Flying Blue
VS
Radisson Rewards
Flying Blue vs Radisson Rewards: which loyalty program wins?
We score Flying Blue and Radisson Rewards on the same five factors — earning rate, redemption value, partner network, ease of use, and point expiry — to help you choose the right program for how you actually spend.
Verdict
Flying Blue is best for Frequent flyers, while Radisson Rewards is best for Frequent flyers.
Skip Flying Blue if Anyone seeking elite status without flying, and skip Radisson Rewards if Occasional hotel guests.
Overall rating
| Flying Blue | Radisson Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 |
| Earning | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Redemption | 4.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Network | 5.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Ease of use | 3.0 / 5 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Expiry | 4.0 / 5 | 2.0 / 5 |
Earning structure
| Flying Blue | Members earn Flying Blue Miles on flights with Air France, KLM, Transavia, Aircalin, Air Europa, Kenya Airways, TAROM, and the 19+ SkyTeam alliance partners including Saudia, Delta, Korean Air, China Eastern, Garuda, ITA Airways, China Southern, and Aeromexico. Earn rate by status: Explorer 4 Miles/Euro, Silver 6/Euro, Gold 7/Euro, Platinum 8/Euro, Ultimate 9/Euro. XP (Experience Points) for tier qualification are earned only on flights — Silver requires 100 XP, Gold +180 XP, Platinum +300 XP. XP earnings depend on distance and cabin class. Non-alliance partners include Japan Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, GOL, and Etihad. Hotel partner ALL Accor allows seamless earning across both programs. No Saudi bank issues a Flying Blue co-branded credit card. | |
|---|---|---|
| Radisson Rewards | Members earn Radisson Rewards points on every paid stay at participating Radisson Hotel Group properties globally. Earn rates vary by tier: Club (entry, default) earns 9 points per USD spent on eligible room charges (excluding taxes and fees); Premium earns 27 points per USD; VIP earns 36 points per USD. Points also accrue on hotel incidentals charged to the room at participating properties. Members can also earn through Radisson promotional offers and the unique Discount Booster (2026) which trades fewer points for a higher instant discount (up to 20%) on the stay. Points can be purchased (up to 250,000 per year) but purchased points don't count toward elite status qualification. There are no Radisson Rewards credit cards available - co-brand cards were discontinued globally. |
Redemption structure
| Flying Blue | Miles redeem for award flights on Air France, KLM, all SkyTeam partners, and non-alliance partners (Japan Airlines, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, GOL, Etihad). Award pricing is moderately dynamic - less than US programs but more than Avios. Monthly Promo Rewards offer 25-50% discounts on selected award routes - a uniquely member-friendly feature. Members can also redeem for cabin upgrades (including World Business Class on long-haul KLM/Air France), seat upgrades, hotel stays (ALL Accor primarily), car rentals, and experiences. La Première (Air France First Class) redemptions are restricted to Platinum and Ultimate members. A 70 Euro change/cancellation fee applies to most awards; waived for Platinum and Ultimate. | |
|---|---|---|
| Radisson Rewards | Points redeem for award nights at any Radisson Hotel Group property worldwide. Standard room award nights start from 9,000 points, or 5,000 points with the Points + Cash option for partial payment. There are no blackout dates on standard room redemptions. Uniquely, members still receive elite benefits (room upgrades and late checkout) when booking with points — unlike some hotel chains. Award pricing is increasingly dynamic since 2022, though some sweet spots remain on the award chart. Members can also redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel experiences, and donations to charity. Limited airline and travel partner transfer options exist but generally offer poor value due to the compressed point value (~0.25 cents USD per point industry valuation). |
Partner network · Tiers & status · Point expiry policy
| Flying Blue | Radisson Rewards | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of partners | 0 | 0 |
| Partners | — | — |
| Number of tiers | 5 | 3 |
| Top tier | Ultimate | VIP |
| First-tier qualification | 100 points | 3 stays |
| Point expiry | 24 months inactivity (reset on earn) | 24 months inactivity (reset on earn) |