--- title: "Earn Flying Blue XP Fast: 14 Methods, Can You Buy It? (2026)" locale: "en" canonical_url: "https://skystatus.pro/guide/flying-blue-earn-xp-fast" updated_at: "2026-10-07T16:25:25.919339+00:00" --- # Earn Flying Blue XP fast: 14 methods, and whether you can buy it Last updated: 7 October 2026 - 22 min read - 14 methods, SkyTeam partners and mileage run routes with cost per XP - [View sources]() ![Remco de Graaf](/authors/remco-de-graaf.webp) By [Remco de Graaf]() Founder of SkyStatus, Flying Blue member since 2005, currently Ultimate. Also Managing Director and co-owner at Reshift Digital. Founder of Zoom.nl (120,000 users) and Zoom Academy (80,000 paying students). Experience includes at least 15 mileage runs and visits to at least 60 countries. Looking for a Flying Blue XP calculator to work out what a route, card or add-on earns and how far that leaves you from the next tier? Here is the part a calculator will not give you. The earning figure is the easy half. The number that decides your year is what each XP costs you, and no headline table shows that. You cannot transfer XP, and there is no one-click XP shop, so most people assume a higher tier means flying far more than they really have to. It does not. Some routes, cards and add-ons earn XP much faster and much cheaper than others, and the gap between the smart move and the obvious one is large. This guide runs the numbers across all 14 methods and ranks the fast paths by what each XP actually costs you. New to the system? Start with [what Flying Blue XP is](). ## Definition **Flying Blue XP (Experience Points)** determine your elite status with Air France and KLM. The more XP you earn, the higher your status: Silver (100 XP), Gold (180 XP) or Platinum (300 XP). Unlike miles, you cannot transfer XP to another member. You can effectively buy XP, though: donating miles earns XP (not UXP) and SAF contributions earn both XP and UXP. And there are more ways to earn XP fast than you would expect, from smart booking and credit cards to SAF hacks, SkyTeam partners and mileage runs. This guide covers all 14 methods plus an overview of SkyTeam partners and the best mileage run routes from Amsterdam and the US, with cost per XP, so you know exactly which strategy fits your situation. ## Quick facts Fastest to Silver Amex + 2 flights 60 XP card + 40 XP flights Cheapest XP EUR 7-10/XP Business via hub + Antwerp XP without flying 80-180 a year Card (Amex or BofA) + Carte d'Abonnement Number of methods 14 methods From free to EUR 22/XP **In the US? Your fastest path:** the [Bank of America card]() (up to 160 XP a year from spending), [the Delta play]() (your domestic flights can credit Flying Blue XP), the honest [US mileage-run math](), and [what you can and cannot buy](). Everything else on this page works worldwide. ## XP table: how much XP per flight XP is earned per flight segment. The amount depends on [the flight distance and your cabin class](). Here is the complete table: | Distance band | Economy | Premium Eco | Business | First | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Domestic (FR) | 2 XP | 4 XP | 6 XP | 10 XP | | Medium-haul (<2,000 mi) | 5 XP | 10 XP | 15 XP | 25 XP | | Long 1 (2,000-3,500 mi) | 8 XP | 16 XP | 24 XP | 40 XP | | Long 2 (3,500-5,000 mi) | 10 XP | 20 XP | 30 XP | 50 XP | | Long 3 (5,000+ mi) | 12 XP | 24 XP | 36 XP | 60 XP | Source: [Flying Blue Status & XP](). More details on how XP works: [What is Flying Blue XP?]() **Core rule:** XP is earned per segment, not per booking. A flight from Amsterdam to New York with a connection in Paris counts as 2 segments. This is the basis of most XP strategies in this guide. ## Method 1: smart booking with connections The easiest way to earn more XP from your flights: book via a hub. Every connection creates an extra segment, and every segment earns XP. **Example: Amsterdam - New York round trip in Business** **Direct (AMS-JFK):** 2 segments x 30 XP = **60 XP** **Via Paris (AMS-CDG-JFK):** 4 segments (15 + 30 + 30 + 15) = **90 XP** **Result:** 50% more XP, often the same price or even cheaper. This works because flights via hubs (Paris CDG or Amsterdam AMS) are often competitively priced. The airline wants to feed the hub, so you do not necessarily pay more for the detour. But you do get an extra segment per direction. - **Best hubs:** Paris CDG (Air France), Amsterdam AMS (KLM) - **Typical XP gain:** +50% on an intercontinental Business round trip (the AMS-JFK example above). European Economy routings can even double their XP with the extra segments. - **Extra cost:** often EUR 0 (sometimes even cheaper) - **Downside:** longer travel time due to connection ## Method 2: the Benelux rail hack (Antwerp Air&Rail) KLM operates an [Air&Rail service]() from Antwerp (ZWE) and Brussels to Amsterdam Schiphol. The train ride counts as a flight segment and earns XP, while tickets from Belgium are often cheaper than from Amsterdam. This one is region-specific, but its general form works from any market: position yourself cheaply to an AF/KL hub and let the extra segments earn the XP. Antwerp is simply the version where the positioning leg itself pays out, because the train officially counts as a flight segment. **Example: Antwerp - New York round trip in Business** **Outbound:** ZWE-AMS (train, 15 XP) + AMS-JFK (30 XP) = 45 XP **Return:** JFK-AMS (30 XP) + AMS-ZWE (train, 15 XP) = 45 XP **Total: 90 XP** (vs. 60 XP from Amsterdam direct) ### Triple stack: Antwerp + Paris connection Combine the Antwerp hack with a connection via Paris for maximum segments: **Example: Antwerp - New York via Paris round trip in Business** **Outbound:** ZWE-AMS (15) + AMS-CDG (15) + CDG-JFK (30) = 60 XP **Return:** JFK-CDG (30) + CDG-AMS (15) + AMS-ZWE (15) = 60 XP **Total: 120 XP** - that is 40% of your Platinum requirement in a single booking. ![SkyStatus Plan a trip, ZWE, AMS, CDG, JFK and back in Business: 120 XP and 120 UXP from 6 flights, ZWE to AMS at 15 XP like AMS to CDG.](/guide/images/earn-xp-triple-stack-202610.webp?v=d8fd448d04ccc47c) Plan a trip scores Antwerp to New York via Amsterdam and Paris in Business: six flights and 120 XP. The train from Antwerp to Schiphol gets its own row and earns the same 15 XP as the hop to Paris. **Antwerp outbound: high risk.** At Antwerp station there is currently no boarding check. Some travelers skip the train and check in directly at Schiphol. This is risky: if KLM checks, you can be flagged as a no-show and the rest of your booking canceled. From Brussels, skipping is impossible (physical boarding pass pickup at KLM desk). More details in the [mileage run guide](). **Return trip: low risk.