Key Points:

• Transferable credit card points from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt all transfer 1:1 to Flying Blue, giving you more flexibility than any co-branded card.
• Flying Blue Promo Rewards offer 25-50% off select routes monthly, with business class from North America to Europe available for as few as 45,000 miles one-way.
• The co-branded Air France-KLM card earns just 1.5x on everyday spending and lacks free checked bags, making transfer partners the smarter choice for most travelers.

Introduction

Flying Blue miles are some of the most accessible award currency for travelers dreaming of Europe. The joint loyalty program for Air France and KLM offers monthly Promo Rewards with discounts up to 50%, business class availability that other programs can only envy, and access to the entire SkyTeam alliance. But here's what most people get wrong: the dedicated Air France-KLM credit card isn't the best way to earn these miles.

The real secret? Nearly every major transferable points program sends miles directly to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. That means your Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou points, and Bilt Rewards can all become Flying Blue miles whenever you need them. This approach gives you flexibility the co-branded card simply can't match, plus you'll earn points faster on everyday spending.

Why Skip the Air France-KLM Credit Card

Before we dive into better alternatives, let's address the elephant in the room. The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard from Bank of America does exist, and it earns Flying Blue miles directly. So why aren't we recommending it?

The card offers 3 miles per dollar on Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam purchases, but drops to just 1.5 miles per dollar on everything else. Compare that to the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which earns 3x on dining and 2x on all travel. Or the Capital One Venture X, which earns 2x on literally everything. The math doesn't favor the co-branded option for most spending patterns.

The bigger issue? No free checked bags. Most airline credit cards waive baggage fees for cardholders, but the Air France-KLM card doesn't. When checked bag fees with Air France run anywhere from $55 to $300 depending on your route, that's a significant missing benefit. The $89 annual fee also isn't waived in the first year.

You do get a 5,000-mile anniversary bonus each year after spending at least $50, worth roughly $40 based on typical redemption values. That helps offset the annual fee somewhat, but it still doesn't overcome the earning rate disadvantage compared to transferable points cards.

The Five Transfer Partners That Send Miles to Flying Blue

Flying Blue stands out because it partners with virtually every major transferable points program. This means you can combine points from multiple sources into a single Flying Blue balance for the redemption you want. Here's what you need to know about each partner.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, and transfers are typically instant. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 3x on dining and 2x on travel, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x on both dining and travel. Either card makes building a Flying Blue balance straightforward through everyday spending.

If you want to maximize Chase points even further, add a Chase Freedom Unlimited to your wallet for 1.5% back on everything. Those points become transferable when you have a Sapphire card, effectively giving you 1.5x Flying Blue miles on all non-bonus spending. That's the same rate as the Air France card's base earning, but with far more flexibility since you can also transfer to United, Hyatt, Southwest, and other partners.

The Chase Ink business cards work the same way. The Ink Business Preferred earns 3x on shipping, internet, cable, phone, and advertising spend up to $150,000 annually. Pool those points with your personal Sapphire and transfer whenever Flying Blue has the award you want.

American Express Membership Rewards

Amex points also transfer to Flying Blue at 1:1, though transfers can take 1-2 business days. The American Express Gold Card earns 4x at restaurants worldwide and 4x at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year), making it one of the fastest ways to accumulate transferable points through everyday spending.

For premium travelers, the American Express Platinum Card earns 5x on flights booked directly with airlines and through Amex Travel. While the $695 annual fee is steep, the lounge access, credits, and elite status perks can offset that cost for frequent travelers.

Amex occasionally runs transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, typically offering 20-30% extra miles when you convert points. These promotions can make already-good redemptions exceptional. A 30% bonus would turn 50,000 Amex points into 65,000 Flying Blue miles, potentially saving you the cost of an entire flight's worth of points.

Capital One Miles

Capital One transfers to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, with transfers usually completing within 1-2 days. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns 2x miles on every purchase with no category restrictions, plus 10x on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

What makes Capital One particularly appealing is the Venture X's $395 annual fee structure. You receive a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 bonus miles on your anniversary (worth at least $100), effectively making the card free if you use the credits. Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access and Capital One Lounge access sweeten the deal further.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a more accessible entry point with its $95 annual fee and 2x earning on everything. While it lacks some premium perks, it's an excellent option for travelers who want straightforward earning without tracking bonus categories.

Citi ThankYou Points

Citi points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, typically within 24-48 hours. The Citi Strata Premier Card earns 3x on travel, gas, supermarkets, and restaurants, plus 10x through the Citi Travel portal. This diversified bonus structure makes it easy to rack up points across multiple spending categories.

