Frequent flyers and points enthusiasts have come to love the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program for its competitive award pricing, monthly Promo Rewards, and seamless transfer partnerships with major credit card programs like Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One. But, as with many loyalty programs, devaluations are inevitable. The latest update to the Flying Blue program brought significant changes to its award pricing, leaving many travelers wondering how this impacts their miles and redemption strategies.

Let’s dive into what’s changed, how it affects you, and what steps you can take to maximize value in the Flying Blue program post-devaluation.

The Key Changes In Flying Blue Award Pricing

While any devaluation is unwelcome news, the adjustments to the Flying Blue award chart are relatively modest compared to recent changes by other major programs like Avianca LifeMiles in mid 2024 and Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles in early 2024. Those devaluations saw overnight increases of up to 50%, leaving frequent flyers scrambling to reassess their strategies. By contrast, the Flying Blue updates, while significant, are not quite as extreme and still leave room to extract good value with careful planning.

Here is a closer look at the award chart changes (transatlantic flight examples) and what they mean for your travel plans:

Credit. Air France. Air France-KLM New Award Rate Examples (IAD – CDG).

Economy Class

• Previous Saver Award Rate: 20,000 points (one-way)
• New Saver Award Rate: 25,000 points (one-way)
• Devaluation: 25%

For budget-conscious travelers, Economy Class redemptions have become noticeably more expensive. While Flying Blue miles still offer decent value compared to cash fares on certain routes, the 25% hike in Saver rates means you will need to stretch your points further to book the same trips.

Premium Economy

• Previous Saver Award Rate: 35,000 points (one-way)
• New Saver Award Rate: 40,000 points (one-way)
• Devaluation: 15%

Premium Economy awards have also taken a hit, with a 15% rise in Saver pricing. This cabin class is often a favorite for travelers seeking more comfort without splurging on Business Class, but the increased costs make these redemptions less appealing than before.

Business Class

• Previous Saver Award Rate: 50,000 points (one-way)
• New Saver Award Rate: 60,000 points (one-way)
• Devaluation: 20%

The sharpest sting for many Flying Blue members comes in the Business Class cabin. Once a sweet spot for transatlantic travel, the Saver rate for Business Class awards has jumped 20%. For example, a round-trip from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) that once required only 100,000 points now demands 120,000 points — an increase that is tough to ignore.

These changes apply primarily to the lowest-level Saver awards, which are typically the best value for points redemptions. As a result, finding affordable award seats during peak travel periods or on popular routes may now feel even more challenging.

Related: The 10 Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards

Flying Blue Devaluation: The Pros, The Cons, And What To Watch For

When a loyalty program announces a devaluation, it is natural for travelers to focus on the negatives. However, the Flying Blue changes come with a mix of challenges and opportunities, along with some potential for optimism.

Here are some additional thoughts on the Flying Blue devaluation:

The Good

Despite the higher Saver award rates, Flying Blue miles still offer competitive value, especially for transatlantic travel.

• Still Competitive Pricing: Even with the Saver rate for Business Class climbing to 60,000 miles, this is on par with other programs like Air Canada Aeroplan, which also charges 60,000 points for similar routes to Europe. For Economy Class and Premium Economy, Flying Blue continues to offer good value relative to many U.S.-based carriers, where pricing is often higher and less predictable.
• Frequent Transfer Bonuses: One of the major strengths of Flying Blue is its partnerships with all major transferable points currencies — Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points, and Capital One Miles. Transfer bonuses of 20-30% from these programs happen regularly, effectively reducing the cost of award redemptions.

Credit. American Express. Air France-KLM Flying Blue Has Frequent Transfer Bonuses.

• Monthly Promo Awards: Flying Blue continues to offer Promo Rewards, which provide discounted award pricing on select routes. While the rates on these deals have increased slightly, they remain an excellent opportunity to save miles, especially for those with flexibility in their travel plans.

The Bad

It is hard to sugarcoat the downsides of any devaluation, and the changes to Flying Blue are no exception.

• Devaluations Are Always Unwelcome: Anytime a program increases award prices, it erodes the purchasing power of your miles. For loyal Flying Blue members, the 15-25% increase in Saver award rates means fewer trips or longer waits to accumulate enough points for redemptions.
• Earning Rates Stay The Same: While redemption rates have gone up, the methods to earn Flying Blue miles remain unchanged. This means your ability to earn points has not kept pace with the rising costs, diluting the overall value of the program.

The Hope For The Future

While it is easy to focus on the negatives, there is a silver lining to this devaluation that could bring positive change for frequent flyers.

• Potential For More Saver Award Space: One of the biggest frustrations with Flying Blue over the past 6–12 months has been the scarcity of Saver award space on high-demand routes. With the increased mileage costs, Flying Blue might open up more Saver availability, giving members a better chance of booking flights at the lowest redemption levels. This would be a welcome change for those who have struggled to find availability on popular transatlantic routes.

Note: At the time of this post, there does not appear to be a significant change in the award availability on key routes from major U.S. cities (i.e. New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco).

Sweet Spot With Virgin Atlantic Remains Untouched (For Now)

Credit. Virgin Atlantic. Book Air France-KLM Award Flights Via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

Amid the Flying Blue devaluation, there is a silver lining for savvy points enthusiasts: award redemptions for Air France and KLM flights booked through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club remain unaffected — for now. The Virgin Atlantic program continues to offer one of the best sweet spots for transatlantic travel, regardless of class. Even better, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club is a transfer partner of all major credit card programs, including Chase, Amex, Citi, and Capital One, making it easy to earn the points you need.

If you are looking to fly to Europe for fewer points, Virgin Atlantic is now arguably one of the best programs for Air France and KLM flights; and in general. However, with the Flying Blue adjustments, it is worth keeping an eye on whether Virgin Atlantic will eventually follow suit with its own updates. For now, this remains a fantastic workaround for securing value-packed redemptions.

Final Thoughts

The Flying Blue devaluation may sting, but it does not diminish the potential of the program to deliver valuable redemptions. With competitive award rates compared to other transatlantic programs, frequent transfer bonuses, and the continued availability of Promo Rewards, Flying Blue remains a strong option for travelers who plan strategically.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club also emerges as a standout alternative, offering some of the best-value redemptions for Air France and KLM flights, especially in Business Class. For now, this sweet spot provides an excellent workaround for those looking to save miles on trips to Europe.

The key to success lies in staying flexible, leveraging transfer bonuses, and tracking Promo Rewards. While the devaluation adds challenges, Flying Blue continues to offer pathways to rewarding travel for those willing to adapt.