Flying Blue beginners guide: everything you need to know
People fly Air France or KLM for years and collect nothing more than a stray batch of miles that quietly expire. The program rewards the members who understand how it works and ignores the ones who barely notice it is running. This is the version I wish someone had handed me at the start. How the two currencies actually behave, how status really gets earned, and which early moves are worth your attention before you book a single flight. Start here and the rest of Flying Blue stops being a mystery.
What is Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, plus 30+ SkyTeam partner airlines. You earn two currencies: miles (savings for free flights) and XP (points that determine your status level). Signing up is free at flyingblue.com.
Flying Blue at a glance
Miles vs. XP: the two currencies
The most important concept in Flying Blue is that there are two separate currencies. This is where most beginners get confused:
| Miles | XP (Experience Points) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Savings for free flights | Determines your status level |
| How to earn | Flying, credit card, shopping, partners | Only flying + Amex XP bonus |
| Spending | Free flights, upgrades, products | Not spendable (counts automatically) |
| Expiry | After 24 months of inactivity | Per qualification year (12 months) |
| Example | 50,000 miles = 1 intercont. round-trip Economy | 100 XP = Silver, 180 XP = Gold |
Earning miles: all the ways
There are multiple ways to earn miles:
1. Flying
The basic method. You earn miles on every flight with KLM, Air France, or a SkyTeam partner that you credit to Flying Blue. The number of miles depends on the route, cabin class, and booking class.
2. Flying Blue Amex credit card
The Flying Blue Amex is the fastest way to earn miles without flying:
- Gold Card: 1 mile per euro, EUR 16.50/month, welcome bonus up to 40,000 miles
- Platinum Card: 1-1.5 miles per euro, EUR 55/month, welcome bonus up to 120,000 miles
At EUR 1,500 per month in everyday spending, you earn 18,000-27,000 miles per year, on top of the welcome bonus.
3. Flying Blue shopping
Through the Flying Blue shopping portal, you earn extra miles on online purchases at hundreds of retailers. You shop as usual, but click through the Flying Blue website first.
4. Partners
Hotels, car rental companies, and other partners offer miles when you book through Flying Blue. This typically earns fewer miles than flying or credit cards, but it adds up.
Example calculation: miles in your first year
- Welcome bonus Amex Platinum: 120,000 miles
- 12 months x EUR 1,500/month x 1 mile/euro: 18,000 miles
- 2 round-trip flights within Europe (Economy): ~4,000 miles
- Total first year: ~142,000 miles
- That is enough for an intercontinental Business Class round-trip (90,000-120,000 miles)
Spending miles: free flights and more
The best use of miles is for flight tickets (award tickets). Other options exist, but offer less value:
Award tickets (best value)
| Route | Economy round-trip | Business round-trip |
|---|---|---|
| Within Europe | ~20,000 miles | ~50,000 miles |
| Intercontinental | ~50,000 miles | ~120,000 miles |
| Intercont. Promo Reward | ~37,500 miles | ~90,000 miles |
Prices are indicative and variable (dynamic pricing). Promo Reward prices at 25% discount. Source: flyingblue.com.
Upgrades
You can upgrade with miles from Economy to Business or from Business to First. Not always available and the value varies, but it can be a good use of miles.
Other redemptions (lower value)
Flying Blue also offers miles redemptions for products, gift cards, and experiences. The value per mile here is typically EUR 0.005 or less, while on flights you can get EUR 0.01-0.05. So always prefer spending your miles on flights.
Status levels: from Explorer to Ultimate
In addition to miles, you earn XP on flights. Your XP determines your status level. Each level gives you additional benefits:
| Status | XP requirement | Key benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer | 0 XP | Basics: earn and spend miles |
| Silver | 100 XP | Extra baggage, priority boarding, 50% miles bonus |
| Gold | 180 XP | Lounge access (750+ SkyTeam), SkyPriority, +75% miles |
| Platinum | 300 XP | Guaranteed seat, La Premiere lounge, +100% miles |
| Ultimate | Invitation only | Exclusive benefits, dedicated service |
The biggest turning point is Gold: lounge access fundamentally changes your flying experience. Read more in our lounge guide.
How do you earn XP?
- Flying: each flight segment earns XP (4-40 XP depending on cabin and distance)
- Amex bonus: the Platinum Card gives 60 XP/year, the Gold Card 30 XP/year
- SAF contribution: a voluntary sustainability contribution that earns XP
Track your miles and XP automatically
Import your Flying Blue statements and automatically track how many miles and XP you have, and when you will reach your next status level.
Start tracking for free
Measured: what a typical member actually looks like
Before you set expectations, the measured baseline from imported member data: median 10 flights per member in calendar 2025 (p25 4, p75 21). Most of that flying is booked under AF/KLM flight numbers: 77.1% of flown segments are booked under an AF/KLM flight number; 94.6% of flying members have at least one such segment. And the cabin is rarely glamorous: economy 93.9%, business 5.0%, premium economy 1.0% of logged segments (first class folded into other: too few members). You do not need business class or a packed travel schedule to take part: the measured norm is modest flying on ordinary tickets.
