Air France-KLM and EL AL have just rolled out a loyalty collaboration, and this includes reciprocal opportunities to earn and redeem miles. The most exciting development here is the ability to redeem Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for travel on EL AL, so I wanted to go over the details of that in this post.
I continue to be impressed by the direction that the Flying Blue program is taking, as we see more and more interesting partner award redemption opportunities rolled out. This latest development follows Flying Blue recently adding award redemptions on Etihad and adding award redemptions on Oman Air.
In this post:
The basics of redeeming Flying Blue miles on EL AL
It’s now possible to redeem Flying Blue miles for travel on EL AL directly through the Flying Blue website and app. EL AL doesn’t belong to any major global airline alliance, and while it has loyalty partnerships with programs like Alaska Mileage Plan and Delta SkyMiles, the redemption opportunities aren’t great in some cases.
There are several things to note about redeeming Flying Blue miles on EL AL:
- The award pricing seems to be route based, so pricing isn’t consistent by region
- Award pricing is per segment, so if you fly multiple segments, the pricing is additive
- Flying Blue allows stopovers on one-way awards, but that’s not of much value when pricing is additive, since you’re paying the per-segment price anyway
- Flying Blue isn’t imposing surcharges on these redemptions, so you won’t have to pay much cash for these tickets
- Redemptions are available in business class, premium economy, and economy
- Award availability on EL AL is unfortunately quite limited, especially for redemptions in premium cabins
- This opportunity is useful for those with transferable points currencies, since Flying Blue partners with all major transferable points currencies, and we also often see transfer bonuses, which could be an opportunity to get even more value
Flying Blue’s redemption rates on EL AL are quite competitive, especially when you consider how easy the points are to earn. DansDeals has a rundown of redemption rates, but generally speaking, you can expect to pay the following:
- One-way economy awards from the United States to Israel cost 44,000-61,000 miles
- One-way premium economy awards from the United States to Israel cost 80,500-110,000 miles
- One-way business class awards from the United States to Israel cost 77,500-106,500 miles
Yes, in some cases business class is cheaper than premium economy, and I don’t really get that. Regardless, this new opportunity is the best option for using transferable points currencies for travel on EL AL, in a vast majority of cases.
It’s possible to earn Flying Blue miles on EL AL
While perhaps less exciting than the redemption opportunities, it’s worth noting that you can also earn Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for travel on EL AL, assuming the flight is marketed and ticketed by the airline. Below you can find the mileage earning chart.
Flying Blue no longer awards XPs (the metric by which you earn elite status) for travel on non-SkyTeam partners, so EL AL flights wouldn’t count toward elite status.
Bottom line
Flying Blue has rolled out award redemptions on EL AL, which is a cool development. Redemption rates are reasonable, and there are no carrier imposed surcharges. This is a useful option for those with transferable points currencies to redeem miles for EL AL, including in premium cabins.
What do you make of redeeming Flying Blue miles on EL AL?
It's a pity that flying El Al comes with such strict safety measures. Of course I understand that unlike other security theatre, these are objectively needed and have a purpose, but it really puts me off flying El Al which is otherwise a very nice airline :/ Especially these days I'd love to support them with my money as I'm sure the demand is down, but it's just too much hassle to go through.
Since 10/7, as a result of many foreign carriers cutting or scaling back flying to Israel, El Al actually has been making record profits. So much so, that the Israeli government is investigating them for price gouging.
That said, tourist demand to Israel overall is certainly way down.
https://www.ynetnews.com/travel/article/bjeat7i1r
https://calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkzibrsec
I don't usually fly El Al but I just flew with them business class LHR to TLV. Had no problem with security and was glad that they take security seriously.
Remember: Boycott, Divest, Sanction. All the more reason after Oct. 07.
I remember to proudly support Israeli products and companies (I just discovered Tubi60 thanks to that and it instantly became my favourite spirit, highly recommended!). It's the least we can do for a nation facing such barbaric attacks.
Great stuff. I don't get business being cheaper than premium economy ...at...all...
Genocide should apply to all who hijack and airline mileage award program thread to opine on something they know nothing about. Kill the stupids. Cue Idiocracy.
Alaska miles will no longer be able to be redeemed for El Al flights after this month. Qantas miles can be redeemed for El Al flights at decent rates.
Genocide.
Thanks for agreeing that Oct 7 was genocide.
Go back to Mom's tunnel.
