How to earn Flying Blue miles: the complete guide
Summary
You can earn Flying Blue miles in more than ten ways: flying with KLM or Air France (4 to 9 miles per euro), credit cards (Amex Platinum: 1.5 miles per euro), the shopping portal, partner activities (hotels, Uber, car rentals), Subscribe to Miles (from EUR 0.011/mile), Revolut RevPoints (1:1 transfer) and various loyalty point conversions. The most powerful combination is a Flying Blue Amex on all everyday spending paired with flights on KLM or Air France.
Short answer
The fastest way to accumulate miles is an Amex credit card on all your everyday spending. At EUR 1,500 per month you earn 18,000 to 27,000 miles per year, plus 30 or 60 XP for status qualification. Combine this with the shopping portal, Uber and Booking.com, and transfer partners to accumulate even faster.
- Earning miles by flying
- Earning miles with credit cards
- Earning miles via the shopping portal
- Earning miles via partners
- Subscribe to Miles
- Transfer and conversion partners
- Flying Blue Family: sharing miles
- Keeping your miles active
- Strategy: maximizing your earnings
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Earning miles by flying
When you fly with KLM, Air France or a SkyTeam partner, you automatically earn miles based on the ticket price (base fare excluding taxes and surcharges). The higher your status level, the more miles you earn per euro.
| Status level | Miles per EUR 1 | Example: round trip AMS-JFK (EUR 600 base fare) |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer (no status) | 4 miles | 2,400 miles |
| Silver | 6 miles | 3,600 miles |
| Gold | 7 miles | 4,200 miles |
| Platinum | 8 miles | 4,800 miles |
| Ultimate | 9 miles | 5,400 miles |
Partner flights
You also earn miles on flights with SkyTeam partners such as Delta, Korean Air and Kenya Airways. Earning rates vary by partner. See the full list of earning percentages in our guide to Flying Blue partner airlines.
Earning miles with credit cards
For most members, a Flying Blue American Express credit card is the most effective way to earn miles. You earn miles on every purchase, and it is the only way to earn XP without flying.
| Card | Cost | Miles/EUR | Miles/EUR at KLM/AF/Hertz | XP/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Card | 1st year free, then EUR 6.25/month | 0.8 | 1 | 15 |
| Gold Card | EUR 16.50/month | 1 | 1.5 | 30 |
| Platinum Card | EUR 55/month | 1.5 | 2 | 60 |
Source: American Express - Flying Blue miles overview and Experience Points page.
Example: Gold Card at EUR 1,500/month spending
- Everyday spending: 1,500 x 1 mile = 1,500 miles/month
- Per year: 18,000 miles (enough for an Economy round trip within Europe)
- Bonus: 30 XP per year (nearly a third of the 100 XP needed for Silver)
- Cost: EUR 198/year
- miles value at EUR 0.012/mile: roughly EUR 216
Example: Platinum Card at EUR 2,000/month spending
- Everyday spending: 2,000 x 1.5 miles = 3,000 miles/month
- Per year: 36,000 miles (enough for a transatlantic Economy one-way)
- Bonus: 60 XP per year (more than half of the 100 XP for Silver, or a third of Gold)
- Cost: EUR 660/year
- miles value at EUR 0.012/mile: roughly EUR 432 (excluding XP value)
Welcome bonus: your biggest miles boost
When you apply for a Flying Blue Amex you receive a welcome bonus that can double or triple your miles balance in one go. The exact bonus is personalized and appears on the application page:
- Gold Card: up to 40,000 miles welcome bonus
- Platinum Card: up to 120,000 miles welcome bonus
Since February 2026, welcome bonuses are paid out in two parts: 50% after 7 months and 50% after 13 months. You need at least 1 transaction per month. This makes the upgrade strategy (start with Gold, then upgrade to Platinum) especially valuable: you receive two bonuses instead of one.
Referral program: bonus for you and your friend
If you already have a Flying Blue Amex, you can refer friends via the Amex referral program. Both you and the applicant receive a bonus (typically 5,000-10,000 miles). You can find your personal referral link in the Amex app under "Refer a Friend". This is a free way to earn extra miles, especially if you convince multiple people around you.
