Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to upgrade flights with Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue is the loyalty programme of Air France, KLM and Transavia, and its Miles can be spent on flight upgrades as well as on award flights and Promo award tickets. [4] [2] The programme runs five levels — Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Ultimate — and Ultimate members receive four one-cabin upgrade vouchers in every membership year. [4] [5]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Flying Blue Miles can be put towards upgrades, alongside flights, Promo award tickets and other paid options. [2]
- Flying Blue has five levels: Explorer, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Ultimate. [4] [5]
- Ultimate benefits include four one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year. [4]
- A ticket booked with Miles does not itself earn more Miles. [2]
What can you use Flying Blue Miles for?
Flying Blue lists upgrades among the ways a member can use Miles, alongside award flights, Promo award tickets and other paid options. [2] Miles and XP are credited on journeys actually flown, and members with Elite status get bonus Miles on top of the base rate for the fare they bought. [2] On Air France, Miles are credited on every flight marketed by Air France whichever carrier operates it, including rail, bus and limousine services that carry an Air France flight number. [2] Where the segment is a train, Miles are credited only when the rail journey comes before or after an international flight departing from or arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly. [2]
Which Flying Blue levels come with upgrade vouchers?
The Ultimate level is the one whose benefit list carries upgrade vouchers: four one-cabin vouchers per membership year. [4] The same level adds complimentary Air France and KLM lounge access for the member and up to eight guests, extra checked baggage on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam flights, and Ultimate and/or SkyPriority airport services for up to eight travel companions. [4] A member who holds Platinum for ten consecutive years, reaching the required threshold each time, becomes Platinum for Life and no longer needs to requalify for Platinum. [4]
How do you earn the Miles that pay for an upgrade?
The number of Miles a member collects depends on their level, counted per euro spent on flights marketed by Air France. [2]
| Level | Miles per euro |
|---|---|
| Ultimate | 9 |
| Platinum | 8 |
| Gold | 7 |
| Silver | 6 |
| Explorer | 4 |
Those rates are the same ones shown in the programme's status benefit list. [4]
XP runs alongside Miles and decides which level a member holds. [4] A member has up to 12 months to collect enough XP to keep their level or move up, and the qualification period starts with the first Mile or the first XP earned. [4] [5] Silver takes 100 XP, Gold 180 XP and Platinum 300 XP, and the same figures are the thresholds for renewing each of those levels. [4] [5] Elite members, meaning Silver and above, keep surplus XP above the threshold up to a maximum of 300 XP. [4] [5] XP is earned on eligible fares on flights marketed or operated by Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin, Air Corsica between Paris-Orly and Corsica, and SkyTeam airline partners. [4] UXP is earned only on flights marketed by Air France or KLM. [4] Miles can also be turned into XP through a sustainable aviation fuel contribution, at 1 XP for every €10 or 2,000 Miles given. [4]
Limits and conditions
- Award tickets. Miles accrual does not apply to award tickets booked with Miles, so a flight taken on a Miles ticket does not build the balance further. [2]
- Voucher type. The Ultimate allowance is four vouchers, each moving the traveller up one cabin, and the allowance is granted per membership year. [4]
- Qualification length. A qualification period lasts up to 12 months and begins with the first Mile or first XP. [4] [5]
- Surplus XP. Only Elite members carry XP over, and the carry-over is capped at 300 XP — described by the programme as the equivalent of one extra year of Platinum status. [4] [5]
- Platinum for Life. The lifetime version of Platinum requires ten consecutive years at Platinum rather than a single qualification period. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Can you use Flying Blue Miles to upgrade a flight?
Yes. Upgrades are one of the listed uses of Miles, together with award flights, Promo award tickets and other paid options. [2]
Do you earn Miles on an award ticket?
No. Miles accrual does not apply to tickets reserved with Miles. [2]
Who receives Flying Blue upgrade vouchers?
Ultimate members receive four one-cabin upgrade vouchers per membership year. [4]
How many Miles does a Flying Blue member earn per euro?
On flights marketed by Air France the rate is 4 Miles per euro at Explorer, 6 at Silver, 7 at Gold, 8 at Platinum and 9 at Ultimate. [2] [4]
How long is a Flying Blue qualification period?
Up to 12 months, starting from the first Mile or the first XP earned. [4] [5]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Only Flying Blue is covered here; the upgrade rules of other SkyTeam member programmes are not covered.
- Flying Blue: earning Miles with Air France, checked 18 October 2026
- Flying Blue Status & XP, checked 18 October 2026
- Flying Blue Status & XP: levels, XP thresholds and qualification periods, checked 18 October 2026