Flying Blue Complete Guide: Miles, Awards & Free Stopovers
Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM and one of the major mileage programs within the SkyTeam alliance.
Its biggest strengths are easy access through transferable credit card points, monthly Promo Rewards, free stopovers, and award redemptions across Air France, KLM, and 30+ partner airlines.
Unlike programs such as Aeroplan and Atmos Rewards, Flying Blue does not publish a fixed partner award chart. Instead of memorizing a chart, the most practical approach is to search the exact route and compare the mileage price shown for your travel dates.
✈️ What Is Flying Blue?
| Feature | Flying Blue |
|---|---|
| Main Airlines | Air France / KLM |
| Alliance | SkyTeam |
| Currency | Flying Blue Miles |
| Air France / KLM Awards | Dynamic pricing |
| Partner Airlines | 30+ |
| Promo Rewards | Updated monthly |
| Free Stopover | Available |
| U.S. Credit Card Transfers | Amex MR / Chase UR / Citi TYP / Capital One and more |
| Japan Credit Card Transfers | American Express Membership Rewards |
| Membership Tiers | Explorer / Silver / Gold / Platinum / Ultimate |
One of Flying Blue’s biggest advantages is how easy it is to earn miles. In addition to flying with Air France, KLM, and Partner Airlines, members can transfer points from several major U.S. credit card programs as well as Japan-issued American Express Membership Rewards.
💳 How to Earn Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue is one of the most accessible airline programs for U.S. credit card users because several major transferable currencies can be converted directly into Flying Blue Miles. Japan-issued American Express Membership Rewards also provides a direct transfer option.
🇺🇸 U.S. Credit Card Points to Flying Blue
| Points Program | Transfer to Flying Blue |
|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 |
| Citi ThankYou Points | 1:1 |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 |
| Wells Fargo Rewards | 1:1 |
| HSBC USA | 1:1 |
For more details on the major U.S. transferable currencies:
- American Express Membership Rewards Complete Guide
- Chase Ultimate Rewards Complete Guide
- Citi ThankYou Points Complete Guide
- Capital One Miles Complete Guide
- U.S. Transferable Credit Card Points Comparison
Because Flying Blue has so many transfer partners, there is usually little reason to transfer points speculatively.
A better strategy is:
Keep your transferable points → Find Flying Blue award availability → Transfer only the miles you need.
🇯🇵 Japan American Express Membership Rewards to Flying Blue
Membership Rewards points earned with Japan-issued American Express cards can also be transferred directly to Flying Blue.
| Transfer Option | Flying Blue Transfer Rate |
|---|---|
| With Membership Rewards Plus | 1,250 MR Points → 1,000 Miles |
| Without Membership Rewards Plus | 2,000 MR Points → 1,000 Miles |
Japan-issued cards that earn Membership Rewards include the American Express Gold Preferred Card and American Express Platinum Card.
For readers living in Japan, this makes Flying Blue one of the airline programs that can be funded directly with Japan-issued American Express Membership Rewards.
🏨 Marriott Bonvoy to Flying Blue
Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to Flying Blue:
3,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points → 1,000 Flying Blue Miles
Since Marriott Bonvoy is a hotel loyalty currency rather than a transferable credit card points program, it is listed separately.
🤝 Flying Blue Partner Airlines
Flying Blue Miles can be redeemed not only for Air France and KLM flights but also for SkyTeam members and several non-SkyTeam Partner Airlines.
Flying Blue currently provides access to award redemptions across 30+ Partner Airlines, making it useful well beyond Air France and KLM flights.
Major SkyTeam Partner Airlines
| Airline |
|---|
| China Airlines |
| Korean Air |
| China Eastern Airlines |
| Xiamen Airlines |
| Vietnam Airlines |
| Garuda Indonesia |
| Delta Air Lines |
| Aeromexico |
| Aerolíneas Argentinas |
| Virgin Atlantic |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines |
| Saudia |
| Middle East Airlines |
| Kenya Airways |
| TAROM |
Major Non-SkyTeam Partner Airlines
| Airline |
|---|
| Japan Airlines |
| Malaysia Airlines |
| Etihad Airways |
| Qantas |
| WestJet |
| GOL |
| Air Mauritius |
| Aircalin |
Some partner airlines have additional redemption restrictions. For example, Korean Air has Reward Ticket blackout dates, meaning Flying Blue awards may not be available on certain dates even when regular paid seats are still available.
📊 How Are Flying Blue Award Tickets Priced?
