Flying Blue (Air France, KLM, and Other Partners) - Why is it so hard to use FB miles

I have tried to use my FB miles for various routes to USA and Dubai but find it almost impossible to get business class for 100,000 mile. usually it is coming up as 100,000 miles for economy. I've tried to business on the 50% specials and that seems almost impossible. Is this because I am only Flying Blue or is this a general problem redeeming miles. I am not looking to go in peak periods.

I have tried to use my FB miles for various routes to USA and Dubai but find it almost impossible to get business class for 100,000 mile. usually it is coming up as 100,000 miles for economy. I've tried to business on the 50% specials and that seems almost impossible. Is this because I am only Flying Blue or is this a general problem redeeming miles. I am not looking to go in peak periods.


First of all it is more difficult in this vacation time of the year to find awards than other times. In addition to that, the general consensus in the forum seems to be that it is getting harder and harder to find business class awards at the normal miles scheme.

They are there, but you have to book (extremely) early. I booked my classic award LAX-AMS for this friday in Y+ returning in J from IAH in 3 weeks for 300K miles for 4 people 8 months ago.

The FB promo deal are hard to get. When the posted the deal I could not find a single seat within a two month period. Regular business seats are not that hard depending on where you are flying from. The Air France engine is pretty good and show you availability for the whole month

It also depends if you are elite member (as they can access extra inventory).

Gajan

Don't forget the taxes! I checked EDI-BEY and it came back at over €600! Couple of hundred more and I can have a paid seat with other airlines. That's sheer madness, I've never paid that much for such short flights on a Star redemption.

The reason why business award seats are so hard to find is simple: Air France/KLM do not want you to redeem unless they have seats which would go unsold otherwise. And if they do allow you to redeem they are trying to charge you as many miles and scamcharges as they can possibly get away with. On the routes that I use most (Europe-Canada and Europe-East Asia) the "flexible award" (i.e. twice-as-expensive award) has now become the rule but used to be the exception when it was introduced.

The FB promo deal are hard to get. When the posted the deal I could not find a single seat within a two month period. Regular business seats are not that hard depending on where you are flying from. The Air France engine is pretty good and show you availability for the whole month

I have had the same findings, except that seats are shown as available at a certain number of miles (promo deals), and then suddenly when arriving at the booking page, they are all of a sudden not available anymore :confused:

I then try again a little later and exactly the same happens. Promo seats show as available and at booking they are gone (yes, I have clear my cache, cleared cookies etc)...

I'm just unclear what's the 'standard of reference' of the OP. If miles are harder to use on specific routes on specific days in long haul business class as compared to what we'd like, then I agree, but at the same time, my anecdotal (but probably less anecdotal than many) experience of redeeming miles in long haul business class suggests that it is not harder on AF than it is on BA, LH and other similar airlines.

The reason why business award seats are so hard to find is simple: Air France/KLM do not want you to redeem unless they have seats which would go unsold otherwise. And if they do allow you to redeem they are trying to charge you as many miles and scamcharges as they can possibly get away with. On the routes that I use most (Europe-Canada and Europe-East Asia) the "flexible award" (i.e. twice-as-expensive award) has now become the rule but used to be the exception when it was introduced.

Something seems to have changed somewhat recently in this regard. It used to be that AF would release O inventory very early, then black-out O a few months /weeks ahead, and re-open O depending on # of unsold seats closer to departure (within 2 weeks). In the past, I've had no difficulties redeeming or upgrading in O, not being a FB elite.
Now, checking ExpertFlyer and airfrance.us, I can't seem to find any O on any TATL route for the next few weeks/months. Checking this week's JFK-CDG for instance, no O despite wide availability in all fare buckets (therefore, not likely a protection for accommodation of oversold Y or PV). :(

Something seems to have changed somewhat recently in this regard. It used to be that AF would release O inventory very early, then black-out O a few months /weeks ahead, and re-open O depending on # of unsold seats closer to departure (within 2 weeks). In the past, I've had no difficulties redeeming or upgrading in O, not being a FB elite.
Now, checking ExpertFlyer and airfrance.us, I can't seem to find any O on any TATL route for the next few weeks/months. Checking this week's JFK-CDG for instance, no O despite wide availability in all fare buckets (therefore, not likely a protection for accommodation of oversold Y or PV). :(

I agree, been looking for flights for Paris from SFO or LAX and basically no flights(AF, a few KLM do show up) for any day in august and September on EF. If I change the code to Elite, then a lot more flights become available

I agree, been looking for flights for Paris from SFO or LAX and basically no flights(AF, a few KLM do show up) for any day in august and September on EF. If I change the code to Elite, then a lot more flights become available

Is this been something observed in the past by others? My recollection was that, on the contrary, O was even more easily available on summer when business travel is down. I'm very surprised (and disappointed) by the sudden lack of ANY availability for any regular upgrade/award in Affaires on any TATL for next next weeks/months... :confused:

Today, no problem for checking awards to Asia, included in business...at
normal prices. But I don't wait for promos next months. It looks like Air France believes more in Far East:)

Still absolutely no O available on any TATL flight for the next few weeks/months... Only C. What is going on?

Don't forget the taxes! I checked EDI-BEY and it came back at over €600! Couple of hundred more and I can have a paid seat with other airlines. That's sheer madness, I've never paid that much for such short flights on a Star redemption.

totall agree with you . it is unacceptable to pay 500 Eur taxes for a FB ticket from europe to caribbean during a low season period. i am considering to leave FB for some other program ( british airways )

@ghard: With BA you pay about 59000 avios plus eur 455 in taxes and fees. Not a big difference methinks. In general, long-haul Economy flights are bad value for miles with European FFPs.

Still absolutely no O available on any TATL flight for the next few weeks/months... Only C. What is going on?

I just looked, and I'm seeing Promo Award availability on AMS-JFK on almost every date in September. (No promo availability on AMS-JFK on Sep 5, 27, 28, but available at the classic rate. Promo availability is there on every day in September on JFK-AMS).

I just looked, and I'm seeing Promo Award availability on AMS-JFK on almost every date in September. (No promo availability on AMS-JFK on Sep 5, 27, 28, but available at the classic rate. Promo availability is there on every day in September on JFK-AMS).

Talking about AF no KLM flight.
Looking at any TATL (IAD, JFK, DTW, SFO, LAX...) to CDG since the last months and for the next few months: plenty of C (flex elite award) no 1 O available...