Thanks Haggis79. I may have to do so in the end!!!

I thought I could approach the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA), which has a mechanism of informal and formal arbitration over disputes between passengers and Airlines. (I reside in Toronto and the journeys in question originated in Toronto.) I took my case to them.

I have got a reply from CTA saying that they do not have jurisdiction in my case as Flying Blue is not owned or operated by Air France. Is it true and, if so, for what reason?

I have looked at the General Terms and Conditions of Flying Blue available at www.airfrance.us (please follow Legal Notices > Flying Blue) and also at http://www.klm.com/travel/nl_en/flyi...ions/index.htm
The following appear in Definitions:

<‘Company’ is defined as Air France and KLM, who are operating the Programme.

‘Membership Card’ and ‘Card’ are defined as the Programme’s membership card, issued and distributed by the Company after acceptance by the Company of the application for the Programme.

‘Programme’ is defined as the Flying Blue loyalty programme offered by the Company as introduced in 2005, and developed to reward Members who frequently travel with Air France, KLM, SkyTeam or their Airline Partners and reward Members who use Qualifying Services provided by Non-Airline Partners.>

From this it would seem that Air France accepts that it operates the Programme. In any event, that is the impression they always give to the consumers. Flying Blue letters always come on the Air France stationary.

What is truth?