Step aside, Delta: Here’s why Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program has emerged as my top choice for SkyTeam loyalty.

Regardless of the variety of airlines you fly, it’s wise to concentrate on just one loyalty program within each of the major airline alliances: OneWorld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam.

By concentrating on a single program per alliance, you can accumulate rewards more swiftly by directing all your activity into one program, avoiding the dilution of points and miles across multiple programs in the same alliance. If you rack up enough flights, you may achieve elite status in that program, enhancing your travel experience with added comfort and benefits.

As a resident of the United Kingdom, I have primarily chosen British Airways Executive Club as my preferred loyalty program within OneWorld. Avios can be transferred among five different loyalty programs, and it’s relatively easy to attain elite status in the Executive Club. For Star Alliance, Air Canada's Aeroplan program stands out with its extensive list of airline partners and favorable redemption rates, along with generous routing rules.

What about the SkyTeam alliance?

Due to the dynamic pricing model of Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program, which frequently imposes excessively high award rates for long-haul flights, this SkyTeam member has been excluded from my points and miles strategy. While accumulating SkyMiles is straightforward, I haven't earned or redeemed any since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

I used to be a strong supporter of Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club program, particularly for its exclusive All Nippon Airways redemptions to Japan and the frequent award sales that offered up to 50% off seat prices across its network.

Sadly, Virgin Atlantic's carrier-imposed surcharges have skyrocketed, now reaching an astonishing $2,000 for a round-trip business-class ticket to London. When you factor in two devaluations of ANA awards to Japan, hikes in Delta short-haul redemption costs, and a new four-figure surcharge for Delta One redemptions to Europe, Flying Club has become significantly less attractive compared to just a few years ago. Nevertheless, one program continues to impress me consistently.

This is why Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program has risen to the top as my favorite SkyTeam loyalty program.

It collaborates with every type of credit card currency.

Flying Blue is the sole airline loyalty program that directly partners with all six of these transferable points currencies:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Bilt Rewards
• Capital One
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards
• Wells Fargo Rewards

Many of these programs feature cards with attractive welcome bonuses. Here’s a glimpse of some travel rewards credit cards that accumulate these transferable points, which can be converted to Flying Blue points at a 1:1 ratio:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership. Some readers may qualify for a targeted offer of up to 100,000 points via the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change). Terms apply.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after making $20,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new card in the first six months. Additionally, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus a $300 statement credit on Chase Travel℠ purchases in the first year.

It frequently provides transfer bonuses.

Alongside its partnerships with all major credit card currencies, Flying Blue has witnessed numerous card issuers presenting various transfer bonuses over the past year.

In the last year, American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards have both offered a 25% bonus, while Citi ThankYou Rewards provided a 25% bonus in July 2023.

Recently, Capital One has introduced a 20% transfer bonus.

If you hold any of the transferable currencies mentioned above, there’s a strong possibility of another transfer bonus to Flying Blue within the next year, making it easier to boost your Flying Blue mileage balance.

This allows you to travel in business class to Europe for just 50,000 miles.

Flying Blue utilizes dynamic pricing for awards on flights operated by Air France and KLM, which means costs can be high during peak travel periods—this is my main concern with the program.

The program has now established standardized saver-level pricing for all one-way flights between the U.S. and Europe as follows, irrespective of your origin or destination, allowing you to connect without additional costs:

• 20,000 miles in economy
• 35,000 miles in premium economy
• 50,000 miles in business class

This pricing represents some of the most affordable lowest-level fares offered by any airline program to Europe, significantly cheaper than the 300,000-plus SkyMiles that Delta requires for one-way business-class seats to Europe.

You might assume that saver-level pricing is only accessible during periods of low demand, meaning you can only find these deals in the dead of winter when traveling to Europe isn't as appealing. However, I've been consistently impressed with the wide availability of 50,000-mile seats to Europe in 2024, including for flights to Paris during the Olympic Games.

It features enjoyable monthly Promo Rewards.

Each month, Flying Blue introduces Promo Rewards, providing discounts of various amounts (typically 25%) on a selection of routes to and from Europe.

These heavily discounted award tickets can only be booked in the same month they are released, but travel is generally allowed within the subsequent six months. Previously, these tickets were more restrictive than regular Flying Blue awards, as they couldn't be changed or canceled. However, the program has recently updated this policy, allowing changes or cancellations for a fee of 70 euros (about $76), plus any fare difference.

Promo Rewards frequently include economy flights from numerous North American airports for just 15,000 miles each way, making it a fantastic deal to fly across the Atlantic. While less common, business-class flights to Europe may also be available for under 40,000 miles from time to time. I once took advantage of this amazing offer to fly on Air France from Miami International Airport (MIA) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) via Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

Promo Rewards is an excellent opportunity to discover a new European destination when one of these fantastic award rates becomes available.

Who can say no to a 15,000-mile flight to France?

Its partner redemption rates are quite reasonable.

As a member of SkyTeam, you can use Flying Blue miles to book flights with a variety of partner airlines at attractive starting rates.

Flying Blue also collaborates with the following airlines outside the SkyTeam alliance:

• AirBaltic
• Air Corsica
• Air Mauritius
• Aircalin
• Bangkok Airways
• Chalair Aviation
• China Southern Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Gol Airlines
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Oman Air
• Qantas
• Twin Jet
• WestJet
• Winair

If you can find availability, you can redeem as few as 17,500 Flying Blue miles for a one-way Delta flight from the continental U.S. to Hawaii. The Delta SkyMiles program would likely charge you significantly more for the same routes.

Flying Blue may require slightly more miles than Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points for Virgin-operated flights to and from the U.K., as Flying Blue lacks a peak and off-peak calendar. However, Flying Blue does not charge the hefty carrier-imposed surcharges that Virgin Atlantic Flying Club does, making it a far better option for booking Virgin flights, especially in premium cabins.

For instance, I'd gladly pay 64,000 Flying Blue miles instead of 47,500 Virgin points for the same Virgin Atlantic business-class flight from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to LHR, especially if it means saving nearly $800 in surcharges.

I’m planning a trip to Taiwan in 2025 to visit a friend, and I was searching for a comfortable way to fly back home. I was pleasantly surprised to find a 14-hour flight from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) on China Airlines' highly rated Airbus A350 business class for only 66,000 Flying Blue miles and $210.80 in taxes and fees.

It offers outstanding onboard products.

If you frequently redeem Flying Blue miles, it’s likely you’ll find yourself on an Air France or KLM flight. I’ve traveled with both airlines many times.

Air France's latest business-class offering, available on select Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, features bulkhead seats with additional space that resemble first-class comfort, ranking among the best business-class seats globally. This enhances the value of those 50,000-mile business-class redemptions.

I have experienced KLM's premium economy service and consider it one of the best in the world, rivaling Emirates, due to its exceptional food, meticulous attention to detail, and polished service.

In summary

Flying Blue has its flaws. During peak travel times, the mileage requirements for flights operated by Air France and KLM can be absurdly high. Regardless of how excellent the service may be, I won’t pay 200,000 miles for a one-way flight to Europe.

Despite the devaluation of other loyalty programs, Flying Blue has maintained its status as a valuable and effective loyalty option. When compared to other airline programs, Flying Blue miles are easily earned through credit card transfer partners, and the frequent transfer bonuses allow for collecting extra miles without any added cost.