Flying Blue Makes Big Changes, Moves to Revenue-Based System
The frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM, Flying Blue, is undergoing a big makeover in 2018. As of April 1 of next year, the Flying Blue program will be moving from a distance-based mileage earning to a revenue-based program, among other changes.
Because Flying Blue is completely overhauling its program in a rebranding it's calling "Flying Blue Reinvented," there are many changes to most areas of the program — from earning and redeeming to elite-status qualification and more.
Flying Blue is a program frequently utilized by not only Europe-based passengers, but also US-based travelers trying to book SkyTeam awards. Because you can transfer points from the three major transferable currencies — Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points and Amex Membership Rewards — there is definitely interest in the US in how the program will change.
How You'll Earn Redeemable Miles
If you fly with KLM, Air France, Hop! or Joon, you'll earn miles with Flying Blue based on how much you spend. The number of miles you'll earn will not only be calculated based on the the pre-taxed, base cost of your ticket, but also based on the cash you spend on seat options, extra luggage and if you decide to purchase from the à la carte menu.
As of April 1, 2018, here's exactly how much you'll earn, based on elite status level:
- Ivory members: 4 miles per euro spent
- Silver members: 6 miles per euro spent
- Gold members: 7 miles per euro spent
- Platinum members: 8 miles per euro spent
The new mileage earning rates aren't the most favorable. As a point of comparison, United Airlines flyers earn at the following rates: 5 miles per dollar spent, 7 miles per dollar spent, 8 miles per dollar spent, 9 miles per dollar spent and 11 miles per dollar spent for members, Premier Silvers, Premier Golds, Premier Platinums and Premier 1Ks, respectively.
Flying Blue says that your account balance of award miles won't change when the program changes — between March 31, 2018, and April 1, 2018. The number of miles you'll earn will be the same no matter the distance flown or the flight operator — whether it's Air France, KLM, Hop! or Joon.
In addition, Flying Blue clarified that partner earning will remain the same as its current structure — even after April 1, 2018. This means that you won't earn miles in the new revenue structure when flying with Flying Blue partners. For example, if you fly Delta in the US, you'll continue to earn redeemable miles under the current distance-based structure.
While for lower spenders, or those who fly primarily in economy, a revenue-based earning structure is generally bad news, for more premium flyers who frequent business class and higher cabins, the revenue-based structure could be good news. For example, if you were to book a one-way first-class ticket from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) in the current structure, you'd earn approximately 10,920 award miles. However, in the structure that will be implemented in April 2018, for the ticket, where the pre-tax amount hovers around the $8,200 mark, you'd earn 32,800 miles. Both of the examples are for an Ivory member, or the most basic level of membership.
How You'll Spend Redeemable Miles
As of June 2018, Flying Blue miles that you've earned can be used toward booking award tickets with Air France, KLM, Joon, Hop! or Transavia. The number of miles needed will be based on your origin, destination and flight date. At this point, that's all we know about how awards will be priced. Flying Blue confirmed it will release an award chart at the end of Q1.
Flying Blue says that you'll be able to book any available seat using miles. Unlike with the current Flying Blue rules, the number of seats that are available to book using miles will no longer be limited per flight. Until the last available seat on the plane has been booked, you'll be able to put your miles to use.
Also, as of June 2018, Flying Blue will introduce a Miles & Cash option. With the new option, you'll be able to pay for up to 25% of your award ticket with cash.
How You'll Qualify for Elite Status
Currently, you'll earn Flying Blue status based on how many Level Miles you've earned while flying or how many qualifying flights you've taken. However, that's about to change with the introduction of Experience Points — or XP. How you achieve status will no longer be based on Level Miles and qualifying flight, but instead, how many XP you earn. Here are the levels of status and how many XP are required in order to get that status:
- Silver: 100 XP
- Gold: 180 XP
- Platinum: 300 XP
According to Flying Blue, XP will be calculated based on the type of flight (domestic, medium-haul or long-haul) and the class of service. Here's a look at how many XP you can expect to get based on what class of service you're flying, and what type of flight it is, including with SkyTeam partners:
So, you'll need to fly 10 times between Paris and New York in economy in order to lock in Silver status (100 XP). However, the higher your class of service, the quicker it'll become to get status. If you fly between New York and Paris twice in La Première, Air France's first class, you'll get Silver status. There will be no changes for the benefits that come with Flying Blue elite status.
You'll need to meet the XP requirement level within a 12-month rolling period, rather than a calendar year. This new XP program change will take affect as of April 1, 2018, and Level Miles and/or qualifying flights already in your account will be automatically converted to XP on March 31, 2018. As of that date, the conversions will be as follows: 1,000 Level Miles will become 5 XP, and 1 qualifying flight will become 7 XP.
A benefit of this XP structure is that if you were to come up just short of qualifying in a 12-month period, your extra XP will roll over into the following qualification period. Say, for example, you earn 220 XP in a qualifying period — enough for Gold but not Platinum. The surplus 40 XP will roll over to the following qualification period.
Overall, these are some interesting, if predictable, changes from Flying Blue. As is the trend with many frequent flyer programs, Flying Blue is switching to a revenue-based system, so this is a devaluation for most. There are still some questions, however, such as what redeeming miles will look like. However, we do know that Air France will reveal an award chart at the end of Q1, but we don't know specifics. In addition, the program will be launching a new website with a redesigned interface in 2018.
We are getting plenty of notice — the first changes will begin on April 1, 2018.
*This post has been updated with new information following a conference call with Air France-KLM.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.