FAQ 2 – Booking award tickets
#1
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
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Location: Rotterdam, NL
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FAQ 2 – Booking award tickets
After you have finally earned some miles after enjoying 25% earnings in economy there are a number of ways you can use your miles:
- booking award tickets;
- using miles for upgrades;
- using miles for non-airline awards such as hotel stays or car rentals.
Last edited by Gajan; Jun 8, 11 at 9:00 am

#2
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
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Join Date: Dec 2004
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Booking award tickets
For the number of miles needed for an award ticket please see here. Type in the departure and arrival city to find out how many miles are needed for a round-trip award.
Furthermore, Junior_2J&K has created an award chart. This can be found here.
Flying Blue has divided the destinations into various zones [a thank you to Mokshu for providing the information]:
Europe 1
Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg
Europe 2
Austria, Denmark, Spain, Balearic Islands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sweden
Europe 3 (+North Africa & Israël)
Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Canary Islands, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Libya, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, West Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine.
Africa
Angola, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Uganda, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Chad, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Indian Subcontinent
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Middle East (+Central Asia & Central Russia)
Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Central Russia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Qatar, Uzbekistan
North America (+ Netherlands Antilles)
Canada, Mexico, USA, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Suriname
Central America (+Caribbean, Hawaii & Bermuda)
Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Hawaii, Bahamas, Cuba, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, French Guyana , Guadeloupe, Caiman Islands, Turks & Caucus Islands, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Haiti, Porto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Saint Marteen, St Lucia
Indian Ocean
Mauritius, Reunion Island, Seychelles, Mayotte, Comoros, Madagascar
Latin America 1
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela,
Latin America 2
Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay
Asia 1 (+East Russia)
China, South Korea, Japan, East Russia (+Siberia), Mongolia
Asia 2
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
Pacific 1
New Caledonia, Tahiti
Pacific 2
Australia, Fiji, Guam, Marianas Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Palau Islands
PS. Mokshu has underlined countries that are included in a certain zone which is not really linked geographically.
Furthermore, Junior_2J&K has created an award chart. This can be found here.
Flying Blue has divided the destinations into various zones [a thank you to Mokshu for providing the information]:
Europe 1
Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg
Europe 2
Austria, Denmark, Spain, Balearic Islands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sweden
Europe 3 (+North Africa & Israël)
Albania, Algeria, Belarus, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Canary Islands, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Libya, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Moldova, Morocco, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, West Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine.
Africa
Angola, Benin, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Uganda, Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Chad, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Indian Subcontinent
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
Middle East (+Central Asia & Central Russia)
Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Central Russia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Qatar, Uzbekistan
North America (+ Netherlands Antilles)
Canada, Mexico, USA, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Suriname
Central America (+Caribbean, Hawaii & Bermuda)
Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Hawaii, Bahamas, Cuba, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, French Guyana , Guadeloupe, Caiman Islands, Turks & Caucus Islands, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Haiti, Porto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Saint Marteen, St Lucia
Indian Ocean
Mauritius, Reunion Island, Seychelles, Mayotte, Comoros, Madagascar
Latin America 1
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela,
Latin America 2
Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay
Asia 1 (+East Russia)
China, South Korea, Japan, East Russia (+Siberia), Mongolia
Asia 2
Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
Pacific 1
New Caledonia, Tahiti
Pacific 2
Australia, Fiji, Guam, Marianas Islands, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, New Zealand, Palau Islands
PS. Mokshu has underlined countries that are included in a certain zone which is not really linked geographically.
Last edited by Gajan; Dec 25, 11 at 11:22 am

