Best ways to earn Flying Blue miles without flying often

The best ways to earn miles

If you only fly a few times a year, the smart move is to build your miles strategy outside the plane. Here is my ranking.

1. Flying Blue credit card (best daily earner)

A Flying Blue American Express is by far the best way to earn miles if you don't fly often:

• Gold Card (EUR 16.50/month): 1 mile per euro, 1.5 at KLM/AF
• Platinum Card (EUR 55/month): 1.5 miles per euro, 2.0 at KLM/AF

With average spending of EUR 2,000 per month, the Gold Card earns you 24,000 miles per year, and the Platinum even 36,000 miles. Bonus: you also earn XP (30 and 60 per year respectively) for Flying Blue status.

The current welcome bonus is up to 40,000 miles (Gold) or 120,000 miles (Platinum).

2. Flying with KLM, Air France or SkyTeam

Flying remains a great way to earn miles. On a round trip Amsterdam-Barcelona you can easily earn 1,000-2,000 miles, depending on your booking class. Always book directly with KLM or Air France and choose a fare that earns miles (Light fares earn fewer miles).

3. Subscribe to Miles

With Subscribe to Miles you buy a fixed number of miles each month through a subscription. The price per mile is around 1.1 to 1.3 eurocent. Especially useful when you are just short of enough miles for an award ticket.

4. Transfer Amex Membership Rewards

Do you have a regular American Express Gold or Platinum Card? Then you earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Flying Blue miles. Note: the ratio is 1,000 MR = 800 miles (0.8 conversion). This gives you flexibility because you can also transfer to other programs.

5. Flying Blue Store and partners

Through the Flying Blue Store you earn miles on online purchases. You can also earn miles with hotel chains (Accor, Marriott), car rental companies (Hertz, Europcar) and other partners.

My tip

Combine multiple methods. With a Flying Blue Amex as your daily spending card, 2-3 flights per year, and the occasional purchase through the Store, you can easily earn 30,000-50,000 miles per year.