD 300 one-way in Business, and most European partners follow suit; Delta awards booked through Flying Blue carry no fuel surcharge, which makes Delta the cheapest cash outlay on transatlantic routes. Compare the taxes shown at the pricing step before you transfer points.
Source: Upgraded Points: Best ways to redeem Flying Blue Miles (secondary source)
Can I combine Air France and KLM and partner flights on one award in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. The terms allow several flights and airline partners on the same reward ticket provided each connection is under 24 hours.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue routing rules on award tickets (secondary source)
Do partner airlines release the same award seats to Air France-KLM Flying Blue as to their own members?
For Delta, yes: Flying Blue gets the same saver-level Delta space as SkyMiles members and can book it 28 days earlier (359 versus 331 days out). Other SkyTeam partners release standard partner award classes to all alliance programmes alike, but the cheapest Air France and KLM Light and Standard fares are only sold through Flying Blue, and Platinum and Ultimate members see more of them.
Source: Upgraded Points: When airlines release award seats (secondary source)
Which non-alliance airlines can be booked with Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles?
Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, airBaltic, Aircalin, Bangkok Airways (redeem only), Chalair, China Southern, Copa, El Al, Etihad, GOL, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Transavia, WestJet and Winair.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
Are stopovers allowed on partner awards in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. One free stopover per award (24 hours up to the ticket's validity) is allowed on one-way or return awards, and since the perk was widened beyond Paris and Amsterdam it can sit on SkyTeam partner routings such as Korean Air, Delta or Virgin Atlantic, provided the routing is valid. It costs no extra Miles but must be booked by phone (800-375-8723 in the US); agents are not always aware of it.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue stopovers on partner airlines (secondary source)
Can I use miles to upgrade a partner airline flight through Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Only on partners that offer Flying Blue upgrade awards: Delta, Aeromexico, Aircalin, China Airlines, China Southern, Kenya Airways and Korean Air. Call Flying Blue at least 72 hours before departure to check availability and the Miles price; other partners cannot be upgraded with Miles.
Source: Upgraded Points: Best ways to redeem Flying Blue Miles (secondary source)
Can partner awards booked through Air France-KLM Flying Blue be changed or cancelled online?
KLM's pages send them to Flying Blue customer service rather than My Trip. Its cancellation page tells anyone who booked a reward ticket to contact Flying Blue customer service to cancel, and its change page gives the same instruction for changes. Neither page sets a separate rule for rewards on partner airlines.
Source: KLM: How to cancel your flight
Which partner airlines are the best value to book with Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles?
Delta and Aeromexico between the US and Mexico from 12,500 Miles one-way in Economy with low taxes; Air Europa within Europe at 7,500 Economy or 15,000 Business; Kenya Airways intra-Africa from 9,000 Economy and 32,000 Business; and Delta transatlantic Business from 60,000 Miles with no carrier surcharge, versus roughly USD 200 to 400 in surcharges on Air France and KLM metal. See our sweet spots.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue award sweet spots (secondary source)
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the miles, and which fees can be avoided.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue add fuel surcharges to award tickets on Air France and KLM?
Yes. KLM's Flying Blue page says Miles cannot be used to pay the taxes and carrier charges on a reward ticket; they have to be paid separately at the time of booking.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue charge a booking fee for award tickets?
Air France's booking fee page doesn't single out reward tickets, but it charges no booking fee on its website, and in the US none by phone either. Fees apply only at an Air France agency (USD 90 per ticket for short, medium and long-haul Economy, USD 100 long-haul Premium, USD 120 Business or La Première) and via social media (EUR 30, with no fee on tickets starting in the US, Canada or Mexico).
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue charge extra to book an award by phone?
It depends on the airline, and neither fee page singles out reward tickets. Air France's US fee page lists no fee for tickets purchased by phone (its fees apply at Air France agencies, USD 90 to 120 per ticket, and on social media), while KLM charges nothing online but says a fee will be applied to bookings made through its Customer Contact Center or a KLM Ticket Office.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No close-in fee appears. Air France's booking fee page sets fees only by country of sale, sales channel, cabin and type of flight, with none for tickets bought on its website or by phone in the US, and it lists no last-minute or close-in surcharge. The page doesn't single out reward tickets.
Which award fees does Air France-KLM Flying Blue waive for elite members?
Platinum and Ultimate members pay no change or refund fees on any award, including Light fares. Gold adds lounge access on Business Light, and Silver removes the Light baggage and seat restrictions.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
How much are the typical taxes and fees on an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award ticket?
Roughly $70 on an intra-European award, about 237 euros in Economy and 323 euros in Premium from the US to Europe, and around $608 in Business on Light or Standard fares ($302 on Flex).
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
How does Air France-KLM Flying Blue handle UK Air Passenger Duty and other high departure taxes on awards?
Like any other tax: art. 3.1.4 of the Flying Blue terms makes the member or passenger pay all taxes, levies and surcharges on a reward, so UK Air Passenger Duty and other departure taxes are added in cash at booking, and Air France's Miles booking page says taxes and carrier surcharges cannot be paid with Miles. If the ticket goes unused and expires, the taxes and airport charges that are only due when a passenger actually boards can be reclaimed (art. 3.2.10).
Can I pay the taxes and fees on an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award with miles?
No. KLM states Miles cannot cover the taxes or carrier charges on a reward ticket; they must be paid separately in cash at booking.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Are taxes and fees refunded if I cancel an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
Yes, subject to the reward's conditions. The terms let you cancel a Reward Ticket in full before the first flight departs, and once travel has started the unused future flights can be cancelled and refunded (art. 3.2.9). Even if a Reward Ticket expires unused, you can reclaim the taxes and airport charges linked to actual boarding through Flying Blue Customer Service (art. 3.2.10).
