Flying Blue Offers A Dubious Reason For Latest Devaluation
2025 is off to a Flying (Blue) start with an unannounced devaluation of Flying Blue redemptions on both Air France / KLM and partners. But Flying Blue argues this was necessary in order to offer more award space at cheaper prices. I’m not buying it…at least based on current availability.
Flying Blue Devalues Award Redemptions In 2025, Promises More Availability
I’ll start by saying that I am a fan of the Flying Blue program in general and also the people who run it. These are not out-of-touch bean counters like the Comcast rube who runs United MileagePlus, but a team of folks who are well-respected in the loyalty sphere, led by Ben Lipsey.
And yet I find myself so disappointed that Flying Blue has raised prices overnight with no notice. As I said a couple of weeks ago:
While devaluations are fair game in any frequent flyer program, a lack of notice is not fair game. Flying Blue miles will devalue again at some future point, but let’s hope that when occurs, advance notice will be provided.
Recall that late last month there was a temporary glitch reducing partner award pricing followed by a steep price hike over “prevailing” saver levels, followed by a quick rollback…all blamed on technical glitches.
> Read More: Flying Blue Partner Devaluation Rescinded (For Now…)
I expected a devaluation, but did not expect one so fast…it’s frustrating, though last month’s fluctuating award pricing should have given all of us a good indication that change was coming.
Here’s the skinny on the latest devaluation:
Air France – KLM flights are up 14-25%
Transatlantic economy class now starts at 25,000 miles instead of 20,000
Transatlantic premium economy class now starts at 40,000 miles instead of 35,000
Transatlantic business class now starts at 60,000 miles instead of 50,000
Partner award pricing is up by as much as 12%
For example, I was looking at a Tel Aviv – London flight on EL AL in business class for 50,000 points and it is now 56,000 points
Could the devaluation have been worse? Sure. But would it have really hurt Flying Blue to give us a 1-2 week notice?
Flying Blue Promises More Availablity At Lower Levels
Flying Blue told One Mile At A Time that this change was necessary in order to release more “entry-level” awards (award pricing on Air France and KLM at the prices above), but that does not explain why capacity-controlled partner awards had to go up in price.
And frankly, I’m not seeing an increase at all in this so-called “entry-level” space (I prefer to call it saver space). You can book any Air France or KLM flight you want, but good luck finding space–especially in premium cabins–at these lowest levels. Instead, you’ll likely pay a whole lot more… sometimes 10x as much.
We’ll give Flying Blue a few days to update availability, but I’m not expecting a noticeable increase in saver award space.
I’ve got a KLM transatlantic award coming up that I booked last year for 50K…I’m glad I did because I cannot find a single day through the next 12 months where that same route is available for less than 80K.
Inflation is real, especially with frequent flyer programs.
Should that mean you abandon the program? No, certainly not. But it does mean the program is less valuable than before which makes other programs or simply cash-back credit cards compareitlyv more attractive. Award redemptions, for example, via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club will cost half the price at lowest level. Even with additional fees, it now makes a lot more sense to book with Virgin Atlantic in many cases. Flying Blue still handily beats Delta SkyMiles, though!
CONCLUSION
Again, while devaluations are fair game in any frequent flyer program, a lack of notice is not fair game. Flying Blue miles will devalue again at some future point, but let’s hope that when it occurs, advance notice will be provided. This week’s actions suggest, however, that such notice will not be given. As always, miles are a depreciating asset: earn and burn in a smart way, as quickly as you can…