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.
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).
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.
Upcoming changes to Flying Blue in 2018
#1336
#1337
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Stratosphere
Programs: AY Lumo, AF Platinum
Posts: 254
I'm not sure what the longest route offering AF F is, but CDG-SIN is 6,667 miles, meaning a return (300%) would earn 40,002 miles, meaning that two such trips would only just get you just over 10,000 miles over the old 70,000 level mile threshold for Platinum (or, with a French/Monagesque account, wouldn't be enough for Platinum).
That 2 La Première returns not only qualified you for Platinum, but apparently gave you in the order of 120,000 level miles based on what you wrote, it appears that you were not originating/terminating in Paris, but that each return involved 2 sectors per direction.
As such, it's hard to see that you won't earn enough XPs on these 2 trips to earn Platinum each year. The "shortest" La Première routes earn 40XP per sector; when a return includes 4 such sectors, your 2 trips per year would earn 320XP, 20 more than you need for Platinum. As such a ticket of necessity involves individual sectors of less than 3,500 miles, the "old" Level Mileage earning would have been a max of 8 total sectors of max 3,500 miles each, times 300%, equalling 84,000 Level Miles, or not much more than what you needed for Platinum under the old rules [this would not have been enough for Platinum with a French/Monagesque account].
To clarify - can you please specify what routes you are talking about?
That 2 La Première returns not only qualified you for Platinum, but apparently gave you in the order of 120,000 level miles based on what you wrote, it appears that you were not originating/terminating in Paris, but that each return involved 2 sectors per direction.
As such, it's hard to see that you won't earn enough XPs on these 2 trips to earn Platinum each year. The "shortest" La Première routes earn 40XP per sector; when a return includes 4 such sectors, your 2 trips per year would earn 320XP, 20 more than you need for Platinum. As such a ticket of necessity involves individual sectors of less than 3,500 miles, the "old" Level Mileage earning would have been a max of 8 total sectors of max 3,500 miles each, times 300%, equalling 84,000 Level Miles, or not much more than what you needed for Platinum under the old rules [this would not have been enough for Platinum with a French/Monagesque account].
To clarify - can you please specify what routes you are talking about?
#1338
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,065
According to the new "Flight type simulator" any US domestic flight will earn XP according to the domestic column of the XP chart. A US-Canada flight will earn in Medium (JFK-YUL) or Long 1 (JFK-YVR) columns of the XP chart. The logic behind it is solid in a way but in another way earning 2 XP for a 45 minute flight compared to earning 2 XP for a JFK-SFO or other transcontinental flight is not right.
#1340
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 785
This is pretty annoying, since I’ve had flights in Delta domestic first like LAX-HNL, which is 2500 miles and was “cheap” way to get those level miles. Right now they still have great earnings for miles though, but the XP sucks (although it is better for the 500 mile-ish shuttle flights).
#1341
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: KBL
Programs: FB Gold - M&S Gold
Posts: 279
I believe SV First is considered a proper First as well.
#1342
Join Date: May 2014
Location: AMS
Programs: FB Platinum | A3 Gold | BA Silver
Posts: 58
This is pretty annoying, since I’ve had flights in Delta domestic first like LAX-HNL, which is 2500 miles and was “cheap” way to get those level miles. Right now they still have great earnings for miles though, but the XP sucks (although it is better for the 500 mile-ish shuttle flights).
#1343
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,568
That is a major change.
There are Europeans/Dutch/French who do frequent business in China/Hong Kong/Taiwan. This leads to a major reduction in level miles/XP even if they do their EU-China trip on AFKL.
#1344
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: AMS
Programs: KL PFL; BA Gold; A3 Silver; EY Silver; SU Silver
Posts: 2,488
May I ask if they also changed the award ticket surchages ? Normally I paid 12.500 Miles + 33,XX Euro for a flight from Germany to Russia and Back to Germany 12.500 Miles + ~5€ so in total about 40€ + 25.000 Miles.
Now I pay the same amount of miles but 117€ to Russia and 87€ from Russia. That's so sad...for the 200€ I could buy a ticket ..no need for miles..
Now I pay the same amount of miles but 117€ to Russia and 87€ from Russia. That's so sad...for the 200€ I could buy a ticket ..no need for miles..
See the short thread here
#1345
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,568
FB confirmed to me its a web bug and they are working to resolve it. However, i guess now they have some other priorities. For sure this was triggered by SU YQ increase from 26 March, for some reason the web wants to charge the YQ that SU would charge on a paid ticket now.
See the short thread here
See the short thread here
#1346
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 223
For all those who were short of XP's after taking flights end of March but posted in April, you will eventually get them credited onto your account. I just got the final 5 XP's I was missing for taking an internal Russian flight with Aeroflot on the 31st credited. However, not sure if it was because I wrote them an email to request them be added or if they would have been added anyway.
#1347
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GOT
Programs: KL Plat
Posts: 484
For all those who were short of XP's after taking flights end of March but posted in April, you will eventually get them credited onto your account. I just got the final 5 XP's I was missing for taking an internal Russian flight with Aeroflot on the 31st credited. However, not sure if it was because I wrote them an email to request them be added or if they would have been added anyway.
Nothing changed on my account yet, I wrote to them on FB on Sunday, they said they were still fiddling with the new system so they asked me to wait a while for them to look into it...
#1348
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: Flying Blue Plat, Air Europa Silver, IHG Plat, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,011
I also called the Plat line and explained that a flight on March 30 credited only April 2nd with 2XP, whereas it should have been 7.
FB have retrocredited the 5 missing XP, so all is good.
FB have retrocredited the 5 missing XP, so all is good.
#1349
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Amsterdam, NL
Programs: KLM platinum
Posts: 4
Any FB AMEX spend with KLM in March 2018 did not result in additional XP, only award miles were awarded.
Last edited by Job1; Apr 5, 2018 at 7:18 am Reason: update about march 2018
#1350
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: DUS, BRU, POA
Programs: Skyteam E+ (FB PfL), Latam Black, LH MM, Iberia plus, HH: Diamond, Marriott Bonvoy: Plat
Posts: 1,124
I would have tried to ask them to grant and convert your eligible purchases until 31/3, as this was the official last day of the old scheme. It appears that FB does the same with flights taken end of March and posting only in April (with new = less XP earnings).
It's a similar issue and FB is liable rather than AMEX, so you should try at least to get your XP's for March.