The Citi Double Cash Card earns 2% back on everything when paired with another ThankYou-earning card, giving you effectively 2x transferable points on all purchases. That's higher than the Air France card's 1.5x base rate and comes with the flexibility to transfer elsewhere if needed.

Bilt Rewards

Bilt transfers to Flying Blue at 1:1, and the Bilt Mastercard offers something no other card does: the ability to earn points on rent payments without transaction fees. You can earn up to 100,000 points per year on rent alone, which could fund a round-trip business class flight to Europe.

Beyond rent, Bilt earns 3x on dining and 2x on travel. The card has no annual fee, making it an easy addition to any wallet. The catch is you need to make at least five transactions per statement period to earn points that month, but that's easily achieved through normal spending.

Bilt's transfer partners overlap significantly with other programs, but the rent-earning capability makes it unique. If your rent is $2,000 per month, that's 24,000 Flying Blue miles per year from an expense you're already paying.

Flying Blue Award Pricing and Sweet Spots

Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, meaning award costs fluctuate based on demand rather than following a fixed chart. However, the program has standardized minimum pricing for transatlantic routes that gives you a baseline to work from.

One-way economy awards between North America and Europe start at 25,000 miles. Premium economy begins at 40,000 miles, and business class starts at 60,000 miles. These are the saver rates when availability exists, though popular dates and routes will price higher.

The real value comes from Promo Rewards, which Flying Blue releases monthly. These offer 25% off select routes, dropping economy to 18,750 miles and business class to 45,000 miles one-way. November 2025 Promo Rewards included business class from Toronto and Ottawa to Europe for just 45,000 miles, and economy from Chicago, Orlando, and Seattle starting at 18,750 miles.

Promo Rewards rotate monthly and typically cover a six-month travel window. November's promotions, for example, were valid for travel through April 2026. If you're flexible with dates and destinations, these monthly deals offer exceptional value. Business class Promo Rewards to the U.S. are relatively rare, so grab them when they appear.

Partner Award Sweet Spots

Beyond Air France and KLM metal, Flying Blue miles can book SkyTeam partner flights with some excellent values. Delta domestic flights price as low as 7,500 miles one-way for short routes. Aeromexico flights between Texas and Mexico City can cost just 14,500 miles each way, beating United and American's typical pricing.

Flying Blue also offers free stopovers on award tickets, including partner awards. This means you could book New York to Amsterdam to Rome and spend a few days in Amsterdam at no extra mileage cost. That's a significant advantage over programs that charge for stopovers or don't allow them at all.

One important caveat: Flying Blue passes on fuel surcharges imposed by the operating airline. Air France and KLM both charge these, typically adding $200-300 to transatlantic awards. This makes economy redemptions less compelling on a pure value basis, but business class awards still deliver strong value given the $3,000+ cost of paid tickets.

Building Your Flying Blue Strategy

The most effective approach combines multiple transferable points programs rather than relying on any single card. Start with a card that matches your highest spending categories, then add complementary options over time.

If dining is your biggest expense, the American Express Gold Card at 4x restaurants should be your foundation. Heavy travelers might prefer the Chase Sapphire Reserve for its 3x travel and dining plus lounge access. Those who want simplicity can't beat the Capital One Venture X at 2x on everything.

Add the Bilt Mastercard regardless of your primary card. Earning points on rent with no annual fee is free money toward your Europe trip. Even if you eventually transfer those points to a different partner, having the flexibility costs nothing.

For business owners, the Ink Business Preferred adds 3x on categories personal cards don't cover. Shipping, internet, and advertising spend can accumulate rapidly, and those Ultimate Rewards points transfer directly to Flying Blue.

When to Transfer Points

The golden rule with transferable points is to transfer only when you're ready to book a specific award. Points in your credit card account can go to any partner, but once transferred to Flying Blue, they're stuck there. Never speculatively transfer points hoping availability will appear later.

Before transferring, search Flying Blue's website to confirm the award you want is available at the price you expect. Use Seats.aero for searching premium cabin availability across multiple dates without logging in repeatedly. Once you've found your flights, transfer the exact amount needed and book immediately.

Watch for transfer bonuses, particularly from Amex. A 25% bonus effectively reduces your award cost since you're transferring fewer points from your bank. If Flying Blue is offering 30,000-mile Promo Rewards and Amex is running a 30% bonus, you'd only need to transfer about 23,100 points to book that award.