How can I reduce the cash cost of an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
Book a Flex award on long-haul Business, which halves the surcharge (about $302 instead of $608 Paris to New York), or pick routes with low departure taxes. Miles cannot be used for the taxes themselves.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does Air France-KLM Flying Blue charge to change an award ticket?
Depends on the award fare booked since 8 September 2026: Light awards cannot be changed, Standard awards cost 70 euros per change, and Flex awards change free. Platinum and Ultimate members change any award free.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
What does Air France-KLM Flying Blue charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the miles?
70 euros to cancel and redeposit a Standard award or any partner award; Flex awards are refunded free and Light awards are non-refundable. Platinum and Ultimate members pay nothing on any type. See award change and cancellation fees.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
How close to departure can I cancel an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
Up to departure of the first flight: art. 3.2.9 of the Flying Blue terms lets you cancel an issued reward ticket in full before the first segment departs, subject to the fare's conditions, and once the trip has started only the unused future flights can be cancelled and refunded. That right does not apply after a no-show or to reward tickets issued under a Promotional Offer.
What happens to my miles if I no-show an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
You lose the right to cancel and refund: art. 3.2.9 of the Flying Blue terms excludes no-shows, and art. 3.2.11 applies the operating airline's own no-show rules instead, so do not count on getting the Miles back. What you can still reclaim, once the unused ticket has expired, are the taxes and airport charges that are only due when a passenger actually boards (art. 3.2.10).
How long does Air France-KLM Flying Blue take to redeposit miles after a cancellation?
There is no published timeline, but in practice Miles from a cancelled award land back in the account within a few days along with the taxes and fees; a reported case of an airline-initiated cancellation saw the Miles refunded within days, whereas reversing a bank transfer afterwards took months. Cancel through Flying Blue customer service, as reward tickets cannot be cancelled in My Trip.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue cancelled award, where are my miles (secondary source)
Can I change or cancel an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award online, or must I call?
Plan to contact Flying Blue customer service for both. KLM's cancellation page says anyone who booked a reward ticket should contact Flying Blue customer service to cancel, and its change page gives the same instruction for changes, while other tickets can be changed online in My Trip.
Source: KLM: How to cancel your flight
What are my rights if Air France and KLM changes the schedule of my award flight?
If KLM cancels your flight you are usually rebooked automatically on the next available option, KLM's passenger rights page lets you choose rerouting or a refund of the unused flights, and for a reward ticket KLM says to contact Flying Blue customer service. On flights to or from Europe, a cancellation or an arrival delay of more than three hours that is not caused by extraordinary circumstances can also earn fixed compensation of EUR 250, 400 or 600 by distance (EUR 350, 500 or 800 if you take a non-refundable voucher), which may be halved for shorter arrival delays; the voucher can buy KLM, Air France, Delta or Virgin Atlantic tickets but not the taxes on a Flying Blue reward ticket.
Can I cancel just the return of a round-trip Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
Yes, once travel has started: only the unused future flights can then be cancelled and refunded (art. 3.2.9), subject to the reward's conditions. Before departure, the terms provide for cancelling the Reward Ticket in full.
Can I change the passenger name on an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
No. Art. 3.2.14 of the Flying Blue terms says a change of beneficiary is not possible, so the way round it is to cancel the reward, which art. 3.2.9 allows before the first flight subject to the ticket's conditions, and book a new one in the right name.
Are change and cancellation fees waived for Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members?
Yes for Platinum and Ultimate, who pay no change or cancellation fees on any award including Light and partner awards. Silver and Gold pay the normal 70 euros on Standard fares.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer a 24-hour free cancellation on awards?
No. The Flying Blue terms contain no 24-hour free-cancellation clause of their own. Art. 3.2.9 lets you cancel a Reward Ticket in full before the first flight departs, subject to the conditions that apply to it.
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. Partner awards were left out of the Light, Standard and Flex structure and carry a flat 70 euro change or redeposit fee, waived for Platinum and Ultimate.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
What does Air France and KLM do if my award flight is cancelled on the day, and can I be rebooked on partners?
KLM usually rebooks you automatically on the next available option, and its passenger rights page adds the choice of a refund for unused flights, meals and, if needed, a hotel; for a reward ticket, KLM says to contact Flying Blue customer service. On routes to or from Europe you can also claim EU fixed compensation (EUR 250 to 600 cash, or EUR 350 to 800 as a voucher usable on KLM, Air France, Delta and Virgin Atlantic) unless the cancellation was caused by extreme weather, political instability or third-party strikes. KLM's pages do not promise rebooking on partner airlines.
Award availability
When seats are released, holds, waitlists and how to find space.
How far in advance can I book award tickets in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Flying Blue opens award availability 359 days before departure, one of the longest windows in the industry; because Delta space is released to Flying Blue on the same schedule, you can often book Delta One awards through Flying Blue about four weeks before SkyMiles members can at 331 days.
Source: Upgraded Points: When airlines release award seats (secondary source)
When does Air France and KLM release award seats, and are more added closer to departure?
Award seats open 359 days out, and with dynamic pricing there is always a seat for sale on Air France and KLM up to the last one; what varies is the price, and the cheapest Light and Standard fares appear both far out and in the monthly Promo Rewards discounts. There is no published schedule of last-minute releases, so watch the award calendar rather than a set date.
Source: One Mile at a Time: The Flying Blue award calendar (secondary source)
Can I put an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award on hold before paying?
