Flying Blue has rolled out some minor changes to the frequent flier program this past week; Silver and Gold status improved with more free seating options (read more here), and new invitations for Personal Assistance went out (read more here).
Now, Flying Blue sent out an email about evolving Ultimate status. However, what merely changes is the qualification period that goes from two years to one and the introduction of surplus UXPs.
You can access Flying Blue’s page for the announcement here.
Flying Blue is the frequent flier program for Air France and KLM and Air Calin, Kenya Airways, Tarom, and Transavia.
You have been able to get two years of Flying Blue Ultimate status by earning 1,800 Ultimate Experience Points (UXP) over two year qualification period. UXPs can be only earned on Air France, and KLM-marketed flights.
The qualification period changes to a year, and you are required to earn 900 UXPs, and the status is valid for one year. The surplus UXPs only can roll over once to the following year (not indefinitely until you don’t qualify like with Platinum).
I was recently chatting with a reader, and I asked them what Flying Blue Ultimate benefits they find useful:
1. By far preboarding: no more waiting in lines, often also free upgrades in European embreaer flights to BC.
2. Direct calls with KLM for change of flights (once they even called the pilot in bad weather to find out if he would make it , if not, I could already go to hotel for stay over)
3. Free bc upgrade 2x a year
4. Dining with KLM management
5. Free access to golf tournament
6. Family treated as Platinum members
Announcement Email:
In Text Format:
Flying Blue Ultimate is evolving, so you can reach or maintain your exclusive privileges even sooner.
Starting from 1 January 2024, earning 900 UXP within your qualification year will grant you one year of Flying Blue Ultimate status, instead of requiring 1800 UXP in two years for two years of Flying Blue Ultimate status.
Earn more than 900 UXP in one year? Rest assured, surplus UXP will be valid for your next qualification period. Please note that the surplus UXP will not carry over to future years.
Check out the upcoming adjustments below based on qualification end date.
Conclusion
So, now we have minor changes to Silver, Gold, and Ultimate tiers, but nothing yet for Platinum.
Elite qualifying XPs can roll over until you have exhausted them, unlike Ultimate ones that can only roll over once.
Due to various Flying Blue promotions and AeroMexico flights that I took in 2021 and 2022, I qualified for Flying Blue Platinum at least until 2025. So let’s see if there will be a change in how these roll over in the coming years.
Frequently asked questions:
What is the impact of this change of rules?
As of January 1, 2024, you will qualify for Flying Blue Ultimate the same way you qualify for Silver, Gold, or Platinum. 900 UXP in one qualification year will be required to reach Flying Blue Ultimate status, and you will enjoy your status for one year.
We are introducing Surplus UXP too so that any UXP you earn above the 900 UXP threshold will be carried over to the next qualification period. This evolution provides flexibility in how to reach and maintain your status in future years.
If you don’t reach the 900 UXP threshold, you will downgrade after one year.
How does surplus UXP work?
If you earn more than 900 UXP in one qualification year, this surplus UXP will be carried over to your next qualification period. Please note that the surplus UXP is limited to the next qualification year only and will not carry over to future years.
For example: if you earn 1000 UXP in 2024 and your qualification period ends in December 2024, 100 UXP will be carried over in your qualification period starting on January 1, 2025. If you earn an additional 800 UXP in 2025, 900 UXP will be deducted from your counter, and you will renew your Flying Blue Ultimate status once again until December 2026. More details will be shared later. Keep an eye on this page for further updates.
I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends in December 2023; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
During the transition phase from two years to one year, if you earn 1800 UXP or more by the end of your current Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period, then you will maintain Flying Blue Ultimate for two more years, just as you do now: on January 1, 2024, your UXP will be withdrawn to maintain your Flying Blue Ultimate status except for 900 UXP, allowing you to enjoy Flying Blue Ultimate status in 2025.
If you earn more than 900 UXP in 2024, it will carry over to 2025 as surplus UXP. If you don’t earn 1800 UXP by the end of December 2023, you will downgrade to Platinum and start a new Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period in January 2024 according to the new rules in place at that time.