#3
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
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Three different types of award tickets
The Flying Blue programme differentiates between three different types of award tickets:
Promo-awards offer a 50% discount in the number of award miles needed that usually required for a Classic Award ticket in the same cabin class to certain destinations. These are available for a limited period (~ 2 months) and exclusively online. Promo-awards cannot be modified or cancelled.
In some situations (when the website is playing up etc) it is also possible to book these awards over the phone. Remember to tell them that you want to book a promo-award but the website does not work in order to get the discount.
Classic awards can be booked to any destination. The basic rule is that classic awards can only be booked for round-trip tickets only. For certain airlines (Aircalin, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, Tarom, Delta Airlines, Martinair, Malaysia Airlines and VLM) it is possible to book a one-way award for half the price of a round-trip. Classic awards are changeable and cancellable for €45 per change.
For elite members of Flying Blue Air France and KLM have extra inventory. This means that when the award inventory that is available for all is full, extra seats are available for the elite members. Air France only offers this in business class, while KLM offers this for economy and business class.
Flex awards ca n be booked when there are no seats available in the classic award scheme. Flex awards can be modified and cancelled free of charge. This is the most flexible award in Flying Blue. The cost of a Flex award is 200% of a classic award.
Award tickets in Air France’s first class (La Premiere) are only available in Flex awards and are only available for Flying Blue elite members.
For flights within Europe, passengers travelling on an Air France or KLM award ticket have the option to pay the taxes and surcharges with award miles. The fee is 7.500 award miles per flight segment.
Flying Blue awards also have some other features:
- promo-awards;
- classic awards;
- flex awards.
Promo-awards offer a 50% discount in the number of award miles needed that usually required for a Classic Award ticket in the same cabin class to certain destinations. These are available for a limited period (~ 2 months) and exclusively online. Promo-awards cannot be modified or cancelled.
In some situations (when the website is playing up etc) it is also possible to book these awards over the phone. Remember to tell them that you want to book a promo-award but the website does not work in order to get the discount.
Classic awards can be booked to any destination. The basic rule is that classic awards can only be booked for round-trip tickets only. For certain airlines (Aircalin, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, Tarom, Delta Airlines, Martinair, Malaysia Airlines and VLM) it is possible to book a one-way award for half the price of a round-trip. Classic awards are changeable and cancellable for €45 per change.
For elite members of Flying Blue Air France and KLM have extra inventory. This means that when the award inventory that is available for all is full, extra seats are available for the elite members. Air France only offers this in business class, while KLM offers this for economy and business class.
Flex awards ca n be booked when there are no seats available in the classic award scheme. Flex awards can be modified and cancelled free of charge. This is the most flexible award in Flying Blue. The cost of a Flex award is 200% of a classic award.
Award tickets in Air France’s first class (La Premiere) are only available in Flex awards and are only available for Flying Blue elite members.
For flights within Europe, passengers travelling on an Air France or KLM award ticket have the option to pay the taxes and surcharges with award miles. The fee is 7.500 award miles per flight segment.
Flying Blue awards also have some other features:
- One-way awards on Aircalin (between Noumea and Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul), Air Europa, Kenya Airways, Tarom, Delta Airlines, Martinair, Malaysia Airlines and VLM;
- A single award ticket can include up to six international segments;
- It is possible to make one 24-hour stopover during a round-trip award as long as the country of stopover is not the same as the country of departure of the outward flight;
- Open jaw flight: it is possible to arrive in one city and depart from another;
- Round-the-world award: the ticket must include one transatlantic and one transpacific flight and all segments must be flown in the same direction (i.e. no back-tracking).

