- Mr Plane Guy
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
Flying Blue Status Match for British Airways Club Members (A Sneaky Strategic Move)
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British Airways loyalists don’t usually look across the fence, but Flying Blue is now giving British Airways Club members a very good reason to do exactly that.
Air France–KLM’s loyalty programme has launched a new status match aimed at BA elites in the UK, unlocking recognition across Air France, KLM, SkyTeam, and slightly awkwardly for BA, Virgin Atlantic.
If you hold BA status, this isn’t about abandoning ship. It’s about making a quiet, strategic upgrade using the status you already have.
British Airways Club vs British Airways Executive Club (What Changed?)
If you’re confused by the naming, you’re not alone.
The British Airways Club is simply what used to be called the British Airways Executive Club. The branding changed, but the fundamentals didn’t, tier points still matter, elite levels are still Bronze, Silver and Gold, and you’re still earning BA Avios through flying, credit cards and partners.
That existing British Airways Executive Club status is exactly what Flying Blue is now allowing you to leverage.
What Is the Flying Blue Status Match?
Flying Blue is the frequent flyer programme of Air France and KLM. Through this status match, British Airways Club members (Bronze and above) can apply to be matched to an equivalent Flying Blue elite tier.
Once approved, the matched status is valid for 12 months, and delivers benefits across:
Air France
KLM
All SkyTeam airlines
Select Virgin Atlantic routes and lounges
Crucially, you keep your BA status and your BA Avios strategy remains untouched.
Who Can Apply?
This version of the offer is specifically targeted at the UK.
To be eligible, you must:
Hold a UK passport
Be a UK resident
Have British Airways Club status (Bronze or higher)
Flying Blue is also quietly accepting applications from residents of various other countries, but for UK-based BA flyers, this is one of the cleanest status matches currently available.
British Airways Club to Flying Blue Status Mapping
Here’s how the tiers line up:
BA Club Bronze → Flying Blue Silver (SkyTeam Elite)
BA Club Silver → Flying Blue Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus)
BA Club Gold / GGL / Premier → Flying Blue Platinum
Higher invitation-only tiers like Flying Blue Ultimate are not available via status match.
How Much Does the Status Match Cost?
This isn’t a free match and that’s intentional.
For UK applicants, the one-off fees are:
Flying Blue Silver: £79
Flying Blue Gold: £149
Flying Blue Platinum: £249
If you regularly fly Air France or KLM, especially through hubs like Amsterdam, this can pay for itself surprisingly quickly.
What Benefits Do You Actually Get?
Flying Blue Silver (SkyTeam Elite)
Priority check-in and boarding
Extra checked baggage allowance
Priority baggage delivery
Free standard seat selection on Air France and KLM
50% mileage bonus on eligible flights
Flying Blue Gold (SkyTeam Elite Plus)
This is where the value really ramps up:
SkyTeam lounge access worldwide
Priority security
Increased mileage earning
Extra baggage and seating perks
Gold status also unlocks access to select Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses, including New York JFK and Los Angeles. If you’ve flown KLM via Amsterdam, you’ll know how much smoother things become at Schiphol once you’re elite, I’ve covered this in my KLM Crown Lounge review at Amsterdam Schiphol.
If you don’t quite hit Flying Blue Gold or you want lounge access regardless of airline, this is where Priority Pass still earns its keep. I use Priority Pass as a safety net when flying low-cost, domestically, or on routes where alliance lounge access is messy. It guarantees lounge access even when status perks don’t apply.
Get 30% off a Priority Pass membership → and access 1800+ lounges worldwide.
Flying Blue Platinum
Platinum adds:
Virgin Atlantic Heathrow Clubhouse access when flying Premium Economy on Virgin Atlantic or Delta
Free bulkhead and extra-legroom seats on Air France and KLM from booking
Complimentary Avis President’s Club membership
On KLM long haul, this pairs particularly well with their newer cabins, which I’ve reviewed in my KLM Cityhopper Business Class review.
What Happens After the 12 Months?
At the end of your matched year, Flying Blue reviews your actual flying activity. Fly enough and you keep your status. If not, you drop to the tier you’ve earned under standard Flying Blue rules.
Should You Be Looking at Flying Blue Miles Too?
Possibly, but only with a plan.
Flying Blue periodically runs promotions on purchased miles via Points.com, which can make sense if you’ve already found award availability.
During recent promotions, some members have seen bonuses of up to 80%, bringing the cost down to roughly 1.7 cents per mile. This can work well for long-haul business class redemptions, where Flying Blue pricing is often more reasonable than BA Avios.
That said, Flying Blue uses dynamic pricing, availability varies, and miles expire after 24 months without qualifying activity. Always check availability before buying.
Why This Is a Smart Play for BA Flyers
Think of this as a hedge.
You keep your British Airways Club status and continue earning BA Avios, while quietly gaining elite treatment with Air France, KLM and SkyTeam, without starting from zero in another programme.
If you’ve felt BA Avios has become harder to use or less predictable, I’ve broken down the most recent changes here.
Having elite status is great, but it’s most valuable when you’re flying the right routes at the right prices.
If you’re trying to spot good-value Air France, KLM or SkyTeam fares without endlessly searching, I keep everything I use and recommend in one place here.
It’s where I break down how I find cheap long-haul fares, mistake deals, and routes where airline status perks actually make a difference.
The cheapest way to find the cheapest flights, now just £1 for your first 30 days with Jack’s Flight Club
Final BA Club Boarding Call
For the right traveller, this is one of the cleanest and most useful status matches available right now.
It’s not about ditching British Airways. It’s about playing the loyalty game more intelligently.
Just make sure you know:
Which tier you want
Where you’ll fly
How you’ll use the benefits
That’s how a “sneaky strategic move” actually pays off
Reward Flight Finder: How You Actually Use Your Avios
If you’re focusing more on Avios redemptions than paid fares, there’s one tool I rely on heavily. Right now you earn Avios easily. The hard part is actually finding the reward seats when you want to travel and that’s where most people give up.
That’s exactly why I use Reward Flight Finder.
It does the work that British Airways doesn’t:
✅ Automatically scans BA reward availability
✅ Sends you instant alerts when seats appear
✅ Shows peak vs off-peak pricing clearly
✅ Finds seats months before most people even look
You can start with the 7-day free trial, and if it works for you (no commitment, cancel anytime)
📩 Get Next Week’s Tip First Sign up to Plane News Weekly for early access to the Plane Avios Tip of the Week, plus flight deals, lounge news and Plane Honest takes.
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Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading
Flying Blue Status Match for British Airways Club Members (A Sneaky Strategic Move).
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