Flying Blue reward tickets are subject to airport and security taxes and carrier surcharges that miles do not cover. US travelers book these online through Air France and KLM tools, where the full price breakdown appears during the process. New Light, Standard and Flex options from September 8, 2026 can affect the cash portion on Air France- and KLM-operated flights.
Miles cover the base award amount. Cash covers the taxes and surcharges separately. The total and a breakdown of fare, taxes, surcharges and fees appear at various steps of online booking.
At a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Taxes and surcharges | Airport and security taxes plus carrier surcharges; paid in cash separately from miles |
| UK Air Passenger Duty | Charged on flights starting from UK airports, based on final destination band (United States is Band B) |
| Booking tools | Online through Air France and KLM booking tools; full breakdown shown during process |
| Light / Standard / Flex | From September 8, 2026 on Air France- and KLM-operated flights only; Flex has lower mandatory cash contribution |
What Taxes and Surcharges Apply on Flying Blue Awards
Flying Blue reward tickets are subject to airport and security taxes and carrier surcharges. These amounts are not covered by Miles and must be paid separately in cash.
KLM states that prices shown on klm.com include airport tax for every airport where you depart, arrive, or transfer, a security surcharge, and an international surcharge imposed by the carrier.
During online booking, the total price appears along with a breakdown of the fare, taxes, surcharges, and fees at various steps. No sample route totals are given here, so always review the specific breakdown for your itinerary before confirming.
How Fees Vary by Route and Departure Country
The cash portion of a Flying Blue award ticket varies by the airports in your itinerary. Prices include airport tax for every airport where you depart, arrive, or transfer, along with a security surcharge and an international surcharge imposed by the carrier.
UK Air Passenger Duty adds another layer for flights that start in the UK. This duty is charged based on the passenger's final destination. The United States falls in Band B, covering distances from 2,001 to 5,500 miles.
These airport-specific taxes and country-specific charges create differences even when the mile price stays the same. The total plus a breakdown of fare, taxes, surcharges, and fees appears at various steps during online booking, so review it for your exact route before confirming.
US travelers should expect the cash amount to reflect the departure, connection, and arrival airports involved, plus any UK APD if the itinerary begins in the United Kingdom.
Reducing Taxes and Surcharges on Flying Blue Awards
From September 8, 2026, new reward bookings on Air France- and KLM-operated flights come in Light, Standard, and Flex options. Flex includes a lower mandatory cash contribution when booking. This change does not apply to partner airlines, whose reward tickets remain unchanged.
With Flying Blue Cash & Miles, members can pay part of a reward ticket in cash, up to 25%. This offers another way to manage the cash portion that covers taxes and surcharges.
Standard reward tickets are changeable and refundable for a fee of EUR 70. Flex reward tickets are changeable and refundable for free. Light reward tickets do not include changes or refunds, except that Platinum and Ultimate members can change or refund Light tickets free of charge.
American Express Membership Rewards (US), Capital One miles, and Bilt Rewards points transfer to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou also list Air France-KLM Flying Blue as a transfer partner. See related guides on points transfer times, Chase transfer partners, Amex Membership Rewards partners, and Citi ThankYou partners.
For the new fare options details, see Flying Blue Light, Standard, and Flex.
Seeing Flying Blue Taxes During Checkout
The total plus a breakdown of fare, taxes, surcharges and fees is shown at various steps of online booking.
Reward tickets can be booked online with Flying Blue miles through Air France and KLM booking tools.
Review the breakdown carefully before confirming to understand the cash outlay.
Bottom Line
Expect airport and security taxes plus carrier surcharges to be paid in cash on top of the miles used.
Check the full breakdown during booking, especially if departing the UK where Air Passenger Duty applies based on destination band. The United States is in Band B.
Consider Flex options on Air France- and KLM-operated flights or Cash & Miles to manage the cash portion.
FAQ
What taxes does Flying Blue charge on award tickets?
Flying Blue reward tickets are subject to airport and security taxes and carrier surcharges. Miles do not cover these amounts, so they must be paid separately in cash when you book.
Why do Flying Blue award fees vary by route and departure country?
KLM states that prices include airport tax for every airport where you depart, arrive, or transfer, plus a security surcharge and an international surcharge imposed by the carrier. This means the cash total changes with the specific airports on your itinerary. UK Air Passenger Duty applies to flights starting from UK airports and is based on the passenger’s final destination. The United States is in Band B, for distances of 2,001 to 5,500 miles.
How can I reduce taxes and surcharges on Flying Blue awards?
From September 8, 2026, new reward bookings on Air France- and KLM-operated flights are offered as Light, Standard, or Flex. Flex includes a lower mandatory cash contribution. The options do not apply to partner airlines. With Flying Blue Cash & Miles, members can pay part of a reward ticket in cash, up to 25 percent.
Where do I see Flying Blue taxes during checkout?
The total plus a breakdown of the fare, taxes, surcharges, and fees appears at various steps of online booking. US travelers can book reward tickets online with Flying Blue miles through the Air France and KLM tools and should review the full breakdown before confirming the reservation.
Do Flying Blue awards include carrier imposed surcharges?
Yes. Carrier surcharges form part of the taxes and charges that must be paid separately from the Miles used for the base award ticket.