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
#1516
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: FB Gold, MB Plat, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 39
I apologize in advance if the answer to my question is buried upthread -- I looked for it but couldn't find it. I'm not a frequent Flying Blue flier, but am contemplating transferring miles in from Amex (since they are running a bonus currently). I'd be aiming to fly IAD-CDG, which currently is 50k in Y. When the new system starts in June, do we know how much that flight will be roundtrip in miles? Thanks so much!
#1517
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: France
Programs: FB Plat for Life, UAMP, BAEC, Accor ALL Platinum, Marriott silver, Hilton, Meliá silver.
Posts: 3,120
If you're Ivory it's 4x your ticket spend (without taxes): https://www.flyingblue.us/en/programme.
The question was about the cost (burning rate) for an award ticket, not the earning of award miles.
The answer is therefore "it depends", as it will be dynamic pricing.
#1518
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: SE England
Programs: AF-KL Platinum, ALL Platinum
Posts: 755
What is the general consensous: will the Flying Blue Online Miles Calculator ever return modifed to show the Miles for non AF-KL flights? I'm not asking about how Miles are calculated because I know that but just if this handy tool will reappear like it was.
Before the FB "Reinvented" the old Online Miles Calculator was handy to check for any route/ST airline/booking class for Award and Level Miles. But now there is only an Online Calculator to say which XP band (Medium, Long 1 etc.) a flight is classified as.
Before the FB "Reinvented" the old Online Miles Calculator was handy to check for any route/ST airline/booking class for Award and Level Miles. But now there is only an Online Calculator to say which XP band (Medium, Long 1 etc.) a flight is classified as.
#1519
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,057
Yes, that is right but the dates would change. So, if becoming platinum in August, you will be Plat until August 2019 and Gold through soft landing until August 2020 (plus presumably the 3 extra months we currently get).
If concerto wanted to maximise the period of eliteness, the best would be to aim to reach Platinum towards the end of the year (in December). That way, that would give him at least two years and a bit of elite+ status from December onwards, so probably elite+ until Feb/March 2021.
If concerto wanted to maximise the period of eliteness, the best would be to aim to reach Platinum towards the end of the year (in December). That way, that would give him at least two years and a bit of elite+ status from December onwards, so probably elite+ until Feb/March 2021.
Moreover, the 12 months period is calculated to the month, not to the day:
I applied for a retrocredit of XP after rerouting which left me on a one leg shorter routing; while the flight was on 30APR18, the XP was credited in May.
As it is:
- My status is valid until 08/2019 (+3 months)
- My calendar period ends May 31st, 2019 (end of the month of upgrade)
- 4XP rollover was honored. 176 to go...
#1520
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 905
Anyone familiar with AF '0' class? Matrix says it's a J fare but wheretocredit suggests it doesn't earn anything other than €4 per mile on FB ( so nothing on any other airlines, making me wonder if it is indeed J). It's not cheap, Italy-U.K. Via CDG but it might be useful for me to get some needed XP ( @ 15 per sector).
cheers
cheers
And shouldn't it be €7 per mile? ( I'm FB gold)
#1521
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,057
Anyone familiar with AF '0' class? Matrix says it's a J fare but wheretocredit suggests it doesn't earn anything other than €4 per mile on FB ( so nothing on any other airlines, making me wonder if it is indeed J). It's not cheap, Italy-U.K. Via CDG but it might be useful for me to get some needed XP ( @ 15 per sector).
cheers
cheers
And shouldn't it be €7 per mile? ( I'm FB gold)
Wheretocredit I assume is working on the presumption you don't have status, otherwise it would be 7 miles per euro spent less taxes.
If you find a flight that's coded in O and is AF marketed and operated, you should have no problems getting miles and XP.
#1523
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,057
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...purchases.html
This could prove crucial in value of the cards, if maintained for the future.
#1524
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Netherlands
Programs: FB Platinum
Posts: 113
#1526
#1527
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum | Flying Blue Petroleum | Hilton Gold | Marriott Gold | Shangri-La Jade
Posts: 306
#1528
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,057
I'm also expecting that you all got initial XPs from level miles, not segments, right?
#1529
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: AMS
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum | Flying Blue Petroleum | Hilton Gold | Marriott Gold | Shangri-La Jade
Posts: 306
Yes. I am already Gold until 8/2019 having qualified 5/2018 on new rules.
I suppose it could just be a goodwill gesture of "let's count all periods that include some time before change".
I'm also expecting that you all got initial XPs from level miles, not segments, right?
I suppose it could just be a goodwill gesture of "let's count all periods that include some time before change".
I'm also expecting that you all got initial XPs from level miles, not segments, right?
I'm still hoping that this is a permanent benefit of the AF/KL Amex cards but am not getting my hopes up
#1530
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,739
What is the general consensous: will the Flying Blue Online Miles Calculator ever return modifed to show the Miles for non AF-KL flights? I'm not asking about how Miles are calculated because I know that but just if this handy tool will reappear like it was.
Before the FB "Reinvented" the old Online Miles Calculator was handy to check for any route/ST airline/booking class for Award and Level Miles. But now there is only an Online Calculator to say which XP band (Medium, Long 1 etc.) a flight is classified as.
Before the FB "Reinvented" the old Online Miles Calculator was handy to check for any route/ST airline/booking class for Award and Level Miles. But now there is only an Online Calculator to say which XP band (Medium, Long 1 etc.) a flight is classified as.