Flying Blue on the hunt for frequent flyers: there are about 20 Italian Ultimate
The airline loyalty program is increasingly becoming a key asset not only to know in detail [...]
KLM
Air France
The airline loyalty program Is increasingly becoming a key asset not only to know the traveler in detail, but more importantly to make more and more money. Lots of money.
In this article:
Wouter Gregorowitsch and Eleonore Tramus at TTG 2022
Contrary to what you might think in fact points and award tickets don't create holes in budgets of carriers, in fact they inflate them so much that loyalty programs are real golden goose eggs: the best companies make hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.
At the recent TTG, I had a chance to meet and chat with many of the French company's managers in Italy, starting with number one, the director
Air France/KLM knows very well how important and profitable the loyalty program is, and for that Has begun, also on the Italian territory, a strong expansion which aims to attract more and more users within Flying Blue.
To date there are more than half a million Italian subscribers to the program French/Dutch loyalty. Of these a tiny, tiny fraction can boast of owning the most important card in the loyalty program: the Ultimate. Just over 20 Italian users have this card in their wallet (or wallet).
What is the Ultimate card
This level is reserved for those who fly a lot (and often) with group companies. The reason is simple: points for obtaining this status are accumulated only when flying AF and KLM.
Each member when flying earns XP points, points needed to achieve status up to Platinum. To go further, it is necessary to accumulate UXP points.
To become Ultimate one must accumulate, over a 24-month period, 1800 points. The amount of points you accumulate for each flight is the same as XP points. Accumulation is triggered the moment you achieve Platinum level, and it is retroactive, but obviously if you don't fly a lot with AF/KLM it is an impossible status to achieve, not even with milesruns.
The benefits of Ultimate status
Personally I find this status unattractive, or rather I find the benefits attached to this status too unintimidating given the "effort" required to obtain it. The main benefits are:
- Physical card upon reaching the level (today FB no longer sends luggage cards and badges).
- Personalized welcome at the airport
- Priority boarding, even before it is open to the rest of the passengers. Basically together with the staff
- Reserved areas in lounges
- Two class upgrades per year. You can go up one class on a route of your choice. From eco to premium, from premium to business. No possibility of doing Upgrade in La Premiere. The operation is simple: you book and use the certificate if there is room in the upper class.
Flying Blue in Italy, expansion in sight
Over the past year, FB has announced several partnerships, from the ability to accumulate Points and XP by staying at hotels in the French Accor chain, to partnerships with Limolane and the luxury outlet chain Land of Fashion.
"We are considering an expansion of partners in the Italian territory, because we strongly believe in the opportunity for the FF card to become an everyday companion not only when traveling aboard our aircraft." Thus Eleonore Tramus, general manager Air France.
TTG was also an opportunity to talk about new products that the two carriers are ready to launch in the market. One, KLM's premium economy, has already started flying while Air France's new business class cabin will soon be the turn. "Two important investments for our company to offer more and more of the highest level of product to our passengers." The focus for winter 2022 remains North America, where the first planes with the new cabins will fly.
Flying Blue and I
As I have written several times here on TFC, I decided to jump into this program when I was "burned out" by the Millemiglia program., from 2020 I therefore decided to credit all Skyteam flights on the FB card.
Thanks to the many promotions, I quickly managed to become Platinum and today, October 2022, I have already obtained enough XP to renew my membership until April 2024.
In addition, compared with, for example, the Tier Points of British Airways, the excess XP points Are rollovers, meaning they are moved to the next collection, so nothing is lost, and everything accumulated beyond what is needed will be used the following year to start the renewal hunt again.
Monthly promos
One of the most valuable features of the program are the offers of the month. In fact, every first day of the month, the program makes available dozens of destinations, bookable with points, discounted up to 50%.
In the past, the opportunity has been given to fly to Papetee, literally the farthest place to go, with only 44k FB points in business. Or the Caribbean business class for less than 35 thousand punti or yet a ticket to New York from 11.25o FB
How to accumulate FB points in Italy
As mentioned there are the promotions and partnerships with Accor, Limolane and Land of Fashion, but mainly the best way is to fly. You can accumulate points not only by flying KLM and AF, but also with all the other Skyteam partners.
Without flying and without spending anything you can convert Membership Rewards points to FB points, points accumulate with all American Express cards for free: you earn one MR point Every euro spent with the card. If you are not yet a cardholder, I recommend that you start by With American Express Gold which is free the first year and also offers a discount voucher to new holders.
Then there is a corporate credit card which allows you to accumulate up to 1.5 FB points for every euro spent. His name is Mooncard And, if you aim to maximize collection in the French/Dutch program, No other product guarantees these levels of accumulation.
