Rewards
Membership Rewards or Flying Blue Miles?
Flexible points or direct airline Miles: choose a programme that fits how you want to use your rewards.
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Which route fits you?
Start with flexible points if you want to keep your redemption options open. Start with direct Miles if Flying Blue is your regular programme and annual card XP matters to you. Lounges, insurance and the card fee can still change your choice.
| Topic | Membership Rewards | Flying Blue Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Earning | Points in your AMEX account | Miles in your Flying Blue account |
| Redemption | Purchases or participating programmes | Flying Blue rewards |
| Flying Blue XP | Not from transferring points | Annual XP with Silver, Gold and Platinum |
Membership Rewards offer different routes
American Express describes several ways to use Membership Rewards: pay for purchases through the app or transfer points to participating loyalty programmes, including Flying Blue. That flexibility may appeal if you have not decided where to redeem.
Choose your goal first. A hotel stay, flight or purchase calls for a different decision than simply earning as many points as possible. Review redemption terms and outcomes before transferring.
Sources: AMEX — Membership Rewards ↗
A point is not the same as a Mile
The Dutch AMEX transfer page lists a conversion ratio, minimum transfer and estimated processing time for each partner. A balance of Membership Rewards points therefore does not automatically become the same number of Flying Blue Miles. On 5 October 2026, AMEX lists 2 points for 1 Flying Blue Mile, a minimum of 1,000 points and an estimated transfer time of 2 to 10 days. For example, 20,000 points become 10,000 Miles. Check the ratio and conditions again before transferring.
A transfer may therefore take time. Leave room in your booking plan and check the available reward before committing points to a single programme.
Sources: AMEX — transfer partners ↗
Flying Blue cards earn Miles directly
Flying Blue Gold earns Miles on purchases and lists 30 XP annually. Miles are for rewards; XP help determine your Flying Blue level.
Earning Miles directly can be convenient if Flying Blue is already your regular programme. Flexible points may suit you better if you want to keep your options open. Neither route is best for everyone.
Sources: AMEX — Flying Blue Gold ↗
Example: €1,500 a month on ordinary purchases
With €18,000 of annual card spending, AMEX Gold at 1 point per euro earns 18,000 Membership Rewards. At the ratio quoted above, that is 9,000 Flying Blue Miles. Flying Blue Gold at 1 Mile per euro earns 18,000 Miles.
This illustrates normal earning only: no welcome bonus, special partner purchases or extra spending. It excludes fees and travel benefits and does not calculate your net return.
Sources: AMEX — Membership Rewards ↗ · AMEX — Flying Blue Gold ↗
Consider redemption and the cash payment
A Miles balance does not guarantee availability on the flight you want. Compare a reward ticket and its cash payment with a cash ticket for the same trip and similar terms. A simple indication of value per Mile is: (price of that cash alternative − reward cash payment) ÷ Miles required.
Use a cash price you would realistically consider paying. A high business-class fare alone does not make the redemption valuable to you. Before transferring, also check current expiry and change rules.
Reward tickets: Light, Standard or Flex
Since 8 September 2026, Flying Blue has offered Light, Standard and Flex fares for new reward bookings on flights operated and marketed by Air France or KLM. Baggage, flexibility and the cash contribution can differ. Compare the conditions and cash payment as well as the Miles needed before transferring points.
Previously issued tickets are unaffected. Stand-alone partner flights remain outside this fare structure; Flying Blue states that itineraries combining Air France/KLM with a partner only offer Standard. Existing status benefits continue under the applicable conditions. This explanation was checked on 7 October 2026.
Sources: Flying Blue — reward tickets ↗
Compare the whole card, not only the currency
Consider the fee alongside normal spending, travel benefits you will use and your intended redemption. Avoid assigning one fixed euro value to all Miles or points: the choice depends on what you can actually book or use.
Keep a temporary welcome bonus separate from the ongoing comparison. Start with a suitable card, then read the terms of any promotion. Our finder follows the same approach: offers do not influence the match score.