Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Why It's The Most Useful SkyTeam Mileage Currency - Air France

Air France-KLM Flying Blue: Why It's The Most Useful SkyTeam Mileage Currency

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:27:36 +0000

Air France-KLM Flying Blue is in my opinion the most useful SkyTeam frequent flyer program for redeeming miles, and for that matter, one of the most valuable frequent flyer programs for transatlantic business class awards.

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Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.

Jon H — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 01:12:19 +0000

Question for @Lucky - i used the flying blue website to cancel mileage booked airfare in late decmeber 2025 and expected immediately to be charged the refund fee and get the miles back for rebooking alternatove flights. After cancelling i was notified that a review was required to determine the refund amount. I still havent been refunded the $700+ fees or the 130,000 miles for this. Calling (and waiting a loooong time) i was notified by the flying blue agent that cancelling on the website requires a 3rd party review of the refund while if i had cancelled via phone it would have been immediate. Its now 2 months later...any advice?

glenn t — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 02:10:07 +0000

I agree that their 'two-tier' mileage system is crazy and overall pointless. Still wondering if Ben's comment on redemptions was a snafu he prefers not to address. :/

Paul — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 20:38:35 +0000

I used to love FB but finding award availability for US/Europe trips on AF or KLM metal is now very difficult. If you have flying blue elite status, you see more availability.

MikeDr — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 14:36:04 +0000

I'd argue that Jun-Aug is the worst time to travel to Paris. Tons of American tourists, usually with children in tow. Tons of Chinese tourists. Etc. I'd much rather to travel there in February. I'm not going to Paris for the beach.

Marcus — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:05 +0000

I have often gott awards from Flying blue and never from Aeroplan

JerryH — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 06:01:32 +0000

I miss my JFK base when I lived there, but now have to change somewhere because I’m flying from Tampa. Are the connecting flights to Paris on AF also competitive in miles?

Dennis — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:50:59 +0000

I also transfer a fair amount of credit card points to FB when there is a bonus. And I am glad I did when I was flying on AF from Singapore to Amsterdam last August. When I checked in online there was an upgrade offer to Premier for 180,000 points. And AF had just updated the Premier class on that route a week before my flight. That was an incredible deal since I only have Delta Gold for life and no status with FB. What an incredible flight ( 13 hours) and lounge experience both in Singapore and Paris. @ Ben , happy new year and thanks for all the content. We met in 2013 at the Chicago seminars and I have been reading your blog since then. Keep up the good work and if you make part of the blog pay only I will happily support you.

Steve K — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:29:26 +0000

Flying Blue is a great currency. Easy to build up miles, every major currency seems to transfer to KLM/AF/FB, and as Ben stated, there are bonus transfers throughout the year. Snagging two award seats in Business is tough throughout most of the year and PE seems even tougher as there is so little inventory compared to J. That said, I can pretty much always find a few flights across the Atlantic in economy for two at about 25K or less a seat. So If I want to go on short notice, I can usually find a few seats albeit in the back of the bus. These flights usually translate to about 2.5 cents per mile in value. Not great, not bad either. I was able to get AF A350 Business Tahiti to LAX (and yes, got bulkhead in the new business class) 90K and about $207 ea. That was only about a 2.7 cent value, but it will be a great ride! This was not off season.

mauipeter — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:02:24 +0000

I had a short paid hop on Garuda in July of 2024, credited it to FB, which reset my miles by two years, to July 2026. But that's the only positive thing I can say about their program. I am only traveling once a year, even if it's usually a lengthy trip around the world, but I had to cancel my summer '25 trip due to illness, so I have to use my miles next summer, otherwise they expire. Unfortunately I closed my FB CC, my bad, so that doesn't help. I am booked for next June, but should I have to cancel that trip again, all I can do, is take an absolutely unnecessary trip on Delta next June, which, due to my home means 12 hours flight time to nowhere, to reset it again. I just cannot stand their uniquely illogical two-tier mileage system, and even the answer I got from their CS via email, was more gibberish than a proper explanation. Once I use my miles with them, I am done!