As both British Airways and Lufthansa transform their frequent flyer programs to reward big spenders while gaslighting their most loyal flyers, Air France-KLM can go in a very different direction with its Flying Blue loyalty program. But can it...
Flying Blue Offers A Dubious Reason For Latest Devaluation
2025 is off to a Flying (Blue) start with an unannounced devaluation of Flying Blue redemptions on both Air France / KLM and partners. But Flying Blue argues this was necessary in order to offer more award space at...
Flying Blue Partner Devaluation Rescinded
UPDATE: Flying Blue is rolling back its partner devaluation. Ben Lipsey, the Senior Vice President of Customer Loyalty at Air France-KLM who runs the Flying Blue program, posted the following message on Flyertalk: Sorry guys, false alarm. We were...
Incredible Deal: 100% Flying Blue Transfer Bonus (Today Only) With Bilt
If you hold a Bilt Mastercard, do not forget that today is “Rent Day” with double points in key purchase categories plus a lucrative 100% bonus on Flying Blue transfers (but today only). Bilt Rent Day May 2023 – 100%...
My Voluntary Downgrade From SWISS First Class To Air France Economy Class…
After canceling our SWISS First Class trip to Zurich, I booked us four tickets on Air France to Paris…in economy class. The seasonably reasonable Air France Flying Blue fares offer great value for family travel. Family Matters: From SWISS...
Latest Flying Blue Devaluation Is Just Another Day In A Post-Award Chart World
Without the transparency of award charts, prices rise overnight or destinations magically move to different regions, all without notice. That’s what happened to Israel, a long-term Flying Blue sweet spot, over the weekend. Flying Blue Devaluation: Israel Sweet Spot...
Air France-KLM Flying Blue Waives Redeposit Fees For Award Cancellations (Even Retroactively)
Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France-KLM, will not charge refund fees if you need to cancel your award travel. This is a welcome move. Refund Fees Waived On Flying Blue Through March 2021 Last week, I wrote...
Spectacular Deal: Flying Blue Special Edition Promo Awards
A special five-day sale offers incredible discounts on many Air France and KLM routes when using Flying Blue miles. Each month Air France offers Promo Awards, but once in a while it offers “Special Edition” Promo Awards that offer...
Air France First Class Awards: Sensible Or Foolish?
Air France First Class awards were never for the parsimonious, but were still reachable and in some cases valuable. With new restrictions and increased pricing on La Première awards, is there any value proposition left? Effective October 15, 2019, Air...
Final Hours For Lucrative Flying Blue Transfer Bonus
You only have until the end of the day to take advantage of a 25% transfer bonus to Air France/KLM Flying Blue from American Express Membership Rewards. This is a transfer bonus I have personally taken advantage of, hence...
And Now I Love Flying Blue Even More Than Before…
On Wednesday I argued that Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France/KLM, may provide a model for an acceptable dynamic-priced award program. I’ve got a new data point to bolster my argument. I’m in Italy on business this...
Air France Flying Blue: A Dynamic “Devaluation” That Works
For the optimists out there, consider that the Air France Flying Blue program may offer a positive example for U.S. airline loyalty programs moving to a dynamic pricing model. Last year, Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France-KLM,...
Booking Aeroflot Award Space With SkyTeam Partners Proves Difficult
After a superb trip nearly a decade ago, Aeroflot Russian Airlines is a carrier I planned to fly this year. But booking award space has proved extremely difficult. I was hoping to get to Russia next month, but am...
Pros and Cons of the Illogical New Flying Blue Program
A new pricing scheme kicked in for Air France/KLM Flying Blue award redemptions on June 1st. Figuring it out has been like trying to figure out the writing of Faulkner. But I’ve been able to make a few general...
Massive Fuel Surcharges Return To Air Europa Award Bookings With Flying Blue
I had a feeling it was too good to be true… Earlier this week I wrote about Flying Blue no longer collecting fuel surcharges on Air Europa flights. Well, the fuel surcharges are back. Suddenly, taxes/fees that were $100...
Flying Blue Drops Fuel Surcharges on Valuable SkyTeam Partner
Big news if you like using your miles to travel to Europe in business class and don’t like paying high surcharges: Flying Blue is currently not collecting fuel surcharges on Air Europa flights. Airline award space, particularly in premium...
Review: San Francisco to Amsterdam in KLM 787-9 World Business Class
Flying KLM for the first time was already a treat, but flying on KLM’s 787-9 in business class turned me into the child eagerly waiting for Christmas morning. KLM World Business Class Flight Preview Email After checking in online,...
Introduction: Adventures on SkyTeam
I’ve flown most Star Alliance and oneworld carriers, but very few on SkyTeam. When Garuda Indonesia offered 90%-off first class award redemptions, I sensed an opportunity not only to try SkyTeam’s premier first class product, but also sample additional...
KLM 787 Dreamliner World Business Impresses
I just stepped off my first ever KLM flight and found it to be a great overall experience. The full SFO-AMS flight review will be published next week, but for now some initial impressions: KLM’s 787-9 Dreamliner features comfortable...
My Awesome Routing to Jakarta for Garuda First Class
I’m enroute to Jakarta for the long-awaited 90%-off first class award redemption on Garuda Indonesia. Although I am very excited to try Gardua First Class, I must admit my routing to Jakarta is giving it a run for the...
