Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM. You earn XP (Experience Points) for elite status and Miles as a reward currency for free flights, upgrades, and other rewards.

How do I reach Flying Blue Gold status?

Gold requires 180 XP after reaching Silver (100 XP). The total effort from Explorer is 280 XP. You earn XP by flying with Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam partners, or through the Flying Blue American Express credit card.

What is the difference between XP and Miles?

XP (Experience Points) determines your status level and is deducted upon each status upgrade. Miles are a reward currency you can redeem for flights and upgrades. Both are earned simultaneously when flying, but serve different purposes.

How can I track my Flying Blue progress?

With SkyStatus, you can import your Flying Blue monthly statement (PDF) and get insights into your XP progress, status projections, rollover calculations, and qualification date countdown. The app works with statements in 7 languages.

Flying Blue Guide

Everything you need to know about XP, status levels, miles value, and optimizing your Flying Blue experience.

By Remco de Graaf Flying Blue Platinum member since 2005, every status from Silver to Platinum. 30 years building digital products, 15+ mileage runs, 50+ countries. Founder of SkyStatus. Published: December 2024 - Last updated: 17 February 2026

Complete App Guide

Flying Blue Tracker: The Complete Guide to SkyStatus

Page-by-page walkthrough of every feature: XP tracking, rollover forecasting, miles analytics, mileage run simulators, and more. The one guide that connects everything.

Read the Full Guide

⚡ Quick Reference: Status Thresholds

Silver

100 XP

Deducted upon qualification

Gold

180 XP

Deducted upon qualification

Platinum

300 XP

Deducted upon qualification

Ultimate

300 XP + 900 UXP

Both deducted (on top of Platinum)

💡 The Core Mechanic: Flying Blue uses a "payment" system. When you reach a status threshold, the required XP is deducted from your balance. Surplus XP (up to 300) rolls over to your next qualification year. This is why reaching Gold from Explorer requires 280 XP total (100 for Silver + 180 for Gold), not just 180 XP.

📚 Understanding XP and Status

Start Here

What is Flying Blue XP?

How XP is earned based on cabin class and distance. Understand the "payment" system and why you cannot skip status levels.

Status Levels Compared

Silver, Gold, Platinum, Ultimate: XP thresholds, benefits at each tier, and which level offers the best value for your travel pattern.

Important

How XP Rollover Works

Up to 300 XP can roll over after paying for status. Learn the formulas, caps, and strategies to maximize rollover value.

What is UXP (Ultimate XP)?

UXP is earned only on AF/KL marketed flights. Required for Ultimate status. 900 UXP is deducted when you qualify.

🎯 Reaching Status Goals

Sweet Spot

How to Reach Gold Status

Gold (180 XP) unlocks lounge access. First clear the Silver hurdle (100 XP), then earn 180 XP fresh. Strategies for efficient earning.

How to Reach Platinum

Platinum (300 XP) unlocks upgrade eligibility and starts your UXP counter toward Ultimate. High volume strategies explained.

Top Tier

Ultimate Status Guide

Requires Platinum + 900 UXP. Both are deducted upon qualification. Ultimate does not reset your qualification year. Special soft landing rules apply.

💡 Qualification Year: Your 12-month cycle runs from the 1st of a month to the last day of the month before, one year later (e.g., November 1 to October 31). A level-up resets your year to the 1st of the next month. Requalification at the same level keeps your dates unchanged. Ultimate does not trigger a reset.

✈️ XP Runs (Mileage Runs)

What is an XP Run?

Flights taken primarily for status points. Why adding a connection can increase your XP by 50% for the same price.

Tool

Mileage Run Calculator

Find the best routes by cost per XP from Amsterdam, Paris, and other hubs. Compare Economy vs Business efficiency.

💰 Miles Value and Acquisition

What Are Miles Worth?

Typically 0.012 to 0.02 euros per mile depending on redemption. Business Class awards offer the best value per mile.

Should You Buy Miles?

At 0.025+ euros per mile, buying rarely makes sense. Only consider when Promo Rewards align with your travel plans.

New + Calculator

Flying Blue Extra: Worth It?

Essential (EUR 379) vs Extended (EUR 699) - benefit-by-benefit breakdown with formulas, real scenarios, and a free calculator.

Subscribe to Miles Worth It?

At roughly 0.011 euros per mile, subscriptions offer the best acquisition rate. Note: this earns Miles, not XP for status.

Cost Per Mile Explained

How to calculate CPM and optimize your miles acquisition strategy across different sources.

🛠️ Practical Guides

Import Your Flying Blue PDF

Step by step guide to importing your activity statement. Works with Dutch, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and English.

Partner Airlines List

All SkyTeam partners earn XP when credited to Flying Blue. Only flights marketed by AF or KL (the flight code on your ticket) earn UXP.

🔑 Key Concepts at a Glance

XP vs Miles

XP determines your status level (Silver to Platinum). Miles are a currency you spend on awards. They are earned together but serve different purposes.

XP vs UXP

XP is earned on all qualifying flights. UXP is earned only on AF/KL marketed flights and is required (on top of Platinum) for Ultimate status.

Soft Landing

You can only drop one status level per year, even with 0 XP earned. Ultimate members always soft land to Platinum first, never directly to Gold.

Rollover Caps

Maximum 300 XP and 900 UXP can roll over. Anything above these caps after paying for status is lost. Plan your flying to avoid waste.

Track Your Flying Blue Progress

Import your PDF and see XP tracking, status projections, rollover calculations, and qualification date countdown.

Start Tracking Free →