I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends before December 2024; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
900 UXP will be deducted from your UXP counter on January 1, 2024, which is the new required annual threshold. For you, this means:
- If you have more than 900 UXP in your counter on December 31, 2023, you will start the year with UXP remaining in your counter, which will help you reach the 900 UXP needed before the end of your next qualification period.
- If you have fewer than 900 UXP in your counter on December 31, 2023, your counter will reset at 0 UXP, and you will need to earn 900 UXP by the end of your qualification period.
If you requalify for Flying Blue Ultimate by the end of your qualification period, you will maintain Flying Blue Ultimate for two more years. UXP you earn above 900 UXP in 2024 will remain yours in 2025 as surplus UXP.
I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends on December 31, 2024; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
900 UXP will be deducted from your UXP counter on January 1, 2024, which is the new required annual threshold. For you, this means:
- If you have more than 900 UXP at your counter on December 31, 2023, you will start the year with UXP remaining in your counter, which will help you reach the 900 UXP needed before the end of your next qualification period.
- If you have fewer than 900 UXP in your counter on December 31, 2023, your counter will reset at 0 UXP, and you will need to earn 900 UXP by the end of your qualification period.
If you requalify for Flying Blue Ultimate by December 2024, you will maintain Flying Blue Ultimate for one year. UXP you earn above 900 UXP in 2024 will remain yours in 2025 as surplus UXP.
I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends in 2025; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
Your Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period and status remain unchanged. Your qualification period and status will be preponed by one year, and 900 UXP will be added to your counter as of January 1, 2024, ensuring you requalify for your second year as Flying Blue Ultimate.UXP you earn above 900 UXP during your qualification period will remain yours as surplus UXP for the following qualification period.
I am currently a Platinum member, and my Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period ends in December 2023; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
If you earn Flying Blue Ultimate status before December 2023, please refer to the following question:
I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends in 2025; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
If you do not earn 1800 UXP by December 31, 2023, you will start a new Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period in 2024 according to the new rules, meaning you need to reach 900 UXP by December 31, 2024.
I am currently a Platinum member, and my Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period ends between January and November 2024; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
If you earn Flying Blue Ultimate before December 2023, please refer to the following question:
I am currently a Flying Blue Ultimate member, and my qualification period ends in 2025; what will be the impact for me as of January 1, 2024?
If you do not earn 1800 UXP by the end of December 2023, you must reach 900 UXP by the end of your current Flying Blue Ultimate qualification period instead of 1800 UXP.
On January 1, 2024, 900 UXP will be deducted from your UXP counter, which is the new required annual threshold. For you, this means:
- If you have more than 900 UXP in your counter on December 31, 2023, you will start 2024 with UXP remaining in your counter, which will help you reach the 900 UXP needed before the end of your qualification period.
- If you have fewer than 900 UXP on December 31, 2023, your counter will reset at 0 UXP, and you will need to earn 900 UXP by the end of your qualification period.
If you earn Flying Blue Ultimate by the end of your qualification period, you will keep your Flying Blue Ultimate status for two more years. UXP you earn above 900 UXP in 2024 will remain yours in 2025 as surplus UXP.
Is it worth earning UXP in 2023?
As a current Flying Blue Ultimate member with a Flying Blue Ultimate qualification end date of December 31, 2024. The UXP you earn in 2023 above 900 UXP will be carried forward as a headstart towards your next qualification year beginning on January 1, 2024.
As a current Flying Blue Platinum member with a Flying Blue Ultimate qualification end date of December 31, 2023, UXP earned between 900 UXP and 1799 UXP (without qualifying for Flying Blue Ultimate status) in 2023 will not carry over to your UXP counter on January 1, 2024.
For how long can I use my Flying Blue Ultimate benefits (e.g. complimentary upgrades)?
If you became a Flying Blue Ultimate member before the cutover date, you will enjoy your Flying Blue Ultimate status and its associated benefits until the same end date. As a Flying Blue Ultimate member, you still have the same number of upgrades per year. Upgrade requests must be made during your benefit year, but the travel date can be up to 50 weeks in the future.
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