Flying Blue miles transfer to 17 airline and hotel partners, with redemption values that vary widely depending on the partner and the route you book

Flying Blue is the frequent flyer program for Air France and KLM. When you earn miles through an airline card or flying, you can move those miles to partner airlines and hotel chains at a fixed rate — typically one mile equals one point in the partner program. The value you get back depends entirely on which partner you choose and what you're trying to book.

The transfer partners fall into three groups: other airlines in the SkyTeam alliance (which includes Delta, China Eastern, and Alitalia), a smaller set of non-alliance carriers, and hotel programs. Some partners offer strong value on short-haul flights; others are better for premium cabin redemptions or hotel stays. The worst transfers are often the ones that look easiest — moving miles to a partner just because they're available, without checking what that partner's award chart actually costs.

Key Takeaways

  • Flying Blue transfers go to 17 partners at a 1:1 ratio, but the value you receive depends on the partner's award chart and availability, not the transfer rate itself.
  • SkyTeam airlines like Delta and China Eastern often offer better value on economy awards than premium cabin bookings, while some non-alliance carriers are stronger for business class.
  • Hotel transfers typically require 10,000 to 15,000 miles per night, so you should compare that cost to what a cash room would cost before transferring.
  • Transfer partners change occasionally, and award availability can be thin on popular routes, so checking the partner's website before you transfer is essential.

The SkyTeam Airline Partners

Flying Blue's core partners are other SkyTeam members. Delta Air Lines is the largest and most useful for North American travel. Delta's award chart prices domestic economy flights at 25,000 miles one-way, which is reasonable if you're booking a route where cash fares run $300 or more. Delta's business class awards start at 50,000 miles one-way on domestic routes and 70,000 to 130,000 miles internationally, depending on distance. The catch: Delta releases award space in waves, and popular routes sell out weeks in advance.

China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines offer lower award prices on routes within Asia and between Asia and Europe, but availability is sparse and the user experience on their websites is difficult. Alitalia (now merged into ITA Airways) has limited award availability outside of Europe. Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines are useful if you're booking within Southeast Asia or to those hubs, but their award charts are not particularly generous.

Other SkyTeam partners — Aeroflot, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, and LATAM — have niche value. LATAM is worth considering for South American travel if you have the miles; the others are rarely the best option for most readers.

Non-Alliance Partners and Their Strengths

Turkish Airlines is the standout non-alliance partner. It prices awards aggressively on routes through its Istanbul hub, particularly for business and first class. A business class award from the US to Europe or Asia can cost 60,000 to 80,000 miles one-way, which is competitive with premium cabin transfers elsewhere. Turkish also releases award space regularly, making bookings more feasible than on some SkyTeam carriers.

Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways are also non-alliance partners, but their award charts are expensive and availability is limited. You will rarely find these to be the best use of your miles unless you're specifically targeting a route where they're the only option.

Hotel Transfer Partners and Their Value

Flying Blue transfers to five hotel programs: Accor Hotels (which includes Sofitel, Novotel, and Ibis), Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy, and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards. The transfer rate is 1:1, and most programs price redemptions at 10,000 to 15,000 points per night for a mid-range property.

Hotel transfers make sense only when the nightly award rate is lower than what you'd pay in cash. A $150 hotel night costs 10,000 to 15,000 miles at typical transfer rates — a reasonable trade if the cash price is genuinely that high. But if the same hotel costs $100 on a discount site, your miles are worth less than a cent each, which is poor value. Always check the cash rate before transferring.

Accor Hotels tends to offer the best value for budget and mid-range properties in Europe and Asia. Hilton and Marriott have broader geographic coverage but often price redemptions higher relative to cash rates.

How to Decide Which Partner to Transfer To

Start by identifying the specific flight or hotel you want to book. Go to the partner's website and check what that award costs in their program. Then divide the miles cost by the cash price to see what you're paying per dollar. If the miles cost is 1.5 cents per mile or less, the transfer is worth considering. If it's 2 cents or higher, you're usually better off keeping the miles or looking for a different partner.

For airlines, also check award availability. Some partners release space in batches; others have almost none on popular routes. A low award price is worthless if you can't book it. Websites like ExpertFlyer (for Delta) or the partner's own search tool will show you what's actually available on your preferred dates.

For hotels, compare the nightly award rate to the cash rate on the same dates. If the award rate is higher than the cash rate, do not transfer. Hotel award availability is almost never a constraint — the issue is value.

Transfer Timing and Minimums

Flying Blue transfers process within 24 hours, so you don't have to worry about delays. The minimum transfer is typically 1,000 miles, though some partners may have higher minimums. Check the partner's terms before you initiate the transfer.

Transfers are permanent — once miles land in a partner account, you cannot move them back to Flying Blue. This is why checking availability and pricing before you transfer is critical. A mistake costs you the miles.

When Transfer Partners Change

Flying Blue occasionally adds or removes partners. The current list of 17 partners has been stable for several years, but it's worth checking the Flying Blue website before you plan a transfer, especially if you're considering a partner you haven't used recently. Some partners have also changed their award charts, making routes that were once valuable much more expensive.

If a partner you were counting on is no longer available, you may be able to book through a different carrier in the same alliance or region. For example, if one SkyTeam partner removes a route, another SkyTeam member might still offer it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer miles to a partner and then transfer them back to Flying Blue if I don't use them?

No. Transfers to partners are one-way only. Once your miles land in a partner program, they belong to that program and cannot be moved back to Flying Blue. This is why you should confirm availability and pricing before you transfer.

What's the best transfer partner for booking a flight to Europe?

It depends on the specific route and cabin. Delta often has competitive economy awards to Europe (50,000 to 60,000 miles round-trip), while Turkish Airlines is strong for business class (60,000 to 80,000 miles one-way). Check both programs' award charts for your exact dates and route before deciding.

Do I have to transfer miles in large chunks, or can I transfer small amounts?

Most partners accept transfers as small as 1,000 miles, though some may have higher minimums. You can transfer exactly the amount you need for a specific award, so you don't have to move more miles than necessary.

Is it ever worth transferring miles to a hotel program?

Only if the nightly award rate is lower than the cash rate for the same hotel on the same dates. If a hotel costs $120 per night in cash but 12,000 miles in the partner program, the transfer is worth it. If the cash rate is $80, it's not.

What happens if a transfer partner removes a route I was planning to book?

Award availability changes constantly, and partners occasionally discontinue routes. Before you transfer, confirm that the specific flight you want is bookable on the partner's website. If availability disappears after you transfer, you'll need to find an alternative route or partner.