How to earn Flying Blue status

XP thresholds and the qualification clock

Flying Blue describes its ladder as five levels, Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Ultimate, with more XP bringing more benefits. [2] A member has up to 12 months to gain enough XP to maintain a level or move up, and that qualification period starts when the member earns a first Mile or gains a first XP. [2]

When the XP count reaches the next threshold, the upgrade happens immediately: the XP that carried the member to the new level is deducted from the counter, and for Elite members — defined on the page as Silver and above — any surplus above the threshold stays on the account, capped at 300 surplus XP, which the programme equates with one extra year of Platinum status. [2] The new qualification period starts as soon as the member levels up and runs to the end of the twelfth month. [2]

If a period ends without an upgrade, the programme checks whether the member still holds the minimum for the current level: 100 XP for Silver, 180 XP for Gold and 300 XP for Platinum, and the membership at that level is renewed for 12 months. [2] The published example is a Silver member finishing on 122 XP: Gold was not reached, so the member stays Silver, 100 XP is deducted and the 22 surplus XP count towards Gold. [2] A member below the maintenance minimum drops one level, the lower tier's threshold is deducted, and the new period lasts 12 months; an Explorer's counter is reset to 0 XP. [2] Platinum members fall step by step to Gold and then Silver before Explorer, so the higher the tier, the longer a member is guaranteed to stay Elite. [2]

Miles and XP are credited side by side but used differently: Miles are spent on reward tickets, upgrades, seats with more legroom and extra checked baggage, and cannot cover a reward ticket's taxes and carrier charges, while XP is what moves the level. [2] [4]

How XP is earned

XP comes from eligible fares on eligible flights marketed or operated by Air France, KLM, Transavia or Aircalin, from Air Corsica flights between Paris-Orly and Corsica, and from all SkyTeam airline partners; UXP is earned only on flights marketed by Air France or KLM. [2]

The amount depends on flight distance and cabin. The published table gives Economy 2 XP within a country, 5 XP on medium-haul under 2,000 miles, 8 XP between 2,000 and 3,500 miles, 10 XP between 3,500 and 5,000 miles and 12 XP above 5,000 miles; Business 6, 15, 24, 30 and 36 XP on the same bands, Premium 4, 10, 16, 20 and 24, and First 10, 25, 40, 50 and 60. [2] On medium-haul routes the page notes that Economy Basic fares earn 2 XP and Economy Flex fares add another 2 XP. [2] Its worked examples use connecting trips: Frankfurt to New York via Amsterdam in Economy gives 5 XP plus 10 XP, so 15 XP, and Nice to Tokyo via Paris in Business gives 6 XP plus 36 XP, so 42 XP. [2] The flight-type simulator and the XP table are described as indicative only, with no rights derived from the estimates. [2]

XP can also be collected away from flying. Contributing to sustainable aviation fuel earns 1 XP for every €10 or 2,000 Miles contributed, at three contribution levels offered when booking on the Air France or KLM sites, through the booking-management area or during online check-in, and the Paris CDG to Toronto example offers 8, 19 or 54 XP with prices valid on 14 May 2025. [2] Donating Miles to roughly 25 charities is another route to keep or upgrade status. [2]

Air France's own earning page adds that Miles and XP are collected on flights marketed by Air France whatever the operating carrier, including train, bus and limousine services carrying an AF flight number, although train travel earns Miles only when it comes before or after an international flight to or from Paris CDG or Orly. [3] That page also lists Miles per euro by level: 4 for Explorer, 6 for Silver, 7 for Gold, 8 for Platinum and 9 for Ultimate. [3]

What each level adds

• Explorer gives benefits from day one and earns 4 Miles per euro spent. [2]
• Silver, from 100 XP, earns 6 Miles per euro and adds priority check-in, baggage drop-off and boarding, some free seat options 24 hours before departure, free selection of standard seats and one free extra checked bag on SkyTeam flights. [2]
• Gold, from 180 XP, earns 7 Miles per euro and adds free access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest where conditions apply, SkyPriority access throughout the airport, free seat options 72 hours before departure and the same free standard seats and extra SkyTeam bag. [2]
• Platinum, from 300 XP, earns 8 Miles per euro and adds free access to seat options, the same lounge and SkyPriority package, the extra SkyTeam bag and a Platinum Service Line; reaching the required Platinum threshold 10 years in a row makes a member Platinum for life without requalifying. [2]
• Ultimate earns 9 Miles per euro and lists a 24/7 Ultimate Assistant, Air France and KLM lounge access for the member and up to eight guests, extra check-in baggage on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam flights, airport services for up to eight companions, four one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year and one partner Flying Blue Platinum card. [2]

Exceptions and limits

• The surplus-XP carry-over is written for Elite members, defined as Silver and above, and capped at 300 XP. [2]
• Air France states that Miles are not earned on award tickets, and that Miles for tour-operator fares, and for Air France-operated flights marketed by Flying Blue partners, are calculated on distance, booking class and Elite bonus, with minimum distances of 500 miles on domestic and 750 miles on international flights. [3]
• Lounge guest access, seat options and airport services are published with conditions attached, so the conditions in force apply rather than the summary wording. [2]
• Clocks differ between programmes: ShebaMiles, for example, qualifies members on Status Miles or Qualifying Segments within a calendar year running from 1 January to 31 December and continues a new tier for the rest of that programme year plus a further twelve months, so its dates should not be read across to Flying Blue. [5]

Related pages

Programme: Flying Blue. Comparisons: status thresholds in major programmes. Using the other balance: booking Flying Blue awards, upgrading Flying Blue with Miles and Flying Blue promo rewards. Definitions: glossary of frequent flyer terms.

Sources

Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers Flying Blue's published XP and level rules only; the status rules of SkyTeam partner programmes, Star Alliance programmes and other alliances are not covered here.

1. Flying Blue status and XP programme page, checked 18 October 2026
2. Air France earning conditions on Flying Blue, checked 18 October 2026
3. KLM guide to spending Flying Blue Miles, checked 18 October 2026
4. ShebaMiles status and benefits page, checked 18 October 2026