#4
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
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Using miles for upgrade
There are two ways to upgrade using miles:
It is possible to use an upgrade award when you have bought a (near) full-fare ticket. The number of miles to upgrade to a higher fare class per one-way is given below [a thank you to albireo for providing the information].
Europe 1, 2, 3 to North America:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 32.500 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 16.500 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 16.500 miles.
Europe 1, 2, 3 to Central America & Caribbean:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 39.000 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 19.000 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 19.000 miles.
Europe 1, 2, 3 to Africa & Latin America 1:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 45.500 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 22.500 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 22.500 miles.
Europe 1, 2, 3 to Asia 1, 2 & Latin America 2:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 52.000 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 26.000 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 26.000 miles.
[M, U] fare classes are only upgradeable if the ticket has been bought outside of France.
It is also possible to use your miles for upgrading a full-fare economy class ticket on a Skyteam partner flight. The number of miles needed for a Skyteam upgrade are equivalent to the number of miles needed for an upgrade award.
It is possible to apply for a Skyteam upgrade award for all Skyteam airline flights except Alitalia and the Skyteam associate airlines (Air Europa, Kenya Airways and Tarom). It has to be an international full-fare economy class ticket (the flight has to be marketed and operated by the Skyteam airline). These awards can only be processed through the Flying Blue Service Centre at least three days before departure. For more information on Skyteam upgrades, see here.
- Upgrade awards;
- Skyteam upgrade.
It is possible to use an upgrade award when you have bought a (near) full-fare ticket. The number of miles to upgrade to a higher fare class per one-way is given below [a thank you to albireo for providing the information].
Europe 1, 2, 3 to North America:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 32.500 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 16.500 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 16.500 miles.
Europe 1, 2, 3 to Central America & Caribbean:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 39.000 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 19.000 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 19.000 miles.
Europe 1, 2, 3 to Africa & Latin America 1:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 45.500 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 22.500 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 22.500 miles.
Europe 1, 2, 3 to Asia 1, 2 & Latin America 2:
Economy to business: Y,B [M,U] -> O 52.000 miles;
Premium economy to business: S,W -> O 26.000 miles;
Economy to premium economy: Y, B, [M, U] -> A 26.000 miles.
[M, U] fare classes are only upgradeable if the ticket has been bought outside of France.
It is also possible to use your miles for upgrading a full-fare economy class ticket on a Skyteam partner flight. The number of miles needed for a Skyteam upgrade are equivalent to the number of miles needed for an upgrade award.
It is possible to apply for a Skyteam upgrade award for all Skyteam airline flights except Alitalia and the Skyteam associate airlines (Air Europa, Kenya Airways and Tarom). It has to be an international full-fare economy class ticket (the flight has to be marketed and operated by the Skyteam airline). These awards can only be processed through the Flying Blue Service Centre at least three days before departure. For more information on Skyteam upgrades, see here.

#5
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
Programs: Flying Blue (AF/KL)
Posts: 4,683
Using miles for non-airline awards such as hotel stays or car rentals
To be completed soon

#6
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM)
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Rotterdam, NL
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Posts: 4,683
New award booking classes per 1 June 2011
The new award booking classes from 1 June 2011 are [thank you to Mokshu]:
Air France
Long haul & COI
Premičre Flex: F
Affaires Flex: C
Affaires Classic: O (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Premium Voyageur Flex: S
Premium Voyageur Classic: A
Voyageur Flex: B
Voyageur Elite: L
Voyageur Classic: X
Medium, short haul & Intra COI
Affaires Flex: C
Affaires Classic: O
Alizé Flex: S (Intra COI)
Alizé Flex: A (Intra COI)
Premium Eco Flex: W / Y (Intra COI + COI-USA)
Voyageur Classic: X
KLM
Intercontinental
Business Flex: C
Business Classic: O (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Economy Flex: B
Economy Classic: W (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Europe
Business Flex: C
Business Classic: O (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Economy Flex: B
Economy Classic: W (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Air France
Long haul & COI
Premičre Flex: F
Affaires Flex: C
Affaires Classic: O (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Premium Voyageur Flex: S
Premium Voyageur Classic: A
Voyageur Flex: B
Voyageur Elite: L
Voyageur Classic: X
Medium, short haul & Intra COI
Affaires Flex: C
Affaires Classic: O
Alizé Flex: S (Intra COI)
Alizé Flex: A (Intra COI)
Premium Eco Flex: W / Y (Intra COI + COI-USA)
Voyageur Classic: X
KLM
Intercontinental
Business Flex: C
Business Classic: O (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Economy Flex: B
Economy Classic: W (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Europe
Business Flex: C
Business Classic: O (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
Economy Flex: B
Economy Classic: W (+ extra availability for Elite customers)
