If you're an American Express cardholder, you likely have a stash of Membership Rewards points just waiting to be used.
To maximize these points, consider transferring them to Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM.
With Flying Blue, you can redeem your points for flights on Air France, KLM, and their partners.
Flying Blue has a generous award chart, with many routes available for 25,000 miles or less.
Earning and Transferring Points
You can earn miles in several ways with American Express Flying Blue. One way is to transfer points from your credit card, but you'll need to know how transfer points work.
To transfer points, you'll need to select the transfer activity from the tabs below: transferring your points to a frequent travel participant, linking a frequent travel participant account that you're already enrolled in, or enrolling in a new frequent travel participant program.
You can transfer points from credit cards that partner with Flying Blue. For example, some top credit card rewards programs that offer transfers to Flying Blue include American Express credit cards.
You can also earn miles by flying on Air France, KLM, Delta, or other SkyTeam partner airlines and crediting your activity to the Flying Blue program. This is a great way to earn miles if you already fly with these airlines.
Here's a quick overview of some of the top ways to earn Flying Blue miles:
- Apply for the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard and earn 50,000 bonus miles after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
- Buy Flying Blue miles outright.
- Purchase a Flying Blue subscription plan and get miles deposited into your account every month.
- Fly on Air France, KLM, Delta, or other SkyTeam partner airlines and credit your activity to the Flying Blue program.
- Create a Flying Blue Family and pool your miles with others.
Using Membership Rewards
Using Membership Rewards is a great way to get even more value out of your American Express Flying Blue card. You can earn 25% of your redeemed miles back as Membership Rewards points.
You can redeem your Membership Rewards points for a wide range of rewards, including gift cards, merchandise, and even travel.
Membership Rewards
Membership Rewards can be redeemed for flights with SkyTeam airlines, which includes Delta, Korean Air, and Air France or KLM.
You can use your Membership Rewards to book flights with Air France and KLM, which is a great way to earn more miles.
The combined mileage program for Air France and KLM is called Flying Blue, and it's definitely worth taking advantage of.
Flying Blue miles can be redeemed for flights on SkyTeam airlines, giving you more flexibility when planning your trips.
Our Take
We've got some great tips to share with you on how to get the most out of your Membership Rewards points.
You can redeem your points for gift cards from popular brands like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
To maximize your rewards, consider transferring your points to airline or hotel loyalty programs.
With Membership Rewards, you can also book travel directly through their website or mobile app.
If you're looking to redeem your points for cash, you can do so through a statement credit or a check.
Keep in mind that cash redemptions will typically have a lower value than other redemption options.
Booking Flights
Booking flights with American Express Flying Blue can be a game-changer, especially with their current 20% transfer bonus. This means you can book flights for fewer miles than ever before.
You can book discounted economy rates to Europe from US cities like Atlanta, Austin, and Chicago for as low as 15,000 Flying Blue Miles. And with the transfer bonus, you'd only need to transfer 12,000 Amex points.
With Flying Blue, you can also book Delta-operated flights for fewer miles than Delta's own SkyMiles program. For example, you can book a roundtrip flight to Hawaii for under 40,000 miles, compared to Delta's 70,000 SkyMiles.
Here are some examples of flights you can book with Flying Blue:
- Atlanta (ATL) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Austin (AUS) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Chicago (ORD) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Delta-operated flights for fewer miles, like a roundtrip flight to Hawaii for under 40,000 miles
Keep in mind that availability at these rates tends to go fast, so you'll want to act quickly to snag a deal. But with the right strategy and a little luck, you can score an amazing flight for fewer miles than you thought possible.
Fly to Europe with Air France or KLM
If you're looking to fly to Europe with Air France or KLM, you're in luck. Flying Blue, the loyalty program for Air France and KLM, offers discounted routes called Promo Rewards every month.
These discounted routes can be a great way to save some miles, with economy rates starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles for one-way flights to Europe from cities like Atlanta, Austin, and Chicago. That's a steal, considering you can book flights for as low as 15,000 miles.
