The Air France-KLM Group, recognized for its main carriers Air France and KLM, also runs a budget subsidiary, Transavia. This subsidiary is separated into French and Dutch segments, with the French segment primarily operating from Paris Orly (ORY) and the Dutch segment from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS).
Traditionally, Flying Blue elite members have not enjoyed any elite benefits when traveling on Transavia. However, this is evolving, much to the satisfaction of numerous travelers. The launch of these new benefits coincides with Air France discontinuing its flights at Orly Airport.
New Flying Blue Platinum & Ultimate Advantages on Transavia
Flying Blue is rolling out elite benefits for travel on Transavia, specifically for the French subsidiary, mainly for journeys to and from Paris Orly. These new advantages are reserved for Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members, leaving Silver and Gold members without extra perks.
The new advantages, valid from March 29, 2026, consist of:
- Dedicated check-in, baggage drop-off, and fast track security at Paris Orly
- Improved priority rebooking in the event of disruptions
- Access to partner lounges in Marseille (MRS), Montpellier (MPL), Nice (NCE), and Toulouse (TLS)
- Access to Transavia’s premium customer service line
- Priority boarding and a complimentary cabin bag (exclusive to Ultimate members)
Moreover, Transavia will soon launch a new lounge at Paris Orly, taking over the previous Air France lounge. Lounge access will be granted to elite members and those purchasing the airline’s highest fare bundle.
It’s essential to highlight that these perks pertain only to flights on Transavia’s French subsidiary (airline code “TO”), not the Dutch subsidiary (airline code “HV”). Furthermore, these elite benefits are solely for those holding Flying Blue elite status; therefore, SkyTeam Elite Plus members will not receive these perks, as Transavia is not included in SkyTeam.
This is a Positive Advancement for Flying Blue Elites
In the past, some Flying Blue elite members have expressed dissatisfaction regarding the absence of elite perks when flying on Transavia, given the carrier’s scale. The reasoning has been that Transavia’s low rates and reliance on additional revenue and fees made it financially impractical to extend many amenities to elite travelers. Flying Blue formerly offered a limited quantity of XPs for Transavia flights as an incentive.
The revised strategy from Flying Blue is intricate, with perks tailored to the French subsidiary instead of the Dutch one. This method aligns with the shifting Air France versus Transavia strategy. Air France has centralized operations at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), while Transavia has concentrated on Paris Orly. With numerous destinations served by both Air France and Transavia, Flying Blue elite members may favor flying from Paris Orly, particularly considering the competition from ultra-low-cost carriers at that airport.
The situation is different for the Dutch subsidiary, where both KLM and Transavia function out of Amsterdam Schiphol without overlapping routes. In Amsterdam, Transavia largely operates on popular leisure routes, so the airline’s strategy does not prioritize expanding market share in the same fashion.
Conclusion
The Air France-KLM Flying Blue program is unveiling elite perks on Transavia, but strictly for the French subsidiary. Flying Blue Platinum and Ultimate members can look forward to priority airport services, and Transavia is taking possession of Air France’s lounge at Paris Orly.
What are your thoughts on Flying Blue launching elite perks on Transavia?