** On the return trip (AMS to ZWE) the train is often skipped. The XP is credited in virtually all cases. I have done this myself multiple times. Note: this is at your own risk. Verified: my March 2026 Antwerp-hack results I ran this route myself in March 2026: ZWE-AMS-CDG-TUN earned **45 XP + 45 UXP** one-way (15 per segment). In my case the train segment posted up to 36 hours after the flights. If the app refuses check-in, use the KLM website instead. ![Verified Antwerp hack mileage run March 2026: ZWE-AMS-CDG-TUN earning 45 XP and 2,128 miles in Business Class](/guide/images/mileage-run-tunis-xp-statement-march-2026.png?v=d2b63e47f8dc95cc) Real XP statement from March 2026: 45 XP from the Antwerp hack route ZWE-AMS-CDG-TUN in Business Class. ## Method 3: Business Class on short flights European Business Class earns **15 XP per segment**, three times as much as Economy (5 XP). On short flights the surcharge for Business is often limited, making the cost per XP low. **Calculation example: AMS-CDG round trip** **Economy:** 2 x 5 XP = 10 XP, ticket around EUR 150 = **EUR 15/XP** **Business:** 2 x 15 XP = 30 XP, ticket around EUR 300 = **EUR 10/XP** Business Class is often cheaper per XP than Economy, because the XP yield is 3x higher while the price is rarely 3x higher. Aim for a maximum of **EUR 10 per XP** as a rule of thumb for a good deal. The best routes for cheap Business Class XP from Amsterdam: | Route (round trip) | Segments | XP | Typical price | Cost/XP | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | AMS-CDG | 2 | 30 XP | EUR 280-400 | EUR 9-13 | | AMS-BCN | 2 | 30 XP | EUR 350-500 | EUR 12-17 | | **AMS-CDG-TUN** | **4** | **60 XP** | **EUR 500-700** | **EUR 8-12** | | AMS-CDG-MRS | 4 | 42 XP | EUR 400-600 | EUR 10-14 | Prices are indicative, booked 3-6 weeks in advance. Combine with [the Antwerp hack]() for even more segments and lower cost per XP. Use the [mileage run routes overview]() to compare the cost per XP for specific routes. ## Method 4: La Premiere feeder trick Community reports say that on a [La Premiere (First Class) booking]() with Air France, connecting flights in the same booking post XP as First Class, even if you physically fly Business on those segments. The Points Guy documented the effect, but Flying Blue publishes nothing about it and we have not yet seen it on a member statement. **Example: Amsterdam - Singapore via Paris in La Premiere** **AMS-CDG:** short flight, physically in Business. The published table reads this as 15 XP; the reported First-class posting would make it **25 XP** **CDG-SIN:** La Premiere = **60 XP** **Total outbound: 75 XP by the published table, 85 XP if the feeder posts as First** (vs. 51 XP booked entirely in Business) The reports include feeders operated by KLM inside a La Premiere booking. The 60 XP for the La Premiere segment itself is official table fact; only the First-class uplift on the feeder is community-reported and unconfirmed. If you fly this, check your statement: that is the evidence that settles it. ## Method 5: co-branded credit cards (Amex, Bank of America) Which credit card earns you Flying Blue XP depends on where you live. In the United States, Bank of America issues the Air France KLM Visa Signature. In the Netherlands and France, American Express issues co-branded Flying Blue cards. Germany has no XP-earning card: the German Amex lineup runs on Membership Rewards, and points transfers, where available, become miles, never XP. ### United States: Air France KLM Visa Signature (Bank of America) The [Air France KLM Visa Signature]() costs $89 a year, has no foreign transaction fees, and is the only US credit card that earns XP. Figures verified on the issuer page and [flyingblue.us]() on 10 August 2026: - **20 XP** every account anniversary, automatically - **+80 XP** once you spend $15,000 in the anniversary year, bringing the card year to 100 XP, exactly the Silver threshold - **+60 XP** more at $25,000 spend, for a maximum of **160 XP per year** - **Welcome offer** (rotates, and on 10 August 2026 the two official routes still differ): the issuer page offers 50,000 miles plus 100 bonus XP after $2,000 in purchases in the first 90 days, while flyingblue.us runs a limited-time 70,000 miles plus 100 bonus XP after $3,000 in the same 90 days. The XP is 100 either way, and the 70,000 version is the one on flyingblue.us. Note that it moves the bonus XP behind $3,000 rather than $2,000, so take it only if you are sure of the higher spend - **Miles earning:** 3 miles per $1 at Air France, KLM and SkyTeam airlines and on dining, 3 miles per $1 on rent paid through Bilt up to $50,000 per calendar year (Flying Blue lists this as a new promotion and points at Bilt's own terms for the rent payment), 1.5 miles on everything else, plus 5,000 anniversary miles after $50 of spend in the year - **Eligibility:** residents of the U.S. and its territories only **The $15,000 sweet spot:** at $15,000 annual spend the card posts 100 XP at your anniversary. That is Silver status from spending alone, something no European Flying Blue card manages. Mind the mechanics: card XP posts once a year on your account anniversary, not monthly, so open the card with your qualification date in mind. ### The theoretical maximum: 280 XP in one qualification year, without flying Pair the card with a [paid status match]() and the arithmetic gets interesting. A matched Gold has to earn 180 XP to [requalify](). This card can produce 260 XP in its first year, and an [Air France Carte d'Abonnement]() adds 20 on top. That is 280 XP with no flight attached. Whether you can actually collect it inside one [qualification year]() comes down to timing, and to two rules almost nobody reads. Air France states both on its [official status page](). On the clock: "If you upgrade within these 12 months, your qualification period will reset and start from the month of your upgrade." On the counter: "The 180 XP will be deducted from your XP counter, and any surplus XP will remain in your account." Reaching a level costs XP. It does not bank it. **The trap: your welcome bonus can buy the wrong status.