Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® Review

Rewards 

Flying Blue makes award travel more attainable, thanks to the generous earning rate from the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard as well as low award redemption rates. 

Earning Rewards

The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard currently offers 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening. Beyond that, the card earns 3 miles per dollar spent directly with Air France, KLM and SkyTeam member airlines. 

All other spending earns 1.5 miles per dollar spent. That’s pretty significant for an airline rewards card, especially considering the redemption options available to FlyingBlue members. 

Redeeming Rewards

Once you’ve banked the welcome bonus and saved up some additional miles, redeeming rewards is within reach. The Flying Blue rewards program has several sweet spot awards that require fewer miles than most other reward programs:

1. New York to Marrakech (21,500 miles each way)

One of the best Flying Blue sweet spots awards is the New York to Marrakech route, which requires just 21,500 miles each way in economy class. This is quite a bargain, considering American Airlines requires 40,000 miles for the same route. 

The welcome bonus from the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard is enough for at least a one-way ticket on this route.

2. U.S. to Hawaii (17,500 miles each way)

Thanks to a partnership with Delta and Alaska Airlines, Flying Blue members can fly between the continental U.S. and Hawaii for just 35,000 miles round-trip. Save up the welcome bonus from the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard, along with the annual 5,000 mile bonus and you’ll be close to a round-trip economy class flight to Hawaii.

3. U.S. to the Caribbean (14,500+ miles each way)

If the clear water and sandy beaches of the Caribbean are more your style, you can get there starting at 29,000 miles round-trip. Redemption rates vary depending on your departure city and destination, but typically range between 29,000 – 35,000 miles round-trip.

4. U.S. to Europe (22,000+ miles each way)

When you’re saving up miles with a European rewards program, you’ll inevitably want to use them at some point for a trip to Europe. The good news is that Flying Blue has some of the lowest redemption rates for award tickets to Europe. 

Economy class awards between the East Coast and Amsterdam go for just 22,000 miles each way. If you’re departing from the West Coast, you’ll need 26,000 miles each way. These are great fares, considering airlines like United and American normally require 30,000 miles for one-way economy class tickets to Europe.

5. Promo Rewards

If the above discounts have you shrugging your shoulders, you’ll want to look into Flying Blue Promo Rewards. This monthly list of deals offers discounts of up to 50% on award tickets. Not only can Promo Rewards help you get further with the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard welcome bonus, but they make award travel more attainable for those who earn miles via credit card spending. Recent deals have included a 50% discount on economy class flights between Boston and anywhere in Europe. 

Expect higher taxes and fees than you might see on other miles programs.  For example, a flight on Air France from New York (JFK) nonstop to Paris (CDG), extra costs run $65 in economy up to $210 in business for a one way ticket. Booked via Delta Skymiles, the same flight will cost more miles, but taxes will only be $5.60 no matter the class of service.

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Rewards 

Flying Blue makes award travel more attainable, thanks to the generous earning rate from the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard as well as low award redemption rates. 

Earning Rewards

The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard currently offers 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 within 90 days of account opening. Beyond that, the card earns 3 miles per dollar spent directly with Air France, KLM and SkyTeam member airlines. 

All other spending earns 1.5 miles per dollar spent. That’s pretty significant for an airline rewards card, especially considering the redemption options available to FlyingBlue members. 

Redeeming Rewards

Once you’ve banked the welcome bonus and saved up some additional miles, redeeming rewards is within reach. The Flying Blue rewards program has several sweet spot awards that require fewer miles than most other reward programs:

1. New York to Marrakech (21,500 miles each way)

One of the best Flying Blue sweet spots awards is the New York to Marrakech route, which requires just 21,500 miles each way in economy class. This is quite a bargain, considering American Airlines requires 40,000 miles for the same route. 

The welcome bonus from the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard is enough for at least a one-way ticket on this route.

2. U.S. to Hawaii (17,500 miles each way)

Thanks to a partnership with Delta and Alaska Airlines, Flying Blue members can fly between the continental U.S. and Hawaii for just 35,000 miles round-trip. Save up the welcome bonus from the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard, along with the annual 5,000 mile bonus and you’ll be close to a round-trip economy class flight to Hawaii.

3. U.S. to the Caribbean (14,500+ miles each way)

If the clear water and sandy beaches of the Caribbean are more your style, you can get there starting at 29,000 miles round-trip. Redemption rates vary depending on your departure city and destination, but typically range between 29,000 – 35,000 miles round-trip.

4. U.S. to Europe (22,000+ miles each way)

When you’re saving up miles with a European rewards program, you’ll inevitably want to use them at some point for a trip to Europe. The good news is that Flying Blue has some of the lowest redemption rates for award tickets to Europe. 

Economy class awards between the East Coast and Amsterdam go for just 22,000 miles each way. If you’re departing from the West Coast, you’ll need 26,000 miles each way. These are great fares, considering airlines like United and American normally require 30,000 miles for one-way economy class tickets to Europe.

5. Promo Rewards

If the above discounts have you shrugging your shoulders, you’ll want to look into Flying Blue Promo Rewards. This monthly list of deals offers discounts of up to 50% on award tickets. Not only can Promo Rewards help you get further with the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard welcome bonus, but they make award travel more attainable for those who earn miles via credit card spending. Recent deals have included a 50% discount on economy class flights between Boston and anywhere in Europe. 

Expect higher taxes and fees than you might see on other miles programs.  For example, a flight on Air France from New York (JFK) nonstop to Paris (CDG), extra costs run $65 in economy up to $210 in business for a one way ticket. Booked via Delta Skymiles, the same flight will cost more miles, but taxes will only be $5.60 no matter the class of service.