Air France-KLM Mastercard Review: Great for Air France and KLM Enthusiasts, but Not for Everyone

Overview of the Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard

Many experienced points and miles enthusiasts carry one or more co-branded airline credit cards. If you're on the lookout for a new airline card to enhance your wallet, the Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard® could be a great fit. With an appealing rewards structure and bonus anniversary miles, this card is particularly advantageous for frequent flyers of Air France and KLM. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*The card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

After establishing a core selection of cards that earn transferable points, it’s time to consider co-branded airline cards. Adding one or two cards from your preferred airline can offer extra benefits, a quicker route to elite status, and the chance to earn more rewards on every purchase.

The Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard is quite similar to other mid-tier airline cards. Although its benefits are less extensive than some alternatives, it still offers good value for those who fly with Air France and KLM a few times each year.

This card comes with an annual fee of $89, and we suggest having a credit score of 700 or above for the best approval odds.

Let’s explore the specifics of this card to help you determine if it’s the right choice for your airline needs.

The details for the Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard have been independently gathered by Dinogo. The information presented here has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Pros and Cons of the Air France-KLM Mastercard

Welcome Offer for the Air France-KLM Mastercard

For a limited time, new cardholders can earn 70,000 bonus miles and 40 Experience Points (XP) after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening. Additionally, new cardholders will receive an extra 60 XP upon account approval.

XP serves as the elite status currency in the Flying Blue program of Air France and KLM. If you maximize the XP available through this welcome offer, you will have enough to achieve Flying Blue Silver status for a duration of 12 months.

As of September 2024, TPG assigns a value of 1.3 cents per Flying Blue mile. This means the welcome offer is valued at $910, not accounting for the additional value of achieving Flying Blue Silver status.

Keep in mind that to take advantage of this limited-time offer, you must apply for the card via Air France's designated landing page.

Benefits of the Air France-KLM Mastercard

While the Air France-KLM Mastercard offers limited benefits for its $89 annual fee, there are still a few notable advantages.

One of the card's standout features is a 5,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary. However, this anniversary bonus comes with a spending requirement, which is somewhat unusual. Fortunately, the threshold is quite low: just $50 in the previous cardmember year. Even if you rarely use this card, that’s an easy target to hit.

Based on TPG's valuations from September 2024, these 5,000 miles hold a value of $65, which nearly offsets the card's annual fee.

You will also earn 20 XP on each account anniversary. This annual XP bonus can assist you in achieving the 100 XP required to maintain your Silver status after initially earning it through your welcome bonus during your first year as a cardholder. Benefits of Silver status include priority check-in and boarding, complimentary selection of standard seats, and one additional free checked bag on SkyTeam-operated flights.

Furthermore, you’ll enjoy perks that are quite typical for a mid-tier travel card, such as no foreign transaction fees and the option for contactless payments.

These added benefits easily justify the $89 annual fee, but infrequent flyers with Air France and KLM may find it challenging to maintain Silver status after their first year, as XP is awarded on a per-flight basis depending on the flight type and fare class. Notably, award flights do not accrue XP, which adds to the difficulty.

How to Earn Miles with the Air France-KLM Mastercard

The Air France-KLM Mastercard offers a straightforward approach to earning miles. It features only one bonus category, which can be seen as either a benefit or a drawback.

With this card, you'll earn 3 miles for every dollar spent on purchases with Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam member airlines. For all other purchases, you'll earn 1.5 miles.

While these earning rates aren’t particularly impressive, they are certainly reasonable. Based on our September 2024 valuation of Flying Blue miles at 1.3 cents each, this results in a 3.9% return on purchases made with Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam members, and nearly a 2% return on all other transactions.

Actually, the Air France-KLM Mastercard can serve as a non-bonused spending card if you frequently fly with the airline and wish to utilize these miles.

How to Redeem Miles with the Air France-KLM Mastercard

The best way to redeem Flying Blue miles is for airfare. Flying Blue employs dynamic pricing, meaning there isn’t a fixed award chart. Prices can fluctuate at any moment, making it challenging to identify the best deals.

Besides using miles for Air France and KLM flights, you can also redeem them for award tickets on other SkyTeam airlines, such as Delta Air Lines. This can be an excellent way to secure a ticket at a better rate than through that airline's own rewards program.

Flying Blue regularly offers Promo Rewards, which provide significantly discounted award tickets. However, these tickets typically come with more restrictions than standard Flying Blue award tickets, so be sure to review all applicable terms and conditions.

Which cards compete with the Air France-KLM Mastercard?

When considering alternatives to the Air France-KLM Mastercard, you might think of cards that earn rewards transferable to Flying Blue. Here are some options:

• If you prefer American Express: The The Platinum Card® from American Express carries a high annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), but it offers a variety of perks to help justify the expense. It earns Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Flying Blue. For more details, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
• If you prefer Chase: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a similar annual fee to the Air France-KLM Mastercard. It includes benefits that help offset its $95 annual fee, such as an annual $50 hotel credit. It earns Ultimate Rewards points, which can also be transferred to Flying Blue. For more information, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
• If you prefer Capital One: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also comes with a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), positioning it alongside the Air France-KLM Mastercard. Like the Amex Platinum and Sapphire Preferred, it offers Flying Blue as a transfer partner. To learn more, see our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.

For more options, explore our recommendations for the best airline cards and the best travel cards.

Is the Air France-KLM Mastercard a Good Choice?

For fans of Air France and KLM, the Air France-KLM Mastercard is certainly worth a look. While its annual fee might be more challenging to justify compared to other mid-tier travel cards, it provides enough benefits to be valuable for frequent flyers. If you don't travel with Air France and KLM at least twice a year, you might want to consider a different airline card or a general travel card that earns transferable rewards.

Conclusion

If you're serious about accumulating points and miles, getting an airline cobranded card is a wise decision. The Air France-KLM Mastercard is just one of many options available, but it stands out for enthusiasts of these airlines. The card's value increases even more if you can sustain Flying Blue Silver status over time.

If you're not a regular flyer with Air France and KLM, another airline card would likely suit you better.