Start here: Flying Blue

What is Flying Blue, and how do you join?

Flying Blue is the loyalty programme of Air France, KLM and Transavia, and the programme says it counts more than 30 million members who earn Miles from booking tickets and hotel stays through to shopping with more than 100 partners. [5] Membership is organised into five levels — Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Ultimate — and Explorer is described as giving benefits from day one. [5]

The join prompt sits on Flying Blue's own website. [5] After that you are managing two separate balances: Miles, which you spend, and XP (Experience Points), which decide your level. [3] [5] Air France's earning conditions describe Miles and XP being collected on flights flown, and Flying Blue ties XP to how much you travel. [3] [5] Elite status begins at Silver and above. [5]

Still deciding whether this is the right programme for you? Start here: airline miles sets out the shared vocabulary of earning and spending that every programme uses.

How do you earn Flying Blue Miles?

Air France's earning conditions describe two Mile models, and the ticket decides which one applies. [3] On flights marketed by Air France, Miles are credited per euro spent at a rate tied to your level, which Air France summarises as up to 9 Miles for each euro. [3]

Flying Blue publishes the same per-euro scale alongside each level's benefits. [5] The per-euro model covers every flight marketed by Air France whatever the operating carrier, and extends to train, bus and limousine services carrying an Air France flight number — though a train leg earns Miles only when it is taken before or after an international flight to or from Paris Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly. [3]

A distance-based model applies instead to Air France-marketed tour operator fares and to Air France-operated flights marketed by Flying Blue partner airlines; there, Miles combine the distance flown, a booking-class rate from the fare tables and any Elite Bonus Miles due on your status. [3] Distance has a floor of 500 miles on domestic flights and 750 miles on international ones, so a 274-mile domestic flight marketed by Air France still credits 500 Miles. [3] Booking class moves the result sharply: on long-haul, class P in First earns 550% of the distance flown, while the lowest economy classes — Q, E, T, N, R, V, X and G — earn 25%. [3]

Miles also accrue on spending around the trip: Flying Blue lists upgrades, more comfortable seats, additional baggage and special menus as purchases that earn Miles. [3] Hotel stays and shopping partners are further routes the programme advertises. [5]

How does Flying Blue status work?

XP is earned on eligible fares on eligible flights marketed or operated by Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin, Air Corsica flights between Paris-Orly and Corsica, and all SkyTeam airline partners; UXP is earned only on flights marketed by Air France or KLM. [5] The amount depends on distance and cabin. [5]

On medium-haul routes under 2,000 miles, in Economy, Basic fares earn 2 XP and Flex fares can earn an additional 2 XP; the 5 XP shown for medium-haul Economy therefore applies to other Economy fares. [5]

Flying Blue's own examples show how legs add up: Frankfurt to New York via Amsterdam in economy earns 15 XP (5 + 10), and Nice to Tokyo via Paris in business earns 42 XP (6 + 36). [5] Each level has a threshold — 100 XP to reach Silver, 180 for Gold, 300 for Platinum — and crossing it upgrades you instantly, deducts that amount from your counter and starts a fresh qualification period. [5] [6] Elite members keep surplus XP above the threshold, capped at 300. [5] [6]

You have up to 12 months to earn enough XP to hold or improve your level, and the clock starts with your first Mile or first XP. [5] [6] Falling short of the next level is not an automatic loss: Flying Blue then checks whether you meet the renewal figure for your current level — 100 XP for Silver, 180 for Gold, 300 for Platinum — and renews it for 12 months if you do. [5] A Silver member finishing on 122 XP stays Silver, gives up the 100 XP the level requires and carries 22 XP towards Gold. [5] Below the minimum, status drops one level and the lower threshold is deducted, while an Explorer's counter resets to zero; Platinum members step down to Gold and then Silver before returning to Explorer. [5]

XP is not only flown. Flying Blue lets members maintain or upgrade status by supporting its sustainability work or charities: contributions to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) earn 1 XP for every €10 or 2,000 Miles, and about 25 charities can be supported with Miles. [5]

What the levels add, beyond the Miles rate: Silver brings priority check-in, bag drop and boarding, free selection of standard seats and one free extra checked bag on SkyTeam flights; Gold adds SkyTeam lounge access with a guest and SkyPriority; Platinum adds free access to seat options and a dedicated service line; Ultimate adds a round-the-clock assistant, Air France and KLM lounge access for you and up to eight guests, four one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year and a partner Flying Blue Platinum card. [5] Members who reach the Platinum threshold ten years in a row keep Platinum for life without requalifying. [5] [6]

Lounge access and some seating benefits carry conditions, so read the level terms before relying on them at the airport. [5] For how these benefits compare with other programmes, see Start here: status and lounges.

How do you use Flying Blue Miles?

Miles are the spending currency. Air France's conditions list flights, Promo award tickets, upgrades and other paid options as the ways to use them, and state that award tickets booked with Miles do not themselves earn Miles. [3] The tables on this page cover earning only; Flying Blue's own terms are the place to confirm award pricing, availability and any fees before you book. Glossary of frequent flyer terms explains the shared vocabulary of awards and upgrades.

Exceptions and limits

• Award tickets bought with Miles earn no Miles, so an award flight does not add to your balance. [3]
• Train legs with an Air France flight number earn Miles only when they sit before or after an international flight to or from Paris Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly. [3]
• Distance-based earning uses minimums of 500 miles domestic and 750 miles international, so very short hops are credited above their actual length. [3] Elite Bonus Miles apply only to members holding the matching status. [3]
• Flying Blue states that no rights can be derived from the XP table or the simulator's estimates, which it calls indicative only. [5]
• Extra SAF bought with cash or Miles is purchased within 12 months after your flight and is not used on that specific flight. [5] The SAF contribution examples quoted by Flying Blue — €76 or 15,200 Miles for 8 XP, €188 or 37,600 Miles for 19 XP, €533.60 or 106,800 Miles for 54 XP — were stated as valid at 14 May 2025. [5]
• Some benefits carry conditions, including SkyTeam lounge access with a guest at Gold and Platinum, and Air France and KLM lounge access for guests at Ultimate. [5]

Frequently asked questions

How many XP do you need for Flying Blue Silver?

100 XP takes you to Silver, 180 to Gold and 300 to Platinum, and the same three figures are the renewal minimums for those levels. [5] [6]

How long do you have to earn enough XP?

Up to 12 months, with the qualification period starting when you earn your first Mile or first XP. [5] [6]

Which flights earn XP?

Eligible fares on eligible flights marketed or operated by Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin and Air Corsica on its Paris-Orly–Corsica routes, plus all SkyTeam airline partners, while UXP is restricted to flights marketed by Air France or KLM. [5]

Do Flying Blue award tickets earn Miles?

No. Air France's conditions state that Miles earning does not apply to award tickets booked with Miles. [3]

Related pages

Programme: Flying Blue. Courses: Start here: airline miles, Start here: status and lounges. Reference: frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers Flying Blue only — other SkyTeam programmes, and partner earning beyond what the programme page states, are outside its scope — and Flying Blue's own terms are the place to confirm current rules before booking.

1. Flying Blue: earning Miles and XP on Air France-marketed flights, checked 18 October 2026
2. Flying Blue: Status & XP — levels, benefits and how XP is earned, checked 18 October 2026
3. Flying Blue: Status & XP — level thresholds and qualification periods, checked 18 October 2026