--- title: "Should You Buy Flying Blue Miles? 5 Scenarios (2026)" locale: "en" canonical_url: "https://skystatus.pro/guide/should-you-buy-flying-blue-miles" updated_at: "2026-10-07T08:52:11.420984+00:00" --- # Should You Buy Flying Blue miles? Last updated: 7 October 2026 · 10 min read · Includes current pricing · [See 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. A 50,000-mile promo lands in your inbox, the Business Class seat you want is one transfer away, and buying the gap looks like the obvious shortcut. The question is whether you are getting a bargain or paying a premium for miles you could earn cheaper elsewhere. It hinges on one comparison. What each purchased mile costs you against what you actually get back when you redeem it. This guide runs that comparison through five real scenarios, so you know before you click which one you are in. ## Short Answer: Usually No Buying Flying Blue miles **rarely makes financial sense**. Standard purchases cost about €0.026/mile (3.05 US cents), but typical redemptions are [worth only €0.012/mile](). Even with an 80% bonus (€0.014/mile), you need a high-value Business Class redemption to break even. Transfer partners are almost always better. SkyStatus members act accordingly: only 3% have ever bought miles through Buy Miles. **Official sources used for verification:** [Flying Blue: Buy miles]() · [Flying Blue: Subscribe to Miles]() · [Flying Blue: Reward Tickets & Promo Rewards]() · [KLM: Earning miles]() ![Bar chart comparing Flying Blue miles costs in July 2026: standard purchase EUR 0.026 per mile (54% loss), up-to-80% bonus EUR 0.014 (about 15% loss), Subscribe to Miles at break-even, US 1:1 card transfer EUR 0.010 (20% profit) against a EUR 0.012 baseline value.](/guide/images/buy-miles-breakeven-en-202607.svg?v=eccddd9be4666098) Buying Flying Blue miles at the standard rate loses 54% against the EUR 0.012 baseline value; even the recurring up-to-80% bonus stays a ~15% loss. Subscribe to Miles (EUR 0.011 per mile) and US 1:1 card transfers are the only routes at or below break-even (September 2026). Break-even in short: standard purchases and typical bonus promos cost more per mile than the EUR 0.012 baseline redemption value; Subscribe to Miles is roughly break-even; transfers from US card points come out ahead. ## The Math Problem with Buying miles The fundamental issue is simple: miles typically cost more to buy than they are worth when redeemed. Here is the breakdown: | Acquisition Method | [Cost Per Mile]() | vs Baseline Value (€0.012) | Result | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Standard purchase | €0.026 | 2.2x higher | ❌ 54% loss | | 80% bonus promo | €0.014 | 1.2x higher | ❌ ~15% loss | | Subscribe to Miles | €0.011 | ~Equal | ⚠️ Break-even | | Transfer, US cards (25% bonus) | €0.008 | 0.67x lower | ✅ 50% profit | | Transfer, US cards (standard 1:1) | €0.01 | 0.83x lower | ✅ 20% profit | The transfer rows assume an eligible US-issued card with a 1:1 base ratio and a point valued at €0.010. The 25% row is an illustrative bonus level, not a current offer: the 20% Citi ThankYou bonus ended on 22 August 2026, and as of 2 September 2026 [Flying Blue's official Citi partner page]() shows only the standard 1:1 transfer. The only way buying miles works is if your planned redemption has a [value per mile]() that exceeds your purchase cost. For standard purchases, you would need redemptions worth €0.026+/mile. That is extremely rare outside of [La Première](). ## Current Purchase Pricing (September 2026) Flying Blue sells miles through [their miles Hub]() (powered by Points.com). The standard rate starts at 3.05 US cents per mile, approximately €0.026 at September 2026 market prices. The smallest 2,000-mile package is priced slightly higher, at about €0.027. Promotions offering 50 to 100% bonus miles reduce the effective cost. | Purchase Option | Price (USD) | Effective CPM | Assessment | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Standard (no promo) | 3.05¢/mile | €0.026 | ❌ Never worth it | | 50% bonus | 2.03¢/mile | €0.017 | ❌ Still too expensive | | 80% bonus (typical promo) | 1.69¢/mile | €0.014-0.015 | ⚠️ Only for high-value redemptions | | 100% bonus (rare) | 1.53¢/mile | €0.013 | ⚠️ Best promo, still marginal | | [Subscribe to Miles]() | $0.0134/mile | €0.011 | ✅ Best purchase option | Pricing last cross-checked 2 September 2026 via market sources; the exact checkout price appears after login on the Flying Blue miles Hub. **⚠️ Current Promo Check:** Flying Blue regularly offers bonus promotions on miles purchases. Check the [Flying Blue miles Hub]() for current offers. An up-to-80% bonus (top tier: 1.69¢/mile effective, about €0.014) is the recurring high. The last sale ran from 27 August to 16 September 2026, with up to 80% bonus miles or up to 45% off depending on the offer shown in your account. Sales return every one to two months. Bonuses of 100%+ last appeared in 2021-2023; the all-time best was 120% (2022). ## Better Alternatives: Transfer Partners Before buying miles, consider [transfer partners](). If you have credit card points, transferring is almost always cheaper than purchasing. ### Flying Blue Transfer Partners (1:1 Ratio, US Programs) - **American Express Membership Rewards** - [**Chase Ultimate Rewards**]() - **Citi ThankYou Points** - **Capital One miles** - **Bilt Rewards** - **Wells Fargo Rewards** - **Rove Miles** All the US programs above transfer 1:1 to Flying Blue (EU Amex ratios differ: Germany and France 5:4, the Netherlands 2:1). [Transfer bonuses]() of 20 to 30% happen multiple times per year. The most recent one was a 20% Citi ThankYou bonus (1,000 points became 1,200 miles) for members with an [eligible US-issued Citi card](). It ran from 19 July to 22 August 2026 and has ended. As of 2 September 2026, Flying Blue's Citi partner page shows no successor offer. Official info: [KLM earning miles overview](). ### Why Transfers Beat Purchases If you earn credit card points on everyday spending, your "cost" for those points is low. Example: 📊 Transfer vs Purchase Comparison **Scenario:** You need 60,000 miles for a Business Class award. **Option A: Buy miles (80% bonus)** - Cost: $1,014 (60,000 miles at 1.69¢) **Option B: Transfer from a US rewards program at the standard 1:1 ratio** - Need: 60,000 points in an eligible US rewards program that transfers 1:1 (Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou, Capital One, Bilt, Wells Fargo or Rove). When a 20% transfer bonus is running, 50,000 points are enough - If those points are earned on a card at 2x category spend: $30,000 - Effective cost: €0 incremental (points earned on spending you do anyway) **Winner:** Transfer, by a massive margin. **💡 Strategy:** Never buy miles if you have transferable points available. Even without a bonus, a US 1:1 transfer is cheaper than buying during an 80% promo. ## When Buying miles CAN Make Sense ✅ Scenario 1: Small Top-Off for Specific Redemption You have 54,000 miles and need 60,000 for a Business Class award worth €2,000. Buying 6,000 miles at roughly €109 (small quantities get the lower bonus tiers) makes sense because: - 6,000 miles at the small-quantity 50% tier (2.11¢ each, about €0.018) = about €109 - Your redemption value: €2,000 ÷ 60,000 = €0.033/mile - You are paying about €109 to unlock €2,000 in value ✅ Scenario 2: High-Value Business Class During Promo A Business Class ticket costs €3,500 cash. Award price is 60,000 miles + €200 taxes. With 80% bonus promo: 60,000 miles costs $1,014 (≈€875 at September 2026 rates) Total: ≈€875 + €200 = ≈€1,075 vs €3,500 cash. **Savings: ≈€2,425** Value per mile: €3,300 ÷ 60,000 = €0.055. This exceeds purchase cost of €0.014. ✅ Scenario 3: Subscribe to Miles for Planned Redemption You need 17,000 miles to complete a booking. [Subscribe to Miles]() at the Complete tier ($227.80/month for 17,000 miles a month, 3-month minimum commitment), book your award, and use the remaining months to stock up for the next one. See [Flying Blue Subscribe to Miles]() for current pricing. At $0.0134/mile (€0.011), this is cheaper than any promotional purchase. ## When NOT to Buy miles ❌ Speculative Buying Buying miles "just in case" or because there is a promo is almost always a bad deal. Flying Blue award pricing can change without notice. [Devaluations have happened before](), which can reduce the value of purchased miles overnight. ❌ Economy Redemptions Economy awards typically yield €0.008 to 0.012 per mile. Even with an 80% bonus (€0.014/mile), you lose money. Just pay cash for Economy tickets. ❌ Standard (Non-Promo) Pricing At €0.026/mile, you would need redemptions worth more than 2x the baseline value. This is essentially impossible outside of La Première during peak season. Wait for at least a 50% bonus. ❌ When You Have Transfer Partners Available If you have Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, or Bilt points, transferring is cheaper than buying. Even without a bonus, a US 1:1 transfer beats an 80% purchase promo (EU Amex ratios are lower: Germany and France 5:4, the Netherlands 2:1). ❌ Peak Dynamic Pricing If the award you want costs 150,000+ miles (vs 60,000 