Earning miles via the shopping portal
Flying Blue offers a shopping portal that lets you earn extra miles on online purchases. You shop via the portal at well-known brands and earn miles on top of your regular credit card miles.
How it works
- Log in to your Flying Blue account
- Go to the shopping portal
- Click through to the online store of your choice
- Complete your purchase as usual
- miles are automatically credited (may take a few weeks)
On your first purchase through the portal you receive a welcome bonus of 500 miles. Earning rates vary by partner. Here are the current rates from popular retailers:
| Online store | Miles per EUR 10 | Effective miles/EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Adidas | 44 | 4.4 |
| GetYourGuide | 44 | 4.4 |
| ASOS | up to 40 | 4.0 |
| Dyson | 31 | 3.1 |
| Nike Store | up to 22 | 2.2 |
| Sephora | 22 | 2.2 |
| Apple | 18 | 1.8 |
| Booking.com | 18 | 1.8 |
Rates are variable and subject to change. Source: Flying Blue Earn Online portal, February 2026.
Earning miles via partners
Hotels
Flying Blue partners with several hotel chains. Booking.com earns 2 miles per euro on hotel bookings plus at least 15% discount on selected hotels. Source: Flying Blue - Booking.com.
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) offers a unique miles+Points program. When you link your Flying Blue and ALL accounts, you earn both Accor Reward Points and Flying Blue miles on every hotel stay (roughly 1 mile per EUR 10 spent). This applies to all Accor brands: ibis, Mercure, Novotel, Pullman, Sofitel and more. You can also transfer accumulated ALL points to Flying Blue miles (see transfer partners). Source: Accor - Flying Blue partnership.
Car rental
Flying Blue has partnerships with ten car rental companies. You earn miles on your rental booking by entering your Flying Blue number at reservation.
| Partner | Earning rate (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Hertz | 6 miles/EUR (regular), 12 miles/EUR (electric) |
| Avis | 4 miles/EUR (regular), 5 miles/EUR (electric) |
| Budget, Europcar, Sixt | Varies per booking |
| Enterprise, Dollar, Thrifty, Free2move, Hertz DriveU | Varies per booking |
Exact earning rates vary by partner, country and promotion period. Always check the current rates on the Flying Blue partners page.
Uber (Netherlands and France)
In the Netherlands and France you earn 1 mile per euro on Uber rides. Take 4 or more rides per month and this increases to 2 miles per euro. Link your Flying Blue account to Uber via the Flying Blue partner page. Source: KLM - Uber miles partnership.
Subscribe to Miles
Subscribe to Miles is a monthly subscription that lets you purchase miles at a fixed price. It is not earning in the traditional sense, but it offers the lowest cost per mile compared to standard miles purchases.
| Tier | Price/month | Miles/month | Cost/mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | EUR 28 | 2,000 | EUR 0.014 |
| Standard | EUR 65 | 5,000 | EUR 0.013 |
| Plus | EUR 120 | 10,000 | EUR 0.012 |
| Premium | EUR 187 | 17,000 | EUR 0.011 |
- Best deal: Premium tier at EUR 0.011 per mile, cheaper than any promotional miles purchase
- Minimum commitment: 3 months, then cancel monthly. Cooling-off period: 14 days
- Crediting: miles are credited within 72 hours after sign-up, then monthly
- No XP: Subscribe to Miles does not earn XP for status
- Note: from May 4, 2026 counts as an activity that extends your entire miles balance by 24 months, not all your miles
Read the full analysis, including when it makes sense, in our guide to Flying Blue subscriptions.
Transfer and conversion partners
Besides earning miles directly, you can also convert points from other programs into Flying Blue miles. There are three major transfer partners to consider.
Amex Membership Rewards (5:4 ratio)
If you hold a regular Amex card (not the Flying Blue variant, but the card with Membership Rewards), you can transfer MR points to Flying Blue. The ratio is 5:4: 1,250 MR points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles. Source: americanexpress.com.
Important: if you have a Flying Blue Amex card (Gold or Platinum), you earn miles directly on your spending. No transfer is needed and the 5:4 ratio does not apply. Transfer is relevant if you hold a regular Amex with Membership Rewards. That card offers higher welcome bonuses (up to 170,000 points) and lounge access, but no XP. You can hold both cards simultaneously.
