Flying Blue Introduces Light, Standard and Flex Award Fares
Flying Blue is making a major change to award bookings on Air France and KLM. Beginning September 8, 2026, members will see three fare options when redeeming miles: Light, Standard and Flex.
The biggest change is in business class. Business Light will not include lounge access and will be nonrefundable and non-changeable. Advance seat selection will also cost extra, although you’ll still receive one checked bag up to 32 kg, two carry-ons and SkyPriority.
For example, Flying Blue provided this comparison for a Paris-New York business-class award:
- Light: 60,000 miles + $608.83
- Standard: 75,000 miles + $608.83
- Flex: 110,000 miles + $302.82
Standard includes lounge access and two checked bags, with changes and refunds available for €70. Flex adds advance seat selection and free changes and refunds while also eliminating the carrier-imposed surcharges in this example.
Similar Light, Standard and Flex options are coming to economy and premium economy awards as well. Flying Blue and other SkyTeam elites will continue receiving benefits associated with their status even when booking Light fares, making the changes less painful for elite members.
Guru’s Wrap-up
There’s definitely some added choice here, but this is still a devaluation for many Flying Blue members. You can still book 60K business-class awards between Europe and North America, but those cheapest awards will now come without lounge access or the ability to change or cancel. If you want something resembling today’s award ticket, you’ll need to spend 15K more miles for Standard.
