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 economic system every means, although TPG was impressed with its low award pricing final summer time, even to Paris through the 2024 Olympics.
Flying Blue presents 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 economic system
- 35,000 miles in premium economic system
- 50,000 miles in enterprise class
These have been glorious charges — particularly in enterprise class, the place Flying Blue provided among the lowest costs of any loyalty program throughout the Atlantic.
Associated: Is Air France premium economic 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 economic system
- 40,000 miles in premium economic system
- 60,000 miles in enterprise class
These are nonetheless truthful costs if you’ll find availability at saver charges. For journey to Europe and past, TPG recommends Air France in enterprise class and KLM in premium economic system.
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Flying Blue is a switch companion of all main transferable factors and miles applications, together with:
For these trying to journey from North America to locations in Africa and Asia through 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 economic system
- 65,000 miles in premium economic system
- 115,000 miles in enterprise class
To compensate for the worth enhance, Flying Blue instructed TPG that it’s going to enhance the variety of saver-level seats made accessible for members. A spokesperson for the loyalty program instructed TPG the next:
“Lately, we made a slight adjustment to award mile pricing and corresponding stock entry to handle a typical 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 are able to definitely recognize that no person likes worth will increase, the truth is this alteration 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 sometimes embrace flights to Europe from main U.S. cities.
Backside line
Devaluations are an unlucky actuality of gathering factors and miles. They reiterate the worth of transferable currencies and that factors and miles are a foul long-term funding. Because of this, you must redeem your rewards as you earn them to make the most of the most effective offers.
Fortunately, Flying Blue’s latest worth will increase are palatable in comparison with the devaluations we have seen from different loyalty applications. Plus, extra availability on the lowest saver degree charges ought to be truthful compensation for the sudden worth enhance.