** If those 100 welcome XP post while you are still an Explorer, you reach Silver, 100 XP is deducted, your counter drops to zero and your qualification year restarts. You just spent the bonus on a Silver you were about to replace with a matched Gold. Get the match approved first and the same 100 bonus XP simply sits in the counter, because a Gold does not level up again until 300 XP. So the order is card first, match second, with roughly one to three months in between. The window has two edges: | Edge of the window | What sets it | Can you steer it? | | --- | --- | --- | | Earliest match | Your anniversary XP has to post before your cycle closes. A later match means a later close, so more room | No, but later is always safer | | Latest match | Your welcome XP has to post after you are Gold | Yes, you have 90 days to hit the spend | That second edge is your lever. Hit the $2,000 in week two and the bonus posts around month two, closing the window almost before it opens. Spread the spend across the full 90 days and the bonus lands in month four or five, which buys you weeks of slack. Count back from the application rather than the approval: StatusMatch.com takes three business days to review and another five before the status appears in your account. **What a perfect run looks like** - **Month 0:** open the card and start the $2,000 slowly - **Month 1 to 2:** apply for the match. Approval starts your Gold cycle - **Month 3 to 4:** 100 welcome XP posts. You are already Gold, so nothing is deducted - **Month 12:** 160 XP at your card anniversary, before the cycle closes - **Result:** 260 XP from the card, 280 with the Carte d'Abonnement, against 180 XP needed Miss the window and you are not sunk, just tight. The welcome bonus goes to Silver, the 160 XP anniversary lands in the new cycle and the Carte d'Abonnement tops it up to exactly 180 XP. That is the Gold threshold on the nose, with nothing left over for a slow posting. **Why this stays a model and not a recipe** - **The load-bearing assumption is undocumented.** That a match sets your qualification period to the match date is stated nowhere: not in the [StatusMatch.com terms](), not in its FAQ, not by Flying Blue. Air France describes the reset for an XP-driven upgrade, and a match is not one. If it does not reset, you are counting against your existing cycle and the whole window moves. - **It works once.** From year two the card tops out at 160 XP, which is 20 short of Gold. - **Do not cross 300 XP.** That upgrades you to Platinum, deducts 300 XP and restarts your cycle. You would then need 300 XP a year from a card that yields 160. - **The campaign can vanish.** It is capped in number of matches, it can end without notice, and each member gets one match for life. The US offer, $199 for Gold with Platinum never on the table, sits under recently ended offers as of August 2026. ### Netherlands: the Flying Blue Amex lineup The Dutch Flying Blue American Express comes in four variants, three of which earn XP: | Card | Cost/year | XP/year | Cost/XP | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Entry Card | EUR 36 | 0 XP | N/A | | Silver Card | EUR 75 | 15 XP | EUR 5.00 | | Gold Card | EUR 198 | 30 XP | EUR 6.60 | | **Platinum Card** | **EUR 660** | **60 XP** | **EUR 11** | The Entry Card (EUR 3/month) earns 0.5 miles per euro but **no XP**. If you are going purely for XP, start with at least the Silver Card. The Platinum Card is more expensive per XP, but also earns 1.5 miles per euro spent (2 per euro at KLM and Air France) and adds travel and cancellation insurance. Privium, Priority Pass and hotel status are _not_ part of this card: those belong to the regular Amex Platinum, which earns no XP. Lounge access comes with Flying Blue Gold or Platinum status when flying SkyTeam. If you already use the card for miles and benefits, the 60 XP comes at little extra cost. **The fastest shortcut to Silver:** with the Platinum Card you only need 40 XP from flights. That is 2 round trips in Economy with a connection, or 1 Business round trip via a hub (60 XP). A direct Business round trip earns 30 XP and falls just short. ### France: the French Amex cards France has had its own Amex lineup since January 2026: the French Gold (252 EUR a year) earns 10 XP as a base plus 5 XP per 5,000 EUR spent, capped at 40 XP a year, and the French Platinum (792 EUR) starts at 30 XP and reaches 80 XP a year at high spend. Welcome bonuses rotate. Each lineup is residency-bound: you apply in your own market. ## Method 6: Flying Blue Extra Extended (20% bonus) The [Flying Blue Extra Extended subscription]() (EUR 699/year) gives 20% extra XP on all Air France and KLM flights. This sounds modest, but with frequent flying it adds up quickly. **When does Extra Extended pay off for XP?** The sweet spot: you fly regularly on intercontinental Business Class. - 5 AMS-JFK round trips in Business (normally 300 XP) become **360 XP** (+60 XP bonus) - 10 European round trips in Business (normally 300 XP) become **360 XP** (+60 XP bonus) - [Break-even](): roughly 350-500 XP flown per year, valuing bonus XP at ~EUR 10 each. Below 350 XP the EUR 699 fee outweighs the bonus. Above ~500 XP a Platinum member runs into the 600 XP ceiling (300 requalification + 300 rollover) and each extra bonus XP is worth less; with Choice Benefits in play or a different status goal that point moves. Extra Extended also offers other benefits (extra miles, extra baggage, discounts). Read the [complete analysis]() to determine if it pays off for you. ## Method 7: SAF contributions Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is fuel with lower lifecycle CO2 emissions than kerosene. KLM does not tie your contribution to your own flight: the fuel goes into the shared supply. On KLM.com and AirFrance.com you can add a [SAF contribution]() to your flight, when you book, in an existing booking, or at online check-in ([official Status & XP terms]()). In return you receive bonus XP. - **XP yield:** 1 XP per EUR 10 contributed, and Flying Blue prices the same XP at 2,000 miles if you pay in miles instead of cash. That makes SAF a second miles-to-XP route, at the same miles price we record for [donating]() - **When you can add it:** at booking on KLM.com or AirFrance.com, afterwards under "My bookings" on AirFrance.com or "MyTrip" on KLM.com, and during online check-in. Not offered on every route - **Credit:** after departure. KLM's [SAF Option terms]() state the XP is credited after the (first) flight's departure date; no Air France or Flying Blue page we checked states a crediting moment - **Cost per XP:** approximately EUR 10/XP **Check the XP display:** SAF options normally show "Earn \[X\] XP" during booking. When displayed, XP is always credited (sometimes delayed by a day, or claimable via "Claim missing miles"). If the XP text is missing but you can still purchase SAF, the outcome varies. I have personally experienced both scenarios: sometimes it is a display bug and XP is credited after the flight or after contacting customer service. But in other cases the SAF purchase is completely disconnected from the flight (EMD number not linked to the booking), making it very difficult to get XP credited afterward. Buy SAF when the XP reward is visible. Without it, be prepared for a battle with customer service. ## Method 8: SAF double-booking hack Exclusive **This method is rarely discussed online.