July 14 might not mean much to many Americans, but for those of French descent, it’s a day to celebrate everything French. Bastille Day is the French national holiday celebrating the storming of the feared royal jail in 1789 – a key event in the French Revolution. The holiday, officially known as le fête nationale française, is celebrated in over 20 U.S. cities, but the best place to experience the magic is by taking a trip to the City of Lights – Paris itself. Here’s how you can do it with the help of Air France rewards.
How to Maximize Miles with the Air France Credit Card
Planning a trip to Paris is an exciting (and expensive) endeavor, but there are ways to help lessen the blow to your wallet. One such option is to earn frequent flyer miles to get you to France, and a great place to start is the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® from Bank of America. The premium airline credit card offers rewards that can potentially offset the cost of your flight, plus a huge bonus miles welcome offer and more.
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®
- 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 23.24% to 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
Designed for avid travelers, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® rewards generously for flight purchases and offers versatility when it’s time to redeem your earnings.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- 3X miles per $1 spent directly on purchases with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member carriers
- 1.5X miles per $1 on all other purchases
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles and $100 statement credit after making $2,000 in purchases within 90 days
- 5,000 miles anniversary bonus after spending $50 in purchases within anniversary year
- 20 XP every account anniversary with additional 40 XP after spending $15,000 or more per year
- No foreign transaction fee
- Regular Purchase APR: 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 20.24% to 28.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: $10 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 23.24% to 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: $10 or 3% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Penalty APR: Up to 29.99% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Annual Fee: $89
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $29
- You travel often, whether for business or pleasure
- You're a member of the Flying Blue loyalty program
- You want flexibility when redeeming your accumulated miles and the ability to choose from multiple airlines for flight awards
- You're planning to use a credit card for purchases abroad or in foreign currencies
Here’s how to maximize your earning with the Air France credit card and get you booked on your next dream vacation:
Maximize Your Air France Rewards Miles with Flying Blue
The easiest way to earn an award ticket to France is using the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®. The airline card’s rewards aren’t game-changing, but they provide value for money for those who frequently fly with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, or another SkyTeam member. Cardholders can earn the following rewards with the card:
- 3X miles per $1 spent directly on purchases with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and SkyTeam member carriers
- 1.5X miles per $1 on all other purchases
The 3X category might sound restrictive, but an impressive number of global carriers qualify for that accelerated rate. Beyond KLM and Air France, cardholders can also earn 3X miles when booking with other SkyTeam Alliance members. SkyTeam comprises of more than two dozen carriers, including:
| Aeromexico | China Airlines | Garuda Indonesia | Air France | Saudia |
| Air Europa | China Eastern Airlines | Kenya Airlines | China Southern Airlines | TAROM |
| Aeroflot | Czech Airlines | LATAM | Korean Air | Vietnam Airlines |
| Aerolineas Argentinas | Delta Air Lines | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | Middle East Airlines | XiamenAir |
| Air Europa | ITA Airways | Virgin Atlantic | Shanghai Airlines | JinAir |
But the 3X miles apply to even more carriers than those 25. Cardholders also earn the maximum points with other Flying Blue partners, featuring the following:
| Le Club Accor Hotels | Budget Rental Cars | IHG Rewards | My Boutique Hotel |
| Hilton Honors | Driving Blue taxi Service | Thrifty Car Rental | Radisson Hotels |
| Marriot Bonvoy | Enterprise Rent-A-Car | World Hotels Collection | Shangri-La Hotels |
| Avis Rental Cars | Europcar Rental Cars | Yotel Hotels | Sixt Ren-A-Car |
| Batavia Stad Fashion Outlet | Golden Tulip Hotels | Radisson | The Bicester Village Shopping Collection |
| Best Western | World of Hyatt |
Use the Card for Everyday Purchases
Maximizing rewards is about making the miles work within your normal spending – not breaking the bank to meet the categories. The Air France/KLM credit card is also great for everyday purchases thanks to its unlimited 1.5X miles earned on all other eligible purchases. This means you can use the card for groceries, dining, streaming, commuting, and more.
Wait for the Right Welcome Offer
Welcome offers are a great way to quickly amass huge miles, points, or even cash back. These sign-up bonuses require any new accountholders to meet a minimum spending requirement (or another threshold) in return for a substantial bonus reward.
New Air France KLM Mastercard accounts can currently earn 70,000 bonus miles after making at least $2,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening that account. That welcome offer is generous, although occasionally, Bank of America will boost the sign-up bonus further to attract new applicants. And since a one-way ticket to JFK to Paris (for example) requires about 60,000 miles, you can reach those rewards faster than you might realize.
Consider Flying Blue’s Promo Awards
Flying Blue offers monthly promotional awards with discounted redemption rates for specific routes. Keep an eye on these promotions, called “Promo Rewards,” as they can significantly reduce the miles required for your flight to Paris. Promo Rewards change monthly, though they offer 20-50% in discounts off select awards for travel on Air France and KLM routes.
Summing It Up
So, is a completely free flight from the U.S. to Paris solely possible through earning Flying Blue miles? Yes, but it will require maximizing your spending in key categories and a lot of patience. Spending big to reach a welcome bonus might sound good, but opening yourself up to frivolous spending can seriously hurt your finances and lead to further trouble later.
Instead, carefully manage your spending to ensure you are within your budget, and watch for special fares through SkyTeam or Flying Blue. Careful planning, early booking, and taking advantage of partner airlines and promotions can help you make the most of the Air France/KLM credit card and bring your dream trip to Paris within reach.
Related Article: The Ultimate Guide to Airline Credit Cards
Featured image by Skitterphoto/PixaBay
Editorial Disclosure – The opinions expressed on BestCards.com's reviews, articles, and all other content on or relating to the website are solely those of the content’s author(s). These opinions do not reflect those of any card issuer or financial institution, and editorial content on our site has not been reviewed or approved by these entities unless noted otherwise. Further, BestCards.com lists credit card offers that are frequently updated with information believed to be accurate to the best of our team's knowledge. However, please review the information provided directly by the credit card issuer or related financial institution for full details.
