Air France KLM Flying Blue is turning into one in all Canada’s main airline loyalty applications. That is regardless of Air France and KLM being European carriers.
Harmonized transatlantic pricing, in addition to the launch of the co-branded Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®, has helped make this system extra enticing within the Canadian market.
Whereas Flying Blue may arguably be the perfect SkyTeam airline program for Canadians, there are nonetheless methods for it to enhance and higher compete with different applications, particularly with our homegrown Aeroplan program.
On this article, let’s discover 4 adjustments that might make Air France KLM Flying Blue even higher.
1. Taxes and Charges for Premium Cabins
Air France KLM Flying Blue imposes aggressive award pricing, significantly for transatlantic flights. Pretty just lately, this system harmonized its North America–Europe pricing, with one-way tickets costing as little as:
- 20,000 miles in economic system
- 35,000 miles in premium economic system
- 50,000 miles in enterprise class
Flying Blue’s pricing scheme beats its opponents, equivalent to Aeroplan; nevertheless, tickets with Flying Blue are topic to carrier-imposed surcharges, or the dreaded gas surcharges.
In case you e-book premium economic system or enterprise class, it is best to count on to pay $200–300 (all figures in CAD) per course.
a particular instance, a one-way enterprise class ticket between Calgary and Amsterdam comes with $265 in carrier-imposed surcharges.
Whereas that isn’t as hefty as what the likes of British Airways Govt Membership cost, gas surcharges are a bane inside the Miles & Factors group.
As such, we liked to see Flying Blue cut back its surcharges to make this system much more enticing and common.
2. Associate Award Pricing
Amongst SkyTeam carriers, Air France KLM Flying Blue is arguably the perfect loyalty program for Canadians. As talked about above, this system affords aggressive pricing on transatlantic Air France and KLM flights.
Nonetheless, this aggressive pricing doesn’t prolong to SkyTeam and non-alliance companions.
For instance, a one-way flight from Vancouver to Taipei on China Airways often costs out at 82,500 Flying Blue miles plus $148 in taxes and costs.
In the meantime, Vietnam Airways’ newly launched route between Manila and Hanoi costs out at 17,500 Flying Blue miles in economic system and 35,500 miles in enterprise class. These quantities appear extreme for a flight that solely lasts for 3 hours.
Evaluating these costs with Aeroplan’s associate award pricing and lack of gas surcharge, Flying Blue is clearly at an obstacle.
For example, a one-way Taipei to Seoul enterprise class ticket on Asiana Airways, an Aeroplan associate, prices solely 20,000 Aeroplan factors.
The identical ticket on Korean Air, a Flying Blue associate, prices 34,000 Flying Blue miles.
One notable cause for this pricing distinction is that with Aeroplan associate awards aren’t priced dynamically, whereas they’re with Flying Blue.
All that being mentioned, if Flying Blue needs to be as top-of-mind for Canadians as Aeroplan, then it should enhance its associate award pricing. It could begin with reducing associate award costs, however finally, it ought to stabilize associate award costs like Aeroplan does.
3. Switch Ratio with Amex Membership Rewards
In Canada, you may earn Flying Blue miles instantly with the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® on the following charges:
- As much as 30 Miles per greenback spent at Brim Monetary’s service provider companions
- 2 Flying Blue miles per greenback spent at eating places and bars
- 1 Flying Blue mile per greenback spent on all different eligible purchases
You might also convert your American Categorical Membership Rewards (MR) factors to Flying Blue miles, although this change comes with a disadvantageous price of 1 MR level = 0.75 Flying Blue mile.
It’s nice that MR factors will be transferred to Flying Blue because it makes this system extra accessible. Nonetheless, the switch ratio eats into the worth of the enticing award redemption costs.
For instance, a one-way enterprise class flight from Canada to Europe that prices 50,000 miles has an efficient value of 66,667 Amex MR factors with the switch ratio thought-about.
This takes away Flying Blue’s benefit over different applications, equivalent to Aeroplan and British Airways Govt Membership.
At this price, you can as an alternative e-book a one-way flight in enterprise class with Aeroplan for 60,000–70,000 factors, relying in your level of departure. Plus with this selection, you received’t should pay carrier-imposed or gas surcharges.
Remember the fact that within the US all main switch companions, equivalent to American Categorical US Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards, switch at a 1:1 ratio.
To make the Flying Blue program even higher, it’d be nice to see this conversion price prolonged north of the border as properly.
Moreover, it wouldn’t harm to supply the occasional factors switch bonus like what British Airways Govt Membership does with Avios.
4. “Beginning At” Availability
Whereas it’s true that Air France KLM Flying Blue has glorious award pricing for transatlantic flights, chances are you’ll solely be capable to discover these decrease costs on one date monthly, relying on whenever you e-book.
As with all airline program, your greatest likelihood of discovering award availability on the decrease finish of the dynamic pricing spectrum is to e-book far upfront. You additionally may be capable to discover lower-end costs on last-minute bookings.
In case you e-book a yr upfront, it is best to discover a flight from Vancouver to Paris in enterprise class for 50,000 Flying Blue miles.
In case you don’t e-book far upfront, chances are you’ll run right into a bunch of dynamic pricing, whereby the bottom value you see is at the very least triple the “beginning at” quantity, or generally much more.
When you can certainly e-book all Air France or KLM seats with Flying Blue, the pricing usually isn’t enticing.
Thus, it’d be good to see Flying Blue enhance this system by guaranteeing a minimal variety of award seats on the “beginning at” or the so-called “saver degree” on each flight. This could convey this system consistent with what British Airways Govt Membership does.
Conclusion
An increasing number of, Air France KLM Flying Blue is making itself felt in Canada. The launch of the co-branded Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®, which attractively earns miles on on a regular basis purchases, is a notable a part of this rising model recognition.
Regardless of the Flying Blue program harmonizing transatlantic award pricing, which usually introduced prices down, there nonetheless are methods for this system to be even higher.
We’d like to see Flying Blue impose a number of the adjustments we’ve talked about above, because it’ll solely make this system extra interesting for Canadians.
No matter whether or not these adjustments are made, should you’re on the lookout for a program with nice transatlantic pricing, Flying Blue is definitely price exploring.
