Old Nov 6, 2017, 3:33 am
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Last edit by: irishguy28
Introduction

As you have been following the past thread, the Flying Blue programme will change as of 1 April 2018. In order to split the discussion from the earlier thread, we have created a new thread.

On 6 November Flying Blue has organised a press conference to inform the public about the changes to the programme. In addition, a mailing will be sent out to all members on the 6th and 7th of November and more information can be found on the designated website (link: https://explorefurther.flyingblue.com).

As an introduction, please find a summary of the changes below.

Please note that at the current time there is no difference expected to the benefits of the current tier.

Change 1: no more level miles, no more segments, but Experience Points

As of 1 April 2018 you will no longer earn level miles and segments per flight, but you will earn Experience Points (XP). The number of XP earned per flight depends on your cabin (multiplier times 2 for Premium Economy, 3 for business, 5 for La Premiere) and the type of flight (distinction between domestic, medium haul, long-haul 1/2/3).

For flights between 1 January 31 March 2018 all earned level miles and segments will be converted into XP (1 segment = 7 XP; 1,000 level miles = 5 XP for members outside France). Please note that the highest conversion applies (it is not cumulative).

The number of XP required per tiers is:
- 100 for Silver;
- 180 for Gold;
- 300 for Platinum;
- 1,800 for Platinum Ultimate (in 2 years).

Please note that for current flyers who qualify on segments based on only intra-EU flights this could see an increase in the number of flights required. However, if you fly a mix if intra-EU and intercontinental (but qualify on segments), this will most likely see a reduction in the number of flights required to qualify.
For elite members, there is a roll-over of all XP above your tier threshold.

The rules for soft-landing have been extended. It is now no longer required to make at least 1 qualifying flight and in case you do not meet your threshold you will only drop one tier.

Change 2: number of miles earned dependent on fare paid (including fuel surcharge)

The number of award miles (for AF/KL/A5) earned is now depending on the fare paid (including fuel surcharge). Ivory members earn 4 miles per Euro, Silver 6, Gold 7 and Platinum 8.

Also earn award miles on AF/KL purchases (relating to seats, baggage and meals) according to the above schedule.

Earnings on partners remains as-is (based on fare class and distance flown).

Change 3: dynamic pricing of award tickets (on AF/KL/HV)

Another change will be that award tickets will have dynamic pricing, e.g. an award AMS-JFK could be more expensive than an award DUS-AMS-JFK. This is also in line with change 2, as flights from AMS are also more expensive than flights from DUS (you also earn more miles).

This also implies that we will see a difference in the number of miles required per flight. For example, an award from continental Europe to continental USA will currently set you back 25,000 miles for a one-way in economy. It does not matter if you fly to LAX or NYC, the number of miles is currently fixed. Under the new proposition, this will change. The cheaper flight (in this example: NYC) will see a slight reduction in the number of miles required, whilst LAX will see a slight increase in the number of miles required.

Furthermore, there will be a standard base level for the number of miles required per destination. As the standard revenue price increases, so does the number of award miles.

Change 4: status valid for 12 months (+ 3 months), personal membership year

FB will be moving away from membership year = calendar year (in case of upgrade of tier). Instead, FB will have an individual membership year. This means that after obtaining the higher tier, you will have 12 months to requalify. Benefit of this is that members are not bound by the calendar year (e.g. members who earn 20,000 level miles in a December of a given year and 20,000 level miles in January of the next year, do not have any benefit of their flights in case limited flights before/after).

I know some will feel that this is a significant downgrade compared to the current at maximum 27 months. Please note that based on FB information the majority of members (re)qualify in the last quarter of the year.

In addition, please note that for an Ivory member would like to go obtain Platinum in one year, as it will become more difficult, as (s)he will have to earn each threshold (so not 300 XP in the first year, but (100 + 180 + 300 = 580 XP). This is only applicable in the first year.

Change 5: changes to the co-branded American Express credit cards (FR/NL)

Currently you earn segments and level miles (on AF/KL purchases for Gold and Platinum card holders). This will change that you will receive additional XP when reaching your membership anniversary each year.
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Upcoming changes to Flying Blue in 2018

Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:31 am
  #196  
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Originally Posted by tigertanaka
Is that in writing somewhere? Would love to see - thanks.
Go to the website and click on "Book it your way"
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:32 am
  #197  
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Originally Posted by Andy82
I'm not sure if everyone noticed that or if that was obvious, but XPs seem to be *addictive* by segments - and not calculated by whole flight.
The word you mean is "additive".

And of course they are - this is how FB has always worked. Your earning is dictated by the individual sectors flown - not merely by the start and end points.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:34 am
  #198  
 
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Originally Posted by sch7458
Wait... they have domestic premium economy and first class?
It's not just France domestic, it's any domestic, at least for the time being. I suppose there might be some domestic tag-ons in ST system with true First and PE.

Plus i guess in theory they could count connections from longhaul on the longhaul cabin maybe?
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:35 am
  #199  
 
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Originally Posted by irishguy28
Go to the website and click on "Book it your way"
I was referring to the devaluation.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:36 am
  #200  
 
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Originally Posted by irishguy28
And of course they are - this is how FB has always worked
Yes, but if they are basically upending the entire program, how something has "always worked" is of little relevance.

Luckily, they have kept that aspect of the program.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:36 am
  #201  
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Originally Posted by mfkne
Especially if the earning of level miles for AF/KL spend disappears without being replaced by XP earning.
Another problem regarding the FB Amex....

