Avoid KLM’s new short-haul baggage fee by opening a Flying Blue account

From April 22nd, Dutch airline KLM is taking the somewhat-bold step of introducing baggage charges on all short-haul fights.

(I know that BA has de-facto done this at Gatwick, by giving you a discount on your ticket if you agree not to bring a suitcase.  This is still a rare move by a ‘legacy’ airline, though.)

1 piece of hand baggage and 1 handbag (or other ‘accessory’) will remain free.  The suitcase fee will be €15 per case if booked online, and €30 if you pay at the airport.

There is, however, a way of avoiding this fee.

There are four scenarios under which you don’t pay the baggage fee for your first suitcase:

• You are a Flying Blue member
• You are a SkyTeam Elite Plus member
• You are travelling on a corporate or a BlueBiz account
• You book a fully flexible ticket (booking class Y or B) within Europe
• You are flying to and from Belarus, Georgia, Italy, Russia or the Ukraine. Or on an intercontinental KLM flight – including if you will be flying within Europe as part of an intercontinental journey.

The first bullet point is the key one.  If you have a Flying Blue account – even the basic free one – you will not pay the baggage fee for your first case.

If you ever fly KLM, there is no excuse not to join Flying Blue (see here) and ensure that your membership number is in your bookings.

Note that basic level members of other SkyTeam programmes (Delta etc) do NOT get a free suitcase.  This means that Delta and other SkyTeam base level members need to choose between receiving miles for the flight or taking a free suitcase.  Although, if you’re lucky, you may be able to get a ticket desk to switch the frequent flyer number in your booking after you’ve checked in.

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How to earn Flying Blue miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

Air France and KLM do not have a UK Flying Blue credit card.  However, you can earn Flying Blue miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.

These cards earn Membership Rewards points:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 20,000 Flying Blue miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 50,000 Flying Blue miles

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 10,000 Flying Blue miles. This card is FREE for life.

Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 into Flying Blue miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 1 Flying Blue mile.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Air France and KLM but with any airline.