Not as far as KLM's pages go. KLM's paid Time to Think option lets you take an option on a flight for up to 3 days for a non-refundable fee per ticket that depends on the destination and the days to departure, but the page does not mention reward tickets, so plan to pay for an award when you find the space.
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members get extra award availability?
Yes. Platinum and Ultimate members get priority access to the lowest Miles fares on Air France, KLM and partner awards, now listed as an official tier benefit; on Chicago to Paris in Business, for example, a Platinum saw the 60,000-Mile fare on almost every day of April 2026 while non-elites were quoted 193,500 Miles. See how award availability works.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue expanded award availability for Platinum and Ultimate (secondary source)
Can I redeem miles for any seat on Air France and KLM, or only for designated award seats?
Any seat. Air France states reward tickets can be booked in Economy, Premium or Business on all Air France and KLM flights until the last available seat.
What tools show Air France-KLM Flying Blue award availability across dates?
The built-in Air France or KLM award calendar: on the Book with Miles search leave the date blank and you get a month-by-month view of the lowest Miles price for about a year ahead, though it only covers routes flown by Air France and KLM, not partner-only itineraries. Third-party tools such as seats.aero and point.me also index Flying Blue space. See how award availability works.
Source: One Mile at a Time: The Flying Blue award calendar (secondary source)
Can I set an alert for Air France-KLM Flying Blue award availability?
Not from Flying Blue itself. ExpertFlyer (USD 9.99 a month or 99.99 a year) sets award availability alerts on the SkyTeam booking classes Flying Blue uses, and Delta's five-week calendar view is a free way to scan Delta space you can then book with Miles. Confirm any hit on the Air France or KLM site before transferring points, as phantom availability happens.
Source: Upgraded Points: Searching SkyTeam award availability (secondary source)
Why does Air France-KLM Flying Blue show award space that will not book?
The most common trap is the month-view calendar: it sometimes shows a lower Miles price than you actually find when you click into that date, because it caches the cheapest fare seen rather than live inventory. Re-run the search for the exact date and passenger count before transferring points.
Source: One Mile at a Time: The Flying Blue award calendar (secondary source)
When is the best time to book an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award?
Watch the monthly Promo Rewards, which discount selected routes by about 25% for bookings made that month and travel over the following months, and book Light fares early before dynamic prices climb.
Source: Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Promo Rewards (July 2026) (secondary source)
How do I find award seats for a family of four in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Search on the Air France or KLM site with the exact passenger count, since the price and availability shown are for that many seats at once, and use the blank-date calendar to scan months for the lowest fare; Delta's five-week view is a fast second check for Delta-operated legs. For a family, Delta and Aeromexico partner space tends to release more seats at the saver level than Air France and KLM's own dynamic fares, and Platinum or Ultimate status unlocks extra low-fare seats.
Source: Upgraded Points: Searching SkyTeam award availability (secondary source)
Upgrades
Using miles to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade an Air France and KLM flight with miles?
Choose the upgrade with Miles when booking or later under My Trip. The terms require a confirmed, issued ticket and allow a single one-cabin upgrade per flight per passenger (arts. 3.2.15 and 3.2.16).
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Which fares are eligible for a miles upgrade on Air France and KLM?
Air France's upgrade option, which Flying Blue members can pay in Miles or Miles plus cash, is limited by passenger rather than by fare: it goes on sale at check-in for Economy to Premium or Business, Premium to Business and Business to La Première on Air France flights, and is closed to passengers who need medical assistance, travel with a cabin pet (for long-haul Business), hold an extra or bulky-baggage seat, or are on a waiting list. The Flying Blue terms (art. 3.2.15) add that a Reward upgrade needs a confirmed, issued ticket.
Source: Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade
How many miles does an upgrade cost in Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and is there a cash copay?
Air France's upgrade terms publish no fixed Miles price: the option is sold from check-in onwards, and Flying Blue members can pay it entirely in Miles or with a mix of Miles and cash, so a cash co-pay is optional rather than required. Whichever way you pay, the Flying Blue terms allow only one cabin up per flight with Miles (art. 3.2.16).
Source: Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade
Can I use miles to upgrade partner airline flights through Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes on a short list of partners: Delta, Aeromexico, Aircalin, China Airlines, China Southern, Kenya Airways and Korean Air, as well as Air France and KLM. Air France and KLM upgrades can be requested online up to 24 hours before departure, while partner upgrades have to go through Flying Blue by phone at least 72 hours before departure for availability and price.
Source: Upgraded Points: Best ways to redeem Flying Blue Miles (secondary source)
Can I waitlist for a miles upgrade in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Air France sells its last-minute upgrade subject to availability from the time check-in opens, and Flying Blue members can pay for it in Miles or in Miles and cash (sections 4.3 and 4.4 of its terms). Customers who are on a waiting list for the flight cannot buy it (section 3.2), and if Air France does not award an upgrade after purchase you return to your original cabin and the price is refunded.
Source: Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade
Can I upgrade with miles at check-in or at the gate on Air France and KLM?
Yes on Air France: the last-minute upgrade option is offered from check-in, online or in the app, at airport kiosks and check-in counters, with an agent at the airport or on board, and Flying Blue members can pay with Miles or a Miles-and-cash mix. Upgrades bought on board exclude lounge access and the higher baggage allowance.
Source: Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
Only at Ultimate, which gives four complimentary one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year. Other levels use Miles.
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more miles in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
The terms do not say reward tickets qualify. Art. 3.2.15 allows a Reward upgrade only on an eligible flight, as defined in Flying Blue Communication, and only when you hold a confirmed (not waitlisted) and issued ticket, and art. 3.2.16 limits it to a single one-cabin upgrade per flight per passenger.
