Maintaining flying blue gold
Oct 9, 2018, 5:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: N/A
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 3
Maintaining flying blue gold
Hi all,
I have been FB Gold for three years now. However this year was less productive: I now have 110 XP and, with only one upcoming economy flight to JFK (with layover in AMS), I am set to end the year with 140 XP. So it looks like I will downgrade to Silver by Dec 31st. Next year, on the other hand, I will be flying a lot and should easily pass the 180 XP mark to recover Gold again.
Are there clever and not-too-expensive ways to avoid the downgrade? It would be a shame to miss the perks of a Gold membership during the busy next year. I looked into the AMEX credit card deal - the gold offer promises 30XP but probably only after a year? Or maybe I should upgrade my NYC trip to business class? Another thing that came to mind was to take a weekend to fly to Napoli (layovers in Amsterdam and Roma), have dinner, and fly back a day later... that should yield me 30XP and, of course, a great pizza.
I have been FB Gold for three years now. However this year was less productive: I now have 110 XP and, with only one upcoming economy flight to JFK (with layover in AMS), I am set to end the year with 140 XP. So it looks like I will downgrade to Silver by Dec 31st. Next year, on the other hand, I will be flying a lot and should easily pass the 180 XP mark to recover Gold again.
Are there clever and not-too-expensive ways to avoid the downgrade? It would be a shame to miss the perks of a Gold membership during the busy next year. I looked into the AMEX credit card deal - the gold offer promises 30XP but probably only after a year? Or maybe I should upgrade my NYC trip to business class? Another thing that came to mind was to take a weekend to fly to Napoli (layovers in Amsterdam and Roma), have dinner, and fly back a day later... that should yield me 30XP and, of course, a great pizza.
Oct 9, 2018, 6:15 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: N/A
Programs: Flying Blue
Posts: 3
Oh it would be great if the AMEX deal works that way, thank you.
And you're certainly correct that 140 + 30 does not equal 180. But 10XP is just two EU flights and so manageable - I could gain that with a family visit in November.
And you're certainly correct that 140 + 30 does not equal 180. But 10XP is just two EU flights and so manageable - I could gain that with a family visit in November.
Oct 9, 2018, 6:36 am
#4
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Gold / Accor Gold / Hilton Diamond / TP Silver / A3 Gold
Posts: 2,741
Hi all,
I have been FB Gold for three years now. However this year was less productive: I now have 110 XP and, with only one upcoming economy flight to JFK (with layover in AMS), I am set to end the year with 140 XP. So it looks like I will downgrade to Silver by Dec 31st. Next year, on the other hand, I will be flying a lot and should easily pass the 180 XP mark to recover Gold again.
Are there clever and not-too-expensive ways to avoid the downgrade? It would be a shame to miss the perks of a Gold membership during the busy next year. I looked into the AMEX credit card deal - the gold offer promises 30XP but probably only after a year? Or maybe I should upgrade my NYC trip to business class? Another thing that came to mind was to take a weekend to fly to Napoli (layovers in Amsterdam and Roma), have dinner, and fly back a day later... that should yield me 30XP and, of course, a great pizza.
I have been FB Gold for three years now. However this year was less productive: I now have 110 XP and, with only one upcoming economy flight to JFK (with layover in AMS), I am set to end the year with 140 XP. So it looks like I will downgrade to Silver by Dec 31st. Next year, on the other hand, I will be flying a lot and should easily pass the 180 XP mark to recover Gold again.
Are there clever and not-too-expensive ways to avoid the downgrade? It would be a shame to miss the perks of a Gold membership during the busy next year. I looked into the AMEX credit card deal - the gold offer promises 30XP but probably only after a year? Or maybe I should upgrade my NYC trip to business class? Another thing that came to mind was to take a weekend to fly to Napoli (layovers in Amsterdam and Roma), have dinner, and fly back a day later... that should yield me 30XP and, of course, a great pizza.
otherwise start to take a look at cheap flights with KL or AZ , you could even score up to 30xp in one european economy trip with AZ
but hurry up cause december is coming soon
Oct 9, 2018, 9:12 am
#7
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AMS
Posts: 2,054
That is indeed how it works.
