Roissy, 23 March 2005 Press release no. 4868
“FLYING BLUE”, THE NEW JOINT FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM FOR THE 66,3 MILLION CUSTOMERS OF THE AIR FRANCE – KLM GROUP
(logos can be downloaded from www.airfrance.com/corporate)
In June 2005, for the first time, the frequent flyer programs of two major European airlines will merge into one. Consequently, Air France’s «Fréquence Plus» and KLM’s «Flying Dutchman» programs will join forces to give birth to “Flying Blue”.
With ten million members, Flying Blue is the basic tool for both airlines Customer Relations Management programmes to recognize their loyal customers, and to provide them with consistently high quality service, regardless the airline they travel on.
“Flying Blue” will be a strong symbol of the successful combination of Air France and KLM.
This joint program is an integral part of the Group’s Customer Relations Management global strategy. Based on the principle of «one group, two airlines», this strategy puts the Group’s 66,3 million customers first.
The program is both innovative and easy to use. It contains four membership levels – Ivory, Silver, Gold and Platinum. «Flying Blue» will enable its members to benefit from many advantages of the combined networks of Air France and KLM.
The main purpose of «Flying Blue», built on the best of the former Air France and KLM frequent flyer programs, is to satisfy its members’ needs. “Fréquence Plus” and “Flying Dutchman” cardholders will, of course, automatically become members of the new program, and will retain all the Miles they have accrued up to now, without any drop in value (1 Fréquence Plus Mile = 1 Flying Blue Mile; 1 Flying Dutchman Mile = 1 Flying Blue Mile).
Together with mote than 30 partner airlines, «Flying Blue» will enable customers to earn Miles and use them very advantageously on the 18,000 daily flights to 900 destinations. Furthermore, some 100 non-airline partners have joined the program, thereby increasing the opportunities to earn and burn Miles.
Members of the « Fréquence Plus » and « Flying Dutchman » programs have begun to receive practical information concerning « Flying Blue » and these documents will continue to be sent to customers until the end of May.
The merger between Air France and KLM has already led to unprecedented combined offers by both airlines. The alignment of networks, the combinable fares and the harmonization of operations at the two hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, are just some of the measures aimed at facilitating access to the global network for all customers.
Jean-Cyril Spinetta, Chairman and CEO of Air France declared: «Flying Blue» is an excellent example of the ability of both airlines to innovate, thanks to the Air France-KLM merger. It is a great asset for our customers».
“With «Flying Blue»,Air France and KLM are flying higher than their competitors, and this is just the beginning », declared Leo van Wijk, President and CEO of KLM.
*
This documentation (including the Flying Blue card) is sent to members who have earned Miles with “Fréquence Plus” or “Flying Dutchman” in the last 24 months; the others will receive their documentation when they next use their FFP cards.The merger agreement signed in September 2003 by Air France and KLM gave birth to Europe’s leading airline group in May 2004. The Group consists of a holding company and two airlines which retain their brands, identities and three core businesses. The new Group now represents 106,000 employees, 66.3 million passengers, 225 destinations and a fleet of 556 aircraft, thus ranking first worldwide by turnover and number one in Europe.
FLYING BLUE
NEW JOINT FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM
CONTENTS
I.
AUTOMATIC MEMBERSHIP FOR FREQUENCE PLUS AND
FLYING DUTCHMAN MEMBERS……….P 5
II.
A PROGRAM OPEN TO ALL ... P 6
III. NEW TYPES OF MILES :
AWARD MILES AND LEVEL MILES ... P 7
IV.
MILES DEPENDING ON THE CLASS OF TRAVEL ... P 10
V.
MILES DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF MEMBERSHIP ... P 11
VI.
AWARD TICKETS OBTAINED WITH AWARD MILES ... P 12
VII.
THE BENEFITS OF THE FOUR
FLYING BLUE LEVELS... P 15
VIII. MANAGING ACCOUNTS AND ORGANIZING TRIPS ON
WW.AIRFRANCE.COM AND WWW.KLM.COM ... P 22
IX.