Are upgrade miles refunded if the upgrade does not clear in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. Under Air France's upgrade option terms, which cover upgrades paid with Miles as well as cash, the price is refunded when the upgrade is not awarded, when the flight is cancelled, or when operational reasons prevent Air France from honouring it even after boarding. Claims go through the online form under Contact us.
Source: Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade
Does Air France and KLM sell cash upgrades or run upgrade auctions, and do they earn miles?
Air France sells last-minute paid upgrades (Economy to Premium or Business, Premium to Business, Business to La Première) from check-in onwards, online, at certain airport kiosks, with an agent at the airport or on board, and its upgrade terms mention no bidding or auction. Flying Blue members can pay in Miles or Miles plus cash; the option earns Miles for each euro spent on Air France flights, while the flight itself earns Miles and XP on the original booking class. The price is refunded if the upgrade is not awarded, or if the flight is cancelled and you cannot travel.
Source: Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend miles.
Can I redeem miles for hotels through Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and what is the value?
Yes. Air France's Flying Blue page lets you use your Miles to book stays with hotel partners worldwide through hotelsformiles.flyingblue.com. It gives no fixed value per Mile, so compare the Miles price with the cash rate for the same room before you book.
Can I redeem miles for car rentals through Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. The Flying Blue Store lists rental cars alongside hotels and merchandise as things you can pay for with Miles.
Can I redeem miles for merchandise or gift cards in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes for merchandise. The Flying Blue Store (store.flyingblue.com) lets you spend Miles on a wide selection of items, and Air France's Miles page names brands such as Apple, Bose and Rituals; items can be returned within 14 days, with the Miles credited back after about two weeks. The store's FAQ does not mention gift cards.
Source: Flying Blue Store: FAQ
Can I pay for seat selection with miles on Air France and KLM?
Yes, for a seat with more legroom. KLM lists it among the extra options you can pay for with Miles, either while booking your ticket or later via My Trip.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Can I pay for checked bags with miles on Air France and KLM?
Yes. Additional checked baggage can be bought with Miles when booking or later via My Trip.
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with miles on Air France and KLM?
In-flight meals can be added with Miles as a travel extra; Wi-Fi is not listed among the Miles-payable options.
Can I redeem miles for lounge access or a lounge membership in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes, lounge access is one of the travel extras Air France lists as payable with Miles, alongside baggage and meals.
Can I donate miles to charity through Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. From your Flying Blue profile you can donate Miles to charities and start-ups (flyingblue.nl/en/donation/charities).
Source: KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer experiences, events or auctions for miles?
Yes. Air France lists exclusive concerts and sporting events among the things Miles can buy, alongside the Flying Blue Store.
Can I convert miles to cash or statement credit in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
No. Air France lists flights, travel extras, hotels, the Flying Blue Store, experiences and charity donations as ways to use Miles, and the terms (art. 1.4.7) say Miles have no cash value, can never be exchanged for cash and cannot be sold or assigned.
Can I use miles to extend status or buy tier credit in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Indirectly, yes: contributing Miles to sustainable aviation fuel earns 1 XP per 2,000 Miles (or per 10 euros), which counts toward keeping or reaching a level.
Expiry and reactivation
Whether miles expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles expire?
Only for Explorer members aged 18 and over. Art. 1.2.9 of the Flying Blue terms in force since 4 May 2026 keeps their Miles valid for 24 months from the last earn activity, and every new earn activity extends the whole balance by another 24 months. Miles do not expire at all for elite members (Silver and above), members holding an eligible co-branded card, Flying Blue Extra subscribers while subscribed, or under-18s. See do airline miles expire.
What counts as activity to keep Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles from expiring?
Any earn activity, which the May 2026 Flying Blue terms define as any activity that entitles you to Miles or XP; Air France's earn page groups these as flights, hotel stays, car rentals, everyday purchases and shopping. Under art. 1.2.9 each recorded earn activity extends your entire Miles balance by 24 months from its date, so a single one protects all your Miles.
Are Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
Yes. Under art. 1.2.9 of the Flying Blue terms in force since 4 May 2026, Miles do not expire for elite members (Silver and above), for members holding an eligible co-branded card, for Flying Blue Extra subscribers while their subscription runs, or for under-18s. The 24-month validity applies only to other Explorer members aged 18 and over.
How do I check when my Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles expire?
In your online account: art. 1.2.9 of the Flying Blue terms in force since 4 May 2026 says you can check the validity date of your Miles balance there at any time, and art. 1.2.11 adds the activity overview, Miles counter and XP counter. KLM links to it at klm.com/profile and Air France at airfrance.us/profile.
What is the cheapest way to keep Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles active?
Any single earn activity resets the clock for your whole balance: art. 1.2.9 of the May 2026 Flying Blue terms extends all your Miles by 24 months from each one, so a small purchase that earns Miles through a Flying Blue shopping partner is enough. Holding an eligible co-branded credit card, or subscribing to Flying Blue Extra, takes you off the expiry clock altogether.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue close inactive accounts?
Yes. Flying Blue may close an account with no XP or Miles activity for five years, or none within two years of enrolment (art. 1.2.10).
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of miles reset the Air France-KLM Flying Blue expiry clock?
Very likely, for a transfer: since 4 May 2026 art. 1.2.9 of the Flying Blue terms extends your whole balance by 24 months from every recorded earn activity (any activity that entitles you to Miles or XP), replacing the split between Overall and Partial Extending Activities in the March 2022 terms that Air France's US legal page still shows. The terms do not single out bank conversions or bought Miles, though, so if an Explorer balance is close to expiring, a flight or partner purchase is the certain way to reset it; elite members, eligible cardholders and under-18s have no expiry to reset.
