Air France & KLM Biz Class to Europe
Flying Blue announced new Promo Rewards today!
While they didn't list business class as a promo option from the US, there seems to be some routes with a 25% promo discount on business class on Air France and KLM on some dates through March 2024.
Plus, Amex just announced a 25% transfer bonus today!
Best Card Offers (September 2023)
Now, let's get into the details.
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Straight To The Points:
Routes: BOS/JFK/LAX-CDG, AUS-AMS
Operating airline: Air France
Class of service: Business class
Dates: November 2023 - August 2024
Seats available: 2+ (up to 8)
Cabin layout: Varies
Book with (per person, one-way):
- Air France-KLM Flying Blue:
- JFK: 55,000 miles
- BOS: 70,000 miles
- LAX/AUS: 80,000 miles
The Flying Blue Promo Reward is 25% off these Flying Blue rates.
Some dates are not bookable via SkyTeam partners:
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club:
- From East Coast:
- Off-Peak: 48,500 points
- Peak: 58,500 points
- From West Coast/Central US:
- Off-Peak: 77,500 points
- Peak: 87,500 points
Taxes/fees (per person, one-way):
- From US: ~$200-230
- From CDG: ~$380
- From AMS: ~$329
Taxes/fees are slightly different when booking with Virgin.
Bank transfer partners:
- Air France-KLM: Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Marriott
- Virgin Atlantic: Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Marriott
Let me know if you book!
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Air France
LAX-CDG
December: 9, 10, 14, 18
January: 2, 7, 9, 10, 16, 18, 20, 22, 23, 28-30
February: 1, 3, 11, 20, 21, 24, 25, 27
March: 1, 2, 11, 14, 16, 17, 21
CDG-LAX
December: 11, 21, 23, 24
February: 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 18-22, 29
March: 13-16, 18, 20-22
April: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10-16, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27
May: 2, 3, 5, 13, 15, 18, 21, 22, 29
August: 19-25
JFK-CDG
September: 11, 14
December: 1, 2, 28
January: 1, 7-11, 13-31
February: 1-13, 17-29
March: 2-7, 12, 13, 19, 25, 26
August: 11-16, 19, 20, 22, 24
CDG-JFK
September: 2, 13, 15, 16
November: 8, 9, 14, 18, 24, 29, 30
December: 1, 2, 5-7, 9, 11-20, 24, 25, 27
January: 9-31
February: 1-23, 26-29
March: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7-9, 12-14, 19-22, 24-28
April: 1-5, 8-11, 18 ,24
May: 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 17
June: 13, 14, 16, 30
July: 3, 4, 26
August: 19, 21-25
BOS-CDG
September: 3
October: 9, 16, 17, 22, 23, 28
November: 13, 25, 28
December: 2, 3, 5, 11, 18, 30, 31
January: 1, 3-5, 7, 12, 13, 15-17, 20-24, 27-29, 31
February: 4-7, 12, 19, 25, 27, 28
March: 2-6, 13, 18, 20, 25-27
July: 7-9, 14-16
August: 7, 12-14, 16, 20
CDG-BOS
September: 6, 8, 11
November: 2, 9, 14, 19, 30
December: 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 18-20, 22-25, 27, 29
January: 9, 11-13, 15-18, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29-31
February: 2, 3, 5-7, 9, 10, 12-14, 19, 24, 27
March: 3-6, 8, 9, 11, 15, 17, 19-22, 26, 27, 29
April: 2-4, 6, 10, 15, 24, 25
August: 21-24
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KLM
AUS-AMS
October: 2, 5, 12, 21
November: 2, 11, 13, 23, 25
December: 4, 9
January: 8, 18, 20, 22, 25, 29
February: 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 22
March: 2, 4, 25
August: 1, 3, 10, 12, 19
AMS-AUS
November: 13, 16, 23, 30
December: 2, 4, 11, 14, 16, 25
January: 11, 13, 18, 25, 27, 29
February: 1, 8, 10, 12, 17, 19, 22, 26, 29
March: 11, 14, 25, 28
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Flight Experience
If there's one thing I like about Air France's lounge at my home airport of Washington Dulles, it's the fact that it has nice champagne. Inflight, service is a bit of a mixed bag but it can be quite nice.
Cabin Layouts
Boeing 787-9: 1-2-1
Boeing 777-300: 1-2-1
Airbus A350: 1-2-1
Airbus A330: 2-2-2
KLM has always been a favorite of mine thanks to the crew. Infilght catering is fine but not spectacular. I love the Delft Blue houses you get at the end of the flight. Their Boeing 787s have a 1-2-1 cabin layout.
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Best Ways To Book
Flying Blue: Great Rates, Free Stopover, More Space
If you can take advantage of a 25% transfer bonus from Amex, Chase, or Citi, you'd only need to transfer 44,000 points to get 55,000 points - the lowest one-way business class between the US and Europe.
If you can find a date with a Promo Reward (25% discount), you'd only need to transfer 33,000 Amex points to get the 41,250 miles.
Important Flying Blue Notes
Flying Blue members get access to more award space than Virgin.
Flying Blue's award rates are competitive but you'll be on the hook for surcharges. They're not terrible, just not great. If you don't feel like paying ~$530 in taxes/fees on a round-trip award ticket, I would consider booking the outbound with Flying Blue then booking a different award on the return.
Award rates vary by origin/destination pair. In fact, many itineraries with connections will require fewer miles. You can use the Miles Price Estimator to check the saver rate for your specific route.
Connections on partners will generally increase the award rate.
You can include a stopover but you'll need to call to book.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Great Option From The East Coast
If you're booking off-peak dates, Virgin only requires 48,500 points for a one-way award between the east coast and Western/Central Europe.
Even the peak rate could be better than Flying Blue but it depends on the route, especially with the transfer bonus. If you connect to Eastern Europe, the award rate does increase quite a bit. I didn't see space on the LAX route via Virgin.
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How To Book
You can pick either Air France or KLM's site and run your search. I use Air France and the process works like this:
- Select "Book with miles"
- Select "Log in"
- Sign into your account
- Enter your origin/destination
- Enter your travel date(s)
- Enter the number of passengers
- Enter the class of service
- Run the search
- Select your flights
- Click through to book
Transfers to Flying Blue are generally instant so you don't usually need to worry about award space vanishing. However, you can call and have them hold award space for you. The US number is 800 375-8723.
If you want to book a free stopover, you'll need to call to book.
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Final Thoughts
Whether you're still looking for award booking options for this summer, Christmas markets, or even spring break next year, this could be a great option.
Happy booking!
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