You can also book business class flights to Europe using Air France and KLM miles, with rates starting at 50,000 miles each way. With the transfer bonus, you'd need just 41,700 Amex points to make it happen.
Keep in mind that availability at these rates can go fast, so you'll need to act quickly to snag a good deal. But if you're flexible with your travel dates, you can find some great deals on Air France and KLM flights to Europe.
Here are some cities you can fly to from the US with these discounted rates:
- Atlanta (ATL) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Austin (AUS) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Chicago (ORD) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Dallas (DFW) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Detroit (DTW) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Los Angeles (LAX) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Miami (MIA) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Toronto (YYZ) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
Remember, these rates are subject to change, so be sure to check the Flying Blue website for the latest deals.
Book Delta Cheaply
Booking Delta flights can be a challenge, especially with the SkyMiles program devaluations. The good news is that Flying Blue is now a great workaround to book many Delta flights.
Flying Blue charges as few as 6,000 miles for short Delta domestic flights, which is a fraction of the 70,000 SkyMiles or more Delta charges for roundtrip flights to Hawaii. With the 20% transfer bonus, you'd need to transfer just 5,500 Amex points to Air France/KLM.
Delta flights to Mexico and the Caribbean are a serious sweet spot for Flying Blue, with roundtrip flights costing just 37,000 miles, like the flight from Minneapolis to Aruba. This means you'd only need to transfer 30,000 Amex points with the 20% bonus.
Even business class flights can be a bargain through Flying Blue, with some routes costing as few as 63,500 miles one-way and $10 in fees, like the Delta One flight from New York to London-Heathrow Airport. With the 20% transfer bonus, you'd only need to transfer 53,000 Amex points for a lie-flat seat to London.
Business Class Flight to Taipei
Booking a business class flight to Taipei can be a great way to experience comfort and luxury on a long-haul flight. You can fly from Vancouver (YVR) to Taipei (TPE) in China Airlines' business class seats.
Using Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles is a good option to make this happen, requiring just 65,500 miles for the flight. This is a relatively low number of miles for a 12-plus hour flight in such comfortable seats.
Factor in a 20% transfer bonus from Amex points, and you'll need to transfer just 54,600 points.
Special Offers
Flying Blue offers a monthly promo called Promo Rewards, featuring discounted economy rates to Europe from various US cities. These deals can be a great way to score a cheap trip to Europe.
You'll need to act fast, though, as availability tends to disappear quickly. Fares start as low as 15,000 miles each way, with some routes offering business class discounts as well.
To give you a better idea of the routes and fares involved, here are some of the cities and starting prices:
- Atlanta (ATL) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Austin (AUS) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Chicago (ORD) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Dallas (DFW) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Detroit (DTW) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Los Angeles (LAX) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Miami (MIA) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
- Toronto (YYZ) starting at 15,000 Flying Blue Miles
Keep in mind that you'll still need to pay taxes and fees, which can add up to around $150.
Conclusion
In the end, American Express Flying Blue offers a unique rewards experience that can be tailored to your travel preferences.
You can earn Membership Rewards points by using your American Express card for everyday purchases, which can then be transferred to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio.
Flying Blue's award chart is relatively simple, with just a few tiers of redemption rates.
The best value for your points can be found in economy class, where a one-way ticket from the US to Europe costs just 12,500 miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my American Express points for JetBlue flights?
Yes, American Express points can be transferred to JetBlue for booking free flights. Transfer your points instantly and redeem them for JetBlue flights.
Does KLM accept Amex?
Yes, KLM accepts American Express credit cards for online bookings. You can also use other major credit cards, depending on your country of residence.
Sources
- https://www.americanexpress.com/en-ca/rewards/membership-rewards/travel/all
- https://onemileatatime.com/deals/amex-virgin-atlantic-transfer-bonus/
- https://thriftytraveler.com/deals/points/amex-transfer-bonus-air-france-klm/
- https://10xtravel.com/flying-blue-transfer-bonus-october-2024/
- https://awardwallet.com/blog/which-points-transfer-to-flying-blue/
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