How This Strategy Beats the Co-Branded Card

Let's run the numbers on a realistic scenario. Say you spend $2,000 monthly on dining and groceries, $500 on travel, and $1,500 on everything else. That's $4,000 per month in spending.

With the Air France-KLM card, you'd earn about 6,000 miles monthly (1.5x on $4,000). After a year, you'd have 72,000 miles plus the 5,000 anniversary bonus, totaling 77,000 miles. Your annual fee would be $89.

Using the American Express Gold Card on that same spending: 4x on the $2,000 dining/groceries (8,000 points), 3x on $500 travel (1,500 points), and 1x on the remaining $1,500 (1,500 points). Monthly total: 11,000 points. Annual total: 132,000 points. The Gold Card's $250 annual fee looks higher, but the $120 dining credit and $120 Uber credit bring the effective cost to just $10.

That's 132,000 transferable points versus 77,000 Flying Blue miles, and you can send those Amex points to Flying Blue or any other partner. If you want to book a Hyatt hotel, Air France-KLM miles can't help. Amex points can transfer there too.

Add the Bilt Mastercard for rent payments, and you're looking at 150,000+ transferable points annually without changing your spending habits. That's enough for business class to Europe and then some.

Making the Most of Your Flying Blue Miles

Once you've accumulated miles, whether through transfers or previous Flying Blue activity, focus on redemptions that deliver the best value. Business class Promo Rewards offer the highest cents-per-mile return, often exceeding 2 cents per mile when paid tickets cost $2,500+.

Book early for peak travel periods. Flying Blue releases award space 360 days in advance, and popular routes during summer or holidays go quickly. Set up alerts through Seats.aero or check regularly if you have specific dates in mind.

Consider positioning flights if your home airport isn't offered in Promo Rewards. Flying separately to Chicago, Orlando, or another discounted city might cost less than the mileage savings from booking at promotional rates. Run the math before assuming your nearest gateway is the best option.

Don't overlook premium economy as a sweet spot. At 30,000-40,000 miles one-way, it's a significant upgrade from coach without the premium of business class. Air France's premium economy on the A350 offers solid seats and service, making it worthwhile for daytime transatlantic flights where you won't sleep anyway.

Conclusion

Flying Blue miles remain one of the best ways to fly to Europe, especially when monthly Promo Rewards slash award costs by 25% or more. But the path to earning those miles shouldn't go through the Air France-KLM credit card. Transferable points from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt earn faster on everyday spending and give you the flexibility to pivot if your travel plans change.

Start building your transferable points balance now, watch for Promo Rewards each month, and pull the trigger when the right award appears. Your business class seat to Paris is waiting.

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FAQ

Can I transfer points from multiple credit card programs to the same Flying Blue account?

Yes, you can transfer points from Chase, Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt all into a single Flying Blue account. This makes it easy to combine points from various sources for larger redemptions. Each program requires you to link your Flying Blue number before transferring, but there's no limit to how many programs can contribute to one account.

How long do points transfers to Flying Blue take?

Chase transfers are typically instant. Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt transfers usually complete within 24-48 hours, though they can occasionally take up to 3 days. Always initiate your transfer at least a few days before you plan to book, especially if you're targeting limited award availability.

Are there ever transfer bonuses to Flying Blue?

Yes, Amex occasionally offers transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, typically ranging from 20-30% extra miles. These promotions are announced periodically and usually last a few weeks. Chase, Capital One, and Citi rarely offer transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, so Amex cardholders have an advantage here. Sign up for program emails and follow points and miles blogs to catch these deals.

Why does Flying Blue charge high taxes and fees on awards?

Flying Blue passes through the fuel surcharges that Air France and KLM impose on award tickets. These can add $200-300 or more on transatlantic flights. Some SkyTeam partners like Delta don't impose surcharges, so booking partner awards can reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Economy awards to Europe often provide less value because of these fees, while business class awards typically justify the surcharges given the high cost of paid tickets.

Do Flying Blue miles expire?

Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity. Earning or redeeming any miles resets the clock for your entire balance. If you're not flying Air France or KLM regularly, the easiest way to keep miles alive is transferring a small number of points from a credit card partner. Even 1,000 points will reset your 24-month expiration window.

What's the best time to book Flying Blue Promo Rewards?

Promo Rewards are released on the first of each month and must be booked by month's end for travel over the following 4-6 months. Check the Flying Blue website immediately when new Promo Rewards drop, as the best availability disappears quickly. Setting calendar reminders for the first of each month helps ensure you don't miss valuable promotions.