Can You Book Delta Flights With Air France Points? | Insider Travel Tips

Understanding Loyalty Programs: Air France Flying Blue vs. Delta SkyMiles

Air France’s loyalty program, Flying Blue, and Delta’s SkyMiles operate independently, despite both airlines being part of the SkyTeam alliance. This distinction plays a crucial role in whether you can use Air France points for Delta flights. Flying Blue miles are earned and redeemed primarily within the Air France-KLM network and their partners. Meanwhile, Delta SkyMiles focus on Delta-operated flights and its own partners.

The key point here is that while both airlines share an alliance, their loyalty currencies don’t merge or interchange freely. Each program has its own rules, award charts, and redemption methods. This means your Air France points won’t directly translate into booking seats on Delta flights without going through specific channels or partners.

Why You Can’t Book Delta Flights Directly With Air France Points

The main reason revolves around the structure of airline alliances and their loyalty programs. Although SkyTeam partners cooperate on codeshares and frequent flyer benefits, the miles you earn with one airline typically can’t be used to book flights on another partner airline unless explicitly allowed by the program.

Air France Flying Blue does allow redemptions on some SkyTeam partners like KLM, Aeromexico, or Alitalia (now ITA Airways), but Delta is notably absent from this list for award bookings using Flying Blue miles. The reason is tied to commercial agreements and how each airline manages its own revenue and reward inventory.

Delta has a very distinct approach to its SkyMiles program, keeping it tightly controlled to maximize value for its own customers. Consequently, Flying Blue members won’t find Delta flights available for direct redemption on the Flying Blue award booking platform or via customer service channels.

The Role of Airline Alliances in Award Booking

SkyTeam’s alliance offers benefits like joint lounges, coordinated schedules, and reciprocal elite status perks but doesn’t guarantee seamless mileage redemption across all members. Each airline retains control over how its miles are earned and spent.

While some alliances like Star Alliance have more integrated mileage redemption options across carriers, SkyTeam remains more segmented in this respect. This segmentation explains why you can’t straightforwardly use Air France points for Delta flights even though they share the same alliance banner.

Alternative Ways to Fly Delta Using Points Related to Air France

Although direct booking isn’t possible with Flying Blue points for Delta flights, there are some workarounds that savvy travelers can consider:

• Transfer Points Through Flexible Currency Programs: If you accumulate points in transferable programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards, you might transfer those points either to Flying Blue or directly to Delta SkyMiles depending on transfer partners available at the time.
• Book Connecting Flights: You could book a flight operated by Air France or KLM using your Flying Blue miles that connects with a separate ticket on Delta if routing allows.
• Use Partner Airlines: Sometimes booking through other SkyTeam carriers that do allow Flying Blue redemptions can get you close to your destination served by Delta codeshare flights.

However, these methods often involve complexity, extra costs, or risk of itinerary disruption compared to straightforward bookings within a single loyalty program.

Points Transfer Programs: A Closer Look

Programs like American Express Membership Rewards provide flexibility by allowing transfers to multiple airline partners including both Air France’s Flying Blue and Delta SkyMiles (in select regions). This feature enables users to choose which airline currency suits their planned trip better before converting points.

Here’s an illustrative table showing popular transferable point programs and their typical airline transfer options related to Air France and Delta:

Loyalty Program	Transfer Partners (Airline)	Notes
American Express Membership Rewards	AIR FRANCE (Flying Blue), DELTA (SkyMiles) – US only	Miles transfer at 1:1 ratio; availability varies by region
Chase Ultimate Rewards	AIR FRANCE (Flying Blue), No direct transfer to DELTA	No direct transfer to Delta; best for Flying Blue redemptions
Citi ThankYou Points	AIR FRANCE (Flying Blue), No DELTA partner	No direct access to SkyMiles; good for European travel via AF/KLM

This data highlights that while you can move flexible points into either program individually, cross-utilization between them remains limited.

The Impact of Codeshares and Booking Tools on Redemption Options

Codeshare agreements sometimes blur boundaries between airlines by allowing one carrier to sell seats operated by another under its flight number. For instance, a flight marketed as an Air France route might be operated by Delta aircraft or vice versa.

However, when it comes to redeeming miles from one loyalty program on another’s codeshare flight operating carrier, restrictions still apply heavily.

Even if a flight is marketed by Air France but operated by Delta planes, Flying Blue members often cannot redeem points if the operating carrier is not eligible for award redemptions within their program guidelines.

Booking tools on airline websites usually reflect these rules:

• You won’t see many (if any) Delta-operated flights available when searching with Flying Blue miles.
• Award availability shown will mostly be limited to carriers fully integrated into the Flying Blue redemption network.
• If you attempt booking via phone with customer service representatives, they will confirm these limitations.