** It is a gray area and could be patched at any time. Use at your own risk. With this method you buy a SAF contribution for the same flight several times, via different country sites. You pay full price every time (about EUR 10 per XP), so this is not a discount: it is a way to add more SAF XP to one flight than a single site allows. ### How it works 1. Look up your booking on **KLM.com** and put a SAF contribution in the basket, without checking out 2. Do the same on **AirFrance.com**, and optionally on another country site (KLM.be, airfrance.fr: any country works as long as it is Air France or KLM) 3. Then pay the baskets one after the other. A basket stays valid for about 30 minutes, and that window is the loophole: once you pay, the SAF option disappears on every site, except where it already sits in a basket 4. Every paid contribution is processed and earns XP separately **Disclaimer:** this is a gray area. Flying Blue’s general terms contain an anti-abuse clause: deliberate exploitation can lead to forfeiture of your XP and miles. This one is firsthand: I have used it multiple times and shared it on FlyerTalk (vikingxnl), where other members have since confirmed it. It is clearly not the intended use and could be patched at any time. Use at your own risk. **Results from my own bookings and the FlyerTalk thread:** up to 4 separate SAF contributions on one flight via different country sites. The XP is [credited after departure, just like regular SAF XP](). ## Method 9: Air France Carte d'Abonnement The Air France Carte d'Abonnement is a discount card for Air France flights. Less well known: upon purchase or renewal you receive **20 XP** and bonus miles. You do not need to fly to earn them. - **Carte d'Abonnement Metropole/Europe:** EUR 419/year all-in (the EUR 20 airfrance.fr service fee is included), valid for Europe and North Africa - **Carte d'Abonnement Outre-Mer:** EUR 269/year, valid for French overseas territories - **XP:** 20 XP upon purchase or renewal - **Miles bonus:** 2,500 miles on first subscription, 5,000 miles on renewal - **Per-flight bonus:** +2 XP per Air France flight within metropolitan France. The [official Flying Blue wording]() attaches this to the Carte d'Abonnement section as a whole, which names both variants, and scopes the bonus by where you fly rather than by which card you hold; the [airfrance.fr card conditions]() do not mention the per-flight bonus at all (both pages re-read 10 August 2026) - **Cost per XP:** approximately EUR 13.50/XP (Outre-Mer) or EUR 21/XP (Metropole) - **Flight discount:** EUR 130 off Flex round trips, 10% on Business Flex fares - **Available internationally:** yes. I bought the Outre-Mer variant myself as a Dutch resident in 2025 and received the 20 XP and 2,500 miles. The flight discounts themselves only pay off on Air France routes touching France **When it makes sense:** the Outre-Mer variant is the cheapest way to get 20 XP without flying (~EUR 13.50/XP). If you regularly fly Air France within France, the Metropole variant (~EUR 21/XP) takes EUR 130 off Flex round trips. Both variants include miles at purchase. The +2 XP per Air France flight within metropolitan France is officially written for the Carte d'Abonnement section as a whole, not for one variant. ## Method 10: donate miles to charities Via the [Flying Blue donation page]() you can donate miles to 20+ charities (22 listed in July 2026). In return you receive XP. - **Exchange rate:** 2,000 miles = 1 XP (the rate shows in the donation flow once you are logged in; the public page does not list it) - **Credit:** usually quick, but not guaranteed the same day: do not leave it to the last day of your qualification period - **Cost per XP:** approximately EUR 22/XP (based on miles value of ~EUR 0.011/mile) - **No limit:** no confirmed upper limit on the number of donations **Emergency button, not a strategy.** This is the most expensive way to earn XP. Only use it if you are a few XP short of your status threshold and your qualification date is approaching. In that case it is better to sacrifice 4,000 miles (= 2 XP) than to miss a year of status. ## Method 11: Double XP Booster (promo) Flying Blue periodically offers a paid "Double XP Booster" to selected members. It doubles the XP on Air France and KLM flights during the promo window. It is a targeted, occasional offer rather than a recurring quarterly promo: the 2026 edition ran from January 19 to April 30. - **Cost:** approximately EUR 169 for the 2026 edition (varies by promotion) - **Effect:** 2x XP on AF/KL flights booked after activating the booster (the doubled XP does not count as UXP) - **Availability:** not always available, offered to selected members - **Where:** appears in your Flying Blue account or via email **Combination tip:** if you are about to book a busy stretch of flying, the Double XP Booster can be very effective. An AMS-JFK round trip in Business would then earn **120 XP** instead of 60 XP. Check your Flying Blue account regularly for available promotions. ## Method 12: Miles & Cash bookings Bookings via [Miles & Cash]() (partly paid with miles, partly with money) earn XP normally, just like fully paid tickets. The XP yield is identical to a regular ticket in the same cabin class. This is not an "extra" method to earn XP, but an important fact to know: if you use miles via Miles & Cash, you do not lose XP. With a full award ticket (100% miles) you earn no XP. ## Method 13: Accor Live Limitless link (5 + 5 XP after linking) One of the easiest ways to get free XP. Link your Flying Blue account to [Accor Live Limitless (ALL)]() and receive up to 10 XP: - **5 XP** after your first KLM or Air France flight after linking - **5 XP** after your first Accor hotel stay after linking This is a one-time offer (maximum 10 XP per Flying Blue account) and completely free. You also receive 2 Accor Status Nights. If you already have a flight planned and ever stay at an Accor hotel (Ibis, Novotel, Mercure, Sofitel - it does not matter which brand), this is free XP. **Do it now:** go to the [Accor-Flying Blue linking page](), log in with both accounts and link them. The XP is automatically credited after your next flight and hotel stay. ## Method 14: the SAS hack (a full mileage run in one day) Since [SAS joined SkyTeam](), the Scandinavian triangle (Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm) is the easiest way to stack four XP-earning segments into a single day. Book a loop like AMS-CPH-OSL-ARN-AMS in SAS Business: the hops are short, the connections can be tight because transfers at the Scandinavian hubs are quick and reliable, and you sleep in your own bed. That saves you the hotel night a classic two-day run costs. The loop works from any European airport SAS serves, as long as the schedule fits in one day. From my own statements: two one-day SAS loops, October 2025 On October 7, 2025, I flew AMS-CPH-OSL-ARN-AMS: four SAS segments in