Match your British Airways status to KLM / Air France’s Flying Blue (SkyTeam)

Flying Blue, the Air France / KLM loyalty programme, has launched a status match specifically for UK residents.

You can use your British Airways Executive Club status to get a direct match into the Flying Blue programme. This includes giving Flying Blue Platinum status to British Airways Executive Club Gold members.

Your elite status would be valid across all 19 airlines in the SkyTeam alliance, including Virgin Atlantic, as well as Flying Blue’s own partners.

You can apply here.

There is a £99 administration fee.

Back in 2023, when Delta Air Lines announced unwelcome changes to its frequent flyer programme, it is estimated that 100,000 elite members matched to five different airlines which launched campaigns.

Delta was eventually forced to roll back on its proposed changes, with American Express (Delta’s co-brand partner) rumoured to have got involved. Let’s see if this Flying Blue campaign is followed by any others.

What will I get for my British Airways status?

All three elite tiers are being matched:

• Executive Club Bronze will get you Flying Blue Silver (SkyTeam Elite)

• Executive Club Silver will get you Flying Blue Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus)

• Executive Club Gold will get you Flying Blue Platinum (SkyTeam Elite Plus)

What status benefits do I get with Flying Blue?

You can see the status benefits you get with each tier here when flying with Air France and KLM.

The benefits of Silver, which matches from BA Bronze and is equivalent in terms of what you get, are mainly around seat selection and additional checked baggage.

Gold is where it starts to get interesting, which is what a BA Silver member gets. At this level you get lounge access (with a guest) plus seating and baggage benefits.

Platinum members (matched from BA Gold) get additional priority, baggage and seating benefits. For example, you can select an ‘extra leg room’ seat, a seat at the front of the aircraft or a KLM ‘Economy Comfort’ seat for free at the time of booking, whilst a Gold can only book one 72 hours before departure if any remain.

There is a detailed matrix on this page which shows the full list of benefits by tier.

A quick word about children

One key difference between Flying Blue Platinum and Flying Blue Gold is lounge access for children under 18.

A Flying Blue Platinum member can, as well as their standard one guest, bring children under 18 into an Air France or KLM lounge with them. This is a very generous policy by global standards.

A Gold member can only bring one guest in total.

A quick mention about La Premiere

As this is HfP, it would be remiss not to mention La Premiere, the exceptionally well regarded Air France First Class product. This includes what is generally accepted to be the best ‘ground’ experience in the world when travelling from Paris CdG.

You can only redeem Flying Blue miles for La Premiere if you hold Platinum status or above in Flying Blue. This status match could give you the status you need, and you could transfer in – say – American Express Membership Rewards points to pay for the redemption. Note that you will never see more than one redemption seat available per flight, but that’s not surprising given that it is only a four seat cabin.

Which airlines can I get benefits on with my Flying Blue status?

Your status is valid across the entire SkyTeam alliance, which now comprises 19 airlines:

• Aerolíneas Argentinas
• Aeromexico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• Delta Air Lines
• Garuda Indonesia
• ITA Airways
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Middle East Airlines
• SAS
• SAUDIA
• TAROM
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Xiamen Air

In addition, Flying Blue Gold and Platinum members can access Air Mauritius, GOL and Qantas lounges when travelling on Air France or KLM codeshares operated by these carriers. No guests are allowed.

I need to flag one thing about Virgin Atlantic. There is a carve out from SkyTeam rules for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Heathrow Terminal 3:

• if you have Platinum status with Flying Blue, you can only enter the Heathrow Clubhouse if flying in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic. If you are in Economy, you will be sent to another lounge in the terminal.

• if you have Gold status with Flying Blue you will be sent to another lounge whether you are in Economy or Premium Economy

This rule does NOT apply to other Clubhouse lounges – only Heathrow Terminal 3. All other SkyTeam benefits apply – you can use the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Wing to check-in if you are Flying Blue Gold or Platinum for example.

It is important to note that both Flying Blue Gold (from BA Silver) and Flying Blue Platinum (from BA Gold) match to SkyTeam’s top Elite Plus level. You get an identical level of alliance benefits.

How long does your matched status last?

12 months.

Your match should be approved within three business days (subject to requests for further ID or UK residency proof) and your account will be upgraded within the next five business days.

You will need to earn the standard number of XP (the Flying Blue tier points currency) within that time to retain your status.

Whilst Flying Blue usually operates a ‘soft landing’ policy, it does not apply to these matches. If you do not requalify you will drop straight back down to the base level.

How do you apply for your status match?

Flying Blue and its processing partner, Loyalty Status Co, have set up an application website here.

There is an application fee of £99.

Conclusion

If you currently have British Airways Executive Club elite status, you will probably lose it in April 2026. You need to be realistic about this.

Maintaining Gold will require around £35,000 to £40,000 of spend on economy flights or £25,000 to £30,000 of premium cabin flights, to get to £20,000 of net spend. You are likely to need at least £10,000 of gross spend to get to £7,500 of net spend to keep Silver.

If you are thinking of switching to the world of Air France / KLM / Virgin Atlantic / SkyTeam, this is a good opportunity.

It should be especially interesting if you live outside the Heathrow catchment area, since KLM flies from 18 regional airports – including some you wouldn’t expect, such as Norwich and Humberside, with Exeter launching soon – to the world via Amsterdam. Air France also has a strong regional presence, although not quite as big.

It is also well worth a look if you have occasional Virgin Atlantic trips. Being able to use the Upper Class Wing is cool – and you can get that even as Flying Blue Gold – and you get seating and baggage benefits, even if the Clubhouse at Terminal 3 is restricted.

You can find out more, and apply, on the status match website here.

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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.