Traveling to France is a dream for many families, but booking flights can be expensive. The good news is that if you have points or miles, you can often secure great deals and book an award flight with Air France.
Whether you’re looking to visit Paris, explore the French countryside, or take a family trip to Europe, booking with points can make the trip much more affordable. In this detailed guide, we’ll show you how to book an Air France flight using points, specifically highlighting strategies that work best for families traveling with kids.
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What is the Air France Airline Loyalty Program
The Air France loyalty program is called Flying Blue, and it’s the frequent flyer program for both Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Flying Blue allows travelers to earn and redeem miles on flights operated by Air France, KLM, and partner airlines within the SkyTeam alliance.
Flying Blue members can earn miles through flights, credit card sign-up bonuses (Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard from the Bank of America), hotel stays, and shopping. Further, you can use those miles to book award flights, upgrade seats, or cover extra travel fees.
How to earn Flying Blue Miles for family travel
Now, here are some ways to earn Flying Blue miles to book your family’s flights.
What are the Flying Blue transfer partners
Several major credit card programs allow you to transfer points directly to Flying Blue, the frequent flyer program of Air France and KLM.
Flying Blue transfer partners are listed below:
- American Express Membership Rewards to Air France (Flying Blue Miles): 1:1 transfer ratio
- Chase Ultimate Rewards to Air France (Flying Blue Miles): 1:1 transfer ratio.
- Citi ThankYou Points to Air France (Flying Blue Miles): 1:1 transfer ratio (currently a 20% transfer bonus between June 22 and July 19, 2025)
- Capital One Miles to Air France (Flying Blue Miles): 1:1 transfer ratio.
- Wells Fargo Rewards to Flying Blue Miles: 1:1 transfer ratio.
- Bilt Rewards to Air France (Flying Blue Miles): 1:1 transfer ratio.
How to earn Flying Blue points by flying
If you’re planning a trip, it’s worth signing up for Flying Blue and crediting any flights operated by Air France, KLM, or SkyTeam partners to your Flying Blue account. This allows you to earn miles on paid (cash) tickets, which can be used toward future award travel.
Just remember: you’ll only earn miles on paid with cash tickets; flights booked with miles do not earn additional miles.
How to earn Flying Blue Miles by opening the Air France/KLM credit card
You can also earn Flying Blue miles directly by opening the Air France–KLM World Elite Mastercard® from Bank of America. This co-branded credit card offers a generous welcome bonus, earns 3x miles on Air France, KLM, and SkyTeam purchases, and 1.5x on all other spending.
New Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard cardholders can get 50,000–70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000–$3,000 within the first 90 days.
It’s a great way to boost your Flying Blue balance without needing to transfer points from other programs.
What are the Flying Blue Promo Promo Rewards
Air France offers Promo Rewards, where you can book flights for up to 50% the miles required. These promotions are updated monthly, so if you’re flexible with your travel dates, you can snag a great deal.
How to search Air France flights using Flying Blue Miles
Step-by-Step: How to Book an Air France Flight with Flying Blue Miles
Booking an Air France flight with Flying Blue miles is simple, but there are a few key steps that first-time users should know, especially when booking for multiple family members. Here’s exactly how to do it:
- Create a Flying Blue account
Head to FlyingBlue.com and sign up for a free account. You’ll need a valid email address, and you may be asked to verify your email before logging in. - Log in and click “Book with Miles”
Once you’re logged in, go to the homepage and select the “Book with Miles” option. This ensures you see award pricing instead of cash fares. - Enter your route, travel dates, and number of travelers
Input your departure and destination airports, travel dates, and the total number of passengers, making sure to accurately include all adults and children if you’re booking a family trip. - Use the calendar view for flexible dates
If your travel dates are flexible, click on the calendar icon to compare award availability across multiple days. This is especially helpful when trying to book multiple seats on the same flight. - Search for award availability
The results will show available flights priced in miles. Air France and KLM both offer one-way and round-trip award bookings, with dynamic pricing based on seasonality and demand. - Review the mileage cost and cash fees
You’ll see the number of Flying Blue miles required for each flight, along with any taxes and carrier-imposed fees. Economy awards typically start from 15,000–25,000 miles, while business class begins around 53,000 miles. - Complete your booking
Once you’ve selected your flights, proceed to checkout. You’ll pay with your Flying Blue miles, plus any applicable taxes and fees (which can be paid with a credit card).
Tips for families booking Air France flights with points
Flying Blue Offers 25% Off Miles for Children’s Award Tickets
One great benefit of the Air France Flying Blue program for families is the 25% discount on miles required for children’s award tickets. Kids under 12 traveling with adults can redeem fewer miles, making family trips more affordable when booking flights with Flying Blue miles.
This discount applies to award flights operated by Air France and KLM, helping parents maximize their points value and save significantly on long-haul flights to Europe or other destinations. Be sure to include your children’s ages accurately during booking to take advantage of this valuable family-friendly perk.
- Book early for availability: Families should book as early as possible (especially if traveling during peak times like summer or the holidays). Air France often releases award seats 359 days in advance, giving you a better chance of securing seats for your entire family.
- Flexibility is key: Airline award availability fluctuates, so it helps to be flexible with your travel dates.
- Consider premium cabins for more comfort: Booking business or premium cabins can make your flight much more comfortable, especially on long-haul routes. Air France offers a great product in business class, with plenty of amenities to keep your family comfortable. You can read about our Air France Business Class Flight Review, Paris to Los Angeles here.
Bottom line
Booking an Air France flight using points is a great way to save money and make your family’s dream trip to France more affordable. Whether you’re flying to Paris, the French Riviera, or beyond, the Flying Blue program provides flexibility and value for family travel.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can make the most of your points and start planning your next European adventure with your family.
