These are the Flying Blue redemption sweet spots you need to know
Flying Blue — the loyalty program for both Air France and KLM — has a wide variety of mileage redemptions for flights to all over the world. Since both airlines are part of SkyTeam, you can redeem on alliance airlines like Aeromexico, Delta Air Lines and Korean Airlines. Plus, it has a handful of great non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic.
Further, you can transfer points to Flying Blue from all the major transferable points programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou. All of this is to say that it's easy to earn Flying Blue miles with points you might already have.
The program has its quirks, but there are some good deals. Let's look at a few of the program's best redemptions and why you might consider booking them.
How to search for Flying Blue mileage awards
Both Air France and KLM use Flying Blue, and you can book awards on either airline's website using the same account. Both websites are designed quite similarly outside their color schemes, so the process for searching for awards on both websites is nearly identical.
On the homepage for either the Air France or KLM website, click on the "Book with Miles" tab, then "Log in." You will be directed to sign in with your Flying Blue credentials. After you log in, you will be able to search for flights on your itinerary using miles.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards
One of the Flying Blue sweet spots that makes Air France and KLM's mileage program different than most airlines' is its Promo Reward offerings.
Flying Blue Promo Rewards are discounted award tickets for Air France and KLM destinations that are changed monthly. While most discounts are on intra-Europe routes, Flying Blue also provides savings on long-haul flights as well. Eligible routes and discounts change monthly, so book the flights you want quickly.
For July 2022, you can use your Flying Blue miles on Air France to book economy tickets between Boston and Europe from just 17,250 miles. Likewise, tickets between Europe and Atlanta start at just 21,500 miles during this promotion.
Each of these routes offers a 25% savings from the normal award price on these flights, and there is plenty of availability for these economy points redemptions in the months ahead.
Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming with Air France-KLM Flying Blue
Economy tickets from the US to South America
Flying Blue also offers decent award availability if you are looking to fly from the United States to South America. A direct economy flight from Atlanta to Santiago, Chile, on Delta costs 32,500 miles plus just $10.10 in taxes and fees.
Tickets to the northern part of South America are even cheaper, with tickets from Atlanta to Quito, Ecuador, pricing out at 20,000 miles and tickets from Atlanta to Bogota, Colombia, only costing 18,000 miles.
Even though you are using Flying Blue to buy Delta tickets, Flying Blue requires fewer points to purchase these tickets than Delta itself. With Delta pricing out its flights from Atlanta to Santiago, Quito and Bogota at 45,000, 27,000, and 25,000 SkyMiles at the time of writing, you can save thousands of miles by transferring to Flying Blue instead of Delta.
Related: Save miles or money and unlock better availability with positioning flights
Business-class awards to Europe
Flying Blue also has a strong selection of flights from the U.S. to Europe, with KLM and Air France serving most major cities on both sides of the pond. At the time of writing, you can find 62,000-mile redemptions in KLM's business class from New York to Rome via Amsterdam.
In addition, business-class airfares from New York to Athens, Greece, in April can also be found for just 56,500 miles one-way.
Flying Blue's award prices to Europe are on par with other reward programs' offerings, so compare with different airlines and routings before transferring your points. Also, due to Flying Blue's dynamic pricing structure, you could pay a different number of miles depending on the day and route you book.
Related: Here's how to book the flight you want when award space is limited
Business class to London with Virgin Atlantic and Delta
However, my favorite Flying Blue redemptions allow members to get around high taxes, fees and fuel surcharges added by Virgin Atlantic. Booking an Upper Class ticket from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club includes almost $900 in associated taxes and fees.
You can avoid these fees by booking the same ticket with Flying Blue. An Upper Class seat from New York to London costs only 56,000 points nonstop with $217.60 in taxes and fees; this is roughly a quarter of the taxes and fees charged by Virgin Atlantic's own loyalty program.
Pricing varies by route. For example, a ticket from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) to London costs 80,000 points and has just under $200 in taxes and fees.
You can also book Delta flights to London to save on taxes and fees. On this example date, you can book a one-way flight from New York to London for 59,000 Flying Blue miles and just $10.10 in taxes and fees.
Considering Delta offers this route for $2,120 or 210,000 SkyMiles, Flying Blue offers a fantastic value.
Related: A review of Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class Suite on the A350 from London to New York
Domestic flights with Delta
Speaking of Delta, you can sometimes save points on domestic awards when you book with Flying Blue over Delta SkyMiles. Because of dynamic pricing, this varies by route and when you book. Let's look at a couple of examples.
This flight from Detroit to Minneapolis costs 20,000 SkyMiles and $5.60 in taxes and fees with Delta SkyMiles.
Meanwhile, you can book it for just 10,500 Flying Blue miles and $16.69 in taxes and fees. That's almost half the mileage cost!
If you're transferring Amex Membership Rewards points to book a Delta domestic flight, always compare the Delta and Flying Blue award prices. Sometimes Delta is cheaper and you can transfer Amex points to either program.
Related: Why Delta is my go-to airline for last-minute domestic flights
Overall thoughts
Whether you are flying in economy or business class, Air France and KLM's Flying Blue program offers fantastic savings on routes to Europe and South America. Not only can you save hundreds of dollars in award surcharges, but you can also save thousands of points on your redemptions.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.