Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card Review 2024 (2024)

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Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card Review 2024 (1)

Our Verdict

The Bank of America-issued Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* might be one of the most underrated travel rewards credit cards. With an above-average base earning rate and generous reward program, this $89 annual fee card offers tremendous value for economy and luxury travelers.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card Review 2024 (2)

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® *

3.7

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card Review 2024 (3)

Our ratings take into account the card’s rewards, fees, rates along with the card’s category. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Welcome Bonus

50,000 bonus miles + up to 60 XP

Annual Fee

$89

Regular APR

21.24% - 29.24% variable

Credit Score

Good/Excellent

Pros

  • Redeem points for travel on Air France, KLM and other SkyTeam partners
  • Generous base earning rate
  • No foreign transaction fee

Cons

  • High regular APR
  • The Flying Blue program often charges a lot of miles for award flights
  • No flight perks included with card

Highlights

  • Online Offer: Get 50,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening and 60 XP (Experience Points) upon approval
  • Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airlines purchases and 1.5 miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Earn 5,000 miles every year on your account anniversary after spending $50 on purchases within the anniversary year

More Highlights

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Online Offer: Get 50,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening and 60 XP (Experience Points) upon approval

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard Introduction

What makes the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard unique is that you can earn elevated rewards not only on Air France and KLM but on any airline within the SkyTeam alliance—which includes Delta in the U.S. Most co-branded airline cards only offer higher rewards when you book a flight within the brand.

You’ll also get a welcome bonus big enough to potentially cover a round-trip flight to Hawaii from the mainland or even to the Middle East if combined with a Flying Blue Promo reward, which can save you up to 25% off your reward booking.

Additionally, there’s a 5,000-mile bonus every year for spending $50 on the card. That’s a low spending threshold to achieve. And you’ll only pay an $89 annual fee.

Card ownership also gives you a lift toward Silver elite status, the first rung on the airline’s elite status ladder, which includes several perks and benefits. You’ll get 20 Experience Points on your card anniversary—you need 100 total to earn Silver elite status—and another 40 XP after you spend $15,000 or more on purchases within the anniversary year for a total of 60 XP. Additional XP are earned through flights.

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

On Capital One's Website

Welcome Bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

Annual Fee

$395

Credit Score

Excellent

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Welcome Bonus

60,000 bonus points

Annual Fee

$95

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Regular APR

21.49%-28.49% Variable

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

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On American Express's Website

Rates & Fees/ Terms Apply

Welcome Bonus

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150

Credit Score

Good,Excellent

Regular APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Quick Facts

  • $89 annual fee
  • Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account. Plus, earn 60 Experience Points upon approval
  • Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airlines purchases and 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • Earn 5,000 bonus miles every year you spend $50 on the card
  • Rewards can be redeemed on SkyTeam member airlines
  • Up to 60 XP can be earned per year toward elite status through a combination of anniversary awards and spending
  • No foreign transaction fees

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard Rewards

Earning Rewards

The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard earns 3 miles per dollar spent on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airlines purchases and 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The card also has the following welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account. Plus, earn 60 Experience Points upon approval.

Redeeming Rewards

Because you can redeem your Flying Blue miles for flights on SkyTeam airlines, it may take a little work to get the most value for your earnings. You can search for the itinerary you want through the Flying Blue website, and it will show you the price for your desired ticket.

Another way to maximize your earnings is to check Flying Blue’s Promo rewards site for monthly deals, which can be as much as 25% off the standard price. You can book using your rewards by finding the Promo rewards offer you’re interested in and booking through the Flying Blue program.

You can redeem Flying Blue miles on either the Air France or KLM website.

