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Air France-KLM’s Flying Blue loyalty program is changing the way members redeem miles by introducing Light, Standard, and Flex award fares for flights operated by Air France and KLM beginning September 8th. The update brings award bookings more in line with the airlines’ cash fare structure and gives travelers a choice between lower mileage prices or additional benefits. Any way you slice it, it’s going to cost more if you want all the perks.
The biggest changes affect the new entry-level Light awards. While these will continue to offer the lowest mileage prices (including some popular Business Class awards between the US and Europe) they will no longer include benefits such as advance seat selection, ticket changes, refunds, or lounge access. In Economy and Premium Economy, checked baggage will also be excluded from Light fares. Travelers who want more flexibility and included perks will need to redeem additional miles for Standard or Flex awards.
Economy Class
LIGHT
- No checked bag
- One hand bag (total 12kg)
- Changes not included
- Refunds not included
- Advance seat selection available at an extra cost
- SkyPriority not included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
STANDARD
- One checked bag (up to 23kg)
- One hand bag (total 12kg)
- Changes available for €70
- Refunds available for €70
- Advance seat selection available at an extra cost
- SkyPriority not included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
FLEX
- One checked bag (up to 23kg)
- One hand bag (total 12kg)
- Changes included
- Refunds included
- Advance seat selection included
- SkyPriority not included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
Premium Economy
LIGHT
- No checked bags
- Two hand bags (total 12kg)
- Changes not included
- Refunds not included
- Advance seat selection available at an extra cost
- SkyPriority included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
STANDARD
- Two checked bags (up to 23kg each)
- Two hand bags (total 12kg)
- Changes available for €70
- Refunds available for €70
- Advance seat selection available at an extra cost
- SkyPriority included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
FLEX
- Two checked bags (up to 23kg each)
- Two hand bags (total 12kg)
- Changes included
- Refunds included
- Advance seat selection included
- SkyPriority included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
Business Class
LIGHT (limited to O/Z fare classes)
- One checked bag (up to 32kg)
- Two hand bags (total 18kg)
- Changes not included
- Refunds not included
- Advance seat selection available at an extra cost
- SkyPriority included
- Lounge access available at an extra cost
STANDARD
- Two checked bags (up to 32kg each)
- Two hand bags (total 18kg)
- Changes available for €70
- Refunds available for €70
- Advance seat selection available at an extra cost
- SkyPriority included
- Lounge access included
FLEX
- Two checked bags (up to 32kg each)
- Two hand bags (total 18kg)
- Changes included
- Refunds included
- Advance seat selection included
- SkyPriority included
- Lounge access included
The new fare structure applies only to flights operated by Air France and KLM and does not affect partner airline redemptions or bookings made with other loyalty programs. Air France’s La Première awards will also remain unchanged.
Flying Blue elite members will continue to receive their applicable status benefits, such as lounge access, baggage allowances, and seat selection, even when booking a Light award where those perks would otherwise not be included. Reservations ticketed before September 8th will continue to follow the program’s existing award rules.
Anthony’s Take: Devaluations are a constant across programs. Whether this is unbundled Business Class cash fares or award tickets that now deliver less (or cost much more). With miles and points, it’s best to earn and burn them as that stash is just going to keep being worth less.
(Featured Image Credit: Air France-KLM.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