FLYING BLUE COMMUNICATION ... P 23
Appendices:
- The name Flying Blue,
- The benefits of the Flying Blue levels,
- SkyTeam, Elite and Elite Pus,
Roissy, Amstelveen, 20 April 2005
“FLYING BLUE”, THE NEW JOINT FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM
On 6 June 2005, Air France and KLM will offer their 66.3 million passengers their new joint frequent flyer program, Flying Blue.
With 10 million members, the purpose of Flying Blue is to become the leading frequent flyer program in Europe and satisfy its members’ needs. Flying Blue will enable its members to earn and spend Miles on the combined networks of Air France and KLM and also on flights operated by SkyTeam member airlines and some other 30 airline partners.
This global network of 18,000 flights and 900 destinations will enable customers to benefit from all the advantages that Europe’s leading loyalty program has to offer.
Furthermore, some 100 non-airline partners will have joined the Flying Blue program, thereby increasing the opportunities to earn and burn Miles.
Structured in four levels (Ivory, Silver, Gold, Platinum), Flying Blue makes it possible to track the flight behaviour of each of its customers and rewards them with Miles accordingly. Frequent travellers on any of the nine SkyTeam member airlines and Kenya Airways accrue Miles enabling them to move up to the next highest tier.
Furthermore, Air France and KLM offer Platinum members the possibility of becoming lifetime Flying Blue Platinum members, with all the privileges that come with it.
The Flying Blue program is a tool for both airlines to recognize their loyal customers, regardless of which of the two airlines they travel on. Members of the new joint frequent flyer program will be able to benefit from consistently high quality service on the combined networks of Air France and KLM.
Innovative, forward-looking and easy to use, Flying Blue offers members the freedom to manage their account how and when they want on the www.airfrance.com or
I.
AUTOMATIC MEMBERSHIP FOR
FRÉQUENCE PLUS AND FLYING DUTCHMAN MEMBERS
.All members of Fréquence Plus and/or Flying Dutchman automatically become members of the new Flying Blue program, with no need for any formalities.
Welcome kits containing the new cards, along with a user's guide full of practical information, will be sent to all members of Fréquence Plus or Flying Dutchman that activity recorded in their account in the preceding 24 months.
All Miles earned with Fréquence Plus and/or Flying Dutchman are automatically transferred to the Flying Blue account, and can be redeemed with Air France, KLM and all partners of the new joint program.
Miles are transferred at their full value:
► 1 Fréquence Plus Mile = 1 Flying Dutchman Mile = 1 Flying Blue Mile
The account number remains the same for Fréquence Plus members and is slightly modified for members of Flying Dutchman. The accounts of those who are members of both programs will be merged, on customer’s request.
II.
A PROGRAM OPEN TO ALL
The Flying Blue program is of course open to all, regardless of their country of residence (it is possible to join from the age of 2!).
While membership is automatic for present members of Fréquence Plus and/or Flying Dutchman, other passengers can, as from mid May 2005, join directly on line at:
- www.airfrance.com,
- or www.klm.com.
Membership forms are also available from Air France and KLM ticket offices and sales desks, in airports and on board Air France and KLM flights (in the in-flight magazines). Once the form is filled in, it must simply be signed and returned to Flying Blue.
Flying Blue
94852 Ivry-Sur-Seine cedex France
III.
NEW TYPES OF MILES: AWARD MILES AND LEVEL MILES
All members earn Award Miles. Among the Award Miles accrued by members, some are Level Miles. These determine one’s membership tier in the program and enable members to move up to the next highest tier, once the required number of Level Miles has been reached.
► Award Miles accrual with 130 airline and non-airline partners: Members can earn Award Miles:
- On all flights with AF or KL flight numbers,
- On all flights with SkyTeam flight numbers operated by a SkyTeam airline,
- On all flights operated by a Flying Blue partner airline,
- With non-airline partners.
• The number of Miles that can be earned is calculated in accordance with the distance flown
on long-haul routes.
