Latest news with #AirFrance
The South African
a day ago
- Business
- The South African
SAA launches new flight route to popular African island
South African Airways (SAA) has announced a major expansion of its flight network with the launch of its first-ever direct route between Cape Town and Mauritius, set to take off in December 2025. This strategic addition underscores the national carrier's growing footprint in regional leisure travel and marks a significant milestone for both the airline and the tourism sectors of South Africa and Mauritius. The new service will commence on Tuesday, 9 December, operating three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Cape Town to Mauritius Departure: 09:25 | Arrival: 16:30 | Arrival: Flight duration: Approximately 5 hours and 5 minutes and Mauritius to Cape Town Departure: 17:20 | Arrival: 21:30 | Arrival: Flight duration: Approximately 6 hours and 10 minutes Between mid-January and mid-March 2026, the route will operate twice weekly to reflect seasonal travel trends, SAA said. 'Connecting Cape Town with Mauritius is a fascinating achievement that our team has been aspiring towards for quite some time,' the airline stated. 'The introduction of this route demonstrates SAA's role in promoting leisure travel across the region and supports the broader tourism objectives for both South Africa and Mauritius.' The announcement comes amid a flurry of new local and international flight routes being launched in and out of South Africa. FlySafair: Cape Town – Hoedspruit (Limpopo) Launching on 2 October 2025 , this new route will operate three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), enhancing access to the central Kruger region and Limpopo province . Launching on , this new route will operate (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), enhancing access to the and . Qantas: Johannesburg – Perth (Australia) Qantas will resume its direct route between Johannesburg and Perth in December 2025 , offering smooth connections to Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide , and even New Zealand via its new Perth-Auckland flight. Qantas will resume its between Johannesburg and Perth in , offering smooth connections to , and even via its new Perth-Auckland flight. Air France: Cape Town – Paris From 15 December 2025 to 12 January 2026, Air France will resume its seasonal nonstop service between Cape Town and Paris, just in time for the holiday season. Partnered with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France-KLM will offer a total of 18 weekly flights to Cape Town and 32 flights per week across South Africa, unlocking over 11 000 seats in each direction every week. With travel demand soaring and the tourism sector rebounding strongly, these new routes mark a significant boost for both domestic and international connectivity, offering South African travelers more direct options than ever before. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
How I flew Air France business class for just 60,000 miles
CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. This may impact how links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. Flying between Europe and the US in the summer often comes with a hefty price tag. But with a bit of planning and the right travel rewards strategy, you can score a lie-flat business-class seat for a fraction of the usual cost. This summer, I flew one-way from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Washington Dulles (IAD) in Air France business class for just 60,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. Importantly, I did not use the American Express travel portal to book the ticket but transferred points to Flying Blue, the joint loyalty program of Air France and KLM. Here's how I pulled it off — and how you might be able to do the same. Flying Blue is a valuable program to book airfare with miles to or from the US. It uses dynamic pricing, meaning that award rates fluctuate, but sometimes offers advantageous transatlantic prices. You can fly one-way between North America and Europe starting at 25,000, 40,000 and 60,000 miles in economy, premium economy and business class, respectively. It's also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards®, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and Wells Fargo Rewards. That means you can transfer points from any of those programs to Flying Blue; you don't have to be a frequent flyer with Air France or KLM, or based in Europe, in order to earn miles in Flying Blue. In addition to that, the program often has transfer bonuses, meaning you can get more miles if you transfer to it from a credit card rewards program. For instance, a 20% bonus would mean that 50,000 points become 60,000 Flying Blue miles. Even without a transfer bonus, that one-way business-class flight from Paris to Washington for just 60,000 Flying Blue miles was a bargain. That's far cheaper than the 88,000 to 120,000 miles you might pay through other programs. I did have to pay taxes and fees that came to about $500, but that was still a fraction of the price of business class on a transatlantic flight. A round-trip fare between Paris and Washington is currently around $4,000, and a one-way is even more expensive, at $5,000. A post shared by Kyle Olsen (@kyleolsen10) The welcome bonus alone from some credit cards would be enough to book an award flight like this one. I've transferred Amex points and Capital One miles to Flying Blue, and here are