Rewards Potential

To determine the reward potential of the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®*, Forbes Advisor uses data from various government agencies to determine baseline income and spending averages across various categories. The 70th percentile of wage-earning households brings in $118,438 annually and has $39,337 in annual expenses that could be reasonably charged to a credit card. The following reward potential assumes all airfare purchases are made with Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines or SkyTeam member airlines.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* Rewards Potential

Category Earning Rate Estimated Annual Spend Estimated Annual Earnings

Airfare

3X

$770

2,310

All Other Purchases

1.5X

$38,567

57,850

Total: 60,160 Flying Blue miles

There is an anniversary bonus of 5,000 miles every year after making at least $50 in purchases, meaning our sample family can expect to earn 65,160 miles each year. There is also an opportunity to earn a first-year welcome bonus of 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account. Plus, earn 60 Experience Points upon approval.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard Benefits

As a World Elite Mastercard, the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* comes with the following benefits:

  • Lyft. Get a $5 credit for every three rides taken in a calendar month (capped at one per month). You can also save 10% on scheduled rides to U.S. airports when you use your card.
  • ShopRunner membership. Get free two-day shipping and free return shipping at select online retailers.
  • Instacart. Get two free months of free delivery with Instacart+ and $10 off your second order each month.
  • Peacock. Get $3 off Peacock Premium or $5 off Peacock Premium Plus each month when you use your card to subscribe.
  • Mastercard Golf. Access to exclusive golf experiences with the PGA Tour.

Fine Print

Interest Rates

  • Regular APR: 21.24% - 29.24% variable

Fees

  • Annual fee: $89
  • Balance transfer fee: 4% of the amount of each transaction
  • Foreign purchase transaction fee: None

How the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard Stacks Up

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* vs. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

If you’re based in the U.S., you might consider a card from the SkyTeam alliance’s only U.S.-based carrier, Delta. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card comes with a similar annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (terms apply, see rates & fees). But the rewards rate on the Delta Gold Amex is different: Earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, at U.S. supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per dollar on other eligible purchases.

The Delta card also offers a free first checked bag and a $200 Delta flight credit to use toward future travel if you spend more than $10,000 in a calendar year on the card. But the Delta Gold Amex doesn’t come with an elite status boost. Depending on your goal, that may mean more to you than the card’s other perks.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you don’t care about tiers or airline alliances and are simply looking to earn rewards you can redeem for any flight you want, look to a general-purpose travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. For an annual fee of $95, cardholders will earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Ownership of this card also means your Chase Ultimate Rewards® are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel through Chase. But, as a general-purpose travel rewards card, there’s no boost toward airline elite status.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* vs. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Even if you do find yourself turning to SkyTeam airlines whenever you book a flight, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) may be a stronger option. Compared to the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®*, many cardholders will earn more miles with the earning categories on the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The card earns 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.

A major perk of the miles earned with the Venture X is that they can be transferred at a 1:1 ratio to Flying Blue. This means you can transfer miles from your card to book a flight with any SkyTeam alliance member through Flying Blue. Additionally, you’ll have access to all of Capital One’s airline transfer partners, allowing you to use your miles toward a valuable flight that might not be within the SkyTeam alliance.

The Venture X is a premium travel card with a hefty $395 annual fee. However, this fee can be easily offset by taking advantage of the card’s $300 annual travel credit valid on purchases through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (equal to $100 toward travel).

Is the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard Credit Card for You?

The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®* is ideal for those who want an airline rewards program that makes award travel accessible or a co-branded credit card that earns more than 1 mile per dollar spent. With its relatively low annual fee, it could be a great choice for those who want to save up for SkyTeam awards without the higher annual fees of Delta credit cards.

Find the Best Airline Credit Cards of 2024

Learn More

Methodology

Forbes Advisor considers a variety of criteria when assigning credit cards a rating. Cards are graded based on numerous factors, including:

  • Annual fees
  • Welcome bonus offers
  • Ongoing earning rates
  • Value of individual rewards
  • Included travel or merchant credits
  • Additional cardholder benefits

Card features we expect cardholders to use the most often are weighted more heavily in our ratings. Altogether, the factors come together to provide a star rating for each individual card.

To learn more about our rating and review methodology and editorial process, check out our guide on how Forbes Advisor rates credit cards.

To view rates and fees for Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card please visit this page.

*The information for the following card(s) has been collected independently by Forbes Advisor: Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard®. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card Review 2024 (2024)

FAQs

What is the credit limit on a Mastercard World Elite? ›

To qualify for the National Bank World Elite credit card, you need to have an income of 80000 per year, or a household income of 150000. The minimum credit limit is $5,000.