EXAMPLE:
Minimum number of Miles accrued between Paris / or Amsterdam and:
- New York: 3,640 / 3,639
- Sao Paulo: 5,839 / 6,078
- Tokyo: 6,029 / 6,007
• For short- and medium-haul flights*, members receive a set number equal to:
Fréquence Plus Mile = Flying Blue Award Mile Fréquence Plus Qualifying Mile = Flying Blue Level Mile
Flying Dutchman Award Mile = Flying Blue Award Mile Flying Dutchman Level Mile = Flying Blue Level Mile
500 Miles* on short-haul flights (domestic flights)
750 Miles* on medium-haul flights (international flights). Above 750 Miles, the distance flown principle applies.
*excluding non-eligible flights.
• It is also possible to obtain Miles with the Service Class Bonus (see part IV.) and the Elite Bonus (see part V.).
• Members can also earn Award Miles when they book services with one of the non-airline partners of Flying Blue, i.e., car rental, hotel accommodation, etc.
EXAMPLES:
For e.g., Gold members earn between 150 and 500 Award Miles per stay in anAccor hotel or between 100 and 500 Award Miles per stay in a Hilton hotel.
Award Miles remain valid for 36 months, but their validity can be extended if the member makes at least one trip every three years with a SkyTeam member airline.
For members residing in metropolitan France, the Award Miles earned with purchases made with the Air France/KLM American Express Gold also enable the validity of their Award Miles to be extended.
► Accrual of
Level Miles
:Members can earn Level Miles on all flights operated by SkyTeam members and those of Kenya Airways.
EXAMPLE:
An Ivory member accrues 3,639 Award Miles, travelling in Economy class on an Amsterdam – New York flight operated by SkyTeam member Continental Airlines. All these Award Miles are qualifying miles which the member can use to qualify for the next level.
In addition, members residing in metropolitan France or the French Overseas Departments can earn Level Miles by paying for purchases with the Air France/KLM American Express Gold card.
Level Miles consist of the miles based on distance flown (or minimum mileage) and the Service class Bonus.
Level Miles can be accumulated from 1 January to 31 December of the year in which they are earned. The total of Level Miles in the member's account at the end of this period determines his or her status for the following year. Of course it is possible, at any time during the year, to move up to the next highest tier, as soon as the required number of Level Miles has been reached.
IV.
MILES DEPENDING ON THE CLASS OF TRAVEL
► Flying Blue program members can benefit from a Service Class Bonus according to their booking class.
First Class……….………. Business Class, medium-haul……….… Tempo Challenge, Air France………. Europe Select, KLM ………. Alizé, Air France ………... Business Class, Long-haul………..
+ 200 % + 100 % + 100 % + 100 % + 50 % + 50 % EXAMPLE:
•
On an Air France Paris – New York flight, a Flying Blue Ivory member travelling in l’Espace Première obtains:3,640 Miles (for the distance flown) + 7,280 (200%, Service class Bonus) = 10,920 Miles in total
•
On a KLM Amsterdam – Rome flight, a Flying Blue Ivory member travelling in Europe Select obtains:
V.
MILES DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF MEMBERSHIP
► Flying Blue program members can benefit from an additional Elite Bonus according to their Level :
For each flight made :
- Flying Blue Silver : 50% additional Miles will be credited to the member's account,
- Flying Blue Gold : 75% additional Miles will be credited to the member's account,
- Flying Blue Platinum : 100% additional Miles will be credited to the member's account.
VI.
AWARD TICKETS OBTAINED WITH AWARD MILES
Award tickets are those that can be acquired in exchange for a certain number of Award Miles.
EXAMPLE:
•
A Tempo or Economy ticket for a Paris or Amsterdam – New York flight can be exchanged for50,000 Award Miles,
•
A Tempo ticket between Paris and Rio de Janeiro can be exchanged for 80,000 Award Miles•
A Tempo or Economy ticket between Paris or Amsterdam and Tokyo can be exchanged for80,000 Award Miles.
For example, new members making a round trip between France and the French Caribbean in Tempo may book a one-way ticket for Paris-Nice by redeeming the Miles earned from this trip and their Welcome Miles.