Business, 60 XP for EUR 547 (EUR 9.12/XP). Two days later I flew the same loop again: another 60 XP for EUR 537. Two day trips, 120 XP, zero hotel nights. **XP only, no UXP:** SAS flights earn XP like any SkyTeam partner, but zero UXP. UXP comes exclusively from Air France and KLM, so if you are chasing Ultimate, this hack does not move that counter. One transition note: since October 1, 2025, SAS has sold its European premium cabin as Business, which credits 15 XP per segment. In the first weeks these posted incorrectly at 10 XP and Flying Blue corrected them later, so double-check your statement after a SAS run. ## Earning XP with SkyTeam partners XP is not only earned on KLM and Air France. Nearly every [SkyTeam partner]() earns XP, as long as your Flying Blue number is linked to the booking. The XP table above applies in principle to those partners (the cheapest partner booking classes can earn less or none). That opens up real options: | Airline | Hub | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | | **Delta Air Lines** | Atlanta (ATL) + 8 US hubs | Domestic US XP: the home-carrier play for American members | | **Kenya Airways** | Nairobi (NBO) | Affordable Business Class Africa, XP on KQ flights | | **Korean Air** | Seoul (ICN) | Long-haul XP via codeshare | | **Vietnam Airlines** | Hanoi (HAN) | Affordable Business Class routes | | **Saudia** | Jeddah (JED) | Business Class deals from Europe | | **Virgin Atlantic** | London (LHR) | Premium routes to US/Caribbean | ### The American play: fly Delta, credit Flying Blue For US members the biggest SkyTeam opportunity is the home carrier. Every Delta-marketed flight (a DL flight number, operated by Delta, a SkyTeam partner or a Delta Connection carrier) earns Flying Blue miles _and_ XP when your Flying Blue number is on the booking, domestic hops included. The [official earning page]() (verified 10 July 2026) maps Delta cabins generously: Delta One and domestic First Class both credit as Business, Premium Select as Premium Economy, Comfort+ as Economy. Even Basic Economy (booking class E) earns 20% miles plus full Economy-band XP; check what the same fare would earn you in SkyMiles before choosing where to credit it. - **Short domestic segment** (under 2,000 mi, say ATL-JFK): 5 XP in Main Cabin or Comfort+, 15 XP in domestic First - **Transcontinental** (2,000-3,500 mi, say JFK-LAX): 8 XP in Main Cabin, 24 XP in Delta One or domestic First - **A JFK-LAX round trip in Delta One:** 48 XP. Two of those plus a single Main Cabin hop clears the Silver threshold without leaving the US **The two trade-offs:** a flight credits to one program only, so the miles and status you build in Flying Blue are Medallion progress you give up at Delta. And Delta-marketed flights earn **zero UXP**: UXP needs AF/KL flight numbers, so the Delta play builds Silver, Gold and Platinum, never Ultimate. Lounge note: Flying Blue Gold and Platinum (SkyTeam Elite Plus) get lounge access on Delta itineraries that include a same-day international SkyTeam flight (US-Caribbean does not count as international); on domestic-only trips, access is limited to a select list of lounges since April 2025. Spending miles on Delta instead of earning them? See [using Flying Blue miles on Delta](). **Note:** with SkyTeam partners you must link your Flying Blue number when booking or checking in. [Retroactive claiming]() is possible, but can take weeks. Some booking classes with partners earn less or no XP (especially the cheapest fares). Check the [partner page]() for the exact earning rates per partner. **Transavia also earns XP.** Since mid-2024 you earn XP on all Transavia flights. The XP depends on your fare type, not your cabin class (Transavia only has Economy). | Fare type | Domestic (FR/PT) | European (<2,000 mi) | Long-haul (2,000+ mi) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **Basic** | 2 XP | 2 XP | 2 XP | | **Smart / Plus / Max** | 2 XP | 5 XP | 8 XP | Transavia long-haul routes (Egypt, Dubai, Cape Verde) on a Smart fare or higher earn 8 XP per flight, which is a surprisingly good deal on budget flights. AMS-Hurghada round trip in Plus = 16 XP for around EUR 300. ![Flying Blue statement showing American Express Platinum Welcome bonus 60 XP and Silver Annual bonus 15 XP](/guide/images/fb-statement-amex-platinum-silver-xp-bonus.webp?v=0404aee85b646a45) Strategic Amex upgrade: 60 XP Platinum Welcome bonus plus 15 XP Silver Annual bonus within two weeks (February-March 2025). **From my own statement:** I upgraded from the Amex Silver card to Platinum strategically. First, I collected my Silver Annual bonus (15 XP on February 26). Then I upgraded to Platinum and received the Welcome bonus (60 XP on March 11). That is 75 XP in two weeks without flying. Combined with my flights, this card upgrade was the single biggest XP accelerator on my path from Explorer to Gold. ## Mileage runs: routes and costs by gateway A [mileage run]() is a flight you primarily take to earn XP, not for the destination itself. The economics depend on your gateway. From the Benelux (or via the [Antwerp hack]()) several routes consistently deliver good XP per euro; from the US the same play is much harder to buy, as the dated quotes further down show. ### Top mileage run routes from AMS | Route | Cabin | XP round trip | Typical price | Cost/XP | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **AMS-CDG-NBO** (Nairobi) | Business | 90 XP | EUR 800-1,200 | EUR 9-13 | | **AMS-CDG-JFK** (New York) | Business | 90 XP | EUR 1,200-1,800 | EUR 13-20 | | **AMS-CDG-JNB** (Johannesburg) | Business | 102 XP | EUR 1,000-1,500 | EUR 10-15 | | **AMS-CDG-BKK** (Bangkok) | Business | 102 XP | EUR 1,500-2,200 | EUR 15-22 | | **ZWE-AMS-CDG-TUN** (Tunis) | Business | 90 XP | EUR 650-850 | EUR 7-10 | | **AMS-CDG-xxx** (European) | Business | 60 XP | EUR 300-500 | EUR 5-8 | | **AMS-CPH-OSL-ARN-AMS** (SAS one-day loop) | Business | 60 XP | EUR 500-600 | EUR 8-10 | Prices are indicative and variable. Check current prices on KLM.com or AirFrance.com. Use the [mileage run routes overview]() to compare the cost per XP for your specific route. **The sweet spot:** European Business Class round trips via a hub (AMS-CDG-destination) are often the cheapest way to earn XP. An AMS-CDG-TUN round trip in Business costs around EUR 700 and earns 60 XP (EUR 12/XP). With the Antwerp hack (adding ZWE) that rises to 90 XP for the same price, dropping the cost per XP to around EUR 8. Look for destinations in North Africa and Southern Europe for the best deals. **Basic fares and XP:** Air France and KLM Basic fares earn a flat 2 XP and 2 UXP per segment since February 2026, after a 2025 trial that removed XP from Basic entirely. Light and Standard never lost XP: they earn the full band XP, 5 XP on a European