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For the first time ever, Amex MR here in Canada is offering a transfer bonus to Flying Blue until April 17, 2026 — and it’s a juicy one at 25%! Earlier this year, we saw the Flying Blue transfer ratio improve from 1:0.75 to 1:1, and we are now looking at 1:1.25. I rarely make speculative transfers, but this might be enough to convince me to move a significant chunk over.
Amex transfers to Flying Blue are usually instant. If your points don’t arrive right away, call Flying Blue to place a reward flight on hold for 72 hours.
Flying Blue is Awesome
Genuinely, I am in my Flying Blue era. It’s a program that never comes to mind first, but I keep finding myself using it. Earlier this year, I redeemed 60,000 miles for Dublin–Paris–Toronto flights on Air France in business class. With a 25% transfer bonus, this would’ve cost just 48,000 MR.
Air France (new) A350 business class
In a surprising turn of events, I also redeemed 54,500 Flying Blue miles for Tokyo–Calgary–Ottawa on WestJet economy. Don’t sleep on WestJet redemptions, either! You can book WestJet economy from Toronto to Cancun for just 14,000 miles one-way. In fact, Flying Blue is the best program to book WestJet.
PMB writer Sash just redeemed 115,000 Flying Blue miles for Ottawa–Paris–Seoul on Air France business class. While the fees are high at $700 per person, a routing from Ottawa to Seoul with only one stop and all in business class makes it worth it. With a 25% transfer bonus, it’s 92,000 miles from Eastern Canada to East Asia.
Flying Blue also offers monthly Promo Rewards, with fares like Montreal to Europe at 45,000 miles for one-way business class. Taking into account the 25% transfer bonus, this transatlantic business class costs just 36,000 Amex MR. This is one of the lowest transatlantic business class points redemptions in existence.
Beyond the Promo Rewards, Canadians can really leverage the transfer ratio towards domestic flights within North America on Delta.
YYZ-ATL on Delta, using Flying Blue miles
Flying Blue also offers competitive redemptions on Etihad, and I’m eyeing a China Eastern flight from Tashkent to Shanghai. A 6.5-hour business class flight for 41,500 miles is pretty sweet!
Should You Speculatively Transfer?
With any program, it’s still crucial to have a redemption in mind before making any transfers. After all, you can’t move the points back to Amex. Because transfers are instant, confirm availability on the Flying Blue website, and you can even play it extra safe by placing the flight on hold before transferring points.
Aeroplan is most Canadians’ default points program, including myself, but a stronger 1:1 transfer ratio from Amex and now, a 25% bonus makes Flying Blue an incredibly strong alternative and my go-to second program for long-haul premium cabin redemptions.
Take a look at what Flying Blue redemptions you’ve made in the past year to gauge how many points you might need in the upcoming year. Also see which trips you’ve already planned and which flights might be more optimal to book/re-book with Flying Blue, taking into account this limited-time 1:1.25 transfer bonus.
In the past seven months, I’ve redeemed 260,000 Flying Blue miles
Flying Blue improved its expiration policy last month, so miles won’t expire as long as there’s been activity in the past 24 months. Activity includes transferring points in from your credit card.
Personally, I’m moving over enough to cover a round-trip transatlantic business class fare. Conservatively, I’m certain I’ll redeem it in the next 12 months based on my current travel plans.
Takeaway
This is the first-ever transfer bonus from Amex Canada to Flying Blue and it’s a strong one. Transfer points on or before April 17, 2026 to qualify for a 25% bonus. At an effective 1:1.25 ratio, Flying Blue becomes one of the most compelling programs for transatlantic business class, Promo Rewards, and even select North American redemptions.
While speculative transfers should still be approached with caution, this is one of the rare promotions where moving points over can make a lot of sense, especially with a near-term redemption in mind. As usual, evaluate based on your upcoming travel plans.