saver), do not buy miles to book it. Wait for better availability or pay cash. Buying miles at inflated dynamic rates destroys value. ❌ Expecting XP or Status Credit Purchased miles do not earn XP (Experience Points). Flying on eligible flights is virtually the only way to earn XP toward [Flying Blue status levels](). If you need status, see our [XP run guide](). ### Measured: what members actually do and get Before the framework, the measured reality from imported member statements. Buying through a subscription is a minority play: **7.4% of tracked members (84 of 1132) buy miles through Subscribe to Miles**. And the value side of the math is not a marketing number: 37% of recorded EUR-profile redemptions with a past travel date (82 of 222) meet or beat the 1.2 c/mile planning value. A purchase at retail prices stands or falls with the specific redemption you already have lined up, not with the averages. Buying miles outright is rarer still. Only 3% of tracked members have ever bought miles through Buy Miles, for a total of 49 purchases. The median purchase was **24,000 miles**, and 57.1% of purchases came during a bonus promotion. The bonus itself was usually between 50% and 80%. _SkyStatus member data, October 2026, based on the tracked member base, the Buy Miles lines in the Flying Blue statements of the 34 members who bought miles and the flown redemptions of 62 EUR-profile members. A bonus line belongs to a purchase when it posts within three days of it. The bonus range is based on 21 members and is indicative only. Our members are self-selected optimizers, not a random sample of Flying Blue members._ _Full report: [Flying Blue by the Numbers]() · [Methodology]()_ ## The Decision Framework For a family trip, consult the [Flying Blue Family guide]() before deciding how many additional miles you need. ![SkyStatus chart What each mile returned: YYZ just over 3 ct, two last-minute upgrades about 0.7 ct each, a dashed line at 0.15 ct average cost.](/guide/images/value-per-mile-chart-202610.webp?v=99391195d877d1dd) What each mile returned in my own account this qualification year: a Business award to Toronto just over 3 ct per mile, two last-minute upgrades about 0.7 ct, less than bought miles cost even with a bonus. The dashed line is my own average cost per mile, 0.15 ct, not a purchase price. ### Before Buying miles, Answer These Questions 1. **Do I have a specific redemption in mind?** If no, do not buy. 2. **Is saver-level availability confirmed?** If no, do not buy. 3. **Do I have transfer partner points?** If yes, transfer instead of buying. 4. **Is there a purchase promo active?** If no, wait or use [Subscribe to Miles](). 5. **What is my [redemption value per mile]()?** Calculate: cash price ÷ miles needed. 6. **Is redemption value > purchase cost?** If yes, consider buying. If no, pay cash. 📊 The Calculation **Step 1:** Find the cash price of your desired flight (e.g., €2,500) **Step 2:** Find the award price in miles (e.g., 60,000 miles + €200 taxes) **Step 3:** Calculate redemption value: (€2,500 - €200) ÷ 60,000 = **€0.038/mile** **Step 4:** Compare to purchase cost (e.g., €0.014 with 80% bonus) **Step 5:** €0.038 > €0.014 → **Buying makes sense** **💡 Rule of Thumb:** Only buy miles when ALL of these are true: - You have a specific redemption confirmed at saver pricing - Redemption value exceeds €0.02/mile (preferably €0.025+) - Purchase cost is under €0.017/mile (80%+ bonus or Subscribe) - You do not have transfer partner points available ## Maximizing Value with Promo Rewards If you do buy miles, redeem them during [Promo Rewards]() for an extra 25% off award prices. This effectively increases your value per mile. New [Promo Reward destinations]() are released on the first of each month. 📊 Promo Rewards Stacking Normal Business Class award: 60,000 miles With 25% Promo Reward: 45,000 miles If cash price is €2,500: value = €2,500 ÷ 45,000 = **€0.056/mile** Even at 80% bonus purchase (€0.014/mile), you are getting 4x return. ## Note for European / Netherlands Users Before buying miles, you can also review the transfer process for [Revolut RevPoints]() you already hold. **One more variable from September 8, 2026:** Air France and KLM award tickets now come in [Light, Standard and Flex options](). In the first observed examples the cheapest displayed price is the Light option, which drops the checked bag in Economy and all voluntary changes and refunds. If your break-even math assumes the old conditions, compare bought miles against the option you would actually book, and remember that awards booked before September 