segment. Economy Flex even earns 7 XP on medium-haul. Since the end of June 2026 Basic is sold on virtually all AF/KL European routes, so the lowest price on the page is usually the 2 XP fare. Buying up to Light costs about EUR 15-33 one-way on our June 2026 samples and returns the full 5 XP. The [official XP table]() carries the Basic footnote. ### From the United States: what the same play costs We price-checked the classic plays from New York on Google Flights on 10 July 2026, mid-week departures, for an August window (11-18) and a September window (15-22). Prices were flagged "typical" by Google on both. | Route | Cabin | XP round trip | Price checked 10 July 2026 | Cost/XP | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **JFK-CDG nonstop** (Air France) | Business | 60 XP | $3,657 (Aug) / $5,382 (Sep) | $61-90 | | **JFK-AMS nonstop** (KLM) | Business | 60 XP | $4,099 (Aug) | $68 | | **JFK-BEG-CDG** (Air Serbia, KLM partner, not a SkyTeam member) | Business | 90 XP | $3,095 (Aug) / $3,195 (Sep) | $34-36 | XP follows the per-segment table above: JFK-CDG and JFK-AMS are Long 2 segments (30 XP in Business), and Belgrade adds a medium-haul hop (15 XP), so the Air Serbia routing books 45 XP per direction, but only when the segments carry a KL flight number: Air Serbia is not a SkyTeam member, and the JU-marketed fare we priced earns nothing. Boston sits just under the 3,500-mile band boundary: a BOS transatlantic nonstop earns 24 XP per Business segment where JFK earns 30. **The full-fare trap from the US:** on our 10 July 2026 check, no Air France or KLM Business itinerary from JFK came in under $61 per XP, four to seven times the EUR 8-15 target that works from Europe, and the 90-XP connection play (JFK-AMS-CDG in one Business booking) was not even bookable on the August dates. The cheapest SkyTeam-earning Business was Air Serbia via Belgrade at about $35 per XP, and as a ticket not marketed by AF/KL it earns no UXP. A dedicated transatlantic mileage run from the US rarely adds up. The US playbook instead: let the Bank of America card cover your non-flying XP ([Method 5](), up to 160 XP a year), route the trips you already take via CDG or AMS for the extra segments, and save the cheap-XP runs for when you are in Europe. Every route in the AMS table above works as an add-on to a US-Europe trip. ### Measured: what members actually pay per XP The table below shows theoretical costs. SkyStatus members import their real Flying Blue statements, so we can also show measured reality across priced, non-award bookings: **business median EUR 13.30 per XP, economy median EUR 25.13 per XP (priced non-award flights)**. Business is the cheaper way to buy XP in practice, not just in theory. And the tail is where mileage runs live: cheapest decile of real bookings: below EUR 7.59 per XP in economy, below EUR 3.99 per XP in business. _SkyStatus member data, October 2026, based on 4,410 priced flights from 286 members. Prices are logged by deal-aware members, so these numbers likely flatter the average._ _Full report: [Flying Blue by the Numbers]() · [Methodology]()_ ## Comparison table: cost per XP All 14 methods sorted by cost per XP, from cheapest to most expensive: | Method | XP | Cost/XP | Type | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | **La Premiere feeder trick** | +10 XP/feeder | EUR 0 | Flying | | **Smart booking (connections)** | +10-30 XP/round trip | EUR 0 | Flying | | **Antwerp hack** | +10-30 XP/round trip | EUR 0 | Flying | | Short Business Class | 15 XP/segment | EUR 5-10 | Flying | | Amex Silver Card | 15 XP/year | EUR 5.00 | Card | | Amex Gold Card | 30 XP/year | EUR 6.60 | Card | | SAS one-day loop | 60 XP/loop | EUR 8-10 | Flight | | SAF contributions | 1 XP | EUR 10 cash or [2,000 miles]() | Add-on | | Amex Platinum Card | 60 XP/year | EUR 11 | Card | | FB Extra Extended (20%) | 20% bonus | EUR 12-18\* | Subscription | | Double XP Booster | 2x on AF/KL | Variable | Promo | | Carte d'Abonnement | 20 XP | EUR 13.50-21 | Card | | Donate miles | 1 XP/2,000 mi | ~EUR 22 | Emergency | | Miles & Cash | Same as paid | N/A | Flying | \* Extra Extended cost per XP depends on your annual flight volume. The first three methods are "free" because they add no extra cost on top of your flight price. ![Horizontal bar chart comparing cost per XP for 11 of the 14 Flying Blue methods, from free to EUR 22](/guide/images/xp-cost-per-method-en.svg?v=93ed81263f3759ec) Cost per XP: 11 of the 14 methods compared visually. The green dashed line marks the EUR 10/XP good value threshold. ### Calculation examples: what does an XP really cost? The table above gives estimates, but the actual cost per XP depends on your route, season and when you book. Here are concrete calculations for the most common methods: **Short Business Class via hub (methods 1+2+3 combined)** Route: ZWE-AMS-CDG-TUN round trip in Business Class - Segments: 6 (ZWE-AMS, AMS-CDG, CDG-TUN, TUN-CDG, CDG-AMS, AMS-ZWE = 6 flight segments, each 15 XP in Business medium-haul) - XP: 6 x 15 = **90 XP** - Typical price: EUR 650-850 (book 3-6 weeks ahead) - Cost per XP: EUR 650/90 = **EUR 7.22/XP** (low season) to EUR 850/90 = **EUR 9.44/XP** (peak season) **Amex Platinum Card (method 5)** Fixed costs regardless of flying behavior: - Cost: EUR 55/month = EUR 660/year - XP: 60 per year - Gross cost per XP: EUR 660/60 = **EUR 11/XP** - But: you also earn 1.5 miles/EUR on all your spending. At EUR 1,500/month = 27,000 miles/year (value ~EUR 297 at EUR 0.011/mile). Net cost: (EUR 660 - EUR 297)/60 = **EUR 6.05/XP** - The welcome bonus in miles (70,000 miles with the current offer, the amount changes with each promotion) lowers your effective first-year cost further **SAF contributions (method 7)** Variable per flight and contribution amount: - Typical SAF contribution: EUR 10-30 per flight - XP: approximately 1 XP per EUR 10 contributed - With 10 flights/year at EUR 20 SAF: 20 XP for EUR 200 = **EUR 10/XP** - Combined with the [double-booking hack](): up to 4 paid contributions on the same flight, 80 XP for EUR 800 (still EUR 10/XP, but four times the SAF XP per flight) **Donate miles (method 10 - emergency)** Most expensive option, only for the last few XP: - Cost: 2,000 miles per 1 XP - At a miles purchase price of EUR 0.011/mile (Subscribe to Miles, Complete or Complete+): 2,000 x 0.011 = **EUR 22/XP** - With Amex-earned miles (cost ~EUR 0.002/mile): 2,000 x 0.002 = **EUR 4/XP** (but you "burn" miles you would otherwise spend) - Recommendation: maximum 5-10 XP via this route, only if your deadline is approaching ![SkyStatus Investment breakdown for the XP year, EUR 10,697 in total: Flights EUR 15 per XP, SAF EUR 10 per XP, Card XP share EUR 9 per XP.](/guide/images/earn-xp-investment-breakdown-202610.webp?v=76dec293c1caf821) The