While the Air France-KLM Group primarily consists of (you guessed it!) Air France and KLM, the company also has a low cost subsidiary, Transavia. That subsidiary has both a French and Dutch division, with the former operating primarily out of Paris Orly (ORY), and the latter operating primarily out of Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
Historically, Flying Blue elite members haven’t received any elite perks when flying on Transavia, though that’s finally set to change with some changes that flyers will no doubt be happy about.
In this post:
New Flying Blue Platinum & Ultimate benefits on Transavia
Flying Blue is adding elite perks when flying on Transavia, though they’re specific to the French subsidiary, and therefore primarily for flights to and from Paris Orly. The new perks are for Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members, meaning that Silver and Gold members don’t get any upside here.
So, what are the new benefits, which are expected to all be rolled out by the spring of 2026?
- Dedicated check-in, baggage drop-off, and fast track security, at Paris Orly
- Enhanced priority rebooking in the event of disruptions
- Access to a new Transavia Lounge that’s opening at Paris Orly
- Access to partner lounges in Marseille (MRS), Montpellier (MPL), Nice (NCE), and Toulouse (TLS)
- Access to Transavia’s premium phone line
- Priority boarding and a complimentary cabin bag (exclusively for Ultimate members)
I’m fascinated to see that Transavia will be opening a lounge at Paris Orly, and I look forward to learning more. It’s my understanding that lounge access will be for elite members, plus those purchasing the carrier’s most expensive fare bundle.
Let me once again stress that these perks only apply to flights on Transavia’s French subsidiary (with airline code “TO”), and not flights on Transavia’s Dutch subsidiary (with airline code “HV”).
This is an excellent development for Flying Blue elites
I know that historically some Flying Blue elite members have been frustrated and confused by the lack of elite perks when traveling on Transavia, given the size of the carrier. After all, you’d think that the airline group would want to create an incentive to fly with the low cost carrier over a competitor like EasyJet or Ryanair.
Simply put, the logic has been that Transavia generally has low fares, and the economics don’t make sense if you start giving away a bunch of perks to elite flyers, given the extent to which the business model is based on ancillary revenue and fees. I imagine that Flying Blue felt that offering a limited number of XPs for Transavia flights (the method for status qualification) was a sufficient incentive.
But the updated strategy from Flying Blue is a bit nuanced, as you can tell, based on the perks being specific to the French subsidiary, rather than the Dutch subsidiary. The logic here is presumably how the Air France vs. Transavia strategy has evolved over the years.
Keep in mind that Air France has consolidated its operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), while Transavia has consolidated its operations at Paris Orly. There are a huge number of destinations served by both Air France and Transavia, and many Flying Blue elite members may strongly prefer to fly out of Paris Orly. For that matter, there’s more incentive to have a premium offering out of Paris Orly, given ultra low cost carrier competition at the airport.
It’s a bit different than the story of the Dutch subsidiary, where both KLM and Transavia operate out of Amsterdam Schiphol, and don’t overlap on routes. In Amsterdam, Transavia really only operates on heavily leisure routes, so the airline isn’t trying to quite gain market share with the same strategy.
Bottom line
The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program is rolling out elite perks on Transavia, though only when flying on the French subsidiary, and not when flying on the Dutch subsidiary. Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members can expect priority airport services, including access to a new lounge. Oddly the priority boarding perk is reserved for Ultimate members, though.
This is all a great development, and I look forward to learning more details, particularly about the new lounge.
What do you make of Flying Blue rolling out elite perks on Transavia?
I'm not looking forward to AF pulling out of Orly (particularly since Nice and Toulouse aren't served by any real high speed rail to Paris, leaving air as the only option), but what else are they going to do with AF Orly lounge? Makes sense, and takes some of the sting out the situation, though once CDG Express opens in 2027, then NCE/TLS-CDG on Air France might become useful for business and short trips.
FWIW,...
I'm not looking forward to AF pulling out of Orly (particularly since Nice and Toulouse aren't served by any real high speed rail to Paris, leaving air as the only option), but what else are they going to do with AF Orly lounge? Makes sense, and takes some of the sting out the situation, though once CDG Express opens in 2027, then NCE/TLS-CDG on Air France might become useful for business and short trips.
FWIW, the Air France flights from Nice and Toulouse to Orly are all-economy anyway, so the difference is just branding.
(Which is stupid -- since Transavia is owned by AF/KLM, just rename it Air France Shuttle or something for the French routes!)
I have not flown out of Orly for a few years.
However, the metro line 14 goes from central Paris to Orly in 25 minutes. Very convenient.
Especially when it could take 90 min from CDG to Opera or Chatelet by taxi.
Presumably Transavia is just taking over an Air France lounge at Orly given the drawdown in Air France flights at Orly.
I think that's exactly the plan: replacing AF by Transavia at Orly without alienating elite members (well, except Gold members)
Ben, a bit of context regarding "this is an excellent development for Flying Blue elites". Orly to Nice/Marseille/Toulouse are very busy business routes, which used to be operated by AF point-to-point with a service called "La Navette" (the shuttle).
Now that AF is refocusing on CDG from these locations, it has left the point-to-point traffic to Transavia. See the lounge opening and the perks as a continuation, for business travellers of what is discontinued by...
Ben, a bit of context regarding "this is an excellent development for Flying Blue elites". Orly to Nice/Marseille/Toulouse are very busy business routes, which used to be operated by AF point-to-point with a service called "La Navette" (the shuttle).
Now that AF is refocusing on CDG from these locations, it has left the point-to-point traffic to Transavia. See the lounge opening and the perks as a continuation, for business travellers of what is discontinued by AF moving everything to CDG. And I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Transavia uses a lounge previously used by AF at Orly.
Transavia is not my fav, but, sometimes they have a nonstop to somewhere unique or a deal; it’s been a little while, but I recall a lot of like green… flew them from AMS. Much prefer the KLM blue instead.
None of this applies to Transavia Netherlands.