If you collect credit card points in the US, you’ve probably seen Flying Blue in your list of transfer partners. Maybe you’ve even noticed a transfer bonus to Flying Blue and wondered what it is and whether you should use it.
Flying Blue is one of the most useful airline programs for travelers who want to reach Europe on points. It partners with almost every major US bank, runs monthly award sales and can get you to cities across Europe, Africa and beyond, sometimes in lie-flat business class seats for a fraction of the cash price.
This guide explains what Flying Blue is, how it works, how to earn and use Flying Blue miles, and the rules you need to know before you transfer any points.
What is Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. It was created in 2005, when the two airlines merged their separate frequent flyer programs. Today it’s one of Europe’s largest airline loyalty programs.
Air France and KLM are both members of the SkyTeam alliance. Other SkyTeam airlines include Delta, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic, Aeromexico and SAS. That means you can use Flying Blue miles not only on Air France and KLM flights, but also on many partner flights, including some Delta flights.
The program’s currency is called miles. You use miles to book award flights, and the program also has an elite status system for frequent flyers.
How do Flying Blue miles work?
Unlike some programs, Flying Blue doesn’t publish a fixed award chart for its own flights. Instead, it uses dynamic pricing. This means the number of miles you need changes depending on the date, demand and seat availability, much like cash fares.
Two things follow from this:
- Prices can vary a lot. The same route can cost very different amounts on different days.
- Flexibility pays off. If you can shift your dates, or your destination, you can often find a much cheaper award.
On top of the miles, you’ll pay taxes and fees in cash. These vary by route and are generally higher when departing from some European countries. Always look at the total cost, miles plus cash, before booking.
Light, Standard and Flex awards
For bookings from September 8, 2026, Flying Blue introduced three types of award tickets on Air France and KLM flights:
- Light: the cheapest option. No changes or refunds, no checked bag in economy and premium economy, and in business class lounge access costs extra.
- Standard: changes are allowed for a fee, and checked bags and lounge access (in business class) are included.
- Flex: the most flexible option, with changes included, plus advance seat selection.
Trips that include partner airlines are only available as Standard awards. When you search, check which fare type you’re booking, because the cheapest headline price is often a Light award with fewer perks.
What are Flying Blue Promo Rewards?
Promo Rewards are Flying Blue’s monthly award sale. At the start of each month, Flying Blue announces discounts, usually up to 25% off, on selected routes and cabins. Some offers are only available to members with a Flying Blue Extra subscription.
Promo Rewards are one of the best reasons to use Flying Blue. They can bring business class flights to Europe down to prices that are hard to find in any other program. The best deals sell out quickly, so check the list early in the month.
How to earn Flying Blue miles
Transfer credit card points
For most US travelers, the easiest way to earn Flying Blue miles is to transfer points from a bank rewards program. Flying Blue partners with:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Capital One Miles
- Citi ThankYou Points
- Bilt Rewards
- Wells Fargo Rewards
Most of these transfer at 1:1 with eligible cards. Banks also run frequent transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, often 20% to 30%, which make your points go even further.
Fly Air France, KLM or partners
You earn miles on paid flights with Air France, KLM and SkyTeam partners. Just add your Flying Blue number to your booking.
Other ways
You can also earn miles through hotel stays, car rentals, shopping partners and co-branded credit cards.
How to transfer points to Flying Blue
The process is similar for every bank:
- Create a free Flying Blue account on the Air France or KLM website. Make sure your name matches the name on your credit card account.
- Log in to your bank’s rewards website and choose Flying Blue (or Air France-KLM) from the list of transfer partners.
- Link your Flying Blue membership number.
- Enter the number of points to transfer and confirm.
Transfers to Flying Blue from most banks are usually fast, often instant. But transfers are final, so always find your award seat first.
How to find great Flying Blue deals
The key to Flying Blue is to chase the deal, not the destination. Rather than searching for one specific city, look at where the cheapest awards are from your home airport, then plan around them.
A few tips:
- Search by month. On the Air France or KLM website, you can view award prices over a whole month to find the cheapest dates.
- Use an award search tool. Tools such as seats.aero let you see Flying Blue availability from your home airport across many destinations at once. Filter by cabin, such as business class, to find lie-flat seats.
- Consider nearby cities. If Barcelona is expensive, Madrid might be much cheaper. Europe’s trains are fast and comfortable, so flying into a nearby city and taking the train can save thousands of miles.
- Watch Promo Rewards each month for discounted routes.
Do Flying Blue miles expire?
Yes, but the rules became simpler in 2026. Since May 4, 2026, Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months without any earning activity. Any earning activity, including a credit card points transfer, resets the clock for your whole balance. Some members are exempt, such as those with eligible elite status or a Flying Blue Extra subscription.
In practice, if you only transfer points when you’re ready to book, expiration is rarely a problem.
Flying Blue elite status
Flying Blue also has an elite status program with four levels: Explore, Silver, Gold and Platinum. You move up by earning XP (Experience Points) on qualifying flights. Higher levels bring perks such as priority check-in, extra baggage, lounge access and better award availability. Silver, Gold and Platinum are also linked to SkyTeam status, so the benefits apply on partner airlines too.
For most people who use credit card points, status isn’t the main goal. You can get excellent value from Flying Blue miles without ever flying enough to earn status.
Flying Blue Extra
Flying Blue Extra is a paid monthly subscription. Members get access to some exclusive Promo Rewards, along with other perks. Whether it’s worth it depends on how often you book. If you plan to use Promo Rewards regularly, compare the subscription cost with the extra savings you’d get.
Pros and cons of Flying Blue
Pros:
- Partners with nearly every major US bank program
- Frequent transfer bonuses
- Monthly Promo Rewards with up to 25% off
- Strong network across Europe, Africa and beyond
Cons:
- Dynamic pricing makes prices unpredictable
- Taxes and fees can be high on some routes
- The cheapest Light awards come with fewer perks
Frequently asked questions
What airline is Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the shared loyalty program of Air France and KLM.
Is Flying Blue part of SkyTeam?
Yes. Air France and KLM are SkyTeam members, so you can use Flying Blue miles on many SkyTeam partner flights, including Delta.
Is Flying Blue free to join?
Yes. You can create an account for free on the Air France or KLM website.
Which credit card points transfer to Flying Blue?
Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, Bilt Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards all transfer to Flying Blue.
What are Flying Blue miles worth?
It depends on how you use them. Promo Rewards and business class awards usually give the most value per mile.
The bottom line
Flying Blue is Air France and KLM’s loyalty program, and one of the easiest ways for US travelers to fly to Europe on points. Because it partners with nearly every major bank, you can build a balance quickly, especially during a transfer bonus. Stay flexible, watch the monthly Promo Rewards, and let the deals guide your destination. You may end up flying business class to a city you’d never considered.