Investment breakdown of my current XP year puts a price on every source: flights at EUR 15 per XP, SAF contributions at EUR 10 and the XP share of my Amex card at EUR 9. Subscriptions cost EUR 933 and earned no XP. ## XP strategy per status goal ### Silver (100 XP): the accessible shortcut The easiest route to [Silver status](): 1. **Amex Platinum Card:** 60 XP (card already useful for miles and travel benefits) 2. **2 round trips in Economy with a connection:** 4 segments x 5 XP x 2 round trips = 40 XP 3. **Total: 100 XP** - Silver achieved Alternative with less flying: Amex Platinum (60 XP) + Carte d'Abonnement (20 XP) + 4 European segments (20 XP) = 100 XP. ### Gold (180 XP): the sweet spot [Gold status]() requires 180 XP after Silver. The efficient route: 1. **Amex Platinum Card:** 60 XP 2. **2 round trips to US/Asia in Business via hub:** 2 x 90 XP = 180 XP, which clears Gold even without the card 3. Or: **3 round trips in Economy via hub** (with Antwerp): approximately 40-50 XP per round trip = 120-150 XP 4. **SAF contributions on every booking:** +5-10 XP total ### Platinum (300 XP): for the serious frequent flyer [Platinum]() requires 300 XP after Gold. Here you need volume: 1. **Amex Platinum Card:** 60 XP 2. **FB Extra Extended:** 20% bonus on all flights 3. **4-5 intercontinental round trips in Business via hubs:** 90+ XP per round trip (with 20% bonus: ~108 XP) 4. **SAF on every booking + optionally Carte d'Abonnement:** extra 20-30 XP **Choice Benefits pay you back:** since April 2026, Platinum members who keep earning past 300 XP unlock [Choice Benefits]() at 450, 600 and 750 XP. The bonus XP option (+20 at 450, +30 at 600) is effectively free XP for flying you were doing anyway, and it counts as UXP too if you are chasing Ultimate. [Ultimate members unlock the same three milestones on UXP rather than XP](). ![SkyStatus Status Coach, Use your rewards before buying more points: 50 UXP from Choice Benefits lifts 657 UXP to 707, 193 UXP still needed.](/guide/images/coach-choice-rewards-202610.webp?v=64e1f9a8e29216e0) Status Coach counts the Choice Benefit boosts first: the levels my booked flights reach add 50 points at no extra cost, before any SAF or extra flight. I am Ultimate, so for me the milestones run on UXP. ### Track your XP progress [Import your Flying Blue PDF statement]() and see exactly how much XP you have, your cost per XP and how much you still need for your next status. [Start tracking for free]() ## What does NOT earn XP Common misconceptions about XP. These activities earn no XP, or far less than you might expect: - **Award tickets (booked with miles):** no XP, no miles and no UXP from the flight itself. SAF you buy for the flight does earn XP and UXP - **Subscribe to Miles (miles subscription):** only earns miles, not XP. See: [miles subscription guide]() - **Upgrades (paid or with miles):** XP is based on your original booking class, not the class you fly in after upgrading - **KLM Trip+ add-ons:** extra baggage, seat selection and other add-ons do not earn XP - **Regular Amex (Membership Rewards):** only co-branded cards earn XP (Flying Blue Amex in NL/FR, Bank of America Visa Signature in the US), not the regular Amex Platinum or Gold - **Shopping portal / transfer partners:** shopping via the Flying Blue Shopping portal earns miles, not XP - **AF/KL Basic fares:** earn only **2 XP and 2 UXP per segment**, flat, regardless of distance. Flying Blue briefly removed all XP from Basic fares in 2025 and reversed that in February 2026. Light, Standard and Flex earn the full band XP - **Transavia Basic fare:** only earns 2 XP per flight, regardless of distance. Book Smart, Plus or Max for 5-8 XP on European and long-haul routes (domestic stays at 2 XP) - **Flights without FB link:** if your Flying Blue number is not linked to the booking, you earn no XP (retroactive claiming is possible) **Most common mistake:** many members think their regular Amex Platinum Card (with Membership Rewards) earns XP. It does not. Only the co-branded cards earn XP: the Flying Blue Amex (Silver, Gold or Platinum) in the Netherlands and France, and the Bank of America Visa Signature in the US. ## Can you buy Flying Blue XP? Not directly. Flying Blue sells no XP packages and there is no checkout where XP goes in a basket. Indirectly it works: three paid routes credit XP without extra flying, and together they are the closest thing to buying XP the program allows. - **SAF contributions:** around EUR 10 per XP in cash, [credited after departure](), and the only UXP you can buy without booking an extra flight, at every status level (the Choice Benefits XP boost also credits UXP, but is [reserved for Platinum and Ultimate members]()). Paid in miles the contribution costs [2,000 miles per XP](); whether a miles-paid contribution also posts UXP is not something Flying Blue states. See [Method 7](). - **Air France Carte d'Abonnement:** 20 XP on purchase. See [Method 9](). - **Convert miles to XP by donating them:** the donation page turns miles into XP, usually quickly but not guaranteed the same day. At 2,000 miles per XP it carries the same miles tariff as a SAF contribution paid in miles, and in cash terms it is the priciest of the three, so its real advantage is that it credits before you fly. See [Method 10](). Everything else that looks like buying XP either is a flight in disguise (a cheap Business fare, a mileage run) or earns nothing at all, like the regular Amex Platinum. A few XP short with days to go? Donate miles. Weeks to go? Paying for SAF in cash costs less than half as much per XP. ## Frequently asked questions What is the fastest way to earn Flying Blue XP? Combine a co-branded card (Flying Blue Amex Platinum: 60 XP/year; US Bank of America Visa Signature: up to 160 XP/year) with smart booking via connections. A round trip to New York via Paris in Business earns 90 XP. With the Antwerp hack that becomes 120 XP. Two such trips plus your card and you are at 300 XP: from Gold that is exactly the Platinum threshold. From Explorer, 100 XP for Silver and 180 XP for Gold are deducted first. Can I earn XP without flying? Yes. The Dutch Flying Blue Amex earns 15-60 XP per year depending on the variant, the US Bank of America Visa Signature 20-160 XP per year depending on spend, and the French Amex cards up to 80 XP. The Air France Carte d'Abonnement gives 20 XP upon purchase. Donating miles earns 1 XP per 2,000 miles. For a US cardholder that is up to 180 a year from the card and the Carte alone (160 + 20) from year two onward, plus whatever you convert from miles. In the first card year the one-off 100 welcome XP lifts the card's gross award to 260 XP and the total to 280 XP. A gross award is not the balance left in your counter: [Flying Blue deducts