The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program has a credit card in the United States, issued by Bank of America. It’s a card that I have, as someone who has Flying Blue Platinum status. A few days ago, we learned about some changes coming to the product, which are entirely positive.
Continue reading: Air France-KLM Flying Blue Credit Card Changes Make Status Easier To Earn
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
100+180+300=580
In the article you said 480 XP to Platinum if you start from scratch - am I missing something?
This probably isn't good news for the value of miles in a programme without a chart and with recent history of brutal overnight devaluations. Another reason to stay away from building balances on FB.
Yes, it's 580XP from scratch. I wonder if Ben was thinking about the 100XP from $15k of spend.
In the past, there have been 100XP SUBs offered on this card: it wouldn't surprise me if there's a 100XP offer for the relaunched card in the near future.
It would be nice if it was UXP for those of us requalifying ULTI. Help, Ben Lipsey!
It is good news about the extra XPs by spending, and as a VISA it will now be accepted at Costco, so earning 1.5 miles there. As the new card will be mailed around March 20th, I wonder if the spending to achieve the bonus XPs thresholds will start counting from that date, or it will be regular anniversary spending counting also the money already spent until March 20th.
Would the XPs earned from $25k in spend be credited this year or next anniversary?
The US members are primarily going to be booking flights from the US. I'm not sure how much appetite there is right now for their core market to fly to the US.
As for short-haul, the US credit card crowd will be connecting to AMS/CDG, but it's not like AFKL short-haul J is something anyone would buy without a long-haul connection (especially given what AF is downgrading the catering to on most routes for the next few months: a couple of sandwiches).
That’s a fair point, but that’s also pretty true across all three major alliances, especially SkyTeam members.
If you spend $25,000 in 2026 after new cards arrive and your anniversary date is after the cards arrive, then will that generate the new XP benefits in 2026?
Or will spending $25,000 beginning January 21st qualify if the anniversary date is in 2026?
The new benefits are LIVE right now in the Mastercard's terms and conditions. Publication under the Mastercard's terms and conditions suggests it will be applicable now and not simply after conversion. And, a plain language reading also suggests any renewal as of right now will qualify. Lastly, someone who has received an email from BofA says that the language of the email suggests the new renewal XP scheme would apply to all renewals from this point on. We shall see.
That would be awesome if 2025 spend will count towards these new benefits to earn the XP's by reaching $25,000. My renewal is coming up soon so keeping figures crossed!!
What matters is that you've spend the $25k during your BofA *cardmember* year. If you do, then you would receive the 160 XPs at FB within one to two billing cycles after your BofA *cardmember* anniversary. Whenever that occurs, it will be at some point in your FB *membership* year. If you product-change into the card, your BofA *cardmember* anniversary date is reset to the date of conversation and you'll wait an entire year for the XPs to hit. I hope this helps.
Please refer to my other two responses. It's live now and it's with respect to your cardmember year. So, if you have heretofore spent $13k in your current cardmember year and it renews (say) at the end of February, you have until the end of February to spend another $12k. And, you'd receive the 160 XPs as described.
The most valuable loyalty programs are those not inflated by credit card bonuses where the benefit for few does not kill the value for most.
What an interesting change, it’s now an AF/KLM chase freedom unlimited, albeit with an annual fee.
If you do the Bilt status match, do you have to spend the same amount to get Plat?
The free baggage is a huge value add on short haul, checking in a suitcase can literally cost more than the flight ticket.
Free bag, premium seat selection at check-in, and priority check-in are all quite nice benefits afaik.
How on earth is this a good news? This will just mint more credit card elites at the expense of actual frequent flyer. Someone who does one longhaul roundtrip in J has no place being a Platinum. AFKL is already struggling hard to deliver soft benefits to existing customer base, lounges are a zoo... This is absolutely terrible and yet another reason to move away from AFKL.
It doesn't matter where one flies, they will still occupy the same lounges etc. The biggest risk here is that this makes it super easy for CC holders to get Platinum, which is almost entirely about soft benefits. AFKL is already struggling with too many plats diluting these benefits and now they're just gonna mint more.
I hate losing the Simply Miles (Mastercard) opportunities.
Mastercard World Elite offers better everyday discounts, but Visa has better travel protections in general.
Capital One Venture earns 2x on everything and transfers to Flying Blue.
Delta isn't known for recognizing Flying Blue Status much.
This should make it easier to earn Gold status I'd think.
You still need the same number of XPs to go from Gold to Platinum. That requirement doesn't go away.
With the change, how many *new* Platinum members will be added? AF and KLM operate approximately 12,000 flights to the US each year. So, if these individuals take one long-haul round-trip as you say, exactly what effect would the number of *new* Platinums have on the AF/KLM system as a whole? I'm Platinum, all earned via flying, and I'm not worried about it.
