Air France KLM Flying Blue is an increasingly popular loyalty program for Canadians looking to get to Europe, and beyond, on points. The Flying Blue program offers members the ability to purchase miles directly, and with the right redemption in mind, doing so can be a savvy move.
If you want to cut to the chase, click here to purchase Flying Blue miles and see if there are any current bonus promotions available to you. Otherwise, read on.
The Basics of Buying Flying Blue Miles
Flying Blue miles can be purchased at a base cost of approximately 3.05 cents per mile USD. At that rate, buying miles rarely makes sense.
Throughout the year, however, Flying Blue runs promotions that either offer bonus miles on top of your purchase or a discount on the per-mile price. These promotions are often targeted, meaning the specific offer you see may differ from what others receive. Past promotions have offered bonuses of up to 100% or discounts of up to 50%, with the effective cost at the best tiers dropping to around 1.5 to 1.7 cents per mile USD. It is almost always worth waiting for a promotional period before buying.
To see if there is a current bonus miles offer available to your account, log in to Flying Blue and navigate to the Miles Hub. The promotion details, including any tiered bonus structure, will be displayed there.
We value Flying Blue miles at 1.7 cents per point CAD. At the best promotional rates, the purchase cost can come in near or slightly above this baseline. If you have a specific high-value redemption in mind, particularly in premium cabins, you can absolutely extract value well beyond that figure.
Flying Blue members with Explorer status (which is the base level of status granted to all members) can purchase up to 100,000 miles per calendar year, while elite members can purchase an unlimited number of miles.
You can purchase Flying Blue miles here.
What Credit Card Should I Buy Flying Blue Miles With?
Flying Blue miles are sold through Points.com, which does not code as a travel or airline purchase, so don’t look to optimize your purchase from a spending category bonus.
As a Canadian, you will be charged GST/HST depending on your billing address, since Points.com is a Canadian-based company.
If you have a US credit card with a US billing address, that is the best option, as US billing addresses are not charged Canadian taxes. We have a guide on how you can get US credit cards as a Canadian, and a US credit card comparison tool for more information.
When Should I Buy Flying Blue Miles?
Topping Up For a Flight Redemption
As with any time you are considering buying points, you shouldn’t buy for fear of missing out on a promotion. Instead, you need a solid use case.
The most common and recommended time to complete a purchase is when you need a few more to complete your next redemption. Keep in mind that bought miles can take up to 72 hours to appear in your account, so the award seats you’re eyeing may not still be there once the miles arrive.
Saving Money Versus Paying Cash
For premium cabin redemptions where cash prices are steep, buying miles can represent a meaningful discount. Air France and KLM fly to cities across Canada, including lesser-served ones like Quebec City (YQB) and Edmonton (YEG), with one-way KLM business class awards starting at 60,000 miles.
When Flying Blue Promo Rewards are in play, those numbers can drop to 45,000 miles for a one-way flight, though you shouldn’t count on it. Consider a 60,000 Flying Blue miles redemption as a lucky floor, and be on the lookout for their infamous surcharges.
Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing on Air France and KLM metal, so the number of miles required can change without warning. Do not purchase points speculatively unless you are certain you will use them.
Also, don’t select the flight you want in the points booking order flow before finalizing your itinerary, or it could artificially boost the price of the Flying Blue flight you actually want. For example, one such flight from AMS-YEG went from 60,000 points to 144,000 just when being viewed speculatively.
You can also book WestJet flights with Flying Blue Miles, so for those of us in Western Canada, there can be some extreme value to be had on certain routes and dates. It is definitely worth looking into if you have a WestJet flight you want to book in the near future.
There are also many Flying Blue partners that you could book travel with, as KLM and Air France are also part of the SkyTeam airline alliance.
How Else Can I Earn Flying Blue Miles?
Transferring American Express Membership Rewards
While buying Flying Blue miles can make sense in certain situations, it’s not the only way to build your balance. The most impactful method in Canada is transferring American Express Membership Rewards points, which transfer to Flying Blue at a rate of 1:1. There are several Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards, offering sizable welcome bonuses and the flexibility of Amex’s transfer partner network:
| Credit Card | ||
|---|---|---|
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170,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $3,400 Ends Jul 28, 2026 |
|
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120,000 Membership Rewards points and $150 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $2,550 |
|
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70,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $1,400 |
|
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60,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $1,200 |
|
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15,000 Membership Rewards points and $50 FlyerFunds Estimated value: $350 |
|
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10,000 Membership Rewards points Estimated value: $200 |
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The American Express Platinum Card is a consistent top recommendation here. Between its generous welcome bonus, airport lounge access, and annual travel and dining credits, it’s a powerhouse for any points collector.
Earning Via Credit Card Spend
For those who want to earn Flying Blue miles directly, the Brim Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard is the only co-branded Flying Blue card in Canada, earning 1 Flying Blue mile per dollar on all purchases and 2 miles per dollar at restaurants.
The Brim Financial Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard offers Flying Blue Miles on purchases that can be used for flights around the world, along with a way to increase your status with Flying Blue.
Check out our Brim Financial Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard review for more details.
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As an aside, if you are earning Flying Blue miles as a household, make sure you take advantage of the Flying Blue Family Account, which makes it easy to pool miles together.
Conclusion
As with any time you are considering buying miles or points, purchasing Flying Blue miles can make sense if you have a plan in place for a specific redemption. The worst thing you can do is speculatively purchase miles without a clear use.
If you don’t have an immediate need, you’re almost always better off earning transferable points through a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points, such as the American Express Cobalt Card, and converting them when the time comes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity, and purchasing miles counts as a qualifying activity that resets the clock on your entire balance.
It can be, particularly during a bonus promotion. Ensure you have a specific redemption in mind and are not purchasing speculatively, as Flying Blue dynamically prices flight redemptions, which can make it hard to guarantee the value you’ll receive.
Kirin Tsang
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