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
What is the standard checked baggage allowance on Air France and KLM, and how does status change it?
It depends on the fare. On KLM, Economy Light includes no checked bag, Economy Standard and Flex one bag of up to 23 kg, Premium Comfort two bags of 23 kg and Business two bags of 32 kg, each up to 158 cm in total dimensions. Status adds bags on top: KLM's membership page gives Silver and Gold one extra bag on KLM and some partner flights, and Platinum and Ultimate two extra bags on KLM and Air France flights, while Air France's status page gives Platinum one extra bag on other SkyTeam flights.
Source: KLM: Checked baggage allowance
Which lounges can Air France-KLM Flying Blue members access, and how?
Gold and above get lounge access with one guest on the same flight when flying with KLM, Air France or SkyTeam partners, which Air France's status page describes as SkyTeam lounges worldwide; Ultimate members can bring up to eight travel companions into Air France and KLM lounges. Lounge access can also be added with Miles, according to KLM's spending page.
Can I buy lounge access on Air France and KLM without status?
Yes, with Miles. Air France's page on using Flying Blue Miles lists lounge access among the travel extras you can add with your Miles, alongside extra baggage and in-flight meals, and it names no status requirement.
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Air France and KLM?
Silver gets priority access for check-in and baggage drop-off, according to Air France's status page. Gold, Platinum and Ultimate get SkyPriority, which KLM describes as priority access throughout the airport, including priority lines at check-in, baggage drop-off and boarding, and Ultimate extends it to travel companions.
Does Air France and KLM offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
KLM's change page describes no same-day change or standby option and no fee waiver for elite members. You can move to another date, time or flight in My Trip under your fare rules, paying any fare difference plus the change fee (for example EUR 70 on Standard fares within Europe, EUR 200 on intercontinental Economy, free on Flex), and Flying Blue reward tickets have to be changed through Flying Blue customer service rather than online.
Does Air France and KLM offer free Wi-Fi to Air France-KLM Flying Blue members?
Yes on KLM. Flying Blue members get the Message Pass free on every intercontinental KLM flight with Wi-Fi (WhatsApp, Messenger, WeChat text only) and the full Wi-Fi Pass free on European flights (browsing, e-mail, streaming). Non-members pay for a one-hour or full-flight pass, and you can join Flying Blue on board to get the perk.
Source: KLM: Inflight WiFi
Do Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
Only a few. A Gold or Platinum member can bring one lounge guest, who must be on the exact same flight. Ultimate members can take up to eight travel companions into KLM and Air France lounges, share SkyPriority with their travel companions and give one companion a Flying Blue Platinum card. KLM lists no other companion benefits.
Can Air France-KLM Flying Blue elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Yes. Air France's Gold benefits page lists access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest (conditions apply), and its Platinum page gives Platinum members the same access.
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Yes. Elite benefits apply even on a Light award that excludes them: Silver still gets its free bag and seats, Gold adds lounge access and Platinum gets free changes.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares (secondary source)
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue status come with hotel, car rental or other partner status?
Only at the top: KLM lists a Hertz Platinum Card among the Flying Blue Ultimate benefits, and no hotel or car rental status at Silver, Gold or Platinum. Accor's ALL partnership page adds a one-off welcome bonus of 2 ALL status nights and 10 XP when you link the two accounts, half after your first eligible hotel stay and half after your first Air France-KLM flight.
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which alliance is Air France and KLM in, and since when?
Both are in SkyTeam: Air France co-founded the alliance in 2000 with Aeromexico, Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, and KLM joined in 2004 alongside Continental and Northwest. That is why KLM's membership page gives Flying Blue Gold and above SkyPriority and lounge access when flying with SkyTeam partners.
Which airlines are Air France and KLM's partners outside its alliance?
Outside SkyTeam, Flying Blue partners with Air Corsica, Air Mauritius, airBaltic, Aircalin, Bangkok Airways, Chalair, China Southern, Copa, El Al, Etihad, GOL, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qantas, Transavia, WestJet and Winair.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
Which joint ventures is Air France and KLM part of, and what do they mean for Air France-KLM Flying Blue members?
Air France and KLM sit in the transatlantic joint venture with Delta and Virgin Atlantic, launched in February 2020 and covering up to 341 daily services between Europe, the UK and North America. For Flying Blue members that means you earn and spend Miles and use elite benefits (priority boarding, over 100 lounges) on any of the four airlines' worldwide flights, including US domestic and intra-Europe hops.
Source: Air France-KLM newsroom: Air France, KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic launch partnership
Which partners has Air France-KLM Flying Blue added or lost recently?
Air France-KLM's July 2026 release on the Freddie Awards highlights recent non-airline additions: a new Apple partnership that lets members earn Miles on selected Apple devices, and Flying Blue Experiences, launched in January 2026 for spending Miles on exclusive benefits. More than 100 commercial partnerships are active, with brands such as Uber, Booking and SNCF, and the release puts the network at more than 40 airline and 100 commercial partners. It names no partner that has left.
Source: Air France-KLM newsroom: Flying Blue at the 2026 Freddie Awards
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Accor ALL is the closest partner (1 Mile per euro on stays, ALL points convert 1:1 into Miles, and Miles convert back at 4,000 to 1,000 points); Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, Hilton, IHG, Best Western, Choice, Radisson and Shangri-La points also convert to Miles.
Source: AwardWallet: Flying Blue transfer partners (secondary source)
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue partner with any low-cost carriers?