In the current scheme, you get your (segments? and/or level miles but only on AFKL spend?) in each calendar year, so each qualification "attempt" will benefit from them.

However, with the "new" system, you may no longer need/require a full year as you go up levels - but the "extras" from the FB Amex only come once a year on the card anniversary.

So, you won't get that extra helping hand if you are trying to "race" up levels quickly [unless, perhaps, you sign up for the Silver card first, then go up a level, then sign up for Gold, etc etc - though the "bonus" is probably added at the end of the year rather than at the start....]

They really don't want to help people gain status in this new programme.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:37 am
  #202  
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Originally Posted by tigertanaka
I was referring to the devaluation.
You must be new around here.

Any "enchantment" is going to be a devaluation
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:38 am
  #203  
 
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Originally Posted by irishguy28
The relevant page on the FB website says only the following.

(Despite FB's reputation for incomplete and sometimes misleading information, I think they would specifically have drawn attention to the "earning rate" of XPs/Euro spend if this was indeed going to be retained as a feature. I suspect that all you get is what is listed below)
Do they also incentives for AF-KL spending on AMEX? So like this one, but e.g. 1 XP per 10 Euro spent on AF/KL ticket bought directly on AF/KL website with Dutch/French AMEX?

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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:38 am
  #204  
 
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Originally Posted by CyBeR
It's basically segment-based earning, but accounting for revenue as well.
It doesn't account for revenue at all, it's just distance and service cabin.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:40 am
  #205  
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Originally Posted by CyBeR
Yes, but if they are basically upending the entire program, how something has "always worked" is of little relevance.
They're not "upending" the programme.

They are just scrapping Level Miles, replacing them with XPs, and making status climbing harder.

The rest () is largely unchanged. Sure, mileage earning on AFKL issued tickets goes revenue based, but the earning rates seem pretty much in line with what would have been expected for the cheapest fares on the routes I've looked at which are typical for me. Perhaps for more expensive fares, the earning is enhanced. (But I find FB Award Miles pretty worthless, so the earning rate for these is really of no impact or consequence to me. What FB was good for - until I decided it actually wasn't - was the segment-based status earning, and that has made harder.)

Earning on partners is unchanged.
The way flights are considered for earning - i.e. each individual sector is assessed - is unchanged.
No "minimum spend" requirement - i.e. unchanged.
etc etc etc
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:40 am
  #206  
 
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Originally Posted by Fabo.sk
It doesn't account for revenue at all, it's just distance and service cabin.
Technically, yes, but there is a correlation between those things and revenue. It does ignore the revenue aspect of higher fare classes in the same cabin.

Originally Posted by irishguy28
They're not "upending" the programme.
That's not what their marketing would have you believe. You are right though -- they're changing a few core aspects with status earning being the most visible.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:41 am
  #207  
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Originally Posted by sch7458
Do they also incentives for AF-KL spending on AMEX? So like this one, but e.g. 1 XP per 10 Euro spent on AF/KL ticket bought directly on AF/KL website with Dutch/French AMEX?
There is no mention of any spend-related earning on the Flying Blue website.

Hopefully one of the forum members that attended the launch asked - but they have been incredibly silent today.

(note also the wiki above by the forum moderator makes no reference to spend-based earning on the FB Amex - though I am not sure (s)he has access to any information other than what us mere mortals have)
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:41 am
  #208  
 
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Originally Posted by Masterfrog
Pleasantly surprised by the changes actually.

I was expecting worse. No minimum spending for an elite status as I feared. It makes things simpler. You can mix long hauls and short hauls without worrying about which is the best strategy to get the status.
I believe so. It's much easier. Sometimes I flew many segments on short-hauls but sometimes only 3 or 4 segments on long-hauls - it's quite crank for requalification as it can only be either award miles OR segments.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:42 am
  #209  
 
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Originally Posted by sch7458
Do they also incentives for AF-KL spending on AMEX? So like this one, but e.g. 1 XP per 10 Euro spent on AF/KL ticket bought directly on AF/KL website with Dutch/French AMEX?

As Irishguy28 was already guessing, this perk is definitely gone. Bad news for those AMEX FB card holders, who qualified on miles.
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Old Nov 6, 2017, 8:43 am
  #210  
 
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Originally Posted by irishguy28
Another problem regarding the FB Amex....

In the current scheme, you get your (segments? and/or level miles but only on AFKL spend?) in each calendar year, so each qualification "attempt" will benefit from them.

However, with the "new" system, you may no longer need/require a full year as you go up levels - but the "extras" from the FB Amex only come once a year on the card anniversary.

So, you won't get that extra helping hand if you are trying to "race" up levels quickly [unless, perhaps, you sign up for the Silver card first, then go up a level, then sign up for Gold, etc etc - though the "bonus" is probably added at the end of the year rather than at the start....]

They really don't want to help people gain status in this new programme.
I guess the bonus only comes after a year of Amex usage? So no point in signing for them bit by bit.

And they indeed try to make it harder to get a good staus fast, though it's then not that bad to maintain it.

Originally Posted by sch7458
Do they also incentives for AF-KL spending on AMEX? So like this one, but e.g. 1 XP per 10 Euro spent on AF/KL ticket bought directly on AF/KL website with Dutch/French AMEX?
That's the problem, it's never been mentioned one way or the other.
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