Air France / KLM Flying Blue cuts redemption rates for 2026 Delta flights

Air France / KLM Flying Blue has had a checkered last few months. It raised award prices on its own flights in January under the auspices that it was necessary in order to provide more availability, but then it took a hatchet to award space from the US – Europe. However, Thrifty Traveler has noticed […] The post Air France / KLM Flying Blue cuts redemption rates for 2026 Delta flights appeared first on Frequent Miler. Frequent Miler may receive compensation from CHASE. American Express, Capital One, or other partners.

May 17, 2025 - 06:04

Air France / KLM Flying Blue cuts redemption rates for 2026 Delta flights

Air France / KLM Flying Blue has had a checkered last few months. It raised award prices on its own flights in January under the auspices that it was necessary in order to provide more availability, but then it took a hatchet to award space from the US – Europe.

However, Thrifty Traveler has noticed an unusual bright spot in the way that Flying Blue is pricing award flights on its SkyTeam partner, Delta. Starting in 2026, it appears that it has slashed award rates for many Delta economy flights by ~20-30%.

The Deal

Starting in 2026, it appears that Air France / KLM Flying Blue is lowering its award prices for many economy flights on Delta by ~20-30%
- 2025 flights are unaffected.
Here’s a few examples, including some from Thrifty Traveler (2025 price/2026 price):
- Atlanta – Chicago (8,000/5,500)
- Columbus, Ohio – Salt Lake City (16,500/11,000)
- Detroit – Honolulu (30,000/24,000)
- Detroit – Munich (32,000/26,000)
- Los Angeles – New York (20,000/13,500)
- Los Angeles – Sydney, Australia (53,000/42,500)
- Minneapolis – Amsterdam (28,000/22,500) r
- Minneapolis to Mexico City (14,500/9,500)
- Seattle – Tokyo (65,000/51,000)

Quick Thoughts

This is an odd, although very welcome quirk. It doesn’t appear to apply to the few Delta One flights that I found and it also doesn’t seem to apply to ALL Delta economy flights. That said, it certainly is widespread.

The fact that the discount is exclusively on 2026 flights makes me think that this is one of the periodic Flying Blue pricing guffaws that will at some point be corrected. I’d love to be wrong, of course, and would applaud Flying Blue for actually lowering award prices on partner flights. If it does stick, it will make Flying Blue one of the most appealing ways to book Delta flights using points and miles. I’m just having a hard time understanding why they would intentionally reduce award pricing on 2026 flights six and a half months beforehand without any sort of public mention.

Regardless, it creates some significant value opportunities assuming you have flights that you feel comfortable booking this far out. However, do note that Air France imposes a €70 change/cancellation fee on award bookings.

The post Air France / KLM Flying Blue cuts redemption rates for 2026 Delta flights appeared first on Frequent Miler. Frequent Miler may receive compensation from CHASE. American Express, Capital One, or other partners.