- Book by: 31 May 2026
- Travel window: 1 May – 31 October 2026
- Discount: 25% off standard saver award pricing
- Switzerland zone: Europe 1 — ZRH and GVA are eligible for European-origin discounts
- Standard saver prices (one-way transatlantic): Economy 25,000 miles · Premium Economy 40,000 miles · Business 60,000 miles
- Promo prices (one-way transatlantic): Economy 18,750 miles · Premium Economy 30,000 miles · Business 45,000 miles
- Business class discounts: Only available this month for Flying Blue Extra subscribers
The economy deals —
genuinely good value
For standard Flying Blue members, May's headline deal is transatlantic economy from Europe at 18,750 miles one-way — a 25% reduction from the standard 25,000-mile floor. Given how easy Flying Blue miles are to accumulate (Amex MR transfers at 2:1 from Switzerland, Revolut (Premium and above) at 1:1), this is a meaningful discount for anyone planning a summer or autumn trip to North America.
The available routes cover most major US cities via either Air France (connecting through Paris CDG) or KLM (connecting through Amsterdam AMS). Both Paris and Amsterdam are quick, well-connected hops from Zürich or Geneva — add a positioning flight and you're on the same award ticket.
Air France — 18,750 miles one-way economy
| Route | Standard | Promo price | Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe → Chicago (ORD) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → Dallas (DFW) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → Denver (DEN) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → New York (JFK) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → Orlando (MCO) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → Phoenix (PHX) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → Raleigh (RDU) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
| Europe → Washington (IAD) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Paris CDG |
KLM — 18,750 miles one-way economy
| Route | Standard | Promo price | Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe → Chicago (ORD) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
| Europe → Denver (DEN) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
| Europe → Las Vegas (LAS) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
| Europe → Los Angeles (LAX) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
| Europe → New York (JFK) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
| Europe → San Diego (SAN) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
| Europe → Washington (IAD) | 25,000 | 18,750 | Amsterdam AMS |
For a Swiss resident, the practical routing is: ZRH or GVA → CDG or AMS (cheap positioning flight or included as a stopover on the same award ticket) → your US destination. Flying Blue allows a free European connection, which means you can add Paris or Amsterdam to your itinerary at no extra miles cost when space is available.
Business class this month —
mostly paywalled
Here is where May 2026 is less interesting for standard members. The transatlantic Business Class discounts are exclusively available to Flying Blue Extra subscribers — a paid tier costing from €379/year that unlocks additional Promo Award routes.
The Extra-exclusive Business Class deals this month:
| Route | Promo price | Airline | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe → Buenos Aires (EZE) | 63,750 | Air France | Extra only |
| Europe → Fort de France (FDF) | 63,750 | Air France | Extra only |
| Europe → Bogota (BOG) | 63,750 | KLM | Extra only |
| Europe → Cartagena (CTG) | 63,750 | KLM | Extra only |
| Europe → Paramaribo (PBM) | 63,750 | KLM | Extra only |
Standard member verdict on Business Class: No transatlantic Business Class discounts are available to standard Flying Blue members this month. If a lie-flat seat to North America is your goal, you have two options — wait for a future month when standard Business Class Promo Awards are featured (they appear regularly, just not every month), or book at the standard 60,000-mile price and accept no discount applies.
The 63,750-mile Business Class Promo price is actually the standard 60,000-mile floor with a 25% reduction applied. For context, Buenos Aires in Air France Business Class at 63,750 miles one-way represents genuinely good value — cash equivalents run EUR 3,000+. If South America is on your list and you're considering Flying Blue Extra, this is a month to do the maths.
What this means
for Swiss residents
Switzerland sits in Flying Blue's Europe 1 zone — the same bracket as France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Belgium. This means all European-origin Promo Award discounts apply to flights departing from ZRH and GVA. You are not at any disadvantage compared to a French or Dutch member for these deals.
The practical play for May: if you have 37,500–56,250 Amex Membership Rewards points sitting in your Swiss Amex account, a round-trip economy award to New York is within reach at 37,500 miles return (18,750 × 2). At the 2:1 Swiss transfer ratio, that requires 75,000 MR points — a single Amex Platinum welcome bonus gets you there.
May is not the month for Business Class Promo Awards unless you are a Flying Blue Extra subscriber. It is, however, a solid month for economy redemptions to North America — and 18,750 miles one-way is a number worth acting on if the dates work.
How to earn Flying Blue miles from Switzerland
If you want to take advantage of these deals but your Flying Blue balance is low, the fastest ways to top up from Switzerland:
| Source | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amex MR transfer | 2:1 | 2 MR points = 1 FB mile · Swiss ratio · instant or near-instant |
| Revolut RevPoints transfer (Premium+) | 1:1 | Available on Premium and above · Metal/Ultra earn more points per CHF |
| Flying Blue Viseca Mastercard | 1.5 miles / CHF 2 | Direct earning in Switzerland |
| Flying Blue Subscribe to Miles | From €0.011/mile | Monthly subscription top-up · cheapest way to buy miles |
| Oman Air flights | Up to 275% | Earns generously on Business Class long-haul sectors |
May 2026 —
the honest assessment
Check back on 1 June for the next Promo Awards. Business Class transatlantic discounts appear most months — May just isn't one of them for standard members. The deals to watch for are Business Class to New York or Los Angeles at 45,000 miles — when those appear, they move quickly.
- 1. Go to flyingblue.com → Promo Awards
- 2. Filter for European departures (Switzerland = Europe 1)
- 3. Check availability on your target dates — leave dates blank to see the cheapest day across the month
- 4. Confirm the Promo rate is showing before transferring any miles
- 5. Transfer exactly the miles needed from Amex or Revolut
- 6. Book immediately when miles arrive — do not wait overnight
- Deadline: All May 2026 Promo Awards must be booked by 31 May 2026
Not sure if your miles balance is enough?
In 30 minutes we can check your current balance, work out the fastest way to top up if needed, and time the transfer correctly for the best available rate. Available before the May 31 deadline.
Book a session — CHF 79 →