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
#946
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
Once I read the posts about these cheap WAW to China fares I booked a WAW-AMS-XMN-AMS-WAW KLM Business class ticket all on KLM flight numbers and aircraft except AMS-XMN which is on XiamenAir on a KLM flight number. As this is after 1st April it gives me 15XP+36XP+36XP+15XP=102XP. How do you get 114XP if going from WAW-CTU on KL/CZ?
#947
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 500
It makes no difference what time, or what date, it is anywhere else in the world. The only date that is relevant is the date at the origin of the flight at the scheduled time of departure.
If your flight was delayed and didn't actually depart until 01:00 on 1 April, it would still count as a 31 March flight, and earn level miles/segments.
If your flight was delayed and didn't actually depart until 01:00 on 1 April, it would still count as a 31 March flight, and earn level miles/segments.
Flying Blue Miles
- You will earn: 56765 Award Miles
41829 Level Miles
15 XP
* FB says 65XP MAN-CDG-SIN in first (biz from/to MAN), I still believe this should be 75. I'll have to try it
#948
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,713
You should search for CDG-SIN in F separately (60), then MAN-CDG in J separately (15).
That, of course, doesn't explain why MAN-CDG-SIN in F reports 65.
#949
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 500
It shouldn't be hard to get what is a simpler set of calculations right. My IT apprentice could even solve something so obvious.
#950
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AMS
Programs: BA KL LH Hilton Marriott
Posts: 1,230
Once I read the posts about these cheap WAW to China fares I booked a WAW-AMS-XMN-AMS-WAW KLM Business class ticket all on KLM flight numbers and aircraft except AMS-XMN which is on XiamenAir on a KLM flight number. As this is after 1st April it gives me 15XP+36XP+36XP+15XP=102XP. How do you get 114XP if going from WAW-CTU on KL/CZ?
#951
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,713
#952
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: MAN
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 500
The programming should be the easy part, getting the database schema right is the key - FBs setup is clearly suited to a modified star schema (denormalised with fact and dimension tables).
I charge EUR2000 a day
#954
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
Hi,
It is clear that the Miles (Award Miles replacement) is dependent on the ticket price, so for me as a Platinum member that is 8 Miles/EUR. I booked last week some flights for after the Flying Blue changes. As I am in the UK I paid all of the them in GBP directly at KLM and took print screens (see one of them below) of the reservations from ITA Matrix in both GBP (the exact amount I paid) and EUR. Based on the ITA Matrix prices in Euros these flights would earn: 8 x (289EUR + 281EUR + 360EUR) = 7,440 Miles
But I assume that I will not earn that exact amount of Miles because Flying Blue will use some other currency converstion. Currently with Award Miles we can know before flying how many Award Miles would be earned, and can know if any errors occur if wrong amount is received and to contact Flying Blue, but with Miles we can only know approximately how many Miles would be earned.
Does anyone know about when/how/where the Flying Blue currency conversations? Or will what ITA Matrix says be the earned amount?
Thanks
It is clear that the Miles (Award Miles replacement) is dependent on the ticket price, so for me as a Platinum member that is 8 Miles/EUR. I booked last week some flights for after the Flying Blue changes. As I am in the UK I paid all of the them in GBP directly at KLM and took print screens (see one of them below) of the reservations from ITA Matrix in both GBP (the exact amount I paid) and EUR. Based on the ITA Matrix prices in Euros these flights would earn: 8 x (289EUR + 281EUR + 360EUR) = 7,440 Miles
But I assume that I will not earn that exact amount of Miles because Flying Blue will use some other currency converstion. Currently with Award Miles we can know before flying how many Award Miles would be earned, and can know if any errors occur if wrong amount is received and to contact Flying Blue, but with Miles we can only know approximately how many Miles would be earned.
Does anyone know about when/how/where the Flying Blue currency conversations? Or will what ITA Matrix says be the earned amount?
Thanks
#957
#958
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: BRU
Programs: EuroBonus, FlyingBlue Gold
Posts: 245
Hello guys,
I am currently FB Silver and by end of March I have 6 Sky team flights, This means that I will get 42 XP right?
By the end of December I should have received 151 XP with my travel plans (I like to plan ahead). According to my understanding FB Amex Gold gives you 30 XP, however the website refers to 'anniversary of membership' - does this mean I will only get 30 XP after a year? If not I will try to plan a weekend segment run, however a € 170 fee is much cheaper than what a segment run normally cost. I'd love to reach FBG!
Thanks a lot for your input!
I am currently FB Silver and by end of March I have 6 Sky team flights, This means that I will get 42 XP right?
By the end of December I should have received 151 XP with my travel plans (I like to plan ahead). According to my understanding FB Amex Gold gives you 30 XP, however the website refers to 'anniversary of membership' - does this mean I will only get 30 XP after a year? If not I will try to plan a weekend segment run, however a € 170 fee is much cheaper than what a segment run normally cost. I'd love to reach FBG!
Thanks a lot for your input!
#959
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,713
In the pdf attachment, they will show you the "real" fare in Euros, billed as "ticket price", together with the "equivalent fare" in the currency that you paid.
Multiply the "ticket price" by 8 (if you are Platinum), and that is your Award Miles amount.
#960
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Gold / Accor Gold / Hilton Diamond / TP Silver / A3 Gold
Posts: 2,744
Hello
You are correct , 6*7 segments = 42XP , if these flights are before April 1st
Other members can answer , otherwise check the Term&conditions
for 120€/150€ you can do 4-segments journey with KLM in europe (it just depends where you start your journey from)
for 120€/150€ you can do 4-segments journey with KLM in europe (it just depends where you start your journey from)