Flying Blue does not publish a fixed Partner Award Chart. The number of miles required for Air France/KLM and partner-airline awards can vary by route, cabin and travel date, so the actual price should always be confirmed through a Flying Blue award search.
Here are some of the lowest award prices found in our current searches:
| Award Type | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Air France/KLM Short-Haul | 8,000 Miles | 20,000 Miles |
| Partner Airlines Short-Haul | 5,000 Miles | 15,000 Miles |
| Air France/KLM Transatlantic | 25,000 Miles | 60,000 Miles |
| Partner Airlines Transatlantic | 22,000 Miles | 62,000 Miles |
| Air France/KLM East Asia–Europe | 30,000 Miles | 85,000 Miles |
| Partner Airlines East Asia–Europe | 30,000 Miles | 60,000 Miles |
Based on current search results, partner-airline awards do not necessarily require more miles than Air France/KLM awards. Short-haul partner awards have been found for as little as 5,000 miles in Economy and 15,000 miles in Business, while East Asia–Europe partner Business Class awards have been found for as little as 60,000 miles.
These are low award prices found in actual searches, not a fixed Flying Blue award chart. Pricing can vary by route and travel date, so always check the current mileage requirement before transferring points or booking.
Flying Blue also offers monthly Promo Rewards, which can further reduce the mileage required for selected Air France/KLM routes.
🔥 Flying Blue Promo Rewards
Promo Rewards are one of the signature features of Flying Blue.
Every month, Flying Blue publishes discounted Reward Tickets on selected Air France and KLM routes.
| Feature | Promo Rewards |
|---|---|
| Updated | 1st of each month |
| Discount | Up to 25% |
| Main Airlines | Air France / KLM |
| Reward Fare | Light |
| Award Availability | Based on actual search availability |
Long-haul Promo Rewards may also include European connecting flights through Paris CDG or Amsterdam AMS, so Paris or Amsterdam does not necessarily have to be your final destination.
Promo Rewards routes and prices change every month, making this feature better suited to a separate dedicated guide.
⭐ Flying Blue Sweet Spots
Because Flying Blue does not publish a fixed partner award chart, its sweet spots cannot simply be identified by reading a mileage table.
Instead, finding them requires comparing actual award prices across different routes.
| Type | What to Watch |
|---|---|
| Air France / KLM | Attractive pricing can appear on selected long-haul routes |
| Promo Rewards | Monthly discounts of up to 25% |
| Asian Partner Airlines | Certain regional routes may show attractive pricing |
| Non-SkyTeam Partners | Opportunities with JAL, Malaysia Airlines, Etihad, and others |
Finding Flying Blue sweet spots requires actual route searches and testing, so this topic is better covered in a separate guide.
🔍 How to Search for Flying Blue Award Availability
Flying Blue Reward Tickets can be searched through either Air France or KLM.
The basic process is:
- Log in to your Flying Blue account.
- Select the option to book with Miles.
- Enter your origin and destination.
- Select your cabin.
- Search for available Reward Tickets.
- Compare mileage prices across different dates.
Because Flying Blue does not publish a fixed partner award chart, the actual search result is the most important pricing reference.
This is especially important for partner awards. Do not assume that a particular flight distance will automatically correspond to a specific mileage price.
👥 Can You Book Flying Blue Award Tickets for Someone Else?
Yes. Flying Blue members can use their miles to book award tickets for family members, friends, or anyone else. The account holder does not need to travel with the passenger, and no advance beneficiary registration is required.
This applies to reward tickets on Air France, KLM, and Flying Blue partner airlines.
Flying Blue Family is a separate mileage pooling feature. You do not need to join Flying Blue Family to book an award ticket for someone else.
🎫 How to Book a Flying Blue Award Ticket
Once you find the award you want, you can transfer points and complete the booking.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Find available award space |
| 2 | Confirm the mileage price and cash taxes/fees |
| 3 | Transfer credit card points to Flying Blue |
| 4 | Wait for the Miles to post and complete the booking |
The key rule is simple:
Find the award first, then transfer your points.
With so many transferable credit card currencies available, there is generally no need to move a large balance into Flying Blue before finding an award you actually want to book.
🛑 Flying Blue Free Stopover
Flying Blue allows a free stopover on Reward Tickets.
| Rule | Flying Blue |
|---|---|
| Additional Miles for Stopover | 0 |
| Stopover Definition | 24 hours or longer |
| Air France / KLM | Yes |
| Partner Airlines | Yes |
| Booking Method | Flying Blue Customer Service |
Flying Blue officially allows free stopovers on Reward Tickets, but stopovers currently need to be arranged through Flying Blue Customer Service.