You can also buy a round-trip EU J ticket to one of the cheaper destinations. AMS-LHR v.v. can be had for about 480 euros, for example. If you can figure out a cheap J destination with a connection through CDG you can get even more (Example: AMS-CDG-LHR and back I can find a same-day return for €471 which will give 60XP)
You can also buy a round-trip EU J ticket to one of the cheaper destinations. AMS-LHR v.v. can be had for about 480 euros, for example. If you can figure out a cheap J destination with a connection through CDG you can get even more (Example: AMS-CDG-LHR and back I can find a same-day return for €471 which will give 60XP)
Oct 9, 2018, 11:50 am
#9
Moderator: Flying Blue (Air France & KLM), France and TravelBuzz!
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Paris, France, AF F+ Rouge pour toujours, Flying Blue whatever, LH FTL, HHonors Gold, formerly proud SCC Executive, now IC Ambassador, BA down to nobody, Grand Voyageur Le Club
Posts: 12,400
A combined air france abonne card should yield the needed XPs: 40 for EUR 569 (EUR 419 if you go through your company), without any travel required, and with a 5,000 miles bonus.
Last edited by JOUY31; Oct 9, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Oct 9, 2018, 11:53 am
#10
Moderator: Aegean Miles+Bonus
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: AMS / ATH
Programs: AFKL Plat, A3 Gold
Posts: 7,333
I think the main problem here is that the OP will need a Dutch bank account to sign up for the Amex. Which I guess is not the case.
If he does have access I’m sure many people here, myself included, would be happy to send him a referral link to sign up with the first year fee waived (and 20k miles as a gift).
If Amex is not an option then I would suggest a business class round trip. If you could book business instead of economy for an upcoming trip that would be the most efficient - as you are not just flying for the miles. Saves a lot of time that way. Because pure mileage runs take, besides being expensive, a lot of your free time as well.
Personally I like the Alitalia deals that pass by every now and then - around 300 euro round trip in business within Europe. That would get 60XP which seems to be plenty
But in reality any skyteam deal would work of course
If he does have access I’m sure many people here, myself included, would be happy to send him a referral link to sign up with the first year fee waived (and 20k miles as a gift).
If Amex is not an option then I would suggest a business class round trip. If you could book business instead of economy for an upcoming trip that would be the most efficient - as you are not just flying for the miles. Saves a lot of time that way. Because pure mileage runs take, besides being expensive, a lot of your free time as well.
Personally I like the Alitalia deals that pass by every now and then - around 300 euro round trip in business within Europe. That would get 60XP which seems to be plenty
But in reality any skyteam deal would work of course
Oct 10, 2018, 4:42 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Montreux CH
Programs: FB Platinum, M&M FTL, BA Blue
Posts: 11,609
Is Air France AMEX an option if you live in Switzerland? I’ve never looked at this option, might be time to consider it. I do have a banking relation in France but I don’t actually live there.
Oct 10, 2018, 4:51 am
#12
Join Date: May 2015
Location: RBA / TBS
Programs: AF Gold / Accor Gold / Hilton Diamond / TP Silver / A3 Gold
Posts: 2,741
For FB amex you need an adress (iam not sure if a simple adress or fiscal adress) , and a bank account in france
Oct 10, 2018, 5:11 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MUC
Programs: TK Elite, FB Gold
Posts: 315
It takes less time to Google it than to ask on the forum
https://www.airfrance.ch/CH/en/local..._airfrance.htm
https://www.airfrance.ch/CH/en/local..._airfrance.htm
Oct 10, 2018, 8:30 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: AMS
Programs: FB Platinum PA; IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 307
I think the main problem here is that the OP will need a Dutch bank account to sign up for the Amex. Which I guess is not the case.
If he does have access I’m sure many people here, myself included, would be happy to send him a referral link to sign up with the first year fee waived (and 20k miles as a gift).
If he does have access I’m sure many people here, myself included, would be happy to send him a referral link to sign up with the first year fee waived (and 20k miles as a gift).
OP could get a Dutch bankaccount at internetbank Bunq. Of course I also would be happy to send him a referral link for the first year free and 22k miles
.
