Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Use it for

• Promo Rewards business between Europe and the month's listed cities: October 2026 from 45,000 miles one-way from Seattle, Orlando, Mexico City and Cancun, plus about USD 260 to 275 in taxes and surcharges from North America
• Air France or KLM business US to Europe: 60,000 miles Light or 75,000 Standard, plus about USD 263 to 274 from the US (about USD 609 from Paris)
• Air Europa business Madrid to South America from about 43,000 miles plus about USD 55, with no fuel surcharges
• Promo Rewards to Asia: Europe to Beijing business 63,750 and Chicago to Shanghai 86,250 in October 2026, plus Air France or KLM surcharges

Do not use it for

• Light business fares when plans might change: no changes, no refunds, no lounge and paid seat selection
• Air France or KLM business departing Paris: about USD 609 in taxes and surcharges one-way on Light and Standard
• Buying Flying Blue miles from zero for a trip: 1.69 cents per mile at the best 2026 sale, and most accounts were offered less

Where to search

Search airfrance.com (or .us) or klm.com with 'Book with Miles' while logged in; leave the date blank to get a month view of the lowest prices. The calendar often leaves out partner space (Delta, Virgin Atlantic, Air Europa), so search partner dates one at a time. Promo Rewards are published on the 1st of each month for travel in roughly the next six months. seats.aero and AwardFares cache Flying Blue; AwardFares has the clearest month calendars.

How to book, step by step

1. Open a free Flying Blue account in your passport name before you transfer anything.
2. On the 1st of the month, check the Promo Rewards list; promos can only be booked online, not by phone agents.
3. Search 'Book with Miles', one-way, business. Leave the date empty for a month view, then pick a date.
4. Choose the fare family deliberately. Business Light (60,000 transatlantic) has no lounge, no changes and no refund; Standard (75,000) adds the lounge and EUR 70 changes or cancellation; Flex (110,000) is free to change or cancel. An itinerary mixing Air France or KLM with a partner can only be Standard.
5. For Delta, Air Europa or other partners, search each exact date, because the month view often misses them.
6. Go to the payment page and read the taxes and surcharges before you transfer; departures from Paris cost far more than the same flight from the US.
7. Transfer bank points 1:1 (usually instant, sometimes delayed by hours; HSBC US can take up to 15 business days), then book and pay the taxes by card.
8. Check the confirmation for a ticket number. If you want a free stopover, that award has to be booked by phone.

When you need to phone

Needed for stopover awards, which are not bookable online. Promo Rewards cannot be booked by phone. The US number published by Thrifty Traveler is 1-800-375-8723 (not confirmed on an official page). A 2026 phone booking fee is not confirmed.

Fees

Light: no changes or refunds. Standard: EUR 70 to change or cancel. Flex: free. Partner awards: EUR 70 to change or redeposit. Whether 2026 Promo Rewards can be changed for EUR 70 or not at all is disputed between sources; assume Light conditions.

Surcharges

Air France and KLM business: about USD 263 to 274 one-way from the US; about USD 609 from Paris on Light and Standard, about USD 303 on Flex; Amsterdam to New York was USD 383 in October 2025. Air Europa has no fuel surcharges (Rome to Miami business about USD 85 against about USD 295 on Air France). Delta flights carry low taxes.

Getting points in

US: Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One, Bilt and Wells Fargo, all 1:1, usually instant; HSBC US allows up to 15 business days. Canada: Amex Membership Rewards 1:1, the only Canadian bank partner. UK: Amex Membership Rewards. Marriott Bonvoy 3:1 with 5,000 bonus per 60,000, 1 to 8 days.

Booking for other people

Flying Blue Family pools miles for up to 8 people (2 adults and 6 children); only the Family Leader can pull miles in, transfers are one-way, members stay at least six months, and pooled miles pay for any family member's awards. You can also book awards for people outside the family. Children 2 to 11 get 25 percent off Air France and KLM awards.