Ahead of Labor Day, Capital One launched a very lucrative Air France-KLM transfer bonus. From now through Sunday, Sept. 29, when you transfer your Capital One miles to Air France-KLM Flying Blue, you’ll receive 20% bonus miles. Therefore, when you transfer 1,000 Capital One miles, you’ll get 1,200 Flying Blue miles, making this offer a 1:1.2 ratio.
Since Flying Blue standardized saver-level award pricing in 2023, you can find one-way award tickets from the U.S. to Europe for:
- 20,000 miles in economy
- 35,000 miles in premium economy
- 50,000 miles in business class
That means that with the current transfer bonus, a one-way saver-level flight from U.S. airports to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) would cost you just 17,000 Capital One miles in economy, 30,000 miles in premium economy and 42,000 miles in business class.
Related: How to find the cheapest redemption rates using Flying Blue miles
These mileage rates are only for saver-level awards, so they may be difficult to come by, especially during peak travel dates. Therefore, having flexibility with your travel plans can help you snag one of these lower-cost award flights. Flying Blue prices other award flights not at the saver level dynamically, so mileage prices can be significantly higher on certain days and routes.
Keep in mind, too, that you will have to pay taxes, fees and surcharges for your flight. But even if you have to pay $200 in extra fees, know that this is still a great transfer bonus deal when looking for transatlantic flights to Europe this fall or in 2025.
Combine Capital One transfer bonus with Flying Blue Promo Rewards
In addition to reaping the benefits of earning additional miles when you transfer your Capital One miles to Flying Blue, you can take advantage of the loyalty program’s monthly Promo Rewards for flights to and from Europe.
While we don’t yet know which fares will be discounted for Flying Blue’s September promo, the program’s current August promotion is offering long-haul flights between Europe and North American cities like Boston, Detroit, Houston and Toronto starting at just 15,000 miles in economy. You must book by Aug. 31, 2024, and the travel dates are only through Jan. 31, 2025.
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If you wish to capitalize on this double promotion — Capital One transfer bonus and Flying Blue Promo Rewards — you can potentially fly from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to CDG for just 13,000 miles.
In previous tests by TPG staffers, transfers from Capital One to Flying Blue were instant. Note that once you transfer your miles from Capital One, you cannot move them back to your account. Therefore, it’s best to make sure you have a redemption in mind and find award availability prior to transferring your miles.
Capital One miles can be transferred in increments of 1,000 miles.
Related: Cashing in Capital One miles? How to get the maximum value when redeeming miles
Which cards earn Capital One miles?
If you’re looking to earn a stash of transferable Capital One miles, here are some of our favorite cards offering lucrative welcome bonuses.
Bottom line
Credit card transfer bonuses are a great way for travelers to save on award flights. With Capital One’s 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue, you can book a transatlantic flight to Europe for a great deal. Plus, if you double dip on promotions and combine Flying Blue’s monthly Promo Rewards with the current transfer bonus, you could potentially travel from the U.S. to Europe in 2025 for only 13,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).
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