Revolut RevPoints (1:1 ratio)
Revolut offers a transfer of RevPoints to Flying Blue miles at a 1:1 ratio: 1,000 RevPoints = 1,000 Flying Blue miles. You earn RevPoints on every payment with Revolut (the amount depends on your Revolut subscription). This is a relatively new transfer partner that is especially interesting if you already use Revolut daily.
Accor ALL Reward Points (2:1 ratio)
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) Reward Points can be transferred to Flying Blue: 2,000 ALL points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles. Accor also regularly offers transfer bonuses (15 to 30% extra). Source: Accor - Flying Blue partnership.
| Transfer partner | Ratio | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Membership Rewards | 5:4 (1,250 MR = 1,000 miles) | Regular 20-25% transfer bonus |
| Revolut RevPoints | 1:1 (1,000 RP = 1,000 miles) | No transfer bonus known |
| Accor ALL Reward Points | 2:1 (2,000 pts = 1,000 miles) | Regular 15-30% transfer bonus |
Flying Blue Family: sharing miles with your household
With Flying Blue Family you can share miles within your household. You add up to 7 members and pool your miles balances. This is especially powerful when multiple family members have an Amex: everyone's miles flow into a shared balance, allowing you to book an award ticket faster.
Keeping your miles active
Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months without activity on your account. Any activity that earns or costs miles resets the clock completely. Source: Amex - miles validity.
Activities that reset the clock
- A flight on KLM, Air France or a SkyTeam partner
- A purchase with your Flying Blue Amex credit card
- Earning miles via the shopping portal
- Spending miles on an award ticket
- Earning miles via a partner (hotel, car rental)
Good news for status holders: members with Silver status or higher do not need to worry. As long as you hold elite status, your miles do not expire. Only when you lose your status does the 24-month clock start. Source: flyingblue.com.
Strategy: maximizing your earnings
All earning methods compared
| Method | Earning rate | Cost/mile | XP? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying (KLM/AF) | 4-9 miles/EUR | EUR 0 (free) | Yes |
| Amex Platinum Card | 1.5 miles/EUR | ~EUR 0.002 | 60 XP/year |
| Amex Gold Card | 1 mile/EUR | ~EUR 0.002 | 30 XP/year |
| Shopping portal | 1-5 miles/EUR | EUR 0 (free) | No |
| Booking.com hotels | 2 miles/EUR | EUR 0 (free) | No |
| Uber (NL) | 1-2 miles/EUR | EUR 0 (free) | No |
| Subscribe to Miles | 2,000-17,000/month | EUR 0.011-0.014 | No |
| Revolut RevPoints | 1:1 transfer | Varies | No |
| Accor ALL (dual-earning) | ~1 mile/EUR 10 | EUR 0 (free) | No |
| Hertz car rental | 6-12 miles/EUR | EUR 0 (free) | No |
Optimizing everyday spending
Most miles are earned not in the air but on the ground. Here is how to make every euro count:
| Spending category | Best approach | Miles/EUR |
|---|---|---|
| Online shopping | Shopping portal + Amex | 2.0-7.0 |
| Uber rides | Amex as payment method + FB-Uber link | 2.5-3.5 |
| Hotels | Booking.com via FB partner + Amex | 3.0-3.5 |
| General spending | Pay with Amex | 1.0-1.5 |
| Subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify) | Pay with Amex | 1.0-1.5 |
The 7 rules for maximum miles
- Use an Amex on everything: the Platinum Card (1.5 miles/EUR) or Gold Card (1 mile/EUR) on all your everyday spending. This is the foundation of your miles strategy.
- Pay at KLM/AF with your Amex: you get a higher earning rate (2 miles/EUR with Platinum) plus flight miles on top of the credit card miles.
- Shop via the portal: for online purchases, always click through the Flying Blue shopping portal first for extra miles on top of your credit card miles.
- Always book with your FB number: do not forget to enter your Flying Blue number when booking flights, hotels and car rentals.
- Wait for transfer bonuses: if you have MR points, wait for a 20 to 25% bonus before transferring to Flying Blue.
