I find the Air France/KLM FlyingBlue program to be pretty useful, especially since the program is transfer partners with all major transferable points currencies. So the points are pretty easy to accrue, and FlyingBlue is reasonably good about opening up Air France and KLM business class award availability for their own members.
Recently FlyingBlue extended how far in advance you can redeem miles — previously you could only redeem miles at most 305 days out, while now they let you redeem miles 360 days out. That’s a great development, especially as the old system made no sense — members of partner airline frequent flyer programs had access to Air France and KLM award seats before the airlines’ own members did.
Well, FlyingBlue has just announced another improvement. It’s fairly minor in the grand scheme of things, though still worth pointing out. As of March 15, 2017, FlyingBlue miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, rather than after 20 months of inactivity.
Air France’s new business class
The expiration of your FlyingBlue miles can be extended through one of the following methods:
- Take a qualifying flight with AIR FRANCE, KLM, Aircalin, HOP!, Kenya Airways, TAROM, Transavia, Air Corsica or one of our SkyTeam partners at least every 2 years, or
- Make a payment with your Flying Blue branded credit card* at least every 2 years
It’s unfortunate that they restrict what activity extends the expiration of your miles. Other programs let you reset mileage expiration with any activity, including a points transfer, buying miles, using their online shopping portal, etc. In the case of FlyingBlue you need to actually fly or use their co-branded credit card.
At least FlyingBlue isn’t as restrictive as programs like Singapore KrisFlyer — those miles have an expiration date, and there’s no way to extend them, even by flying.
(Tip of the hat to View from the Wing)
I transferred some AX points to my FB account without being aware of this policy and then one day they disappear. I contacted FB and they extended the period for another 6 months to take a qualifying flight.
I took a Delta flight in the U.S. and called to have the miles be credited to my FB account instead of Skymiles and it worked, they refunded my expired miles.
Re: Richard's q above-- will a flight on Delta reset the clock? Hoping to transfer some Amex points tomorrow and need to know. Tx.
@Gerardo No, the clock will not be reset because the transfer is not a qualifying event to reset the expiration date.
Example: I transfer 25,000 Chase UR points to Flying Blue on 01/01/2017. Those miles will expire on 01/01/2019 (Assuming the new expiration policy of 24 months applies retroactively to these miles)
Suppose I transfer another 25,000 on 01/01/2018. Those would expire on 01/01/2020.
Will the clock be reset for the points I transferred on 01/01/2017?
Still a pittance when you consider that Delta SkyMiles never expire.
Yes! A nice little improvement. I sure miss so of those expired miles I had stuck in Flying Blue.
Lucky, but if I transfer in miles from Citi ThankYou today, don't touch them, but take a Delta flight next year, that should reset the clock for all the miles in account.
This will be of help to some people, but considering their limits on which types of activity qualify, I don't think it'll have much impact (at least in the United States). For that to happen, I think they'd have to 1) allow ALL activity to extend the clock; or 2) introduce a US credit card. And even that may not do it.
This might be a silly question, but how long is a credit card points to miles transfer to FB valid if the account hasn't had any qualifying activity for at least 24 months?
The transfer doesn't reset the clock and the clock is already past expiration.
@ Andy -- The miles you transfer over will be valid for two years, though not the existing miles in the account, as they maintain their original expiration.
Technically the only way to extend KrisFlyer miles is to extend them for 6 months at a fee ($12 per 10k miles I think?) Thereafter, no other way to extend them.
Ever since the average dutch proved himself to be smarter than the average redneck in America, I have wanted you to highlight KLM. This works well.