Ojibwe nation genocide in Chicago should certainly be remembered
You should leave Chicago immediately and give the stolen land back to the original native-americas owners
Glad you agree it’s stolen land? Or is your argument “well you stole land so why can’t we?!”… all the while being blind to the fact that Americans don’t deny they are not indigenous to land… Not the hot take your two brain cells thought it was…
Cue the measured and reasonable, on-topic comments about El Al and Israel.
Only in a rotten world would pointing out that Israel is committing a genocide right now, and the frankly bizarre way we're acting like its normal including talking about redeeming miles on their national airline would be seen as not measured and unreasonable.
What changed after October 6, 2023?
Is there something I missed or something you are ignoring?
BTW you should understand that rape, murder and putting babies in ovens is not acceptable behavior even if you want to condone it. Over 1200 citizens were murdered in cold blood October 7. There is visual evidence of rape as well as statements by the rapists. That people call this a rotten world is correct but you...
What changed after October 6, 2023?
Is there something I missed or something you are ignoring?
BTW you should understand that rape, murder and putting babies in ovens is not acceptable behavior even if you want to condone it. Over 1200 citizens were murdered in cold blood October 7. There is visual evidence of rape as well as statements by the rapists. That people call this a rotten world is correct but you got it wrong.
By the way, Israelis are proud of their national airline but it is not Government owned, it was sold a few years ago.
Just repeating lies and racist ones at that - no rapes happened, no babies were put in ovens and actually every accusation is actually an admission of what Isreal does to Palestinians. And btw it wasn't 1200 citizens it actually ended up something like 800, because they includeded dead Hamas fighters in that original figure to overinflate their own deaths, because guess what Isreal lies, lies and lies. Nearly 40,000 innocent Palestinians are dead including...
Just repeating lies and racist ones at that - no rapes happened, no babies were put in ovens and actually every accusation is actually an admission of what Isreal does to Palestinians. And btw it wasn't 1200 citizens it actually ended up something like 800, because they includeded dead Hamas fighters in that original figure to overinflate their own deaths, because guess what Isreal lies, lies and lies. Nearly 40,000 innocent Palestinians are dead including children, but you don't care about them because they are brown and you are an racist evil heartless person that supports a genocidal regime.
Only an uneducated fool would not know that Jews come in every color.
The UN has admitted that there is evidence of rape but uber biased people just deny the validity of any evidence and any fact they prefer not to agree with.
I will stop clogging this conversation but keep spouting your garbage, perhaps elsewhere.
Yes
There has been no evidence of rape, so by repeating this lie constantly, you are the on "spouting garbage". And I love fact you ignore the fact that nearly 40,000 people that we know of but likely higher according to the UN, have been murdered, ethnically cleansed by Israel. Very convenient fact to ignore.
one of my best friends was murdered at the festival and another one who lives in a kibbutz had her grandmother raped, filmed, and lit on fire. They were brown (since race is so important to you). I think you are dehumanizing Israelis to the point that you are being the bigot here. It's okay to condone what happened on October 7th. I don't understand why you think it's a consistent lie and then feel...
one of my best friends was murdered at the festival and another one who lives in a kibbutz had her grandmother raped, filmed, and lit on fire. They were brown (since race is so important to you). I think you are dehumanizing Israelis to the point that you are being the bigot here. It's okay to condone what happened on October 7th. I don't understand why you think it's a consistent lie and then feel the need to comment on an article about miles. You are welcome to come visit me in Tel Aviv and see for yourself how life is.
Again, no evidence for your claims which is just propaganda to frame Palestinians as deserving of the monstrous crime of genocide being perpetuated by Israel. I never condoned what happened on 7th October, but the reality is all of you keep ignoring what Israel is doing, as if after 40,000 innocent people being killed as if that is their right. And yes I will comment on this, because its the banality of evil of talking...
Again, no evidence for your claims which is just propaganda to frame Palestinians as deserving of the monstrous crime of genocide being perpetuated by Israel. I never condoned what happened on 7th October, but the reality is all of you keep ignoring what Israel is doing, as if after 40,000 innocent people being killed as if that is their right. And yes I will comment on this, because its the banality of evil of talking about miles to use on an airline of a genocidal entity committing crimes against humanity is so sick.
I miss the days of Amex transfer bonuses to Flying Blue :(
Has this transfer been officially terminated?
I meant the transfer bonuses.