Air France-KLM Mastercard review: Good for Air France and KLM loyalists but no one else
Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard overview
Many seasoned points and miles fans have at least one or two cobranded airline cards. If you're currently seeking a new airline card to add to your wallet, the Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard® may be the right choice for you. With a solid earnings structure and bonus anniversary miles, this card is best suited for frequent Air France and KLM flyers. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Once you've opened a core set of cards that earn transferable points, it's time to move on to cobranded airline cards. Opening a card or two with your favorite airline can provide additional perks, a faster path to elite status and the opportunity to earn additional rewards on every purchase.
The Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard isn't too different from its mid-tier airline card peers. While its perks are slimmer than some other options, it still provides good value for those who fly with Air France and KLM at least a couple of times per year.
This card has an $89 annual fee, and we recommend a credit score of 700 or higher for the best chance of approval.
Let's dive into this card's details so you can decide if it's the right airline card for you.
The information for the Air France-KLM World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Air France-KLM Mastercard pros and cons
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Air France-KLM Mastercard welcome offer
For a limited time, new cardholders can receive 70,000 bonus miles and 40 Experience Points (XP) after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days from account opening. Plus, new cardholders will receive an additional 60 XP upon account approval.
XP is the elite status currency for Air France and KLM's Flying Blue program. If you earn all of the XP possible through this welcome offer, you'll have enough XP to reach Flying Blue Silver status for 12 months.
As of September 2024, TPG values Flying Blue miles at 1.3 cents per mile. That means this welcome offer is worth $910, not including the potential value of Flying Blue Silver status.
It's important to note that you'll need to apply for this card through Air France's landing page to receive this limited-time offer.
Related: This month's best credit card welcome bonuses
Air France-KLM Mastercard benefits
The Air France-KLM Mastercard has limited benefits for a card with an $89 annual fee, but there are still a few noteworthy perks.
This card's most notable feature is a bonus of 5,000 miles on each account anniversary. However, the anniversary bonus has a spending requirement, which is unusual. Fortunately, the spending requirement is exceptionally low: $50 in the previous cardmember year. Even if you rarely use this card, that's not a hard threshold to meet.
According to TPG's September 2024 valuations, these 5,000 miles are worth $65. That almost completely covers the card's annual fee.
You'll also earn 20 XP on each account anniversary. This annual XP bonus can help you reach the 100 XP needed to maintain your Silver status after earning it through your welcome bonus during your first cardholder year. Silver status benefits include priority check-in and boarding, free selection of standard seats and one extra free checked bag on SkyTeam-operated flights.
Additionally, you'll enjoy perks that are fairly standard for a mid-tier travel card, such as no foreign transaction fees and a contactless payment option.
These additional perks easily help justify the $89 annual fee, but infrequent Air France and KLM flyers will have difficulty maintaining Silver status after their first year since XP is given on a per-flight basis, based on flight type and fare class. Award flights don't earn XP, as an additional challenge.
Earning miles on the Air France-KLM Mastercard
The Air France-KLM Mastercard earns miles in a relatively simple way. It only has one bonus category, which can be either a pro or a con.
With this card, you'll earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam member airlines purchases. You'll receive 1.5 miles on everything else.
While those rates are nothing stunning, they certainly aren't bad, either. According to our September 2024 valuation of Flying Blue miles at 1.3 cents per mile, this yields a 3.9% return on Air France, KLM and SkyTeam member airlines purchases and almost a 2% return on all other purchases.
In fact, the Air France-KLM Mastercard could work as a nonbonused spending card if you need one and you frequently fly with the airline to use these miles.
Redeeming miles on the Air France-KLM Mastercard
The optimal way to redeem Flying Blue miles is for airfare. Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, so there's no award chart to reference. That means prices can change at any time, making it difficult to find sweet spots.
In addition to redeeming miles for Air France and KLM flights, you can redeem them for award tickets on other SkyTeam airlines, like Delta Air Lines. This can be a great way to find an award ticket for a better price than if you used a given airline's own rewards program.
Flying Blue frequently releases Promo Rewards, which are deeply discounted award tickets. These tickets often have more restrictions than standard Flying Blue award tickets, so make sure to pay attention to any relevant terms and conditions.
What cards compete with the Air France-KLM Mastercard?
When thinking about other cards that compete with the Air France-KLM Mastercard, cards that earn rewards that can be transferred to Flying Blue likely come to mind. Here are a few options:
- If you like American Express: The Platinum Card® from American Express has a high annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees) but comes with a wide range of perks to help justify that cost. It earns Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Flying Blue. To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
- If you like Chase: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a similar annual fee to the Air France-KLM Mastercard. It comes with some benefits to help offset its $95 annual fee, including an annual $50 hotel credit. It earns Ultimate Rewards points, which are transferable to Flying Blue. To learn more, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
- If you like Capital One: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card also has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees), placing it in the same tier as the Air France-KLM Mastercard. Much like the Amex Platinum and the Sapphire Preferred, it offers Flying Blue as a transfer partner. To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
For additional options, check out our picks for the best airline cards and the best travel cards.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Capital One Venture Rewards: Which $95 card should you get?
Is the Air France-KLM Mastercard worth it?
For Air France and KLM fans, the Air France-KLM Mastercard is definitely worth considering. While its annual fee may be harder to justify compared to other mid-tier travel cards, it offers enough to be useful in the hands of a frequent flyer. If you don't fly with Air France and KLM at least twice each year, I recommend considering another airline card or a general travel card that earns transferable rewards.
Bottom line
If you're looking to get serious about points and miles, opening an airline cobranded card is the right way to go. The Air France-KLM Mastercard is only one of many options out there, but it's a solid choice for fans of the two airlines. The card can go even further if you're able to maintain Flying Blue Silver status over the long term.
If you aren't a frequent Air France and KLM flyer, another airline card will be a better fit for you.
Related: How to choose an airline credit card
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.