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
#1906
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,061
On the other hand,
EDI - AMS KL1286 gespaarde Miles op basis van bestede euro's
+2.247 Miles
+5 XP
Clearly, my employer (or, more precisely, their client) overpaid massively... (but that's what you get for bad planning...)
I haven't gotten under a 100 miles yet, but I've only flown a couple of sectors since the new rules are in and none of the cheap ones either.
EDI - AMS KL1286 gespaarde Miles op basis van bestede euro's
+2.247 Miles
+5 XP
Clearly, my employer (or, more precisely, their client) overpaid massively... (but that's what you get for bad planning...)
I haven't gotten under a 100 miles yet, but I've only flown a couple of sectors since the new rules are in and none of the cheap ones either.
#1907
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
This is of course all correct and should not surprise anyone at this point. Whether we accrue three times, five times, or even ten times as much is actually irrelevant here. It would not make the slightest difference if the price of award tickets and upgrades were commensurate with the new accrual scheme. Such is, however, not the case. Miles accrual has been scaled down to a historical low, whilst awards and upgrades have gone through the roof by virtue of dynamic pricing, resulting in an unprecedented abysmal value of the FB mile. But, hey! This is probably how it should be, and FB is merely following a general trend whereby loyalty does not pay as much as it used to, whether we like it or not.
#1908
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Yes, there has been inflation generally in many loyalty programmes. However, the FB pincer movement with major devaluation of earnings and major inflation in the cost of awards is on an altogether different scale. It is the difference between, say, 1970s and 1980s European double digit inflation on the one hand and 21st century Venezuelan-style 4 to 6 digit hyper-inflation on the other... OK. this is perhaps an exaggeration but I am sure that you get my drift.
#1909
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
Actually, no: I do not think that this is "how it should be" and that it reflects what happens in other loyalty programme.
Yes, there has been inflation generally in many loyalty programmes. However, the FB pincer movement with major devaluation of earnings and major inflation in the cost of awards is on an altogether different scale. It is the difference between, say, 1970s and 1980s European double digit inflation on the one hand and 21st century Venezuelan-style 4 to 6 digit hyper-inflation on the other... OK. this is perhaps an exaggeration but I am sure that you get my drift.
Yes, there has been inflation generally in many loyalty programmes. However, the FB pincer movement with major devaluation of earnings and major inflation in the cost of awards is on an altogether different scale. It is the difference between, say, 1970s and 1980s European double digit inflation on the one hand and 21st century Venezuelan-style 4 to 6 digit hyper-inflation on the other... OK. this is perhaps an exaggeration but I am sure that you get my drift.
#1910
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
#1911
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Champaign, IL
Programs: AF/KL FB Ultimate Platinum for Life/Club 2000, UA MileagePlus
Posts: 524
my suspicion that the new system with dynamic award pricing would result in significantly higher costs has, unfortunately, been confirmed.
#1912
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Wait... I heard through the grapevine that there will be changes in the coming weeks/months, at least insofar as upgrades are concerned, thoughit is unclear yet how these changes will be implemented and affect us. Still, it seems that the FB gods at last heard the outcry of their children .
#1914
#1915
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
#1918
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 188
I had 53,000 Flying Blue miles set to expire this month. They were acquired through a Citibank transfer two years ago.
I transferred 5,000 more miles a few days ago from Amex, anticipating an award booking to use all 58,000 miles.
After the transfer hit my Jetblue account, I logged in and see the following: "58,000 MILES - 58,000 valid until 31 Dec 2020"
I searched this thread and see no mention of a points transfer being a qualifying activity to extend the expiration of all miles in the account. Is this new, is the Flying Blue website wrong, or am I missing something?
I transferred 5,000 more miles a few days ago from Amex, anticipating an award booking to use all 58,000 miles.
After the transfer hit my Jetblue account, I logged in and see the following: "58,000 MILES - 58,000 valid until 31 Dec 2020"
I searched this thread and see no mention of a points transfer being a qualifying activity to extend the expiration of all miles in the account. Is this new, is the Flying Blue website wrong, or am I missing something?
#1919
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: VPS
Programs: IHG Diamond, Delta PM, Hilton Gold, Accor Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 7,268
One of the changes this year was splitting flight miles earned and miles earned from non-flight activity into two different expiration pools. (the flight miles are still effectively under the old system; at this point, non-flight miles expiration seems to get pushed out two years by any other non-flight mile activity)
I suspect that FB wants to increase how much they're making from selling miles to third parties, and the old expiration rules were seen as a barrier to that.
I suspect that FB wants to increase how much they're making from selling miles to third parties, and the old expiration rules were seen as a barrier to that.
#1920
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,340
Happy new year all. The new year has started, meaning the XP counter has reset for many. For me 180 xps have been deducted for a year renewal of Gold (and 70 carried over)
However I was wondering if anybody has experienced the soft landing, not having collected enough xps for the lower level.
Do you now have 0 xps, negative xps, or carried over all xps you did get (unlikely)?
However I was wondering if anybody has experienced the soft landing, not having collected enough xps for the lower level.
Do you now have 0 xps, negative xps, or carried over all xps you did get (unlikely)?