the threshold of the level you reach]() whenever an award takes you across it, so the 280 XP model above sets out the timing that keeps these awards inside one qualification year. How much XP does a flight earn? That depends on distance and cabin class. A European Economy segment earns 5 XP, Business 15 XP. A long-haul flight (5,000+ miles) earns 12 XP in Economy and 36 XP in Business. See the [full XP table]() at the top of this page. Do you earn XP on award tickets? Not from the flight. Award tickets (booked with miles) do not earn flight XP, but SAF you buy for the flight does earn XP and UXP. Miles & Cash bookings (partly miles, partly money) do earn XP normally, just like a fully paid ticket. What does it cost to reach Silver purely with money? With an Amex Platinum Card (EUR 660/year) you get 60 XP. The remaining 40 XP can be earned with 2-3 round trips in Economy with connections (flights you might take anyway), or via SAF contributions (around EUR 400). The Amex also earns miles, a welcome bonus and travel benefits. What is the SAF double-booking hack? With this method, you pay a SAF contribution for the same flight on several country sites: put it in each site's basket first (KLM.com, AirFrance.com, optionally another country) and check the baskets out one after the other. A basket stays valid for about 30 minutes. After the first payment the option disappears everywhere else, but a contribution already in a basket remains payable. Every paid contribution earns XP. Note: this is a gray area and could be patched at any time. Do you earn XP on SkyTeam partners? Mostly, yes. Most SkyTeam flights earn XP on the same XP table when your Flying Blue number is linked, but not all: Malaysia Airlines is not a SkyTeam member (oneworld) and only counts on an AF/KL flight number, and ex-SkyTeam partner China Southern has been suspended since 1 January 2026 for flights under a CZ number (AF/KL-marketed flights on its aircraft still earn). Delta, Kenya Airways, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines all earn XP. Transavia has also earned XP since mid-2024 (2-8 XP depending on fare). See the [full SkyTeam overview](). What is a good Flying Blue mileage run route? The best routes are European Business Class round trips via a hub (CDG), optionally with the Antwerp hack. A ZWE-AMS-CDG-TUN round trip in Business earns 90 XP for around EUR 700 (EUR 8/XP). For intercontinental, AMS-CDG-NBO (Nairobi) is a favorite: 90 XP for around EUR 1,000. From the US, full-fare transatlantic Business missed that bar by a wide margin on our July 2026 checks (roughly $61-90 per XP from JFK): treat US-origin runs as add-ons to trips you already take. See the [full route overview](). Do AF/KL Basic fares earn XP? Yes: **2 XP and 2 UXP per segment**, flat, regardless of distance, since February 2026 (a 2025 trial that removed them was reversed). That is less than the 5 XP a Light or Standard fare earns on the same European segment (Economy Flex: 7 XP), so for XP book Light or higher, or Business. Since the end of June 2026 Basic is sold on virtually all AF/KL European routes, from 8 September 2026 also on connecting itineraries via Paris and Amsterdam and on selected medium-haul routes. Transavia Basic fares follow their own scale and earn 2 XP per flight. Why is there an XP rollover cap of 300 XP? According to Flying Blue Director Ben Lipsey, the cap exists to prevent members from banking unlimited XP. Under the old rules, someone qualifying for Ultimate twice (1,800 UXP in 2 years) would earn Platinum for Life and never need to fly AFKL again. The 300 XP rollover still allows banking enough XP to earn Platinum or Ultimate for an entire extra year, which Flying Blue considers "amongst the most generous policy of any loyalty program in the industry." Can you buy Flying Blue XP? Not directly: Flying Blue sells no XP packages. You can pay for XP indirectly. SAF contributions cost around EUR 10 per XP and also earn UXP, the Air France Carte d'Abonnement credits 20 XP on purchase, and donating miles converts them into XP, usually quickly but not guaranteed the same day. All three work without extra flying. See the [buy-XP comparison]() above. ## Sources and transparency Last verified: September 2026. All XP values and costs have been verified against official sources and personal experience. - [Flying Blue Status & XP]() - XP rates per distance and cabin class - [KLM Membership Levels]() - Status thresholds and benefits - [KLM Air&Rail]() - Antwerp/Brussels train+flight bookings - [Flying Blue Donations]() - Donate miles to charities - [Flying Blue US: Bank of America]() - US co-branded card XP structure (verified August 2026) - [Air France Carte d'Abonnement]() - Frequency cards - [Flying Blue Terms and Conditions (PDF)]() - Full program rules - [FlyerTalk: Ben Lipsey Q&A (Nov 2025)]() - Direct answers from the Flying Blue Director on Basic fares, XP cap rationale and program direction - [Flying Blue Airline Partners]() - SkyTeam partners and earning rates - [Flying Blue: Earn Miles with Delta]() - Delta booking-class table and XP eligibility (verified July 2026) - [SkyTeam Alliance]() - Overview of all SkyTeam partners **Related reading:** need more miles faster than XP? Check our [Flying Blue transfer partners guide]() for which cards top up your balance at 1:1. SkyStatus is not affiliated with Air France-KLM or Flying Blue. **Not into XP runs?** Residents of a rotating set of eligible countries (Germany among them as of July 2026) can use the [Flying Blue status match]() as a one-time paid route to Silver, Gold or Platinum. Not available in the Netherlands or France. ### Related guides - [Air France La Première and Flying Blue: the complete guide]() - [**What is Flying Blue XP? Complete guide**]() - [Silver status: requirements and benefits]() - [How to reach Gold status]() - [How to reach Platinum status]() - [What is a mileage run?]() - [Mileage run routes and costs]() - [Flying Blue Extra: is it worth it?]() - [How XP Rollover works]() - [Platinum for Life: requirements and strategy]() - [SAF: earn XP with sustainable fuel]() - [**Flying Blue Tracker: the complete app guide**]() - [Understanding Your Qualification Year]() - [Flying Blue XP Calculator (free tool)]() - [Flying Blue lounge access: all options by status level]() This guide is based on official Flying Blue program rules, independent forum sources and personal experience. XP rates, card terms and promotions may change. Always check the current terms on the official websites. SkyStatus is an independent tool and is not affiliated with Air France-KLM or Flying Blue. **Related reading:** buying miles directly is the fastest shortcut, but usually expensive. See [should you buy Flying Blue miles?]() for when it makes sense.