- Use Subscribe to Miles selectively: only if you have a specific miles shortfall for a booking. Do not subscribe speculatively.
- Combine earning channels: a flight booked via your Amex earns flight miles AND credit card miles. A hotel stay booked through an FB partner and paid with Amex earns partner miles AND credit card miles.
Example strategy: 60,000 miles in 12 months
Goal: enough miles for a transatlantic Business Class one-way (60,000 miles saver fare).
- Amex Platinum Card at EUR 2,000/month: 36,000 miles
- 2 European round trips (EUR 300 base fare, Platinum status): roughly 4,800 miles
- 1 intercontinental round trip (EUR 800 base fare): roughly 6,400 miles
- Shopping portal (EUR 3,000/year online spending, average 2 miles/EUR): 6,000 miles
- Car rental and hotels: roughly 2,000 miles
- Total: roughly 55,200 miles - almost enough. The Amex welcome bonus more than makes up the difference.
Track your miles earnings
Import your Flying Blue activity statement and see exactly how many miles you earn per source.
Start tracking for freeFrequently asked questions
How many miles do you earn per flight with Flying Blue?
Flying Blue members earn miles based on the ticket price (base fare excluding taxes). Explorer members receive 4 miles per euro, Silver 6, Gold 7, Platinum 8 and Ultimate 9 miles per euro. A round trip Amsterdam-New York with a EUR 600 base fare earns an Explorer roughly 2,400 miles.
Can you earn Flying Blue miles without flying?
Yes. Most miles are earned on the ground. With a Flying Blue Amex credit card you earn 0.8 to 1.5 miles per euro on everyday spending. There is also the Flying Blue shopping portal, hotel partners like Accor and car rental partners like Hertz. Subscribe to Miles lets you purchase miles monthly at a discount.
Which credit card earns the most Flying Blue miles?
The Flying Blue American Express Platinum Card earns the most miles: 1.5 miles per euro on everyday spending and 2 miles per euro at KLM, Air France and Hertz. You also receive 60 XP per year for status qualification. The card costs EUR 55 per month. The Gold Card (EUR 16.50/month) offers 1 mile per euro and 30 XP per year.
When do Flying Blue miles expire?
Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months without activity on your account. Any activity (a flight, earning miles via credit card, or spending miles) resets the 24-month clock. Members with elite status (Silver or higher) do not need to worry: their miles do not expire as long as they hold status.
Can I convert loyalty points to Flying Blue miles?
Yes. Several transfer partners allow you to convert points to Flying Blue miles. Amex Membership Rewards transfers at a 5:4 ratio (1,250 MR points = 1,000 miles). Revolut RevPoints transfer 1:1 (1,000 RevPoints = 1,000 miles). Accor ALL Reward Points transfer at 2:1 (2,000 points = 1,000 miles). Wait for transfer bonuses (20-25% extra) when possible.
How do I earn miles with Revolut RevPoints?
If you use Revolut, you earn RevPoints on every payment. You can transfer them to Flying Blue miles at a 1:1 ratio (1,000 RevPoints = 1,000 miles). Link your accounts via the Flying Blue - Revolut partner page. The number of RevPoints you earn per payment depends on your Revolut subscription plan.
Sources and verification
Last verified: 27 February 2026. All earning rates verified against official sources.
- KLM: Earning Flying Blue miles - Official earning rates per status level
- American Express: Flying Blue miles overview - miles per euro per card type
- American Express: Experience Points - XP bonus per card type
- American Express: miles validity - Expiry rules and extension
- Flying Blue: Earn in everyday life - Shopping portal and partners
- Flying Blue: Subscribe to Miles - Subscription pricing
- Flying Blue: Booking.com partner - 2 miles per euro on hotel bookings
- KLM: Uber miles partnership - 1-2 miles per euro on rides in NL
- Accor: Flying Blue partnership - miles+Points dual-earning and transfer bonuses
- Flying Blue: Revolut RevPoints partner - 1:1 miles transfer
Earning rates based on official sources (KLM, American Express, Flying Blue, Accor ALL, Revolut). All figures verified in February 2026. Credit card rates and partner terms apply to the European market. Rates are subject to change. SkyStatus is not affiliated with Air France-KLM, Flying Blue or American Express.