American Express has released a targeted offer that can help travelers earn an additional 20,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 with Air France or KLM.
For anyone planning an international trip, this is one of my favorite airline offers because it can often be triggered without having to purchase expensive cash tickets.
Earn 20,000 Bonus Points on Air France and KLM
Eligible American Express cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $1,000 or more with Air France or KLM.
A few important terms to know:
- Flights must be booked directly through the Air France or KLM website or mobile app.
- Purchases made by phone do not qualify.
- Transactions must be processed through the U.S. website or app and charged in U.S. dollars (USD).
- Enrollment is required and offers may vary by card.
My Favorite Way to Trigger This Offer
One of the best parts of this promotion is that Air France and KLM award-ticket taxes and fees typically count toward the spending requirement.
If you’re familiar with Flying Blue redemptions, you already know taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges can add up quickly, especially on long-haul premium cabin flights. In many cases, a single round-trip award booking may get you close to or even over the $1,000 spending requirement. In the past, it took me several bookings to reach the threshold, but award taxes and fees have increased significantly over the last few years. For example, my return flight from Nice, France, last year had taxes and fees of more than $400.
You Can Mix and Match Air France and KLM Purchases
Another useful strategy is to combine spending across both airlines. That means you can book some flights through Air France and others through KLM to reach the $1,000 requirement.
I’ve even booked the exact same flight on whichever airline’s website made the most sense at the time to maximize promotions and meet spending thresholds.
Stack with the Current Amex Transfer Bonus
The timing of this offer is especially interesting because American Express is currently offering a 25% transfer bonus to Flying Blue, the loyalty program shared by Air France and KLM.
That means every 1,000 Membership Rewards points transferred becomes 1,250 Flying Blue miles during the promotion period.
By combining the transfer bonus with this Amex Offer, you can earn bonus points while also reducing the number of Membership Rewards points needed for your next redemption.
Final Thoughts
If you have an upcoming Flying Blue redemption, a trip to Europe, or even taxes and fees due on an award ticket, this is an offer worth checking on your American Express cards.
Between the 20,000 bonus Membership Rewards points, the ability to combine Air France and KLM purchases, and the current transfer bonus to Flying Blue, there may be an opportunity to stack multiple promotions and earn even more value from your travel spending.
