With a record exchange rate Between euros and dollars, it’s no wonder so many people are jumping into the pond to explore (and shop) their way around Europe.
Flying Blue – the loyalty program of KLM and Air France – is one of the most popular programs used to place transcontinental prizes. Historically, the show has been known for business mileage redemption and reasonably priced savings between many US and European cities.
A sweet spot lies right in the middle: leading economy flights. For about 30,000 miles on some days, Flying Blue allows travelers to cross the Atlantic in this mid-level cabin without breaking the bank.
When looking for your next European escape, here’s how to fly to Europe with Air France and a KLM stopover.
Why is it special?
While many carriers charge 30,000 miles or more for economy class flights, with the same mileage on Air France or KLM you can get more comfortable seats, better service and meals better by fly in premium economy.
For example, if you are looking for skiing in Switzerland This winter you can fly from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Zurich Airport (ZRH) with a connection in Amsterdam in just 30,000 miles.
These flights will cost $943, which translates to about 2.7 cents per mile, much higher than TPG’s valuation is 1.2 cents per mile.
This price is also available for flights for next summer. In this example, you could fly from JFK to Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) via Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) with the same 30,000 miles as in premium economy class.
Digging into this attraction, it seems that this low rate is available from many East Coast cities to many European cities including Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris and Amsterdam.
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The only negative of these awards is that Flying Blue’s taxes and fees are relatively high. It is not uncommon for one-way prizes to require $150 or more or more than $300 round-trip.
How to order this prize
You can book these flights with your Flying Blue miles on AirFrance.us or KLM.com. Make sure to select “Book with Miles” and then you will be prompted to sign in to your Flying Blue account.
Enter your route and date and select “Special Economy Class” in the “Cabin” drop-down menu.
All available routes will appear and you can then review tickets costing 30,000 miles one way. If nothing comes up that low, you can use the seven-day calendar features at the top of the page to click through to the other days of that week. (Note that as of the end of October 2022, some routes are targeted for Promotional rewards and the lowest cost is 22,500 miles one way.)
After clicking on the flight you want, it will highlight that flight and also show economy and business class booking options for that route. You can choose the premium economy class option, a review page will appear before you fill in your information and book your ticket.
Related: Top 5 most luxurious economy class cabins today
How to earn points for this award
Thankfully, Flying Blue mile is one of the easiest jobs to get – even in the US
You can transfer points to Flying Blue from most major transferable programs, including Rewards for American Express members, Bilt Rewards, Chase the ultimate reward, Capital One mile, Citi Thank You Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy. Note that Marriott points transfer at a ratio of 3:1, with a 5,000-mile bonus awarded for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. All other programs transfer 1:1.
Here are some TPG favorite credit card and their respective welcome bonuses:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Earn 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening.
- Citi Premier® Card: Earn 80,000 Citi ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening.
- Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 100,000 membership bonus points after spending $6,000 on the card within the first six months of becoming a member.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable points
Key point
For a lower fee than some airlines charge for economy class, you can fly more comfortably to and from your next trip to Europe. This award selection is great for travelers departing from the East Coast as it opens up to a wide range of cities across Europe.
While taxes and fees can be high, they are still reasonable compared to the higher cash fare. Make sure to put this surcharge on reward card for airline ticketssuch as Amex Platinum.
From skiing in the Swiss Alps to living on the Amalfis CoastDue to easy access to the Flying Blue mile with the program’s many remittance partners, this great spot is the perfect place to visit a little more luxurious Europe without breaking the bank.
