Flying Blue introduces an interactive map with entry award rates, officially adds stopovers: What you need to know
There's more news from Flying Blue, the loyalty program for Air France and KLM.
Customers can now use an interactive map to explore where they can go using their miles. As Flying Blue has used dynamic award pricing since 2018, the new webpage feature, which Flying Blue has named Map Out Miles, only shows introductory award rates. Additionally, you can now add stopovers to your Flying Blue award tickets over the phone.
Here's how you can use Flying Blue's new features to maximize your award redemptions.
Mapping out your miles
Flying Blue's interactive map shows the introductory mileage rates for one-way flights on Air France or KLM. Once you navigate to the new website, you can enter your departure city to see the various award rates in your preferred cabin (economy, premium economy or business class). Additionally, you can input your Flying Blue mileage balance to filter out destinations that exceed how many miles you have.
Unfortunately, the interactive map doesn't provide real-time award rates, as it's merely been uploaded with Flying Blue's published entry-level award rates (PDF link).
While this document shows that New York to Paris awards start at 55,000 miles one-way in business class, you could still spend more miles depending on when you fly.
Related: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming with Air France/KLM Flying Blue
Using Flying Blue's new interactive map
Using Flying Blue's new award map is straightforward. I mapped out one-way business-class redemptions from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Consistent with Flying Blue's entry-level award chart, the interactive map showed options like one-way flights from LAX to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) for 67,000 miles and Tahiti's Faaa International Airport (PPT) for 55,000 miles. There are also connecting flights to cities like Agadir, Morocco; Barcelona, Spain; and Dublin for 67,000 miles one-way.
Again, the primary limitation of the interactive map is not being able to enter travel dates. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that these entry-level award rates are available, and you'll have to go to Air France or KLM's website to check actual award prices.
Also, there are some glitches on the website. For example, the Flying Blue award map shows that Malta International Airport (MLA) is in Malta, Montana, a small town with just 1,800 people south of the Canadian border.
Flying Blue adds stopovers
Additionally, you can now add stopovers to your Flying Blue award tickets. This new feature comes after the loyalty program announced the change last month.
Right now, you have to call Flying Blue (1-800-375-8723) to book an award ticket with a stopover. Early reports state that stopover tickets are priced based on the cost of getting to your final destination. So, if you want to book a KLM award ticket from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Prague Airport (PRG) with a stopover in AMS, you will pay for the total cost of a flight going to Prague. However, you would not have to book two separate award tickets from ORD to AMS and AMS to PRG, saving you points in the process.
Keep in mind, though, that stopovers are only available on Air France- and KLM-operated flights, according to Flying Blue's website. Also note that your mileage may vary when you call in to add a stopover. Some reports say that many Flying Blue representatives are not yet trained on how to add a stopover to award tickets. If this happens to you, politely end the call and call back to be connected with another agent.
Related: Reviewing KLM's new premium economy cabin on the inaugural flight
Bottom line
As Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, the interactive award map creates the impression that you can book one-way awards at the provided award rates. If this were the case, you'd be able to book flights from places like Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to AMS for 65,000 miles. In actuality, however, these entry-level award prices are sometimes impractical to find. In a test search on this route, we checked real-time award prices in April and found that the minimum price was 91,000 miles one-way for one day. All other days in April were more than 130,000 miles, with some days skyrocketing to 375,000 miles.
We hope Flying Blue will expand the functionality of the map to show real-time flight availability for members' specific travel dates. But in the meantime, we're pleased to know that Flying Blue stopovers are now available for booking, even though it requires a phone call. And earlier this week, the program fixed its pesky award search glitch, making award flights easier to find.
Remember, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue.
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