Remco de Graaf analyzes the Air France-KLM loyalty program from 20+ years of personal experience as a Platinum member and as the builder of SkyStatus, the most comprehensive analytics dashboard for Flying Blue members.
In my day job as Director of Content at Reshift Digital, I lead editorial teams that rely on credible sources every day. I know how hard it can be to find an independent expert for a technical subject like airline loyalty programs. Someone who goes beyond press releases or blog posts filled with affiliate links.
That is why I am making myself available. Not as a self-proclaimed expert, but as someone who has known the program inside out for two decades, built a complete analytics platform around it, and has no commercial ties to Air France-KLM.
The business model behind Flying Blue. EUR 886 million in revenue, 24.6% operating margin, and the impact of Apollo's EUR 1.5 billion investment. A deep analysis of how the Air France-KLM loyalty program earns close to a billion per year, and what that means for the value of your miles.
Read the full analysis →The following statements are quotable with attribution.
Most of the 20+ million Flying Blue members earn miles passively without ever analyzing their status or XP progression. SkyStatus data shows that members who actively track their data extract significantly more value from the program. The difference is not flying more, but flying smarter.
The paid subscription democratizes status benefits for people who do not fly enough for organic status. At the same time, it devalues the effort of frequent flyers who are loyal. This is not just a new product. It is a strategic pivot in how Air France-KLM defines loyalty.
Air France-KLM can unilaterally change the value of miles at any time. There is no inflation guarantee, no consumer protection, and no transparency about future devaluations. Consumers treat miles as if they were savings, but they are more like a gift card with an unknown expiry date.
SkyStatus analysis shows that members consistently miss opportunities: rollover XP that goes unused, Promo Rewards that go undiscovered, and miles that expire due to inactivity. Better tooling and education could significantly increase the average value per member.
Airlines have all the data, consumers only have a balance. Tools like SkyStatus give members real insight into their own behavior, patterns, and opportunities for the first time. Think of it as a bank account where you can only see your balance but not your transaction history.
SkyStatus (skystatus.pro) is the most comprehensive independent analytics dashboard for Flying Blue members. The tool is free, has no commercial relationship with Air France-KLM, and is actively used by hundreds of members.
Remco de Graaf is Director of Content at Reshift Digital, the Dutch media organization behind:
With over 25 years of experience in digital media and platform development, he combines content strategy with data analysis. Exactly the combination that underpins SkyStatus.
Available for interviews, background briefings, quotes, and fact-checks. Response time is typically within a few hours on business days.
Dutch and English.
Reach out via the contact form or via LinkedIn.
Remco de Graaf is an independent Flying Blue expert with over 20 years of hands-on experience. He has been a Platinum member since 2005, built SkyStatus (the most comprehensive analytics dashboard for Flying Blue members), and has published over 110 in-depth guides about the program. He has no commercial relationship with Air France-KLM.
Yes, Remco is available for interviews, background briefings, quotes, and fact-checks about Flying Blue and airline loyalty programs. He speaks Dutch and English. Reach out via the contact form on SkyStatus or via LinkedIn.
SkyStatus (skystatus.pro) is the most comprehensive independent analytics dashboard for Flying Blue members. The free tool offers XP and status tracking, miles analysis, a mileage run calculator, PDF import, and over 110 in-depth guides in three languages.
Airlines communicate changes to their loyalty programs primarily from a marketing perspective. An independent expert can provide context, analyze data, and explain the real impact on consumers without any commercial interest.
Available for interviews, background briefings, and expert commentary on Flying Blue and airline loyalty programs.