Brim Financial has launched a new limited-time offer for its Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard.
If you apply by May 31, 2023, you’ll earn 100 XP points, enough to earn you instant Silver status within the Air France/KLM Flying Blue program.
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard by Brim
Launched by Brim Financial in October 2022, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard is the only Air France/KLM co-branded credit card in Canada.
However, this card was launched without any Flying Blue miles as a welcome bonus, greatly dampening its appeal.
Instead, the welcome offer has consisted of 30 XP or “Experience Points” that could get you closer towards achieving or maintaining Flying Blue elite status.
As for the earning rate on spending, the card offers the following:
- 5 bonus miles per €1 spent on Air France and KLM flights
- Up to 30 miles per $1 (CAD) spent on merchant partners
- 2 miles per $1 (CAD) spent at restaurants and bars
- 1 mile per $1 (CAD) spent on everything else
The accelerated earn rate at restaurants and bars edges out a few other similar airline credit cards, like the RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum, which only earns 1.25 Asia Miles per dollar spent on foreign currency.
However, it bears repeating that the card’s lack of a welcome bonus of Flying Blue miles puts it at a disadvantage compared to most airline co-branded credit cards issued in Canada.
Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard
- Get 100 XP towards Flying Blue status in the first year, and 30 XP in subsequent years
- Earn up to 30x Flying Blue miles with select merchants
- Earn 5x Flying Blue miles on Air France/KLM flights
- Earn 2x Flying Blue miles on food and drink
- Earn 1x Flying Blue miles on everything else
- Minimum income: $80,000 personal or $150,000 household
- Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $132
May 2023: Earn 100 XP and Earn Instant Silver Status
With the above in mind, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard has now launched its first limited-time elevated welcome bonus during the month of May 2023. Let’s take a look at whether it’s any good.
If you apply for the card before May 31, 2023. you’ll earn 100 XP instead of 30 XP. The bonus XP will be deposited to your account before July 1, 2023.
The first-year annual fee is still waived, while subsequent years will be charged $132 (CAD).
As mentioned, 100 XP will, at the minimum, earn you Flying Blue Silver status, which gets you the following benefits:
- Earn 6 miles per €1 spent on Air France and KLM flights
- Priority check-in, baggage drop-off, and boarding
- Some free seat options 24 hours before departure
- Free selection of standard seats
- One free extra checked bag on SkyTeam flights
While Flying Blue Silver is the lowest elite tier, it still offers a respectable amount of value.
For one, you’ll get a free extra checked bag on top of your regular allowance. As a point of comparison, Air Canada’s entry-level Aeroplan 25K members only two free checked bags at most.
The free bag benefit also comes in handy for transatlantic and intra-Europe flights, where Air France and KLM tend to unbundle economy class fares and sell them without free bag allowances.
Another interesting benefit is the accelerated earning rate of 6 miles per €1 spent. The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard by itself gives you an extra 5 miles per €1 spent, so the Flying Blue Silver status will potentially bump your earnings to 11 miles per €1 spent.
Lastly, the priority services the Silver status offer will come in especially handy during peak travel periods. You’d surely appreciate having access shorter and smoother priority check-in queues, especially over the summer holidays in Europe and North America.
One thing to keep in mind is that the 100 XP is a one-off welcome bonus. If you were to keep the card in subsequent years, you’ll only be deposited with bonus 30 XP every year, which wouldn’t meaningfully get you any elite status on its own.
In order to maintain your elite status going forward, you’d need to supplement the 30 XP by flying with Air France, KLM, or its SkyTeam partners, and earn additional XP according to the chart below:
Note that the terms and conditions of the offer state the following:
Additional cardholders who are Flying Blue members are eligible for this offer.
It’s quite rare to see a welcome incentive being extended to supplementary cardholders as well, which makes this fairly generous on Brim’s part.
If you’re a family of four with one principal card and three additional cards, all of you will receive Silver status and reap its benefits. For reference, each additional cardholder only costs $50 (CAD), which is typically less than the fee of an extra checked bag.
Using the 100 XP for Higher Flying Blue Elite Status
If you already fly frequently with Air France, KLM, or the rest of the SkyTeam, chances are you already have XP in your Flying Blue account. You can then use the welcome bonus of 100 XP to qualify towards higher tiers.
Gold status requires 180 XP, while Platinum requires 200 XP. If you already have 80 XP or 100 XP sitting in your account when the bonus XP is deposited, you’ll be upgraded to Gold or Platinum, respectively.
Flying Blue Gold status comes with the following perks:
- Earn 7 miles per €1 spent
- Free access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest
- SkyPriority: priority access throughout the airport
- Free seat options 72 hours before departure
- Free selection of standard seats
- One free extra checked baggage item on SkyTeam flights
Meanwhile, Flying Blue Platinum status comes with the following:
- Earn 8 miles per €1 spent
- Free access to SkyTeam lounges worldwide with a guest
- SkyPriority: priority access throughout the airport
- Free access to seat options
- One free extra checked baggage item on SkyTeam flights
- Platinum Service Line for dedicated help
- Stay Platinum for 10 years in a row, and you’ll be Platinum for Life
As you can see, Gold and Platinum are the more aspirational statuses of the Flying Blue program, so it’s definitely worth using the 100 XP to get closer to their qualification thresholds if you’re in a position to do so.
In particular, note that Flying Blue Gold members and above have the ability to redeem Flying Blue miles for Air France La Première. The cost will likely be exorbitant, but it’s one of the few avenues towards unlocking Air France’s most luxurious cabin at a fraction of the price.
Conclusion
While Brim Financial still isn’t offering a welcome bonus in the form of Flying Blue miles on its Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard, it’s nevertheless putting forth a more interesting welcome bonus of 100 XP on the first year.
The bonus XP is enough to automatically earn Silver status with the Air France/KLM Flying Blue program, or it could be used to help achieve a higher elite tier if you’re already somewhat loyal to the Franco-Dutch conglomerate.
The first-year annual fee is still free, while additional cards cost $50 (CAD) apiece. Consider getting additional cards under this offer, since those cardholders will be awarded the bonus 100 XP and thereby Flying Blue Silver status as well.
Be sure to sign up before May 31, 2023 to be eligible for this offer, and the bonus will then be deposited to your Flying Blue account before July 1, 2023.