Example:
- New members making a round trip between Paris and Fort de France in Tempo may earn: 4,268 x 2 = 8,536 Miles
- All new members receive a welcome bonus of 3,000 Miles, representing a total of: 8,536 + 3,000 = 11,536 Miles
- Members can exchange these 11,536 Miles for a one-way ticket for Paris-Nice, worth 10,000 Miles.
► It is very easy to book an Award ticket:
For flights with a SkyTeam member airline*, passengers can go to the www.airfrance.com or www.klm.com websites and book on line, up to the day of departure.
It is also possible to book an award ticket for a specific destination by calling a Customer Service Center, up to the day of departure.
For airline partners who are not members of the SkyTeam Alliance, reservations must be made two weeks in advance.
* Service available for the following SkyTeam member airlines: Air France, KLM, Continental, Delta Air Lines, Northwest, Alitalia and CSA.
► Members can exchange their Award Miles for a class upgrade on a flight or for non-airline partners’ services.
► The Flying Blue program “extra”: book award tickets on an Air France, KLM, Northwest or Kenya Airways flight with the “Open Miles” option:
If no seats are available for award tickets on a given flight, the member can book one with the Open Miles option, which doubles the number of Miles otherwise required. This option also permits members to modify a ticket free of charge, even after issuance.
► On eligible flights, award tickets are normally issued as e-tickets. The member’s Flying Blue card simply needs to be presented at check-in or at a self-service kiosk.
► Examples of ways of obtaining Award tickets (round trip flights)with Award Miles in Economy/Tempo class:
Award Ticket → PARIS-RIO AMSTERDAM - ROME PARIS – NICE
Number of Miles required → Number of round trips required
↓
80,000 Miles 25,000 Miles 20,000 Miles
For a PLATINUM member → - 1.8 round trips in First Class, or - 2.8 round trips in Business class, or - 3.5 in Economy/Tempo. - 5,2 round trips in Business Class, or - 7,7 round trips in Economy/Tempo.
- 6.7 round trips full fare or travel saver fare,
or
- 0.9 round trips between Paris and Rio in
Economy/Tempo. For a GOLD member → - 1.9 round trips in First Class, or - 3.1 round trips in Business class, or - 4 round trips in Economy/Tempo. - 5,6 round trips in Business Class, or - 8,8 round trips in Economy/Tempo.
- 7.3 round trips full fare or travel saver fare,
or
- 1 round trip between Paris and Rio in
Economy/Tempo. For a SILVER member → - 2 round trips in First Class, or - 3.5 round trips in Business class, or - 4.7 round trips in Economy/Tempo. - 6,2 round trips in Business Class, or - 10,5 round trips in Economy/Tempo.
- 8 round trips full fare or travel saver fare,
or
- 1.2 round trips between Paris and Rio Economy/Tempo. For a IVORY member → - 2.3 round trips in First Class, or - 4.7 round trips in Business class, or - 7 round trips in Economy/Tempo. - 7,7 round trips in Business Class, or - 15,5 round trips in Economy/Tempo.
- 10 round trips full fare or travel saver fare,
or
- 1.8 round trips between Paris and Rio
VII.
THE BENEFITS OF THE FOUR FLYING BLUE LEVELS
Flying Blue Ivory
:The Flying Blue Ivory card enables members to earn and spend Miles throughout the world with all program partners.
Every trip is a new opportunity to earn or spend Miles.
Thanks to Level Miles accrual, members can move up to the next-highest level.
On making their first trip with Air France, KLM, a SkyTeam member airline or one of the Flying Blue program partner airlines, new members receive a Welcome Bonus of 3,000 Miles, one of the most generous in the market.
Flying Blue members earn Level Miles on every flight they make with one of the nine SkyTeam member airlines and Kenya Airways, enabling them to move up to the next highest tier.
EXAMPLE:
•
On an KLM Amsterdam – New York one-way flight, a new Flying Blue Silver member travelling in Tempo obtains:Flying Blue Silver
1) How to reach Silver level?