SkyStatus member data, August 2026. Airline and cabin shares span members' full logged history. The volume figure covers 484 members active in 2025. Our members are self-selected optimizers, not a random sample of Flying Blue members.
Full report: Flying Blue by the Numbers · Methodology
Your first steps
Get started with Flying Blue in 4 steps
- Sign up: go to flyingblue.com and create a free account. You will receive a Flying Blue number.
- Credit your flights: enter your Flying Blue number with every booking. Forgot? Claim flights up to 6 months after the fact through your account. Also credit flights on SkyTeam partners.
- Consider the Amex: the Flying Blue Amex earns miles on everyday spending plus annual XP bonuses. The welcome bonus (up to 120,000 miles) can fund your first free intercontinental flight.
- Learn to spend wisely: spend miles on flights (not on products). Wait for Promo Rewards for up to 25% off the Miles price. Look for sweet spots with partner airlines.
5 mistakes beginners make
1. Not claiming flights
The most common mistake: forgetting to enter your Flying Blue number when booking. Every flight without a Flying Blue number means lost miles and XP. Set your number as the default in your KLM and Air France accounts. Forgot? Claim up to 6 months after the fact.
2. Spending miles on products
The value per mile when redeeming for products is EUR 0.003-0.005. For flights it is EUR 0.01-0.05. Always spend miles on flights, unless you are about to lose them.
3. Thinking that buying miles earns XP
Purchased miles, miles from credit cards, or miles from shopping earn zero XP. Only flying and the Amex XP bonus count towards status. This surprises many beginners who think they can also buy status through a credit card.
4. Forgetting partner airlines
Flying Blue works with 30+ SkyTeam partners. A flight on Delta, SAS, Korean Air, or Kenya Airways also earns miles and XP if you credit it to Flying Blue. Don't forget these flights.
5. Not checking Promo Rewards
Every month Flying Blue offers Promo Rewards with up to 25% off the Miles price. Many members don't know this and pay full price. Check on the 1st of each month which destinations are available.
Going deeper: the next step
Now that you know the basics, these are the topics to explore next:
If you want to maximize miles
- How to earn miles: all methods - the complete guide to building your miles balance
- Should you buy miles? - when it makes sense and when it does not
If you want to spend wisely
- Sweet spots: the best award tickets - where you get the most value
- Promo Rewards - monthly discounts on award tickets
- Award availability - how to find the cheapest seats
- Stopover - free layover on your award ticket
If you want to earn status
- Earn XP fast - strategies for status growth
- Silver status - the entry level (100 XP)
- Gold status - lounge access and more (180 XP)
- Lounge access - all options per status level
Check what your miles are worth
Enter your miles balance to see which flights are within reach:
Frequently asked questions
What is Flying Blue?
Flying Blue is the loyalty program of Air France and KLM, plus 30+ SkyTeam partners. You earn miles (for free flights) and XP (for status benefits). Signing up is free at flyingblue.com.
What is the difference between miles and XP?
Miles are savings that you spend on flights and upgrades. XP determines your status level (Silver, Gold, Platinum). You earn miles through flying, credit cards, and partners. You earn XP only by flying and through the Amex XP bonus. Read the full explanation in our XP guide.
Is Flying Blue free?
Yes. Joining costs nothing. You can immediately earn miles and XP on flights. There are optional paid products (Amex cards, Flying Blue Extra), but these are not required.
How many miles do you need for a free flight?
A round-trip within Europe in Economy costs around 20,000 miles. Intercontinental in Economy from 50,000 miles, in Business Class from 90,000-120,000 miles. With Promo Rewards the Miles price can be lower depending on the current offer.
Do Flying Blue miles expire?
Yes, miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. Any miles transaction (earning or spending) resets the clock. If you have an Amex card, you automatically earn miles and they never expire. Read more in our miles expiration guide.
Which airlines are part of Flying Blue?
KLM and Air France are the main airlines. In addition, there are 30+ SkyTeam partners including Delta, SAS, Korean Air, China Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, Kenya Airways, and more. You earn and spend miles on all these airlines.
Sources and verification
Targeted verification: July 22, 2026. We rechecked the Promo Rewards maximum discount and monthly release timing, plus the Silver, Gold and Platinum XP thresholds. Other claims keep their earlier verification dates.
- Flying Blue - official website with program rules
- Flying Blue - XP explained - official XP rules and earning methods
- Flying Blue - Tier Benefits - benefits per status level
- Flying Blue - Reward Tickets - award bookings and Promo Rewards
New to Flying Blue? Already hold elite status with another airline such as British Airways or American Airlines? Check out the Flying Blue status match: pay once for 12 months of Silver, Gold, or Platinum.
This guide is based on publicly available information from Flying Blue and personal experience as of August 2026. Program rules may change. Always check the current terms at flyingblue.com. SkyStatus is not affiliated with Air France-KLM or Flying Blue.