A free stopover does not necessarily mean that an additional flight segment costs zero miles. Through pricing can differ significantly between Air France/KLM and partner-airline awards.
The detailed stopover rules, Air France/KLM through pricing, and partner-airline pricing differences are better covered in a separate Flying Blue Stopover guide.
💰 Flying Blue Award Ticket Fees
Flying Blue Reward Tickets require both Miles and certain cash charges.
| Cost | Required |
|---|---|
| Flying Blue Miles | Yes |
| Airport Taxes | Yes |
| Security Taxes | Yes |
| Carrier Surcharges | Yes |
The real cost of an award is therefore:
Flying Blue Miles + cash taxes and fees
This is particularly important when comparing long-haul Air France and KLM awards. Always consider both the mileage requirement and the cash portion before deciding whether an award offers good value.
🔄 Flying Blue Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Rules
Flying Blue Reward Tickets do not all follow the same change and cancellation rules.
Air France and KLM awards currently use Light, Standard, and Flex Reward Fares, while partner-airline awards do not have one universal change or cancellation fee.
| Reward Ticket | Change / Cancellation |
|---|---|
| Air France / KLM Light | No changes or refunds |
| Air France / KLM Standard | Based on the conditions shown when booking |
| Air France / KLM Flex | Based on the conditions shown when booking |
| Partner Airlines | No universal fee; check before booking |
This means awards on airlines such as China Airlines, Korean Air, Japan Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines should not automatically be assumed to follow Air France/KLM Light, Standard, or Flex rules.
When a partner Reward Ticket permits changes or cancellation, the request must be made before the flight’s check-in deadline. Once the flight has departed, the ticket can no longer be changed or canceled.
If your travel plans may change, check the conditions displayed for the specific Reward Ticket before completing the booking.
⏳ Do Flying Blue Miles Expire?
Yes.
Flying Blue changed its mileage expiration rules on May 4, 2026.
For a standard adult Explorer member, all Flying Blue Miles now share a single 24-month expiration date.
| Activity / Status | Expiration Rule |
|---|---|
| Adult Explorer Member | Miles expire after 24 months |
| Mileage Balance | All Miles share the same expiration date |
| Eligible flight earning Flying Blue Miles | Extends the entire balance by 24 months |
| Eligible hotel partner activity earning Miles | Extends the entire balance by 24 months |
| Eligible car rental partner activity earning Miles | Extends the entire balance by 24 months |
| Elite / Elite Plus Members | Miles do not expire |
| Eligible Flying Blue Co-Branded Cardholders | Miles do not expire |
| Flying Blue Extra Subscribers | Miles do not expire |
| Members Under 18 | Miles do not expire |
For regular Explorer members, completing an eligible activity that actually earns Flying Blue Miles resets the expiration date of the entire mileage balance for another 24 months.
A separate three-year expiration rule continues to apply in Germany.
👤 Flying Blue Status and XP
Flying Blue uses XP (Experience Points) to determine elite status.
| Status | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Explorer | Entry-level membership |
| Silver | 100 XP |
| Gold | 180 additional XP after Silver |
| Platinum | 300 additional XP after Gold |
| Ultimate | Uses UXP separately |
Flying Blue uses a progressive qualification system. You therefore do not simply earn 300 XP as an Explorer member and jump directly to Platinum.
XP is primarily earned through eligible flights, with the amount depending on factors such as route and cabin.
If your main goal is transferring credit card points and redeeming award flights, pursuing Flying Blue elite status is usually unnecessary. Status becomes much more relevant for travelers who frequently fly Air France, KLM, and other SkyTeam airlines.
🏁 Who Is Flying Blue Best For?
Flying Blue’s biggest advantage is not a fixed award chart. Instead, it combines easy access to transferable credit card points, Promo Rewards, free stopovers, and a broad selection of airline redemption partners.
| Flying Blue Feature | Rating |
|---|---|
| U.S. Credit Card Transfers | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Air France / KLM Awards | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| SkyTeam Partner Airlines | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Non-SkyTeam Partner Airlines | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Promo Rewards | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Free Stopover | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Fixed Award Chart | ❌ |
For travelers with American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, Capital One Miles, Bilt Rewards, or Wells Fargo Rewards, Flying Blue is one of the most accessible airline mileage programs.
The simplest strategy is:
Keep your transferable points → Search Flying Blue award availability → Compare the mileage price and cash charges → Transfer points only when you are ready to book.
Flying Blue’s free stopover rules, sweet spots, and monthly Promo Rewards are deep enough to deserve their own dedicated guides.