VFTW says that the new benefits kick in for existing cardholders in March. I have found nothing in the currently posted terms and conditions for the current *Mastercard* version that states this. Out of an abundance of caution, save a copy of these terms and conditions. If you are not awarded XPs based on these terms and conditions, protest. If necessary, threaten a regulatory complaint.
Free checked bag(s). Priority check-in. Seat selection. Exit row. Not much but something.
I dunno-at least flying from west coast I have found it hard over the last year to get flights for under 130k to Europe/North Africa. For years it would be 55-60k, for multiple tickets, easy peasy. Hope this new trend I am experiencing stops for me.
@Lee it doesn't work like that though, I doubt the new US platinum members will be queuing for entry into the KL Schengen lounge before flying to Stavanger on a Tuesday in mid-March. However, when it comes to the run up to a bank of flights to Southern Europe in the summer they may be the difference between finding a seat and having to wait around the miserable bar area.
The switch to Visa is good news for Costco shoppers. Now I'm just waiting for the 70K miles sign-up bonus to return.
You can also convert the fb's you get when spending 25k on the card. 2000 fb will get you 1 xp.
I hope these positive changes will also push AFKL to offer some perks on their Belgian MasterCard!
Good Evening , Everyone, I'm new to Airfrance/KLM Alliance moving away from One world Alliance, so I'm not 100% how the Tier points works still in the learning. I deflated learned that if you have a regular economy ticket and then pay for upgrade travel on Business class you don't get XP for the business class. That was little shock but it's taking time learning. This because of my Dyslexia so hard to understand all the rules, especially how XP points are given for short haul to long haul.
One final question as I live in UK are we able to apply for Flying Blue credit card or is this for USA members and European.
I appreciate if someone could share some other tips too that I'm not aware.
Maybe it was hyperbole, but how can this get you to platinum status with one J flight? Even the longest RT J flight only nets you 76 XP, which combined with the 160 XP from this still wouldn’t even get you to gold.
I do see your general point, but in France/Europe there have already been (for many years) FB Amex cards that similarly help you get status. This FB Mastercard (soon Visa) is only an American card, and most FB lounges are in Europe. It may result in more overcrowding at FB lounges in the US, but in Europe we’ve already been feeling the impact of people buying status for a while now.
Maybe it was hyperbole, but how can this get you to platinum status with one J flight? Even the longest RT J flight only nets you 76 XP, which combined with the 160 XP from this still wouldn’t even get you to gold.
I do see your general point, but in France/Europe there have already been (for many years) FB Amex cards that similarly help you get status. This FB Mastercard (soon Visa) is only an American card, and most FB lounges are in Europe. It may result in more overcrowding at FB lounges in the US, but in Europe we’ve already been feeling the impact of people buying status for a while now.
At least you still got the economy points. If you buy a business class ticket on Air Europa, you may well get ZERO miles/tier points.
I mean zero Flying Blue miles/TPs. You'd earn as normal on the Air Europa scheme.
Perks are paid for by interchange fees, so there is no reason why this should impact the Belgian MC
@Red Dragon - Well, feeders are often involved. For example, EU-HKG RT in J me over 100 XP. Okay, maybe 30 XP left to Platinum to be fair 🙂
Same applies to lounges - just because you're travelling to/from the US doesn't mean you use a different lounge. There is no such thing as US-specific lounge. Presumably people applying for AFKL credit card are flying AFKL every now and then 😉
The Visa/Costco tie up is not a now thing. I wished the Costco relationship was with MC. But alas...
Air france's 1st check bag cost is $70 which is waived of you're silver. The agents at cdg will absolutely weigh your carry on AND personal bag combo and you will likely exceed the weight allowance if you are in economy or economy + unless you are on a very leisurely trip or you bought the economy tix with checked bags included. First & business class on the other hand, they'll just wave you through as if you're carrying air in your bags.
Hi Ben,
I already have the Mastercard version since 11 months ago. Can i apply using your link and get approved for the new Visa version as well? If so would I qualify for the bonus Xps?
I wonder the opportunity cost of charging the $25000 to another card. I also think there is a drawback of making it too easy to earn status much like with the hotels because of issues that such companies tend to not do well such as lounge overcrowing.
I mean I see your point, but the lounges in CDG (my home airport) are far from overcrowded at the moment. They can handle a ton more capacity, so I don't see this becoming a very big issue. Flights to the US are only a small portion of overall flights every day in/out of CDG.
As for getting to Platinum, you need 300 XPs to re-qualify each year, but if you're starting from scratch you need 580 XP (100 XP to get Silver, then 180 to get Gold, then 300 to get Platinum). So it's not really getting you anywhere close to Platinum status unless you already have at least Gold status, in which case the person using this card to maintain it would have already had status and been filling up the lounge anyway.
Does anyone know if I can apply for the new card before my current AF KLM elite mastercard is converted and receive the welcome bonus?