Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM. It is one of the few programs that accepts all five big flexible points currencies, which makes it a natural first stop if you want to fly business class to Europe or beyond.
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Who it is for
Flying Blue suits travelers who can be flexible. The program prices awards dynamically, so the same seat can cost different amounts on different dates. It also publishes discounted awards called Promo Rewards on selected routes each month, which can be the cheapest way in. If you need one specific date, Flying Blue may not be the cheapest choice, so compare it with Virgin Atlantic and Aeroplan first.
Which points transfer
| Points program | Ratio | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1 point = 1 mile | Issuer source |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | Listed as a partner; ratio not confirmed here | Issuer source |
| Capital One Miles | Listed as a partner; ratio not confirmed here | Issuer source |
| Citi ThankYou | Listed as a partner; ratio not confirmed here | Issuer source |
| Bilt Rewards | Listed as a partner; ratio not confirmed here | Issuer source |
Amex lists Flying Blue with a 1,000 point minimum, in 1,000 point steps, and says a transfer can take up to 48 hours. Other issuers set their own minimums and timing, so check inside your account.
Step by step
- Join Flying Blue. Membership is free. You need your account number to link it to your points account, and the name must match your card account.
- Search first. Log in on the Flying Blue site, search the route and cabin you want, and note the miles and the taxes and fees shown. Try the Promo Rewards view and flexible dates.
- Check the total. Look at the cash amount you will pay on top of miles. Fees vary by airline and route. The booking page shows the total before you pay.
- Transfer only what you need. Transfers are final and miles cannot go back to your card account. Round up to the issuer's transfer increment.
- Wait for the miles to post. Do not book until they appear in your Flying Blue balance.
- Book on the Flying Blue site. Confirm the cabin, flight numbers and change rules on the confirmation page.
Tips and pitfalls
- Awards on Air France and KLM are not the only option. Flying Blue also sells seats on some SkyTeam partners, so compare the same trip across partners.
- Award space is limited and can disappear between your search and your transfer. Look again right before you transfer.
- Watch for issuer transfer bonuses. If one is running it is on our bonus tracker only when we can link an official page.
- Miles can expire if your account is inactive. Read the expiry rules on the Flying Blue site before you move a large balance.
- Use our cost-per-mile calculator to compare the miles plus fees against the cash fare.
What we have not verified
We do not list award prices here because Flying Blue sets them dynamically and we do not scrape availability. Any price you see on another site is a snapshot, so only the Flying Blue search results count.
A sample planning routine
Say you want a business class seat from the US to Paris in spring. Open the Flying Blue award search and look at several dates in a row, not just one. Note the lowest miles price and the cash fees on each date. Next, search the same dates on the Virgin Atlantic and Aeroplan sites for Air France or partner flights. Write down the miles and fees for each. Divide the cash fare you would otherwise pay by the total miles to see your value per mile. Only after you pick a winner do you transfer, and you transfer only the shortfall if you already hold some miles. This routine takes about fifteen minutes and protects you from the biggest mistake in this hobby, which is moving points for a seat that is not really available.
Common questions
Can I move miles back to my card? No. Issuers say transfers are final.
Do I need a specific card? You need a card in an eligible rewards program, not a particular card name. Eligibility rules are on each issuer's site.
What if I do not hold any of these points? Our trip planner shows which card programs reach Flying Blue, with a link to apply once our affiliate links are live.
Sources
Checked October 17, 2026. Program rules and partner lists change, so confirm on the official page before you transfer.