Members residing outside metropolitan France move up to Silver once:
- they have reached the threshold of 25,000 Level Miles accrued between 1 January and 31 December of the current calendar year,
- or they have made 15 international one-way flights with SkyTeam member airlines. For members residing inside France, the threshold is set at 30,000 Level Miles or 15 international one-way flights with SkyTeam member airlines.
2) The benefits of Silver level:
For each flight made, 50% additional Miles will be credited to the member's account.
EXAMPLE:
•
On an Air France Paris – New York one-way flight, a new Flying Blue Silver member travelling in l’Espace Première obtains:3,640 Miles (for the distance flown) + 7,280 (+200%, Service Class Bonus) + 1,820 (+50%, Elite Bonus) = 12,740 Miles in total.
•
On a KLM Amsterdam – Rome flight, a Flying Blue Silver member in Select Europe obtains:809 Miles (for the distance flown) + 809 (+100%, Service Class Bonus) + 405 (+50%, Elite Bonus) =
The benefits to which Silver members are entitled make for smoother, easier travelling, on the ground and in the air:
- Dedicated reservations service, 24/7
- The possibility of having a guaranteed seat for bookingsmade at least 7 days before departure
- Priority on waitlists
- Priority at transfer desks at Paris-CDG and Amsterdam-Schiphol, regardless of the class of travel
- 5 kg excess baggage allowance
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Seat selection
When dealing with specific non-airline partners, Flying Blue Silver members enjoy better rates and special benefits such as the possibility, in some hotels, of a late check-out.
Flying Blue Gold
1) How to reach Gold level?
Members residing outside metropolitan France move up to Gold once:
- they have reached the threshold of 40,000 Level Miles accrued between 1 January and 31 December of the current calendar year,
- or they have made 30 international one-way flights with SkyTeam member airlines. For members residing inside France, the threshold is set at 60,000 Level Miles or 30 international one-way flights with the SkyTeam member airlines.
2) The benefits of Gold status:
For each flight made, 75% additional Miles will be credited to the member's account.
EXAMPLE:
On an Air France Paris – New York one-way flight, a Flying Blue Gold member travelling in l’Espace Première obtains:
3,640 Miles (for the distance flown) + 7,280 (+200%, Service Class Bonus) + 2,730 (+75%, Elite Bonus = 13,650 Miles in total
In addition to the Silver benefits, Gold privileges enable members to travel in optimum comfort.
Among the many benefits linked to Gold status:
- Dedicated reservations service, 24/7
- The possibility of having a guaranteed seat on Air France and KLM flights if the reservation is made at least 24 hours before departure
- Priority on waitlists
- Access to all SkyTeam lounges* worldwide,
- Priority at the transfer desks at Paris-CDG and Amsterdam-Schiphol Airports
- 10 kg excess baggage allowance
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Seat selection
- Priority baggage delivery on arrival of all international flights,
- Baggage protection at Paris-CDG (for long haul flights),
- Free transfers between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly on Air France coaches.
* For Flying Blue Gold members residing in United States and Mexico, access to AF/KL lounges only.
And of course, all benefits to which Flying Blue Silver members are entitled with our non-airline partners apply to members of Flying Blue Gold.
Flying Blue Platinum
1) How to reach Platinum status?
Members residing outside metropolitan France move up to Platinum once:
- they have reached the threshold of 70,000 Level Miles accrued between 1 January and 31 December of the current calendar year,
- or they have made 60 international one-way flights with SkyTeam member airlines.
Option of carrying over Miles from one year to the next
Flying Blue Platinum members with over 115,000 Level Miles (150,000 for residents in France) have their Miles automatically carried over from one year to the next.
For members residing inside France, the threshold is set at 90,000 Level Miles or 60 international one-way flights with SkyTeam member airlines.
2) Benefits of the Platinum card:
For each flight made, 100% additional Miles will be credited to the Flying Blue Platinum member's account.
EXEMPLE:
On an KLM Amsterdam – Hong Kong one-way flight, a Flying Blue Gold member travelling in World Business Class obtains:
5,763 Miles (for the distance flown) + 5,763 (+100%, Service Class Bonus) + 5,763 (+100% Elite Bonus) = 17,289 Miles in total.
