Rundown of Air France KLM Flying Blue for Canadians (updated February 10, 2023)
Air France KLM has really upped their game in terms of expanding their presence in Canada, which definitely warrants a full blown post. Today, we are going to provide a rundown of how relevant Air France KLM is to Canadians by going through some of the features of its Flying Blue frequent flyer program.
Expiry policy
Flyer Blue miles do expire, but there are ways to keep miles active. There are one of 3 options to keep the account active:
- Fly at least once every 2 years with an eligible Air France, KLM, Joon, HOP!, or any SkyTeam partner flight
- Earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum status
- Make a purchase with an eligible partner bank card at least once every 2 years
Airline alliance and partners
Air France KLM is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. But in addition to the SkyTeam partners, they have bilateral agreements with other companies that allow members to earn and/or redeem Flying Blue miles with. Props to WestJet for being the lone Canadian airline partner!
Below are a list of partner airlines:
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Corsica
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Air Mauritius
- airBaltic
- Aircalin
- Bangkok Airways (redeem miles only)
- Chalair Aviation
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- China Southern Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Czech Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- GOL
- Garuda Indonesia
- ITA Airways (earn miles only)
- Japan Airlines
- KLM
- Kenya Airways
- Korean Air
- Malaysia Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
- Qantas
- Saudi Arabian Airlines
- TAROM
- Transavia
- Twin Jet
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- WestJet
- Xiamen Airlines
Hotel partners
Below is a list of hotel partners that Flying Blue members can convert/exchange points to miles or earn miles with.
- ALL – Accor Live Limitless (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- Best Western Hotels & Resorts (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- Booking.com (earn miles)
- Golden Tulip Hotels (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- Hilton Honors (exchange hotel points for Flying Blue miles)
- hotels for Miles (earn miles)
- Hyatt Hotels & Resorts (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- IHG Hotels & Resorts (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- Marriot Bonvoy (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- Radisson Hotel Group (convert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (earn miles or covert hotel points to Flying Blue miles)
- WorldHotels Collection (earn miles)
- YOTEL (earn miles)
Co-Branded Credit Card
In 2022, Canada finally introduced a new co-branded airline credit card. This card turned out to be a between Brim Financial and Air France KLM. Below are the highlights of the card.
Brim Financial Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard
- $132 annual fee (first year fee waived)
- $50 annual fee for a supplementary cardholder
- Earn 30 XP yearly + 30 XP as a welcome bonus
- Earn up to 30 Flying Blue Reward miles for every $1 spent at merchant partners
- Earn up to 13 Miles per €1 spent on Air France and KLM flights
- Earn 2 Flying Blue Reward miles for every $1 spent on food and drinks (restaurants, bars)
- Earn 1 Flying Blue Reward mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Receive Free Boingo Wi-Fi
- Receive DragonPass membership
With the first year fee being waived, this is a great way to load up on Flying Blue miles. If anyone frequently flies with Air France and/or KLM, as pays for the flight in cash, I would highly recommend having this card. Those multiplier bonuses can add up very fast.
Transferable Points
American Express Membership Rewards (AMEX MR) continues to offer the most valuable transferrable points program in Canada. Part of its program is that it allows members to transfer AMEX MR points to airline partners such as Air France KLM. Below are the highlights of its transfer option:
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Conversion ratio: 4 to 3 ratio (e.g. 1,000 AMEX MR points = 750 Flying Blue miles)
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Estimated transfer time: 3 days
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Minimum transfer amount : 1,000 AMEX MR points
This is a great way to top up a Flying Blue account to get closer to a reward redemption. If you are not in a rush, best to hold your AMEX MR points until a transfer bonus is possibly offered.
Air France KLM Destinations Departing from Canada
Air France KLM operates several direct flights departing from Canada. Below are a list of airports that offer such flights.
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
- Air France: Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- KLM: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Air France: Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- KLM: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
- Air France: Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- Air France (seasonal): Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP)
- KLM: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Calgary International Airport (YYC)
- KLM: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Edmonton International Airport (YEG)
- KLM: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport (YOW)
- Air France: Paris–Charles de Gaulle (begins June 27, 2023)
Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB)
- Air France (seasonal): Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
What other features of Air France KLM Flying Blue do you feel is relevant to Canadians. Please let us know in the comment section below!
Sorry this has me a little confused I thought klm is part of sky team not one world. Am I missing something
You are totally correct! The post has been updated, good catch Lynn!
I didn’t realize you could get XP on the Westjet flights. That’s actually a pretty great spot to put those international or cheap short-haul Westjet flights. I feel like Air France & KLM have done a really awesome job overhauling their rewards program to compete with Air Canada and British Airways. Becoming a very attractive program for those in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto & Quebec City.
I have been collecting Aeromexico points, Delta points, and Westjet points all separately but I think I might start putting them in an Air France account. Their new BRIM credit card is super innovative and actually pairs really well with either the HSBC World Elite, CIBC/TD Aeroplan Privilege cards, AMX Reserve, Platinum, or Cobalt. I am thinking of cards that give bonus points for travel purchases.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts David! I would love to see WestJet join SkyTeam. Feels like they already have their foot in the door.