SkyMiles vs Flying Blue
Both Delta SkyMiles and Air France/KLM Flying Blue are airline loyalty programs in the SkyTeam. They share enough overlap that travelers regularly compare them, but the right answer depends on your typical trips.
Quick spec comparison
| Spec | SkyMiles | Flying Blue |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | Airline miles | Airline miles |
| Alliance / network | SkyTeam | SkyTeam |
| Fixed award chart? | No (dynamic) | Yes |
| Fuel surcharges on awards | No | Yes (modest on AF/KL) |
| Expiration | Never expire | Expire after 24 months of inactivity |
| Transfers in from | Amex MR | Chase UR, Amex MR, Capital One, Citi TY, Bilt, Marriott Bonvoy |
| Signature sweet spots | Domestic main cabin from 7-15K on flash sales, SkyTeam partner pricing occasionally good for Korean Air | Promo Awards (50K business one-way US to Europe — monthly), Standard saver business at 60-72K US to Europe, Intra-Europe at 15-28K business |
| Flagship benefit | Easy to earn via Amex transfers + flash sales for low-cost domestic | Monthly promo awards offer the cheapest legit transatlantic business |
Where SkyMiles wins
- SkyMiles doesn't pass fuel surcharges to most awards (Flying Blue does).
- Easiest to earn but worst-value program of the US Big Three for premium cabins.
Where Flying Blue wins
- Flying Blue publishes a fixed award chart — easier to plan ahead.
- Flying Blue accepts transfers from more bank programs — easier to top up.
- Promo awards are the cheapest scheduled-monthly transatlantic biz class.
Pick SkyMiles if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Domestic main cabin from 7-15K on flash sales or SkyTeam partner pricing occasionally good for Korean Air. SkyMiles is the program built for them.
Pick Flying Blue if…
You're targeting one of these specific redemptions: Promo Awards (50K business one-way US to Europe — monthly) or Standard saver business at 60-72K US to Europe. Flying Blue is the program built for them.
Can you have both?
Yes — and you probably should. Most serious award travelers maintain status (or at least active accounts) across multiple programs because the best partner award for a given route is rarely the same program twice in a row. Find the saver seat first; then book through whichever program prices it cheapest.
Find availability before you transfer
AwardLocker shows live saver award space across every program. Confirm space first, then transfer points only when you're ready to book.
Check availability →