Yes: Transavia, which the Air France-KLM group describes as its low-cost airline. KLM's earning page puts Transavia flights with Air France and KLM at 4 to 9 Miles per euro by level, and KLM's spending page lists Transavia among the airlines you can book with Miles.
Source: KLM: Flying Blue earning details
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue have rail partners?
Yes. SNCF Voyageurs has been an Air France partner for 30 years: Train+Air combined tickets cover 41 TGV routes to and from Paris-CDG and Orly, and since February 2025 Flying Blue members can convert Miles into TGV INOUI vouchers of 25 to 100 euros in the Flying Blue Store. KLM's Air&Rail adds Eurostar and TGV legs between Brussels or Antwerp and Amsterdam or Paris on one ticket.
Source: Air France corporate: 30 years of SNCF Voyageurs partnership
Which other frequent flyer programs are best for booking Air France and KLM flights?
Delta SkyMiles and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, the programmes of Air France-KLM's transatlantic joint-venture partners. The group's February 2020 launch release says loyalty members of the four airlines can earn and use miles, and enjoy elite benefits, on any of the four carriers' worldwide flights, which makes those two the natural alternatives to Flying Blue for Air France and KLM seats.
Source: Air France-KLM newsroom: Air France, KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic launch partnership
Do Air France and KLM's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in Air France-KLM Flying Blue the same way?
Transavia does: KLM's earning page puts Transavia flights with Air France and KLM at 4 to 9 Miles per euro by level, and its spending page lists Transavia among the airlines you can book with Miles. KLM's earning page names no separate rule for regional subsidiaries.
Source: KLM: Flying Blue earning details
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns miles, selling, brokers and enforcement.
Who owns Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles: the member or the airline?
The terms do not say outright, but they limit what members can do with Miles. Art. 1.4.7 says Miles cannot under any circumstances be transferred, bequeathed, assigned, sold or combined, except within a Flying Blue Family or as Flying Blue provides, and that XP, Miles and Rewards have no cash value; art. 1.2.12 cancels them on the member's death, and art. 1.2.1 lets Flying Blue amend the Miles structure at any time.
Do the Air France-KLM Flying Blue terms prohibit selling or bartering miles?
Yes. Art. 1.4.7 says the account, XP, Rewards, status and Miles cannot under any circumstances be transferred, bequeathed, assigned, sold or combined, whether or not for valuable consideration, except within a Flying Blue Family or as Flying Blue itself provides, and art. 1.4.8 lists the sale or barter of Rewards or tickets among the violations that can end the account.
What can Air France-KLM Flying Blue do if it finds miles were sold or awards were bought?
Under arts. 1.4.7 and 1.4.8 Flying Blue may terminate the account, forfeit all XP and Miles, and require anyone travelling on a purchased or bartered Reward to pay the full applicable fare; violators are also liable for damages and litigation costs.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue audit accounts, and what triggers a review?
Yes. Flying Blue can audit any account at any time and without notice to check compliance with the programme rules (art. 1.6.1). If an audit finds discrepancies, it can stop you spending Miles or using lounges and benefits until they are resolved (art. 1.6.2), and failing to prove your identity within 30 days of a request leads to suspension or termination and forfeiture of all XP and Miles (art. 1.4.2).
Is it against the Air France-KLM Flying Blue rules to book an award for someone who pays me for it?
Yes. Booking for friends or family is fine, but art. 1.4.7 makes any passenger who uses a purchased or bartered Reward liable for damages, and the sale or barter of Rewards can end the account.
Can Air France-KLM Flying Blue change its rules or devalue miles without notice?
It can change them at any time, but not silently. Art. 1.2.1 lets Flying Blue amend the programme, the terms and the XP, Miles accrual, Reward and redemption structures at any time, and says amendments to the terms are notified through Flying Blue Communication; a member who does not accept them may end their membership. Art. 1.7.2 adds that Flying Blue will make reasonable efforts to inform members of programme changes as soon as possible.
Are Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles taxable?
The Flying Blue terms do not address income tax on Miles. The tax clause they do contain, art. 3.1.4, makes the member or the beneficiary pay all taxes, sale and after-sale fees, levies and surcharges tied to issuing, changing, cancelling or using a Reward, and art. 1.4.7 adds that Miles have no cash value and can never be exchanged for cash.
Where are the full Air France-KLM Flying Blue terms and conditions?
The current Flying Blue Terms and Conditions, issued by Air France and KLM, took effect on 4 May 2026 and are published by Flying Blue as a PDF. Air France's US legal pages still show an older version, applicable from 28 March 2022, so check the PDF for the rules now in force, notably the new Miles validity rules in art. 1.2.9.
How does selling Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 1.06¢ to 1.26¢ per mile depending on the balance. You get a quote on the Air France-KLM Flying Blue page, our team confirms the details, the miles are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles worth?
Published valuations put Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles at 1.30¢ to 1.40¢ each, about 1.33¢ on average, as of 2026-09-22. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and merchandise or cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page lists each source and the redemptions behind the range.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact Air France-KLM Flying Blue customer service?
In the US call Flying Blue on 800-375-8723; elsewhere use the contact pages at airfrance.us/contact or klm.com/contact, which route Flying Blue topics to the service centre.
Source: The Points Guy: Flying Blue guide (secondary source)
What are the Air France-KLM Flying Blue service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
Platinum members get the exclusive Platinum Service Line with 24/7 assistance, and Ultimate members a dedicated Ultimate Assistant around the clock.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer online chat or messaging support?