Who issues Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard? ›

Issued by Bank of America®, the card earns miles that can be used for flights not only on these airlines but for any travel in the larger SkyTeam Alliance network they are part of, including Delta Air Lines.

What is the annual fee for Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard? ›

Frequent Flyers may be interested in this feature to earn or maintain Flying Blue Elite status. The Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard® has an annual fee of $132.

What Bank issues the World Elite Mastercard? ›

Free Spirit® World Elite Mastercard from Bank of America.

Is World Elite Mastercard hard to get? ›

The program's benefits are generally geared toward improving hotel stays with things like rate guarantees and free upgrades at three-star hotels and up. World Elite Mastercards typically require excellent or good credit to apply—defined by FICO as a score of 670 and up—and may carry an annual fee.

What is the minimum income for World Elite Mastercard? ›

How do I qualify for a World Elite Triangle Mastercard? World Elite Mastercard must have a minimum personal income of $80,000 or household income of $150,000.

Can KLM credit be used for Delta? ›

The non-refundable voucher is valid for 12 months from the date of issue and can be used to purchase a KLM or Air France ticket for travel on KLM, Air France or Delta Air Lines fare.

How do I access my World Elite Mastercard airport lounge? ›

Eligible cardholders wishing to access a participating lounge must present their Mastercard Travel Pass mobile app or membership document showing the QR code and DragonPass membership number (this may be obtained by the eligible cardholder by registering an account at mastercardtravelpass.dragonpass.com or downloading ...

Which is better Visa Signature or Mastercard World Elite? ›

On entry level cards, there is very little difference between Visa and Mastercard, as both provide a similar suite of basic features. However, Mastercard includes impressive special luxury offers on its World and World Elite level cards, which can be attractive for big spenders.

What is the difference between World Elite Mastercard and regular? ›

While standard Mastercards offer fraud protection and security perks, more useful benefits like statement credits with Lyft and DoorDash and cellphone protection kick in with mid-tier World cards. Rounding things out, World Elite cards offer superior cellphone protection and concierge services.

Does World Elite Mastercard include travel insurance? ›

Travel insurance is available with your credit card if you have a World Elite® Mastercard®, World Mastercard® or Platinum Mastercard® credit card: Travel must be booked with your card to be covered. See your card details for more information. See your card's certificate of insurance for full terms and conditions.

Does World Elite Mastercard charge foreign transaction fees? ›

The World Elite Mastercard foreign transaction fee depends on the issuer of the credit card. Some of the best cards, like the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, or the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® don't charge any foreign transaction fees.

What is the minimum credit limit on a World Elite Mastercard? ›

Key product details
Welcome BonusThe first year annual fee is waived ($120 value) plus you'll receive a 40,000 welcome bonus points ($200 value) when you make your first purchase 6.
Interest ratesSee current rates
Minimum credit limit$5000
Additional cards$35 annual fee
Balance protectionAvailable
4 more rows

What level is World Elite Mastercard? ›

World Elite Mastercard Benefits

World Elite Mastercard is the highest tier and as such, cards with this designation carry all the benefits of the Standard and World Mastercards plus are likely to have these additional perks: World Elite concierge.

Is World Elite better than Platinum? ›

The Mastercard network offers several levels of card benefits — Standard Mastercard, Platinum Mastercard, World Mastercard, and World Elite Mastercard, with the World Elite Mastercard having the highest level of benefits.

What is Mastercard World Elite rate? ›

Annual fee and interest rate
Annual fee 2$150
Annual fee for additional card$50
Purchase rate20.99%
Balance transfer and cash advance rate2-322.49%
Minimum credit limit 8$5,000

What is mastercards credit limit? ›

What's the starting credit limit for a Mastercard Credit Card? The starting credit limit for a Mastercard credit card can be as low as $200, but it will depend on your overall creditworthiness, annual income, and even the card issuer. Mastercard is not a credit card company, it's a credit card network, just like Visa.

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