Flying Blue raises the cost of earning XPs through SAF to €15

Flying Blue, the loyalty programme of Air France-KLM, has raised the price of earning elite status points through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) contributions. According to One Mile at a Time, members now earn one experience point (XP) for every €15 contributed, compared with one XP per €10 previously. The site describes it as a change that appeared seemingly overnight, and it affects members of the programme who use SAF contributions to qualify for status on Air France and KLM.

What has changed

Flying Blue status is based on XPs. One Mile at a Time notes that members have been able to earn them through environmental contributions, including one XP per 2,000 miles contributed to various environmental projects, and by buying SAF to offset the emissions of a flight.

The SAF rate is the part that has changed. The move from €10 to €15 per XP is a 50% increase in the cost of each point. The report also says rounding has been removed. On a short-haul economy flight, a contribution of €14 would now earn no XPs, while one of €28 would earn a single XP.

Part of a wider run of devaluations

One Mile at a Time places the change in the context of what it calls a rough year for the programme's value. It lists several earlier changes:

• Platinum members can no longer assign front-row business class suites at no extra cost and must pay for them.
• The introduction of "Light" fares means customers pay more for the same inclusions, which the site describes as a significant devaluation of Flying Blue miles.
• The cost of La Première first class awards has risen substantially, though they are limited to Platinum members and above.

The author argues that Platinum status has become more valuable partly through such measures, since Platinum members get access to more long-haul business class award space and can still book "Light" award tickets. The author says they will not buy SAF at the new rate and will instead earn XPs through the Flying Blue co-branded credit card in the US, whose earning opportunity was recently improved. These are the writer's views rather than statements from the airline group.

What this means for travellers

For members who have used SAF contributions as a route to status, the arithmetic is now less favourable: reaching the same number of XPs this way costs 50% more. The removal of rounding means small contributions, such as those on short-haul economy fares, may earn nothing at all. Members who were close to a status threshold should recalculate before buying SAF.

It is not yet clear whether Air France-KLM has explained the change, how many members buy SAF, or how the contributions are used. One Mile at a Time raises these as open questions. Members should check the Flying Blue website for the current terms before making a contribution.

Sources: One Mile at a Time