Yes, through messaging: Air France runs WhatsApp, Messenger and Apple Messages support where bots give immediate answers and transfer you to an agent if needed, and it works anywhere with an internet connection. Flying Blue-specific requests can also be raised through the contact forms on airfrance.us/contact and klm.com/contact.
Source: Air France: Our customer service team on social media
What do I do if my Air France-KLM Flying Blue account is hacked or miles are stolen?
Contact customer service straight away. The Air France-KLM account terms say that if login fraud is detected the account is blocked immediately and you are contacted at your registered e-mail address. Bear in mind art. 1.3.6 of the Flying Blue terms makes you responsible for keeping your password confidential and treats any operation from your account as yours, so change your password and report quickly.
Source: KLM: Terms and conditions for Air France-KLM accounts
How do I see my Air France-KLM Flying Blue activity statement and past redemptions?
Your activity overview, Miles counter and XP counter are in your online account (art. 1.2.11), at klm.com/profile or the Air France My account area.
How do I escalate a complaint about Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
Through the airlines' claims channels: KLM's contact pages have a Claims topic under refunds and compensation, and Air France's site has a Claims page. If the complaint is that Miles, XP, a Reward or another benefit was wrongly refused, art. 1.7.3 of the Flying Blue terms makes your exclusive remedy the issue of what was denied or, at your option, a recredit of the Miles spent, with other comparable benefits at Flying Blue's discretion.
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award ticket?
Infants under two are not included in the reward: they must be booked separately with the airline at the applicable infant tariff (art. 3.2.12).
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award ticket?
Neither KLM nor the Flying Blue terms say. KLM requires its Unaccompanied Minor service for children aged 5 to 14 flying without an adult (optional at 15 to 17), booked with the child's adult-fare ticket on the KLM website at least 24 hours before departure: EUR 100 to 150 each way on direct flights, EUR 200 to 300 with a transfer, with transfers only on KLM, Air France or Delta flights. The page does not mention reward tickets and the terms' only rule on children flying on rewards covers infants under two, so ask Flying Blue customer service before booking a reward for a child travelling alone.
Can I pay pet fees with miles on Air France and KLM, and do pet fees earn miles?
Neither is offered on KLM's pet page. It puts the cost of travelling with a pet at EUR 70 to EUR 500 per one-way flight, with cabin pets reserved via My Trip, and says nothing about paying with Miles or earning Miles on the fee. KLM's Miles spending page lists baggage, lounge access, in-flight meals, upgrades and seats with more legroom among the extras you can pay for with Miles, but not pets.
Source: KLM: Reservation for pets
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer military, veteran or government member benefits?
Not as a Flying Blue benefit: the military perk is Air France's baggage allowance. Its US fee page gives US military personnel travelling on orders five checked bags of up to 32 kg in Business or Economy, and those travelling on leisure three 32 kg bags in Business or two 23 kg bags in Economy.
Does Air France-KLM Flying Blue offer student or youth benefits?
Flying Blue itself has no student or youth tier. Air France sells Youth fares (ages 12 to 24) and Student fares (18 to 29 with proof of enrolment) in Economy: two free 23 kg checked bags, free changes (fare difference only) and cancellation for EUR 100 within Europe or EUR 250 on international flights. The fare page does not state a special Miles rate, so expect the normal per-euro earning of your status level.
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on an Air France-KLM Flying Blue award booking?
Through KLM's or Air France's assistance channels. KLM's mobility assistance page says to request an airport wheelchair in My Trip or to contact KLM directly at least 48 hours before departure, and to use the KLM Cares form, phone or e-mail for other assistance requests; the page does not mention reward tickets. Air France's contact pages have a separate topic for passengers with disabilities.
Source: KLM: Mobility assistance
Can I book group awards for more than nine people in Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
KLM's group booking page doesn't mention paying with Miles. Groups of 10 or more (not counting children under two travelling on a lap) request an obligation-free quote tailored to the group through partner Delta Air Lines, with more flexibility in payment and cancelling, free standard seats, free name changes before tickets are issued and checked baggage included; each traveller earns personal Flying Blue Miles, or the company earns blue credits.
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
What are the most recent major changes to Air France-KLM Flying Blue?
On 8 September 2026 Air France and KLM awards split into Light, Standard and Flex fares, raising Standard prices (Paris to New York Business from 60,000 to 75,000 Miles); on 4 May 2026 the Miles expiry rule was simplified so any earning activity extends the whole balance.
Source: One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue tiered award fares (secondary source)
Has Air France-KLM Flying Blue changed its name or currency recently?
No. Flying Blue was born in 2005 from the merger of Air France's Fréquence Plus and KLM's Flying Dutchman programmes, as Air France-KLM's 20th-anniversary release notes, and its currency has always been Miles. The relaunch of 1 April 2018 switched earning to Miles per euro and qualification to XP, with an entry tier then called Ivory; KLM's current levels page starts members at Explorer and adds Ultimate above Platinum.
When did Air France-KLM Flying Blue last devalue its award prices?
8 September 2026, when the new tiered award fares raised Standard pricing by roughly 25% to 50% (US to Europe Business from 60,000 to 75,000 Miles) while keeping the old price only for restrictive Light fares.
Source: One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue tiered award fares (secondary source)
What changes has Air France-KLM Flying Blue announced for the coming year?
The headline change has already landed: since 8 September 2026 Air France and KLM awards come in Light, Standard and Flex fares, with Light stripping lounge access, seat selection, refunds and changes from the cheapest price and Standard costing about 25 percent more Miles (Paris to New York Business: 60,000 Light, 75,000 Standard, 110,000 Flex). Partner awards were untouched, elites keep their status benefits on Light fares, and Flying Blue has announced nothing further for the coming months beyond adding events to Flying Blue Experiences.
