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Amex Flying Blue 20% Bonus: Business Class to Europe from 50K Points
July 1, 2025
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Just announced: American Express Membership Rewards is offering a 20% transfer bonus to Air France-KLM Flying Blue through October 31, 2025. This limited-time promo makes premium business class travel to Europe more accessible than ever.
How the 20% Flying Blue Transfer Bonus Works
Through October 31, 2025, you'll receive bonus Flying Blue miles when transferring American Express Membership Rewards points:
- Standard rate: 1,000 Amex points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles
- With 20% bonus: 1,000 Amex points = 1,200 Flying Blue miles
- Minimum transfer: 1,000 points
- Maximum transfer: 999,000 points
- Transfer speed: Typically instant, allowing up to 48 hours for miles to post
Example Transfer Scenarios
- Transfer 10,000 points → Receive 13,000 Flying Blue miles (as mentioned in the announcement)
- Transfer 50,000 points → Receive 60,000 Flying Blue miles
- Transfer 75,000 points → Receive 90,000 Flying Blue miles
Real-World Redemption: Business Class to Amsterdam
Let's break down the exact example from the announcement:
Route: Washington Dulles (IAD) to Amsterdam (AMS) round-trip in business class
Flying Blue Award Cost: 90,000 miles + $629 in taxes/fees
With the 20% Amex bonus: Transfer just 75,000 Amex points to get 90,000 Flying Blue miles
Your Effective Cost:
- 75,000 points (minimum value: $750)
- Plus $629 in fees
- Total: $1,379
Cash Price Comparison: $2,450-$7,000 for the same round-trip business class flight
Savings: $1,071-$5,621 compared to paying cash
Even with higher taxes and fees on Air France/KLM awards, you're still getting exceptional value for premium cabin travel across the Atlantic.
Best Ways to Maximize This Transfer Bonus
1. Pair with Flying Blue Monthly Promo Rewards 🔥
This is the secret sauce. Flying Blue offers monthly discounted awards called Promo Rewards. When combined with the 20% transfer bonus, the value is amazing:
Standard Promo Rewards to Europe:
- Economy: 18,750 miles → Only 16,000 Amex points with bonus
- Business class: 45,000 miles → Only 38,000 Amex points with bonus
2. Book Business Class Sweet Spots
North America to Europe
- 60,000 Flying Blue miles one-way = 50,000 Amex points with bonus
- Routes include New York, Washington, Los Angeles, and more to Paris, Amsterdam, and London
Short-Haul Delta Flights
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas: 5,000 miles one-way = 9,000 Amex points round-trip
- Perfect for quick domestic hops using SkyTeam partner Delta
U.S. to South Africa via Amsterdam
- KLM business class: 115,000 miles = 96,000 Amex points with bonus
- One of the best ways to reach Africa in a premium cabin
3. Book Partner Airlines
Flying Blue isn't just Air France and KLM. You can also book awards on:
- Delta Air Lines (extensive U.S. network)
- Virgin Atlantic (select routes)
- Kenya Airways (Africa)
- China Eastern (Asia)
- All other SkyTeam partners
Important: Flying Blue Miles Expiration
Critical detail: Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of inactivity.
Important: Transferring Amex points does NOT count as qualifying activity.
How to keep miles active:
- Take a flight on Air France, KLM, or any SkyTeam partner
- Purchase with the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3794", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "3x at Air France, KLM"} ]]
- Book a partner hotel or car rental through Flying Blue
Kudos tip: Only transfer points when you have a specific redemption planned within the next 2 years.
Transfer Bonus History: Why Act Now
Amex to Flying Blue transfer bonuses have become less frequent over time:
- 2018-2022: Multiple 25% bonuses annually
- 2023: Two 25% bonuses
- 2024: One 20% bonus (November 2024)
- 2025: Current 20% bonus (October 2025)
The gap between bonuses is widening. The last transfer bonus was nearly a full year ago, making this a rare opportunity worth seizing.
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer
- Create a Flying Blue account at flyingblue.com (if you don't have one)
- Log into your Amex account
- Navigate to Membership Rewards
- Select "Transfer to Travel Partners"
- Choose Air France-KLM Flying Blue
- Enter the amount to transfer (minimum 1,000 points)
- Confirm the transfer – you'll see the 20% bonus automatically applied
Which Amex Cards Earn Membership Rewards?
This bonus works with Membership Rewards points from cards, including:
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "106", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Serious Points on Flights"} ]]
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2290", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Business Owners", "headerHint" : "Premium Offer" } ]]
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "118", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Generous Travel Rewards"} ]]
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "259", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Small Business Owners", "headerHint" : "Simple Rewards" } ]]
Other Ways to Earn Flying Blue Miles
If you transfer your Amex points and still need more Flying Blue miles:
Other transferable currencies:
- Bilt Rewards (1:1)
- Capital One miles (2:1.5)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1)
- Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1)
- Wells Fargo Rewards (1:1)
Buy miles: Flying Blue occasionally offers purchase bonuses, though it's typically more valuable to transfer from credit cards.
Sample Business Class Awards from the U.S. to Europe
Business class flights from the East Coast to Paris or Amsterdam typically cost 60,000 Flying Blue miles one-way, which translates to just 50,000 Amex points with this 20% bonus. Cash prices for these same flights typically range from $3,000-$6,000. If you're flying from the West Coast, expect to pay 77,500 Flying Blue miles (65,000 Amex points with the bonus) for the same premium experience, with cash prices often reaching $4,000-$8,000.
The real magic happens when you combine this transfer bonus with Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards. Discounted business class awards to Europe drop to just 45,000 miles, meaning you'd only need to transfer 38,000 Amex points to secure a transatlantic business class seat normally costing $3,000-$6,000. Taxes and fees typically range from $150-$650, depending on your specific route and whether you're flying Air France or KLM.
Key Terms and Conditions
- Offer period: October 1 - October 31, 2025 (ends 11:59 PM MT)
- Eligibility: Must have an existing Flying Blue account
- No reversals: Once transferred, points cannot be moved back to Amex
- Transfers are final: Miles post to your Flying Blue account permanently
- No expiration exceptions: 24-month activity requirement still applies
Bottom Line: Should You Transfer?
Transfer if:
- ✅ You have a specific award booking in mind
- ✅ You can use the miles within 24 months
- ✅ You're targeting business class to Europe
- ✅ You can combine with Promo Rewards for maximum value
Wait if:
- ❌ You're transferring speculatively without a plan
- ❌ You won't fly within 2 years (expiration risk)
- ❌ You're hoping for a better bonus (history shows these are rare)
Take Action Before October 31st
Transfer bonuses to Flying Blue don't happen often anymore. With business class to Europe starting at just 50,000 Amex points (when combined with this bonus), now is the time to plan that dream trip.
Pro tip: Check Flying Blue's current Promo Rewards before transferring to see if your destination is on sale. The combination of a transfer bonus + Promo Rewards creates unbeatable value.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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