Air France-KLM Flying Blue program increases award prices but promises better availability
Air France-KLM Flying Blue has increased the cost of saver-level redemptions to Europe and beyond by approximately 20% on average, but it promises 30% more seats at the lowest saver pricing to compensate. Travel on Points first reported this devaluation.
Flying Blue is the combined loyalty program for Air France and KLM. It prices award flights operated by those two airlines dynamically, meaning rates fluctuate based on demand. On peak travel dates, award seats can easily creep into six figures in economy each way, though TPG was impressed with its low award pricing last summer, even to Paris during the 2024 Olympics.
Flying Blue offers a limited number of saver-level awards on its flights. Previously, flights from North America to Europe and North Africa started at:
- 20,000 miles in economy
- 35,000 miles in premium economy
- 50,000 miles in business class
These were excellent rates — especially in business class, where Flying Blue offered some of the lowest prices of any loyalty program across the Atlantic.
Related: Is Air France premium economy worth it to Europe?
Unfortunately, Flying Blue has, without notice, increased prices, though the increases are mild as devaluations go. Flights to Europe and the Middle East at saver-level rates now start at:
- 25,000 miles in economy
- 40,000 miles in premium economy
- 60,000 miles in business class
These are still fair prices if you can find availability at saver rates. For travel to Europe and beyond, TPG recommends Air France in business class and KLM in premium economy.
Flying Blue is a transfer partner of all major transferable points and miles programs, including:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Bilt Rewards
- Capital One
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Rewards
- Wells Fargo Rewards
For those looking to travel from North America to destinations in Africa and Asia via the airlines' hubs at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), the following new saver-level pricing applies to one-way flights:
- 40,000 miles in economy
- 65,000 miles in premium economy
- 115,000 miles in business class
To compensate for the price increase, Flying Blue told TPG that it will increase the number of saver-level seats made available for members. A spokesperson for the loyalty program told TPG the following:
"Recently, we made a slight adjustment to award mile pricing and corresponding inventory access to address a common concern: finding availability at the lowest award levels. By rebalancing the entry-level pricing, we significantly increased entry-level award availability (average 30%), making it easier for members to book flights at the lowest mileage levels. While we can certainly appreciate that nobody likes price increases, the reality is this change ensures better access to rewards for all our members, avoiding the frustration seen in some programs where limited availability (be it award tickets, upgrades, etc.) undermines member benefits. We remain committed to listening, innovating, and delivering meaningful value to our Flying Blue members."
Don't forget about Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards, where award seats on select routes are discounted by as much as 25% from saver rates. These promotions change monthly and often include flights to Europe from major U.S. cities.
Bottom line
Devaluations are an unfortunate reality of collecting points and miles. They reiterate the value of transferable currencies and that points and miles are a bad long-term investment. As a result, you should redeem your rewards as you earn them to take advantage of the best deals.
Thankfully, Flying Blue's recent price increases are palatable compared to the devaluations we've seen from other loyalty programs. Plus, more availability at the lowest saver level rates should be fair compensation for the unexpected price increase.
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