This means your best bet remains sticking with direct redemptions on each respective program unless transferring flexible points first.

The Difference Between Revenue Tickets and Award Tickets in Alliances

Revenue tickets purchased with cash often allow more freedom in flying multiple partner airlines under one itinerary because payment settles all parties involved.

Award tickets rely on mileage currencies controlled separately by airlines — leading to stricter rules about which carriers’ segments can be booked with which miles.

For example:

• You might buy a revenue ticket from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) flying partly on Delta metal but marketed by Air France.
• But redeeming Flying Blue miles specifically for a segment operated solely by Delta may not be possible.

This distinction clarifies why using Air France points directly for flying exclusively on Delta planes is off-limits.

The Value Proposition of Using Miles Within Their Own Ecosystems

Both Flying Blue and SkyMiles offer excellent value when used within their own frameworks:

• Flying Blue: Great for European routes via Air France-KLM hubs; dynamic pricing offers potential sweet spots especially during Promo Rewards periods.
• SkyMiles: Strong North American domestic coverage; extensive U.S.-centric partner network; frequent flash sales improve value.

Trying to cross-use miles outside these ecosystems usually leads to lost value or blocked bookings — so sticking with each program’s strengths maximizes return.

The Importance of Checking Award Availability Early and Often

Award seats are limited inventory subject to demand fluctuations. If you plan trips involving multiple airlines or alliances:

• Monitor availability frequently.
• Use alerts where possible.
• Have backup dates ready.
• Consider flexible routing options within your preferred loyalty currency.

This proactive approach helps avoid disappointment when attempting complex bookings involving multiple carriers — especially when inter-program restrictions apply as they do with Air France points vs. Delta flights.

The Role of Customer Service and Online Platforms in Booking Awards Across Airlines

Customer service agents at both airlines will confirm that direct award bookings for delta-operated flights with Flying Blue miles aren’t permitted.

Online platforms reinforce this policy:

• The official Air France website only lists eligible carriers during award searches.
• Third-party tools sometimes show broader possibilities but rarely support actual booking without errors.
• Frequent flyer forums consistently report frustrations trying this route — reinforcing official policies remain firm.

Knowing this upfront saves time chasing unavailable options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Book Delta Flights With Air France Points Directly?

No, you cannot directly book Delta flights using Air France Flying Blue points. Despite both airlines being part of the SkyTeam alliance, their loyalty programs operate independently, and Flying Blue miles do not allow award bookings on Delta-operated flights.

Why Are Delta Flights Not Available With Air France Flying Blue Points?

Delta restricts award bookings on its flights through its own SkyMiles program. Although SkyTeam partners share benefits, Delta maintains control over its revenue and reward inventory, preventing Flying Blue members from redeeming miles for Delta flights.

Are There Any SkyTeam Partners Where Air France Points Can Book Flights?

Yes, Air France Flying Blue points can be used to book flights with some SkyTeam partners like KLM, Aeromexico, and ITA Airways. However, Delta is excluded from this list for award redemptions using Flying Blue miles.

Does Being in the SkyTeam Alliance Allow Using Air France Points on Delta Flights?

While SkyTeam membership offers shared benefits like lounges and elite status perks, it does not guarantee mileage redemption across all members. Each airline manages its own loyalty program separately, so Air France points can’t be used to book Delta flights directly.

Is There Any Way to Use Air France Points for Delta Flights Indirectly?

Currently, there is no straightforward method to redeem Flying Blue miles for Delta flights. You would need to explore other options such as booking through partner airlines where points are accepted or converting points via third-party programs if available.

The Bottom Line – Can You Book Delta Flights With Air France Points?

The straightforward answer is no: you cannot directly use Air France Flying Blue miles to book flights operated by Delta Airlines due to separate frequent flyer programs despite their shared membership in the SkyTeam alliance.

If your goal involves flying on both airlines using rewards:

• Earning miles separately in each program works best.
• If holding flexible currency points like Amex MR, decide which airline offers better redemption value before transferring.
• Avoid expecting seamless cross-program redemptions between these two carriers as they remain restricted.

Understanding these nuances helps travelers plan smarter award trips without frustration or wasted effort trying impossible bookings.

By focusing your efforts where each loyalty currency shines brightest—Flying Blue for European-centric travel via AF/KLM hubs and SkyMiles primarily for US domestic & international routes—you’ll unlock far greater rewards than chasing unavailable cross-redemptions between these two giants.

Mastering these distinctions empowers savvy travelers eager to maximize every mile earned without hitting dead ends trying “Can You Book Delta Flights With Air France Points?” scenarios that simply don’t exist today.