ADVERTISER DISCLOSURE: The Frugal Tourist is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as MileValue.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
I visited Taipei in the summer of 2024 using travel miles and points.
Taipei is one of my favorite Asian metropolitan cities.
With its night markets, bustling streets, and rich cultural heritage, it’s a must-visit destination for any traveler.
One of my favorite things about Taipei is the food scene.
From street vendors selling delicious snacks to restaurants serving dim sum, boba, and traditional dishes, there’s something for every palate.
In this blog post, I’ll share details about how I booked my return flight from Taipei back to the West Coast of the US using travel miles and points.
Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group
Join other points enthusiasts in our free Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group, where we post and discuss all things related to points and miles. We look forward to seeing you there!
How I Booked?
Since China Airlines and Air France/KLM are part of the SkyTeam Alliance, I knew I could use my Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) miles to book China Airlines award flights.
I initially searched for flights from Taipei (TPE) to San Francisco (SFO), my home airport, but it would have cost over 150,000 Flying Blue miles for a non-direct option.
I also considered flights from TPE to Los Angeles (LAX) and Ontario (ONT), both of which will cost about 93000 Flying Blue miles.
When I saw that the Taipei to Seattle (SEA) business class seats only required 83,000 Flying Blue miles, I booked it immediately.
The images below show how I searched for this particular flight on the Air France app.
I earn my travel points and miles from credit card welcome offers. Almost my entire stash of Flying Blue miles was from credit card transfer bonuses, which we announce in the Travel Miles and Points Facebook Group.
Strategy on How to Search on Flying Blue
Finding the best deals on the Flying Blue website can be challenging unless you use an award search tool such as seats.aero or point.me.
Fortunately, there is a strategy that can help anyone find award availability on Flying Blue.
Whenever I need to find the cheapest award flights on Flying Blue, I make sure to use the Flying Blue calendar strategy.
In fact, that is how I found the cheapest date available on China Airlines.
To learn how this trick works, check out the step-by-step guide in this blog post.
The Flight Details (FAQS)
| Redemption | Details |
|---|---|
| Miles Used | Flying Blue Miles |
| Number of Miles | 83,000 Flying Blue Miles |
| Taxes | $115 |
| Airline | China Airlines |
| Aircraft | A350-900 |
| Flight Number | CI0022 |
| Cabin | Business Class |
| Trip Duration | 11 hours & 20 minutes |
| Booked on | March 2024 |
| Departure Date | August 2024 |
| How to Earn Flying Blue Miles | Transfer Bank Points to Flying Blue |
| Which Bank Points | Specific Credit Cards from Chase, American Express, Capital One, Citi & Bilt |
| How to Book | Air France app Air France website Air France agent 1 (800) 237-2747 1 (800) 375-8723 |
| Seat Selection | Call Air France at 1 (800) 237-2747 |
Itinerary Map
| Flight | Route | Miles | Airline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SFO-TPE | 75,000 Alaska Miles & $18.10 in Business Class | Starlux |
| 2 | TPE-SEA | 83,000 Flying Blue Miles & $115 on Business Class | China Airlines |
| 3 | SEA-SFO | 5,000 Alaska Miles & $5.60 on Economy | Alaska |
| Total | 163,000 Miles & $138.70 |
Seat Selection
| Seat Selection | Datapoint |
|---|---|
| How to Select | Air France can choose the seats even though they will first ask you to call China Airlines. Select your seats immediately after booking. Air France: 1 (800) 237-2747 |
| Aircraft | A350-900 |
| Seat Selected | 10K (Bulkhead) |
| Confirmation | I got an email confirmation that my seat was successfully selected. |
My Seat: 10K
As mentioned in the previous section, I selected the bulkhead seat at 10K for more space.
The seat converts into a fully flat bed, which the flight attendants can prepare for you when you are ready to sleep.
This particular flight to Seattle was fully booked, so the cabin felt a bit crowded, but I still had ample sleep and an overall fantastic journey.
Meal Service
The flight departed close to midnight, so the cabin lights were turned off immediately after departure.
After take off, I was served with champagne and warm nuts.
For dinner, I selected their Skyward Michelin 3 Stars Exclusive Cuisine, which consisted of the following:
| Canape | Scallop and Avocado Tart Served with Olive and Zucchini Skewers |
| Appetizer | Royal Roasted Chicken Tomato with Lychee Jelly Chayote Shoots in Sesame Sauce Pomelo Marinated Radish |
| Main Course | Lo Mein with Abalone, Shiitake, and Seasonal Vegetables |
| Dim Sum | Kaoliang and Egg Yolk Pastry |
| Dessert | Sweet Coconut Soup with Water Chestnut and Lily Bulb |
This Michelin-starred entrée exceeded my expectations. Each dish was expertly prepared and flavorful.
You can pre-order this dish before your flight by responding to China Airlines’ email a few days before departure.
For breakfast, I selected the Chinese set menu, which consisted of plain congee, egg tofu, okra, stir-fried pork, a salty egg, and fresh fruits. It was delicious.
Credit Cards that Earn Flying Blue Miles (Air France/KLM)
One way to accumulate Flying Blue miles is by transferring points from travel credit cards.
This is arguably the easiest method to earn Flying Blue miles.
I also time my transfers when banks offer transfer bonuses, such as this 20% Capital One transfer bonus to Flying Blue that runs through September 29th, 2024.
