Once our favorite way to get to Europe in a lie-flat seat using points, booking Air France business class across the pond has gotten tough over the last year or two. Even after raising rates earlier this year with the promise that more generous award availability was on the way, little has changed…
… until this week: Air France just opened the floodgates with tons of award availability flying from more than a dozen U.S. and Canadian cities and to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and back this summer, all bookable for 60,000 Flying Blue miles each way. Many seats have been gobbled up by our Thrifty Traveler Premium members since we first sent this deal, but there are still plenty of flights up for grabs.
Thrifty Tip: Use these tricks to pull up a monthlong calendar to find dates bookable for 60,000 miles each way!
From New York City (JFK) to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to even West Coast cities like San Francisco (SFO) and Seattle (SEA), this is more award availability at the lowest 60,000-mile rate than we've seen in many, many months. And while you can book a simple nonstop from the U.S. or Canada to Paris, you can also connect onward to virtually anywhere in Europe for the same rate … and even add a free stopover in Paris, though you'll have to call Flying Blue (at 800-375-8723) to book with that pitstop.
While it still stinks that Air France/KLM Flying Blue raised award rates from the old 50,000-mile rate up to 60,000 miles each way earlier this year, this is still a great deal. That's in large part because of how easy it is to earn those points: You can transfer points from all the major banks to Air France. So 60,000 points from cards like the *amex gold*, *chase sapphire preferred*, or the *venture x* can instantly get you all the points you need.
Best of all, Air France charges 60,000 miles whether you're hopping on the shorter flights from Boston (BOS) or New York City (JFK) or flying all the way from Seattle (SEA). Thanks to the airline's monthly Promo Rewards special, you can even book from Ottawa (YOW) for as low as 45,000 miles each way!
You'll find the best availability this July and August, though some cities also have plenty of availability through the fall and even into next winter.
Air France tacks on some significant taxes and fees on these award tickets: About $240 for a one-way to Europe or almost $490 for the return flight back to North America. While no doubt a bit steep, it can be much worse with other airlines … and it's a small price to pay to hitch a ride across the Atlantic in this seat.
Read our full review of Air France business class!
Air France business class is a treat no matter which plane you board. But if you can, try to book a flight on one of the airline's newer Airbus A350-900s or Boeing 777s, where you'll find state-of-the-art suites decked out with a closing privacy door, wireless charging, and other impressive features. Both planes with the new suites have 14 rows of business class seating.
Need more help to book? Watch our YouTube video with a full walkthrough of booking with Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles!
Departure Cities
You can currently book Air France business class to Paris and back this summer from the following cities:
- Atlanta (ATL) – 60k
- Boston (BOS) – 60k
- Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) – 60k
- Detroit (DTW) – 60k
- Houston (IAH) – 60k
- Los Angeles (LAX) – 60k
- Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) – 60k
- Montreal (YUL) – 60k
- New York City (JFK) – 60k
- Orlando (MCO) – 60k
- Ottawa (YOW) – 45k
- Phoenix (PHX) – 60k
- Quebec City (YQB) – 60k
- San Francisco (SFO) – 60k
- Seattle (SEA) – 60k
- Toronto (YYZ) – 60k
- Vancouver (YVR) – 60k
- Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD) – 60k
Bottom Line
It's been months – maybe even years – since we've seen this much Air France business class award availability. And for a trip over the busy summer-travel season, to boot!
If you've got some Flying Blue miles sitting around or credit card points to transfer, don't wait around. You might not have a better chance at a lie-flat seat over to Europe.
