--- title: "Flying Blue SAF status: why earning XP with fuel contributions now costs 50% more" description: "Platinum through SAF alone now costs €4,500, up from €3,000, and the change took effect without notice." url: https://travel.skoop.news/earning-xp-with-flying-blue-just-got-harder-104c98/ published: 2026-11-02T19:46:15.497985-05:00 modified: 2026-11-02T19:46:15.498009-05:00 section: "Travel" publisher: "skoop.news" language: en keywords: ["SAF", "Flying Blue", "Air France KLM Visa Signature", "Air France", "La Premiere", "Reaching Silver", "Top-tier Ultimate", "Platinum", "Gold", "Explorer"] hashtags: ["#FlyingBlue", "#AirFranceKLMVisaSignature", "#AirFrance", "#Travel", "#travelnews"] image: https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport_Terminal_1.jpg/1280px-Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport_Terminal_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail --- # Flying Blue SAF status: why earning XP with fuel contributions now costs 50% more > Platinum through SAF alone now costs €4,500, up from €3,000, and the change took effect without notice. Published 2026-11-02 · Updated 2026-11-02 · Travel, [skoop.news](https://skoop.news/) ## In brief - Flying Blue members now spend 50% more for each XP they earn through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) contributions, which makes elite status more expensive for anyone who uses this route. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) - During booking of an Air France or KLM flight, members can pay extra to fund SAF and reduce the emissions tied to their travel. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) - Members previously earned 1 XP for every €10 ($11.20) contributed. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) ## The new SAF rate Flying Blue members now spend 50% more for each XP they earn through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) contributions, which makes elite status more expensive for anyone who uses this route. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) The change took effect without notice to members. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) This piece explains the new rate, what it costs at each tier and what it means if you use SAF contributions to top up your status. ## How SAF contributions earn XP During booking of an Air France or KLM flight, members can pay extra to fund SAF and reduce the emissions tied to their travel. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) In return, they earn XP, which is described as the sole metric that matters for Flying Blue elite status. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Flying Blue status is earned and maintained based on XP earned during a 12-month qualification period. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) ## The rate change and the end of rounding Members previously earned 1 XP for every €10 ($11.20) contributed. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Under the new rate, €15 ($16.80) is required to earn 1 XP. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Flying Blue also no longer rounds XP on SAF contributions, a change first noticed by One Mile at a Time. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) A €14 SAF contribution on a short-haul economy flight now earns no XP, and a €28 contribution earns just 1 XP. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Members who make smaller contributions across several flights will pay even more to reach tiers, because the rounding benefit is gone. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) ## What each tier costs through SAF alone Silver requires 100 XP, Gold requires 180 XP and Platinum requires 300 XP. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Top-tier Ultimate status requires 900 XP. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Reaching Silver through SAF contributions alone now costs €1,500, up from €1,000. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Gold now costs €2,700, up from €1,800. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Platinum now costs €4,500, up from €3,000. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) Each time a member moves up a tier, that tier's XP requirement is deducted from the balance. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) As a result, getting from the introductory Explorer tier to Platinum takes 580 XP in total. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) ## Other recent Flying Blue changes Platinum members can no longer assign front row business class suites at no extra cost and now have to pay for them. [[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) Flying Blue also devalued miles after the introduction of Light fares, so customers must pay more to get the same inclusions. [[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) The cost of La Premiere first class awards has increased massively, even though they are limited to Platinum members and above. [[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) ## What it means for you Many members have used SAF contributions to close the gap near the end of a qualification period, reaching a desired tier without taking more flights. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) If you do this, each XP now costs €15 instead of €10. [[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) If you split your contributions across several flights, you will pay even more, because contributions below €15 earn no XP. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) SAF is not the only way to earn XP. [[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) You can earn one XP per 2,000 miles contributed toward a variety of environmental projects. [[2]](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) If you are a U.S.-based member, you can also earn XP through the Air France KLM Visa Signature credit card. [[1]](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) ## Sources 1. [Earning XP With Flying Blue Just Got Harder](https://upgradedpoints.com/news/flying-blue-xp-via-saf-more-expensive/) — Upgraded Points 2. [Ouch: Flying Blue Makes Earning XPs Through SAF 50% More Expensive](https://onemileatatime.com/news/flying-blue-earning-xp-saf-more-expensive/) — One Mile at a Time Image: Photo (illustrative): Arne Müseler / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Berlin_Brandenburg_Airport_Terminal_1.jpg) --- Written from the sources above and checked twice (rules and an independent model) before publishing. How we work: https://skoop.news/how-we-work/ · Corrections: https://skoop.news/corrections/