Air France–KLM’s Flying Blue credit card will soon allow cardholders to earn rewards on rent payments made through Bilt, making a traditionally non-rewardable expense a reliable source of qualifying spending. This development is not just about accumulating miles; it’s about accelerating the path to elite Flying Blue status. The integration is expected within the coming months.
How Rent Payments Boost Rewards
Chase’s United cards already enable earning miles on rent through Bilt, with a 3% fee offset by earning 3 miles per dollar spent. This model has expanded to include Alaska Airlines cards from Bank of America, launched in 2024.
The key benefit here is the ability to generate spend without impacting other rewards strategies. Rent is a fixed monthly expense, meaning that adding it to a credit card doesn’t mean shifting spending from elsewhere.
Flying Blue’s Status Advantage
The refreshed Air France KLM Flying Blue card from Bank of America will leverage this system for elite status qualification. The card offers a minimum of 1.5x points on all purchases, with 3x on dining, and even higher earning potential through bank transfer partnerships.
However, the real value lies in earning status credits. Cardholders receive 20 elite status credits annually, 80 with $15,000 in spending, and an additional 60 after $25,000 in annual purchases. This can significantly accelerate progress towards Gold status. A limited-time bonus of 70,000 miles plus 100 status credits after $3,000 spent within the first 90 days adds up to 260 total status credits.
Real-World Implications
Spending roughly $2,083.33 monthly on rent, combined with strategic flying (such as on Delta), can quickly unlock annual Flying Blue status. The benefits of this status include priority boarding, free checked bags, and complimentary exit row seats on partner airlines like Delta. The card is most valuable for those who frequently fly Air France or KLM.
The expansion of this rent payment integration makes sense, given that Bank of America, the U.S. issuer for Air France KLM, also partners with Alaska Airlines on the same program. Bilt has continued to add new airline partnerships (including United), suggesting more integrations are on the horizon. This begs the question: which other airlines will join the trend?
The integration of rent payments into airline rewards programs is a quiet yet powerful shift, transforming a fixed expense into a lever for elite status and travel perks.