8 keep their original conditions. Most [transfer partner information]() online focuses on US credit cards. In Europe, your options are more limited but still valuable: - **American Express (EU cards):** Ratios vary by issuing country — France and Germany transfer at 5:4 (0.8 miles per point); the Netherlands moved to 2:1 on 1 July 2026. Check your own market's Membership Rewards programme - **Flying Blue credit cards:** [Earn miles]() directly on spending - **Subscribe to Miles:** Available globally, often the best option for EU members For EU-based members without US credit cards, Subscribe to Miles at €0.011/mile is typically the most cost-effective way to acquire miles outside of flying. ![SkyStatus Miles by source: subscriptions and tools 85,000 miles at 1.10 ct, cards 1,075,510 at 0.051 ct, both below a valuation of 2.50 ct.](/guide/images/miles-by-source-202610.webp?v=7b2c55e39f4e668b) Miles by source in my own account this qualification year: the miles subscription cost 1.10 ct per mile and the cards 0.051 ct. The 2.50 ct they are measured against is my own valuation, well above the baseline this guide uses. ### Calculate Your miles Value See your [cost per mile]() across all sources and determine if buying makes sense for your situation. [Analyze miles Free →]() ### Related Guides - [Subscribe to Miles and Flying Blue Extra]() - [What Are Flying Blue miles Worth?]() - [Cost Per Mile (CPM) Explained]() - [What is Flying Blue XP?]() - [Partner Airlines for Earning miles]() - [XP Runs: Earning Status Through Flying]() - [The Business Model Behind Flying Blue]() - [**Flying Blue Tracker: Complete App Guide**]() - [How to Spend Flying Blue Miles]() ### Official References - Flying Blue: Buy miles — Official miles purchase portal - Flying Blue: Subscribe to Miles — Monthly subscription for miles - [Flying Blue: miles Hub]() — Overview of miles management options - [Flying Blue: Reward Tickets]() — Award booking and Promo Rewards - [KLM: Earning miles]() — Partners and earning overview ## Frequently asked questions Is buying Flying Blue miles worth it? Usually no. Standard purchases cost around €0.026 per mile, but typical redemptions are only worth €0.012 per mile. You would lose money on most redemptions. Only consider buying during promotions (80% bonus = €0.014/mile) for specific Business Class redemptions worth €0.02+ per mile. SkyStatus members rarely buy miles outright: only 3% have ever used Buy Miles, and 57.1% of their purchases came during a bonus promotion. What is the cheapest way to get Flying Blue miles? The cheapest methods are: 1) Transfer partners during bonus periods (effectively about €0.008/mile on a US card at 1 cent per point), 2) Subscribe to Miles at €0.011/mile, 3) Promotional purchases with 80%+ bonus at €0.014/mile. Earning miles through flights is essentially free as part of your ticket cost. Should I buy miles or transfer from credit cards? Transfer from credit cards is almost always better. Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt all transfer 1:1 to Flying Blue for US-issued cards (EU Amex ratios differ: Germany and France 5:4, the Netherlands 2:1). If you earn points on everyday spending, your effective cost is much lower than buying miles. Wait for 20-30% transfer bonuses for even better value. Is buying Flying Blue miles refundable? Only briefly. You can withdraw a purchase in full within 14 working days, provided the miles are still retrievable from the account (official Points.com terms). After that window Points.com is no longer obliged to refund, so treat the purchase as committed. Only buy miles when you have a specific redemption in mind with confirmed availability. Do bought miles count toward status (XP)? No. Purchased miles do not earn XP (Experience Points). Flying on eligible flights is virtually the only way to earn XP toward Flying Blue status levels. Purchase pricing cross-checked via market sources (September 2026); the exact checkout price appears after login on the Flying Blue Miles Hub. Transfer partner information from official program terms. Cost per mile calculations are SkyStatus analysis based on observed market rates. After the 14-working-day withdrawal window there is no further right to a refund (official Points.com terms). SkyStatus is not affiliated with Air France-KLM or Flying Blue. Last verified: 2 September 2026. ## Related: Flying Blue transfer partners - [Flying Blue transfer partners: complete guide to every transfer program]() - [Flying Blue transfer bonuses: live tracker]() - [Chase Ultimate Rewards to Flying Blue: step-by-step]()