Using Award Miles to meet Elite status threshold
Jan 4, 2011, 7:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York City
Programs: DL Diamond
Posts: 124
Using Award Miles to meet Elite status threshold
Unless I'm missing something, my FlyingBlue account lists me as having zero Level Miles, but 30,000+ Award Miles. I'll probably be at least doubling that number when I transfer in some Starwoods points from my AMEX. Now is it possible to "use" Awards Miles to upgrade to Silver from Ivory?
If not, is it possible I am just reading my statement wrong? I usually book my flights on Air France the cheapest way possible, but I figure I'd have SOME level miles.
Thanks!
If not, is it possible I am just reading my statement wrong? I usually book my flights on Air France the cheapest way possible, but I figure I'd have SOME level miles.
Thanks!
Jan 4, 2011, 8:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: A number, but no status no more
Posts: 3,049
Hi Harry,
Since this is the beginning of the year, your level mile counter will just have reset. Level miles are earned during the calendar year.
No, you cannot use your award miles to get elite status.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
Unless I'm missing something, my FlyingBlue account lists me as having zero Level Miles, but 30,000+ Award Miles. I'll probably be at least doubling that number when I transfer in some Starwoods points from my AMEX. Now is it possible to "use" Awards Miles to upgrade to Silver from Ivory?
If not, is it possible I am just reading my statement wrong? I usually book my flights on Air France the cheapest way possible, but I figure I'd have SOME level miles.
Thanks!
If not, is it possible I am just reading my statement wrong? I usually book my flights on Air France the cheapest way possible, but I figure I'd have SOME level miles.
Thanks!
No, you cannot use your award miles to get elite status.
Cheers,
GenevaFlyer
Jan 4, 2011, 11:41 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Paris, France
Programs: AF/KL Flying Blue Platinum for life/Club2000 Ultimate, Accor ALL Diamond
Posts: 21,890
An award trip (booked with award miles) gives you 0 award miles, 0 status miles and 0 status flights. So, no way.
Jan 5, 2011, 12:40 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,527
The ability to "buy" your status within FB is limited to those members located in France who use their purchases on their FB AMEX card to buy their status.
It is currently not possible to buy status even more directly such as thousands of Americans do on Delta or to sacrifice/convert your award miles balance to retain status during the next year.
Personally, I can understand why someone whose traveling is decreasing temporarily or who is no longer able to make elite because of FB's absurd earning rules would want to stretch their elite status in this way.
It is currently not possible to buy status even more directly such as thousands of Americans do on Delta or to sacrifice/convert your award miles balance to retain status during the next year.
Personally, I can understand why someone whose traveling is decreasing temporarily or who is no longer able to make elite because of FB's absurd earning rules would want to stretch their elite status in this way.
Jan 6, 2011, 12:18 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: FR
Programs: LH Sen, HH Gold
Posts: 182
If you plan your (business) trips ahead and have some time to spare, it costs around max 3000 Eur per year to get Plat ( 15x 4-segments a 200 Eur). You can see it as an investment to become Plat for Life for a total of 30K Eur.
In the end it is a little bit more as one weekend every 4 weeks for 10 years in a row
.
In the end it is a little bit more as one weekend every 4 weeks for 10 years in a row
.
Jan 7, 2011, 12:05 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,527
If you plan your (business) trips ahead and have some time to spare, it costs around max 3000 Eur per year to get Plat ( 15x 4-segments a 200 Eur). You can see it as an investment to become Plat for Life for a total of 30K Eur.
In the end it is a little bit more as one weekend every 4 weeks for 10 years in a row .
In the end it is a little bit more as one weekend every 4 weeks for 10 years in a row
.Why not put the 30K as a downpayment on a nice summer house in France?
Jan 7, 2011, 1:37 am
#7
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
If you plan your (business) trips ahead and have some time to spare, it costs around max 3000 Eur per year to get Plat ( 15x 4-segments a 200 Eur). You can see it as an investment to become Plat for Life for a total of 30K Eur.
In the end it is a little bit more as one weekend every 4 weeks for 10 years in a row .
In the end it is a little bit more as one weekend every 4 weeks for 10 years in a row
.Hmmm. Let's see 30K euros investment on something that has what value exactly? In a program that each year becomes less and less and that AFKL can terminate at any time without notice?
Why not put the 30K as a downpayment on a nice summer house in France?
Why not put the 30K as a downpayment on a nice summer house in France?
)
Jan 7, 2011, 4:29 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: FR
Programs: LH Sen, HH Gold
Posts: 182
Hmmm. Let's see 30K euros investment on something that has what value exactly? In a program that each year becomes less and less and that AFKL can terminate at any time without notice?
Why not put the 30K as a downpayment on a nice summer house in France?
Why not put the 30K as a downpayment on a nice summer house in France?
Jan 7, 2011, 4:53 am
#9
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,331
The ability to "buy" your status within FB is limited to those members located in France who use their purchases on their FB AMEX card to buy their status.
It is currently not possible to buy status even more directly such as thousands of Americans do on Delta or to sacrifice/convert your award miles balance to retain status during the next year.
It is currently not possible to buy status even more directly such as thousands of Americans do on Delta or to sacrifice/convert your award miles balance to retain status during the next year.
Jan 7, 2011, 4:55 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ PPS, FB Plat, LH SEN *G, Emirates Gold, SPG Plat, Accor Plat, Hhonors Gold and some others
Posts: 155
Jan 7, 2011, 5:22 am
#11
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
Jan 7, 2011, 7:17 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ PPS, FB Plat, LH SEN *G, Emirates Gold, SPG Plat, Accor Plat, Hhonors Gold and some others
Posts: 155
ok i know that one but that's for family etc right? because it's all on the same AMEX account?
Jan 7, 2011, 8:03 am
#13
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,711
Amex does not really care who gets the card, as long as the main cardholder pays the bill (he/she is responsible for all payments done with the main card & sub cards).
Jan 7, 2011, 9:13 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Singapore
Programs: SQ PPS, FB Plat, LH SEN *G, Emirates Gold, SPG Plat, Accor Plat, Hhonors Gold and some others
Posts: 155
so i'm not giving it away to my neighbor or something! hehe
Jan 7, 2011, 9:14 am
#15
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,331
Basically what I have done in the past is order the extra cards on their name, but let them be shipped to my own address. Their Flying Blue profile at klm.com or airfrance.com will be upgraded to the new status, and I keep the extra cards home to make sure they don't 'accidentally' use it to purchase stuff.
In fact they wont even find out the card #. Plus the cards will, of course, not be activated (= not usable for payments). The upgrade at Flying Blue is enough for them to use the lounges and so on.
In fact they wont even find out the card #. Plus the cards will, of course, not be activated (= not usable for payments). The upgrade at Flying Blue is enough for them to use the lounges and so on.
Last edited by Xandrios; Jan 7, 2011 at 9:19 am
