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Air France-KLM Flying Blue program will increase award costs however guarantees higher availability

Air France-KLM Flying Blue has elevated the price of saver-level redemptions to Europe and past by roughly 20% on common, however it guarantees 30% extra seats on the lowest saver pricing to compensate. Journey on Factors first reported this devaluation.

Flying Blue is the mixed loyalty program for Air France and KLM. It costs award flights operated by these two airways dynamically, that means charges fluctuate based mostly on demand. On peak journey dates, award seats can simply creep into six figures in financial system every manner, although TPG was impressed with its low award pricing final summer season, even to Paris throughout the 2024 Olympics.

Flying Blue gives a restricted variety of saver-level awards on its flights. Beforehand, flights from North America to Europe and North Africa began at:

  • 20,000 miles in financial system
  • 35,000 miles in premium financial system
  • 50,000 miles in enterprise class

These had been wonderful charges — particularly in enterprise class, the place Flying Blue supplied a few of the lowest costs of any loyalty program throughout the Atlantic.

Associated: Is Air France premium financial system value it to Europe?

Sadly, Flying Blue has, with out discover, elevated costs, although the will increase are gentle as devaluations go. Flights to Europe and the Center East at saver-level charges now begin at:

  • 25,000 miles in financial system
  • 40,000 miles in premium financial system
  • 60,000 miles in enterprise class
AIR FRANCE

These are nonetheless truthful costs if yow will discover availability at saver charges. For journey to Europe and past, TPG recommends Air France in enterprise class and KLM in premium financial system.

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Flying Blue is a switch companion of all main transferable factors and miles applications, together with:

For these seeking to journey from North America to locations in Africa and Asia by way of the airways’ hubs at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), the next new saver-level pricing applies to one-way flights:

  • 40,000 miles in financial system
  • 65,000 miles in premium financial system
  • 115,000 miles in enterprise class
AIR FRANCE

To compensate for the worth enhance, Flying Blue informed TPG that it’s going to enhance the variety of saver-level seats made obtainable for members. A spokesperson for the loyalty program informed TPG the next:

“Just lately, we made a slight adjustment to award mile pricing and corresponding stock entry to handle a standard concern: discovering availability on the lowest award ranges. By rebalancing the entry-level pricing, we considerably elevated entry-level award availability (common 30%), making it simpler for members to e book flights on the lowest mileage ranges. Whereas we will definitely recognize that no person likes value will increase, the truth is this transformation ensures higher entry to rewards for all our members, avoiding the frustration seen in some applications the place restricted availability (be it award tickets, upgrades, and so forth.) undermines member advantages. We stay dedicated to listening, innovating, and delivering significant worth to our Flying Blue members.”

Do not forget about Flying Blue’s month-to-month Promo Rewards, the place award seats on choose routes are discounted by as a lot as 25% from saver charges. These promotions change month-to-month and infrequently embrace flights to Europe from main U.S. cities.

Backside line

Devaluations are an unlucky actuality of amassing factors and miles. They reiterate the worth of transferable currencies and that factors and miles are a foul long-term funding. In consequence, it is best to redeem your rewards as you earn them to make the most of the perfect offers.

Fortunately, Flying Blue’s current value will increase are palatable in comparison with the devaluations we have seen from different loyalty applications. Plus, extra availability on the lowest saver stage charges ought to be truthful compensation for the surprising value enhance.


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