Do Flying Blue Miles Expire?
Flying Blue miles expire after 24 months of inactivity. Here are 4 ways to keep them active - plus a bonus tip that works perfectly for Indians transferring from HDFC.
If you're using the HDFC or Axis Bank Credits cards to move points to Flying Blue, this is a must-read.
YES, Flying Blue points expire after 24 months of inactivity.
But there's good news - you can keep them active for a lifetime if you know what counts as "activity."
Here are 4 ways to keep your Flying Blue miles from expiring:
1. Fly on an Eligible Flight at Least Once Every 2 Years
Travel on Air France, KLM, or any of their partner airlines and credit the flight to your Flying Blue account.
The SkyTeam alliance has plenty of partners - check the full list here: Flying Blue Partners
Even a short domestic flight on a partner carrier counts.
2. Hold Silver, Gold, or Platinum Status
Your Flying Blue elite status does more than get you lounge access, extra baggage, and fast check-in.
Status members don't have to worry about expiry - your points stay active as long as you maintain your tier.
This is a significant benefit that many people overlook when calculating the value of airline status.
3. Make a Purchase with a Partner Bank Card
If you have an eligible co-branded Flying Blue credit card, any purchase resets your expiry clock.
The catch for Indians: Unfortunately, there's no partner bank card with Air France-KLM available in India yet. So this option doesn't work for us.
4. Track Your Points with Magnify
This won't extend your points, but it'll make sure you never forget about them.
Log your Flying Blue points in the Magnify app, and we'll send you reminders before they expire. We help you redeem your rewards efficiently so nothing goes to waste.
Bonus: Transfers Count as Activity Too!
Here's the big one for Indians: transferring points INTO your Flying Blue account counts as qualifying activity and extends your expiry.
Big thanks to Akash (@ccg33k) for confirming this works.
This means every time you use the HDFC transfer bonus (or transfer from Amex, Marriott, etc.), your 24-month clock resets.
So if you're worried about your Flying Blue balance expiring, just do a small transfer every 18-20 months to keep everything alive.
The Bottom Line
For most Indians without Flying Blue status or a partner card, your best options are:
- Transfer points periodically - Even a small transfer resets the clock
- Fly a partner airline - Credit any SkyTeam flight to Flying Blue
- Track in Magnify - So you never miss the expiry date
Don't let those hard-earned miles vanish into thin air.
