I just lately wrote about how I’m pondering of going for Air France-KLM Flying Blue elite standing. The extra I take a look at Flying Blue’s elite standing program, the extra tempted I’m. On this publish I wished to check out Flying Blue’s rollover elite standing function, which is basically unadvertised, and would possibly simply be the perfect within the trade.
Rollover elite standing is a superb idea
Many individuals are in all probability aware of Delta SkyMiles, and its rollover miles idea. The way in which this works, Delta will roll over any elite miles (referred to as Medallion Qualifying Miles, or MQMs) that you just earn past what’s wanted to qualify for the elite standing you may have.
For instance, Delta Diamond Medallion requires incomes 125,000 MQMs in a yr, so if you happen to earned 250,000 MQMs in a yr, you’d earn Diamond standing, and then you definately’d have 125,000 MQMs roll over to the subsequent yr, which means you’ve already happy the MQM requirement for the next yr.
To me this looks like a fantastic reward for loyalty. Generally when folks qualify for high tier standing, they surprise if it is sensible to as an alternative go for standing with one other program, since over qualifying is usually not rewarded very properly. In the meantime when there are rollover miles, you’re already getting a head begin on elite standing for the next yr.
There’s one main limitation with the Delta SkyMiles rollover miles function — qualifying for standing not solely requires incomes a sure variety of MQMs, but additionally requires incomes a sure variety of Medallion Qualifying {Dollars} (MQDs), which means it’s a must to spend a specific amount to earn standing, or want a bank card waiver. MQDs don’t have a rollover function.
Should you ask me, this severely limits the usefulness of rollover miles. Within the above instance, incomes 250,000 MQMs with Delta in a yr wouldn’t get you Diamond standing for 2 years. Annually you’d nonetheless have to both fulfill the MQD requirement, or get a bank card waiver.
How Flying Blue’s rollover elite standing function works
Flying Blue presents a real elite standing rollover function, with no strings hooked up, a lot better than what you’ll discover at Delta. For context, Flying Blue makes use of “XPs” (which stands for “expertise factors”) because the metric for incomes standing. The system of qualifying for standing works a bit in a different way than with different applications:
- 100 XPs will get you Flying Blue Silver standing
- You then want 180 further XPs to earn Flying Blue Gold standing
- You then want 300 further XPs to earn Flying Blue Platinum standing
Nonetheless, there’s a bit extra nuance to this, which additionally makes it simpler to earn standing. For instance, you don’t want 580 XPs in a yr to earn Platinum standing:
- When you earn 100 XPs in a yr, you’ll earn Silver standing
- Your standing will then be reset, and also you’ll have to earn 180 XPs over the subsequent 12 months to earn Gold standing
- Your standing will then be reset, and also you’ll have to earn 300 XPs over the subsequent 12 months to earn Platinum standing
- Sustaining standing on an ongoing foundation merely requires 100 XPs for Silver, 180 XPs for Gold, and 300 XPs for Platinum
There’s a magnificence to the simplicity of Flying Blue standing requalification, as this system presents a real rollover elite standing function. Basically the XPs you earn maintain racking up, after which when your membership is up for renewal, the XPs required for standing are merely deducted out of your account.
For instance, say you’ve earned Flying Blue Platinum standing, and you’ve got a very busy yr of journey, and earn 900 XPs. That may primarily earn you Platinum standing renewal for 3 years, with completely no flying or exercise requirement:
- When your account is up for renewal, you’d have 300 XPs deducted out of your account, requalifying you for Platinum and leaving you with 600 XPs
- Then 12 months later, you’d have one other 300 XPs deducted out of your account, requalifying you for Platinum and leaving you with 300 XPs
- Then 12 months later, you’d have one other 300 XPs deducted out of your account, requalifying you for Platinum and leaving you with no XPs
Additionally needless to say Flying Blue presents lifetime Platinum standing after incomes Platinum for 10 consecutive years. So in concept, you could possibly earn lifetime Platinum standing if in case you have Platinum standing after which rack up 3,000 XPs, because the rollover XPs would get you there. I say “in concept,” as a result of this assumes there aren’t any program modifications over the subsequent decade (and that appears unlikely).
Flying Blue additionally presents elite standing comfortable landings
Not solely does Flying Blue supply rollover elite standing, however this system additionally formally presents standing comfortable landings. Which means you’ll by no means drop a couple of standing tier in a yr, even with none exercise:
- Should you’re a Platinum member and don’t requalify, you’ll solely drop all the way down to Gold
- Even with no additional exercise, after a yr you’ll solely drop to Silver
- Then with no additional exercise, you’d lastly lose your elite standing after an additional yr
Backside line
It’s at all times enjoyable to dig a bit deeper into elite standing with applications you hadn’t beforehand thought of pursuing standing with. Whereas I wouldn’t say Flying Blue is the richest program by way of elite perks (you primarily get commonplace SkyTeam elite perks, plus entry to Air France first-class awards), this system has some distinctive options.
Particularly, Flying Blue has among the best rollover elite standing options I’ve seen at any airline. Double qualify for standing? It’s now legitimate for 2 years. Triple qualify for standing? It’s now legitimate for 3 years. On high of that, Flying Blue presents comfortable landings for elite standing, so that you’ll by no means drop greater than a tier.
I feel these two insurance policies do a fantastic job with serving to to garner long run loyalty, as standing feels a lot much less transactional and momentary this manner.
Anybody else admire Flying Blue providing a real elite standing rollover and comfortable touchdown function?
