How to book Air France flights with miles
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Booking Air France flights with miles can be an excellent way to maximize your travel rewards.
As one of Europe’s largest carriers, Air France offers a vast network of routes worldwide. For travelers looking to book flights using miles, Air France’s Flying Blue loyalty program is a valuable tool with excellent award options and frequent award sales.
Here’s everything you need to know about booking Air France flights with miles.
Step 1: Choose the right mileage program
Air France is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which means you can book its flights using miles from several frequent flyer programs. Almost always, however, the best way to book is through Flying Blue, the loyalty program of Air France and KLM. Other major programs that allow you to book Air France flights include:
Just keep in mind that these airline programs, especially Delta SkyMiles, may have much higher award rates than Flying Blue.
You can also transfer rewards from the following credit card points currency to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio:
And if you’re looking to earn transferable rewards, here’s a recap of some of our favorite options:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – Best for beginners
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Best for frequent travelers
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Best for luxury travel perks
- American Express® Gold Card – Best for foodies
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card – Best for simple rewards & lounges
- Citi Strata Premier℠ Card (formerly Citi Premier® Card) – Best for varied spending categories
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $95 | |||
| $795 | |||
| $895 | |||
| $325 | |||
| $395 | |||
| $95 |
Step 2: Check for award availability
To find available award seats, visit Air France’s website and select “book with miles” to look for flights. If possible, we recommend being flexible with your dates, as availability fluctuates. If you want to see award availability on a calendar to find the lowest prices, leave your departure date blank.
Then, you’ll see the different award prices.
Here are a few tips for finding award availability:
- Book in advance: Availability usually is best 10-12 months before departure.
- Consider Flying Blue Promo Rewards: These offer discounted mileage rates on select routes each month.
- Be flexible with dates and routes: If direct flights aren’t available, consider alternative connections through Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
We also recommend comparing prices between Flying Blue and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Although Air France typically releases limited award space to Flying Club, its Air France award prices can be (significantly) less than Flying Blue. For example, a given flight from Abidjan’s Félix Houphouët Boigny International Airport (ABJ) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) costs 85,000 Flying Blue miles in business class.
Meanwhile, the same flight cost 48,500 Virgin points through Flying Club when we checked.
As a reminder, you can transfer the following credit card currencies to Virgin Atlantic at a 1:1 ratio:
- American Express Membership Rewards.
- Bilt Rewards.
- Capital One.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Citi ThankYou Rewards.
- Wells Fargo Rewards.
Step 3: Determine the mileage cost
Flying Blue prices awards dynamically and does not publish a fixed chart. Use the Miles price estimator on flyingblue.us for current starting prices, and check Promo Rewards each month. Since September 8, 2026, Air France and KLM awards also come in Light, Standard and Flex versions.
Taxes and fees are typically $100 to $500 per ticket, depending on class and route. Long-haul business-class departures from the U.K. typically have the most expensive taxes and fees.
Step 4: Transfer points to Flying Blue
If you don’t have enough miles in your Flying Blue account, you can transfer points from major credit card programs:
- American Express Membership Rewards.
- Bilt Rewards.
- Capital One.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Citi ThankYou Rewards.
- Wells Fargo Rewards.
Important notes
- Transfers usually process within a few minutes but can take up to 48 hours.
- Transfers are one-way and irreversible—confirm availability before transferring.
If you want to secure your seat before transferring miles, call Flying Blue customer service first (1-800-375-8723, open 24/7). Flying Blue agents can sometimes hold an award by phone; ask about any fee before you transfer points.
Even if a fee applies, locking in your award seat before transferring rewards can be well worth it.
Step 5: Book your ticket
Once you’ve found availability and transferred your miles, proceed with booking directly through the Air France or KLM website. If you run into issues, you can also call Flying Blue customer service for assistance.
Booking steps:
- Log into your Flying Blue account.
- Enter your departure and destination cities along with travel dates.
- Select an available flight using miles.
- Pay any required taxes and fees.
- Receive your confirmation and e-ticket.
Bottom line
Booking Air France flights with miles can deliver great value, especially when you use Flying Blue’s dynamic pricing, Promo Rewards and transfer partnerships. With flexible dates, strategic transfers and careful planning, you can maximize your miles and minimize out-of-pocket costs. Whether you’re flying economy or aiming for a premium cabin experience, using the right strategy can make your dream trip more attainable.
- Annual fee
- $89
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$650Total$650Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $650
- Welcome offer+ 100 Experience Points (XP)After $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. The same offer also awards 100 Experience Points (XP), which are status credits rather than spendable miles.
- 50,000 miles
Apply Now
on Bank of America's website
FAQs about booking Air France flights with miles
What is the best way to book Air France flights with miles?
The best way to book Air France flights with miles is through the Flying Blue program, which offers competitive award pricing and monthly Promo Rewards. You can also use partner programs like Delta SkyMiles or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, but they often require more miles.
Can I transfer credit card points to Flying Blue?
Yes, Flying Blue is a transfer partner of several major credit card programs, including American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Bilt Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards, all at a 1:1 ratio.
How many miles do I need to book a flight from the U.S. to Europe?
Flying Blue prices awards dynamically and does not publish a fixed chart. Use the Miles price estimator on flyingblue.us for current starting prices, and check Promo Rewards each month. Since September 8, 2026, Air France and KLM awards also come in Light, Standard and Flex versions.
Can I hold an award ticket before transferring points?
Possibly. Flying Blue agents can sometimes hold an award by phone; ask about any fee before you transfer points. A hold lets you confirm availability before transferring credit card points.
Are Flying Blue Promo Rewards worth it?
Yes. Promo Rewards offer discounted award tickets on select routes each month and can significantly lower the number of miles needed, especially in business class. They’re one of the best ways to get more value from your Flying Blue miles.