Flying Blue is one of my favorite frequent flyer programs for redeeming miles, as the program is useful for redemptions in premium cabins on Air France and KLM, as well as for travel on SkyTeam and other partner airlines.
I am surprised at how 75K and $600 is an attractive price “I have to say that Flying Blue still has attractive pricing”.
So many other programs have cheaper mileage and tax/fees. Superior cabins, food, and lounges too.
Also, I am surprised at how the author didn’t see the Lufthansa change fees, they are always clearly listed when you select a fare on the Miles and More site?
It's only 75k if you're going from/to one of three countries. More like 105k for anything else.
@ Hans -- That amount includes over $220 in taxes, which you'd pay on any airline. Currently the average business class YQ across the Atlantic on Air France or KLM is around $340, which is more than I'd like to pay (of course), but less than the $1,000+ at Miles & More.
I'm curious which airlines have lower fees and better lounges, cabins, and food?
Regarding Miles & More change fees, I didn't say I couldn't see them, just that I was surprised at how high they were.
My latest transatlantic business class redemption on TAP came to a total of €61 in taxes and charges, and it was only that high because I'm connecting at LIS rather than originating from there. UX, SK, ET are similarly attractive. Enjoy it while it lasts.
@ Throwawayname -- Sorry, I'm confused. Between the US and Europe, doesn't TAP Air Portugal charge 100K miles? Ethiopian Airlines has a better business class than Air France? Regarding Air Europa, how does one even find business class award availability on the airline? I haven't seen a long haul business class award seat to the US on the airline in eons.
Of course this is a devaluation and I'm all for calling it that, but I also think it's important to be realistic. I just don't think the claim is true that endless programs both have way better award pricing, and also have a better business class product.
- I'm not going to the USA and you don't even need a TAP account. The flights I'm taking are available for less than 80k with LifeMiles or Aeroplan vs over 100k with AF.
- Product evaluation is both subjective and route-dependent. The ET 777 is unacceptable for long haul, but so is the AF business class product to IST and RAK, from where their app advertises hot meals which they haven't served in aeons. The lounge at 2E is cute but taking buses and shuttles to connect 'within' the terminal (non-Schengen pax are sent elsewhere and have to make their way back) makes my blood boil, and so do the rodents at AMS. I like certain parts of AF but not enough to pay a huge premium to fly them.
- Air Europa have plenty of award availability for my routes- the only problem is that Eurobonus will charge me double miles so I have to ring Virgin up for redemptions.
I get that you're based in the USA but nobody's going to start evaluating AA on the basis of whether they offer good value specifically for travellers who are exclusively flying on routes involving France or the UAE so I'm not sure why anyone would do that with AF, TP etc and the US.
@ Throwawayname -- I'm curious, which routes are you flying? When you're citing how much you're paying in fees, award availability, etc., that's a helpful detail to include.
I can't think of many FFPs introducing two huge devaluations in the space of a couple of years. In late 2024 I bought a ticket from SCL all the way to ATH for just 50k FB miles and it included two bags and two lots of lounge access. It looks like same ticket today is going to be ca. 106k and with a higher YQ to boot...and the worst part is that there's no guarantee of the prices not climbing even further. Do you really see that modus operandi as 'attractive'?
While I agree that E+ status is very useful across the alliance, the only sensible conclusion appears to be that keeping any sort of mileage balance in FB has become extremely risky.
@ Throwawayname -- "I can't think of many FFPs introducing two huge devaluations in the space of a couple of years." Really?! :p
Really!
I should've clarified I was only talking about redemptions. Changing earning rates and/or elite qualification criteria may take value away from a programme but it doesn't actively harm what members have already accrued.
@ Throwawayname -- Take your pick of programs. I can think of major back-to-back devaluations within that timeframe with United MileagePlus, Avianca Lifemiles, Etihad Guest, and Emirates Skywards, just to name several.
It does not look like the fees are lower for the standard ticket. $608 for light and $608 for standard.
@ Peter -- It's the Flex fares that come with reduced carrier imposed surcharges. The Light and Standard fares have the same surcharges, though Flex fares allow changes and redeposits for a fee.
Looks like tiffany funk wasnt a great pick after all lol
"we’re not going to punish you for booking the cheaper fare"
proceeds to punish you for booking the cheaper fare.
No other program has been devalued so sharply than Flying Blue. Its a very horrible redemption program now. I don't know how i will spend my remaining flying blue points but once i do I will delete my account,
"There’s A New Head Of Flying Blue, And I Couldn’t Be More Excited!"
Proceeds to nickel and dime the entire program and devalue it LOL
Don’t get me wrong. I love flying blue for certain aspects but my god do I think surcharges are getting more and more expensive. I’m wondering how they are passing on surcharges for Delta domestic flights when Virgin Atlantic doesn’t charge for them. Also I feel like this reaction towards this Flying Blue change is hypocritical, considering how basically the same changes towards delta one and united Polaris were met with much more criticism
Thanks for framing this as the devaluation it is. Very disappointing changes.