The table below summarizes some of the best credit cards that transfer directly to Flying Blue.
| Travel Cards |
|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards Points = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card Chase Sapphire Reserve® Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card |
| How to Transfer Chase Points to Airline Partners |
| American Express Membership Rewards 1 American Express Membership Rewards Points = 1 Flying Blue Miles |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express The Platinum Card® from American Express American Express® Gold Card American Express® Business Gold Card The Business Platinum Card® from American Express |
| How to Transfer Amex Points to Airline Partners |
| Capital One Rewards 1 Capital One Mile = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture X Business Capital One Spark Miles for Business |
| How to Transfer Capital One Miles to Airline Partners |
| Bilt Rewards 1 Bilt Rewards Point = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Bilt Rewards Points |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards 1 Citi ThankYou Point = 1 Flying Blue Mile |
| Citi Strata Premier℠ Card |
What is Flying Blue Air France/KLM?
Flying Blue is the loyalty program for Air France/KLM, two of the world’s largest airlines.
The Flying Blue frequent flier program allows you to earn and redeem miles for flights, upgrades, and other travel-related expenses.
As a Flying Blue member, you can earn miles using specific credit cards, shopping with partner retailers, and staying at partner hotels.
Since Air France and KLM are members of Sky Team, you can also earn Flying Blue Miles whenever you fly with an alliance partner.
Here are the current Sky Team Alliance partners:
- Aeroflot
- Aerolineas Argentina
- Aeromexico
- AirEuropa
- Air France
- ITA
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- Czech Airlines
- Delta
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- MEA
- Saudia
- Tarom
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Air
To earn Flying Blue miles when flying with Sky Team partners, indicate your Flying Blue account number when flying with Sky Team carriers so your points are credited to Flying Blue.
25% Off Discount for Kids Under 12
Flying Blue also offers a 25% discount on award tickets for children aged 2 to 11 who are accompanied by a traveling adult.
These discounts are only currently applicable to Air France and KLM-marketed flights. a
These award tickets are automatically applied during the booking process.
If you’re traveling with an infant under two years old or have minors traveling alone, Flying Blue requires you to contact them to book these award seats.
Flying Blue Stacking Opportunities
Stack 1: Transfer Bonuses
Flying Blue transfer partners like Chase, American Express, BILT, Citi, and Capital One frequently provide transfer bonuses.
These bonuses can quickly boost your Flying Blue miles, allowing you to accumulate a significant stash in no time.
I usually transfer my points and miles only when a transfer bonus promotion is available.
We announce these transfer bonuses in the Travel Miles & Points Facebook Group.
| History of Flying Blue Transfer Bonuses | Ends |
|---|---|
| 25% bonus: Chase to Flying Blue | Expired |
| 20% bonus: Capital One to Flying Blue | Ended on 29 Sept 24 |
| 20% bonus: American Express to Flying Blue | 10 Nov 24 |
| Check the New Transfer Bonuses Here |
Stack 2: Free Stopovers
Flying Blue has recently introduced a fantastic new feature for award flights – free stopovers!
Now, you can explore multiple destinations in one trip, adding an exciting twist to your travel plans.
Of course, this is all subject to award space availability.
Stopovers can now be booked on all Flying Blue partner airlines up to 365 days before the last segment of the flight.
To take advantage of this perk, call Flying Blue at 1 (800)-375-8723, and their agents will assist you in adding stopovers to your itinerary.
| Example Itineraries with Stopovers |
|---|
| SFO-TPE (free stopover in Taipei for a week or a month) TPE-MNL (final destination) |
| JFK-AMS (free stopover in Amsterdam for 2 weeks or longer) AMS-TPE (final destination) |
| TPE-SFO (free stopover in San Francisco for 3 days) SFO-JFK (final destination) |
Stack 3: Flying Blue Promo Rewards
Flying Blue Promo Awards are a special promotion that allows travelers to redeem their Flying Blue miles for flights at a discounted rate.
These promotions are available for a limited time, allowing travelers to save up to 50% on flights to select destinations worldwide.
To maximize your Flying Blue Promo Awards, here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Plan: Flying Blue Promo Rewards are announced a few months in advance, so it’s a good idea to plan your travel accordingly. Check the Flying Blue website or sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about upcoming promotions.
- Be flexible: Promo Awards are available for a limited number of seats on select flights, so it’s essential to be flexible with your travel dates and destinations. If you’re open to traveling during off-peak times or to less popular destinations, you may have a better chance of finding available seats.
- Check the fine print: Read the Promo Awards terms and conditions before booking your flight. Some restrictions, such as blackout dates or limited availability on specific routes, may apply.
- Compare prices: While Promo Awards can offer significant savings, it’s always a good idea to compare prices with other airlines and booking sites to ensure you get the best bang for your mile.
- Use your miles wisely: Flying Blue miles can also be used for upgrades, hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel expenses. Consider your travel goals and how to use your miles to maximize your overall travel experience.
- Positioning Flights: Lastly, be willing to take a positioning flight to where a Promo Award is currently offered. For example, if the promo award is offered in Dallas or Atlanta, you can fly from your home airport to those cities a day or two before to take advantage of these deeply discounted flights.
Do Flying Blue Miles Expire?
Miles earned from flying and transferred from credit cards will expire after two years.
However, you can extend their validity by taking another flight on any SkyTeam carrier and crediting those miles to your Flying Blue account.
Remember, flights operated by Air France, KLM, or any of their partner airlines qualify for this extension.
Additionally, if you make purchases using an eligible co-branded credit card, the expiration of your miles will be extended by two years.
This way, you can make the most of your earned miles and enjoy the rewards for longer.
Final Thoughts
One of the benefits of learning how credit card points work is the ability to use travel points and miles to fly business class on different airlines.
This China Airlines redemption from Taipei to Seattle using Flying Blue Miles exemplifies how credit card points can be maximized to fly luxuriously without breaking the bank.
Overall, taking advantage of travel rewards programs through credit cards can significantly enhance your travel experience while saving you a substantial amount of money.
So, the next time you plan a trip, consider using travel points and miles for a more affordable yet luxurious journey.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
User-Generated Content Disclosure: The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.