Benefits of the Platinum card:
- Dedicated reservations service, 24/7
- The possibility of having a guaranteed seat on Air France and KLM flights if the reservation is made at least 24 hours before departure
- Priority on waitlists
- Access to all SkyTeam lounges worldwide
- Priority at the transfer desks at Paris-CDG and Amsterdam-Schiphol Airports
- 20 kg excess baggage allowance
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Seat selection
- Priority baggage delivery on arrival of all international flights
- Baggage protection at Paris-CDG (for long haul flights)
- Free transfers between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly on Air France coaches.
Furthermore, under certain conditions, cardholders become lifetime Platinum members:
Platinum for Life
After ten consecutive years as a Platinum member, cardholders become lifetime Platinum members. Their years at the status of Fréquence Plus Red or Flying Dutchman Platinum Elite will be accounted for. They will enjoy the full range of benefits to which they are entitled.
VIII. MANAGING ACCOUNTS AND ORGANIZING TRIPS ON
WWW.AIRFRANCE.COM OR WWW.KLM.COM
Flying Blue members can log on to the www.airfrance.com and www.klm.com websites 24/7
using the same pin code and manage their account and organize their trips.
Members who manage their account exclusively on www.airfrance.com and www.klm.com websites receive a 1,000 Miles bonus.
They can also obtain e-awards exclusively bookable on line.
► Members can access the internet 24/7 to:
- Consult their account,
- Consult their most recent transactions,
- Consult promotions reserved for members,
- Consult the newsletter,
- Consult a list of all potential Q&A,
- Update their personal data,
- Change their pin code,
- Request an update of non-credited Miles earned on Air France or KLM flights.
► Members can also organise their award trip 24/7:
- Order their Award ticket on one of the SkyTeam member airlines (a reservation confirmation is immediately sent by mail),
- Search for flight schedules updated in real-time,
- Download flight schedules,
- Search for current offers,
- Rent a car and book a hotel night anywhere in the world,
IX.
FLYING BLUE COMMUNICATION
► A Mileage Summary every 2 months:
All members receive a Mileage summary every 2 months by e-mail or mail. The Summary contains all information relating to their Miles balance, the most recent
transactions, in addition to any information, offers and promotions related to the member’s place of residence.
Members can choose to receive their Mileage Summary in one of six languages: French, Dutch, German, English, Spanish or Italian.
At any time, around-the-clock, the account can be consulted online on www.airfrance.com or www.klm.com.
► Six annual newsletters:
Flying Blue* members receive a newsletter with their Mileage Summary. Four of these newsletters, issued in February, June, August and September, cover information related to Air France, KLM and SkyTeam member airlines, in addition to information about program airline partners and sales staff.
The April and October issues contain information about the summer / winter schedules and frequent flyer program news.
* Flying Blue Ivory members receive the Mileage Summary and the newsletter when they have recorded activity in their account in the two preceding months.
THE NAME FLYING BLUE
The name Flying Blue was chosen last September as part of a process which lasted almost one year.
To begin with, Air France and KLM agreed on the joint values they wished to convey: . closeness to their customers
. openness to different cultures . modernity
In addition, the name had to be easy to pronounce, understandable all over the world, attributable to Air France and KLM and of course available for use, which was certainly not the least of our constraints.
Tests were then conducted on French, British, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese members of the Fréquence Plus and Flying Dutchman programs in order to reinforce the values and working tracks. Additional inquiries were made in Asia to experts with a sensitivity to local issues.
A choice of 500 names were presented and then screened by the teams in charge of the project from both airlines. They were then tested throughout the world from a linguistic and legal viewpoint. The brand had to be filed in close to 120 countries.
The Air France-KLM (SMC) Group’s Strategic Management Committee met on several occasions throughout the process, and finally chose Flying Blue for the following reasons: Flying Blue was unanimously appreciated in all the countries it was presented in. It embodies air transport values and the positioning of the product, such as freedom, openness and energy.
Finally, the English name illustrates the international dimension ofAir France and KLM
Customers will be notified of the new program in 6 languages including French for the French-speaking members.
ATTENTION
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