Source: Head for Points: Flying Blue devaluation, the full story (secondary source)
How does Air France-KLM Flying Blue notify members of changes?
Through Flying Blue Communication: art. 1.2.1 says amendments to the terms are notified that way, and the terms define it as programme brochures, news, letters, direct mailings, the website and enrolment forms. Members who do not accept amended terms may end their membership.
What changed most recently in how Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite status is earned?
Surplus XP rollover was capped at 300 XP a year from late 2024; before that unlimited surplus XP carried forward. Thresholds (100/180/300 XP, 900 UXP) are unchanged.
Source: One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue XP rollover (secondary source)
When was Air France-KLM Flying Blue founded?
Flying Blue was created in 2005 by merging Air France's Fréquence Plus with KLM's Flying Dutchman programme. It marked its 20th anniversary in June 2025 with close to 30 million members, about 40 airline partners and over 100 commercial partners.
Source: Air France-KLM newsroom: Flying Blue celebrates 20 years
Pages these answers were read from
- KLM: Discover Flying Blue · official page
- KLM: Flying Blue overview · official page
- Flying Blue: Terms and Conditions (May 2026) · official page
- Air France: The Air France app · official page
- KLM: Terms and conditions for Air France-KLM accounts · official page
- BlueBiz: Frequently asked questions · official page
- KLM: Earning Miles with Flying Blue · official page
- Air France: Earn Flying Blue Miles · official page
- KLM: Flying Blue XP and status details · official page
- KLM: Travelling in a group of 10 or more · official page
- Air France: Book with your Flying Blue Miles · official page
- Air France: Flying Blue status and XP · official page
- The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners · secondary source
- KLM: Flying Blue earning details · official page
- Air France: Flying Blue status levels · official page
- Air France: Combined Train + Air journey · official page
- Air France: Air France KLM Visa Signature card · official page
- AwardWallet: Flying Blue transfer partners · secondary source
- Frequent Miler: Current point transfer bonuses · secondary source
- Capital One: Venture miles transfer partners guide · official page
- KLM: Flying Blue credit card · official page
- Air France Canada: Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard · official page
- Flying Blue Shop for Miles: terms and conditions · official page
- Flying Blue Earning Online: Food & Drink (US) · official page
- KLM: Booking hotels, cars and tours via KLM partners · official page
- Air France: Earn Flying Blue Miles with Uber · official page
- AwardWallet: buying Flying Blue Miles · secondary source
- KLM: Spending Flying Blue Miles · official page
- Air France-KLM newsroom: Miles on every Apple device purchase · official page
- Air France-KLM newsroom: Flying Blue and Amazon expand ways to earn Miles · official page
- KLM: Flying Blue membership levels · official page
- Flying Blue status match portal: FAQ · official page
- One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue elite status guide · secondary source
- Air France: Flying Blue Platinum benefits · official page
- One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees · secondary source
- Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Light, Standard and Flex award fares · secondary source
- Air France: Flying Blue Ultimate benefits · official page
- Air France: Flying Blue Gold benefits · official page
- The Points Guy: Flying Blue adds Light, Standard and Flex award fares · secondary source
- The Points Guy: Flying Blue guide · secondary source
- Frequent Miler: Flying Blue free stopover awards, the rules · secondary source
- Upgraded Points: Best ways to redeem Flying Blue Miles · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: Air France-KLM Flying Blue guide · secondary source
- The Points Guy: Flying Blue routing rules on award tickets · secondary source
- Upgraded Points: When airlines release award seats · secondary source
- AwardWallet: Flying Blue stopovers on partner airlines · secondary source
- KLM: How to cancel your flight · official page
- AwardWallet: Flying Blue award sweet spots · secondary source
- Air France: Booking fees - Service fees · official page
- The Points Guy: Flying Blue cancelled award, where are my miles · secondary source
- KLM: Compensation and reimbursement · official page
- One Mile at a Time: The Flying Blue award calendar · secondary source
- KLM: Securing your ticket price (Time to Think) · official page
- AwardWallet: Flying Blue expanded award availability for Platinum and Ultimate · secondary source
- Upgraded Points: Searching SkyTeam award availability · secondary source
- Frequent Miler: Flying Blue Promo Rewards (July 2026) · secondary source
- Air France: Terms and conditions for a last-minute paid upgrade · official page
- Air France: Use your Flying Blue Miles · official page
- Air France: Flying Blue online shopping · official page
- Flying Blue Store: FAQ · official page
- KLM: Checked baggage allowance · official page
- KLM: How to change your flight and extra options · official page
- KLM: Inflight WiFi · official page
- SkyTeam: SkyTeam turns 25 (press release) · official page
- Air France-KLM newsroom: Air France, KLM, Delta and Virgin Atlantic launch partnership · official page
- Air France-KLM newsroom: Flying Blue at the 2026 Freddie Awards · official page
- Air France corporate: 30 years of SNCF Voyageurs partnership · official page
- Air France: Our customer service team on social media · official page
- KLM: Unaccompanied minors service · official page
- KLM: Reservation for pets · official page
- Air France: Fees and paid options (US) · official page
- Air France: Youth and Student fares · official page
- KLM: Mobility assistance · official page
- One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue tiered award fares · secondary source
- KLM newsroom: New Flying Blue programme · official page
- Head for Points: Flying Blue devaluation, the full story · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: Flying Blue XP rollover · secondary source
- Air France-KLM newsroom: Flying Blue celebrates 20 years · official page