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
#406
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SJC / SFO
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum; Marriott Bonvoy Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 784
Perhaps they haven't updated it yet for that, since the inaugural A350 flight was only a week ago. Kinda wonder what the Delta Premium Select mileage earnings are then (before 1st April 2018), that 175% for A & 200% for P isn't bad
Last edited by Sjondorn; Nov 6, 2017 at 11:42 pm
#407
#408
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta Silver, HH Gold, Accor Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,340
#409
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,041
How will qualifying flight be defined?
I have a booking for next year below, before April 1,
will this be converted to 7 XP ?
What would happen if the booking is after April 1, would it still be qualifying?
You will earn:
150 Award Miles
150 Level Miles
0 XP
I have a booking for next year below, before April 1,
will this be converted to 7 XP ?
What would happen if the booking is after April 1, would it still be qualifying?
You will earn:
150 Award Miles
150 Level Miles
0 XP
#410
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 177
I have to say that one of the most frustrating things about this is just getting the Flying Blue website to actually work!!!
Trying to work out some cost effective route etc that will keep me on Gold and the calculator times out most of the time.
Trying to work out some cost effective route etc that will keep me on Gold and the calculator times out most of the time.
#411
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 281
#412
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Paris, France
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 166
FB Amex and XPs
Currently Platinum card holders get 8 qualifying flights which would convert to 56XPs
What happens to AF ticket purchases which gave qualifying miles, will we get miles + XPs?
#413
Join Date: Mar 2016
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 177
As a Gold AmEx holder I'd be interested to know too as it was one of the "perks" in getting more miles.
#414
Join Date: May 2011
Location: OSL / PAR / BIA
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 307
Indeed, i wonder how much a Corsican Resident fare will earn as they earn equivalent miles to Abonné fares, though they are usually booked into the A bucket (Though i have been rebooked into W, S and J buckets when changing tickets!). I wouldn't be surprised to see the 2XP per leg be applied though so i might pick up a Abonné card next year.
#415
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Programs: FB LTPE, BAEC GGL, EK Blue, SK Gold, Marriott Amb+LTT, IHG Diamond Amb, Accorhotels Silver
Posts: 1,953
Example:
- On the old scheme, a CDG-LYS return trip booked at a final price of €101,59 (€41 before taxes) before april 1st will make you earn 250 award miles if you are Ivory, 250 level miles and 2 segments (0 segments if you live in France and are not an Abonné)
- On the new scheme, the same trip will make you earn 164 miles (41 € * 4 as an Ivory member) and 4 XP (8 XP if you are an Abonné)
#416
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,697
Bear in mind, though, that while earning on partners has not been fully explained, to look at the single XP table published, and to therefore assume that every flight on every Skyteam partner will earn XPs is probably incorrect. Given that the "old" tables governing (Award) Miles earning on partners are still in effect, it would be very unusual if they gave you XPs on a Skyteam Partner flight that earns no Miles.
If you look on the FB minisite, and it was posted here in the early minutes of the announcement of the changes, your Level Miles and Level Segments will be converted to XPs on April 1st next. The conversion rate is published. They do not go back and "add" whatever the "correct" XP for each individual flight already taken in 2018 would have earned - instead, they use a fixed, and already-published, conversion rate from Level Miles to XP and from Level Segments to XP.
Whichever conversion gives you a higher XP number - whether it is your Level Miles or your Level Segments that give you the most XPs - that is the value that your account will be "started" for XPs with on April 2018. They don't add both - the Level Miles/Level Segments were two individual and separate means of qualification. There was no case in the old system where you could "add" both measures. So, the conversion to XPs will be done on both, and they give you whichever one of the old items gives you the higher number of XPs.
Last edited by irishguy28; Nov 7, 2017 at 2:29 am
#417
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,697
You get 15, 30, or 60 XPs added to your FB account on each anniversary date of your Amex credit card. There is no mention of earning additional XPs when you spend money with AFKL, so the aspect of Level Mileage earning for spend on AFKL appears to have been discontinued. Earning of Miles (formerly, "Award Miles") on the basis of everyday spend continues; but whether the earning rates change, nobody yet knows.
Sit tight and wait for FB and/or Amex to send you details on the changes. Ringing either to enquire now is a waste of time - they don't know the details.
#418
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: AMS
Programs: Hilton Diamond, FB Plat
Posts: 312
#419
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Paris
Programs: FB Platinum, All Accor Platinum
Posts: 530
that 's disappointing i have to say
#420
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: NCE
Programs: FB Ultimate - BA EC - LH M&M - Accor All Gold
Posts: 267
The only information is that which has been published on the new FB minisite.
You get 15, 30, or 60 XPs added to your FB account on each anniversary date of your Amex credit card. There is no mention of earning additional XPs when you spend money with AFKL, so the aspect of Level Mileage earning for spend on AFKL appears to have been discontinued. Earning of Miles (formerly, "Award Miles") on the basis of everyday spend continues; but whether the earning rates change, nobody yet knows.
Sit tight and wait for FB and/or Amex to send you details on the changes. Ringing either to enquire now is a waste of time - they don't know the details.
You get 15, 30, or 60 XPs added to your FB account on each anniversary date of your Amex credit card. There is no mention of earning additional XPs when you spend money with AFKL, so the aspect of Level Mileage earning for spend on AFKL appears to have been discontinued. Earning of Miles (formerly, "Award Miles") on the basis of everyday spend continues; but whether the earning rates change, nobody yet knows.
Sit tight and wait for FB and/or Amex to send you details on the changes. Ringing either to enquire now is a waste of time - they don't know the details.
Only miles on AF/KL expenses, no XPs.
Conversion rate remains the same (I have AMEX Gold): x1.5 for AF/KL expense and x1 for other expenses.
30 XPs on card anniversary.