a few standout cards from both issuers currently offering welcome bonuses that can get you all the way to 60,000 points and then some. American Express® Gold Card: Earn as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months after opening the account. The welcome offer varies, and you may not be eligible for an offer; you'll need to apply first to find out your exact welcome offer amount (with no credit score impact; however, if you're approved and choose to accept the card offer, your score may be impacted). The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months after opening the account. The welcome offer varies and you may not be eligible for an offer; you'll need to apply first to find out your exact welcome offer amount (with no credit score impact; however, if you're approved and choose to accept the card offer, your score may be impacted). American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening. After searching on the Air France website, I located a nonstop Paris CDG to Washington IAD flight on my desired date for 60,000 miles in business class. I then transferred 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points to my Flying Blue account. The transfer was nearly instant. It's very important to make sure an award seat, at the number of miles you want, is available before transferring points. That's because transfers are not reversible. To be clear, here's what the process looked like: I searched for award availability on and ensured a seat was available at 60,000 miles. I transferred 60,000 Amex points to Flying Blue. Within minutes, the miles posted, and I booked the flight. The fare I booked included two checked bags, access to the Air France business-class lounge at CDG, lie-flat seating, priority boarding, a multicourse French meal and champagne on board. The flight from Paris to Washington, D.C. was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER featuring a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration in business class. This layout gives every passenger direct aisle access and a greater amount of privacy. While this wasn't Air France's newest business-class cabin — you'll find a more recent version on the Airbus A350 and on some 777s — the experience still felt elevated. Besides converting into a fully lie-flat bed, my seat included a plush duvet and pillow. The service, food and beverages stood out as well. From the moment I boarded, the crew was gracious and attentive. I was welcomed with a chilled glass of champagne served in real glassware, followed by a personalized introduction from the flight attendant. Lunch was a highlight too: a multicourse, French-inspired meal that included an amuse-bouche, starter, salad, main course, cheese selection, dessert and warm bread, all paired with a curated selection of French wines. The menu was printed and presented elegantly, and each course was served on fine china with stainless steel cutlery. An amenity kit stocked with Clarins skin care products, a sleep mask and other in-flight essentials was provided after takeoff. Headphones, a large entertainment screen and ample storage rounded out the seat experience. By the time we touched down in Washington, D.C., I felt genuinely rested and refreshed, something I rarely say after a long-haul flight. Even though I didn't use a transfer bonus in this case, Amex and Capital One frequently offer transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, sometimes at up to 25%. That would have lowered your cost in points even more. Regardless of bonus, here are the steps to follow to prep for your own redemption: Sign up for a Flying Blue account. Monitor Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards page, which often offers points deals to/from North America. Search for flights to/from your desired destinations, including the vast Air France and KLM network in Europe, which goes well beyond the Paris and Amsterdam hubs. Often, you'll find deals even outside Flying Blue promotions. Remember to confirm award space before transferring points, since transfers from credit card programs like Amex to Flying Blue are instant and can't be reversed. Flying business class across the Atlantic for just 60,000 Amex points and around $500 in taxes was one of the best redemptions I've made all year. There's something especially satisfying about using your points for a lie-flat experience, complete with wine, cheese and lounge access. If you keep an eye on Flying Blue Promo Rewards and transfer bonuses, you might just find yourself sipping champagne at 35,000 feet for even less than the 60,000 points I used. The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored travel editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen. How much are 60,000 Flying Blue miles worth? How much are 60,000 Flying Blue miles worth? While redemption rates vary, The Points Guy values 60,000 Flying Blue miles at $780. Which credit card points transfer to Flying Blue miles? Which credit card points transfer to Flying Blue miles? You can transfer points from the following points currencies to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio: American Express Membership Rewards Bilt Rewards Capital One Miles Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Rewards Wells Fargo Rewards What airlines can I use Capital One miles on? What airlines can I use Capital One miles on? You can use Capital One miles in the Capital One travel portal on most major airlines or transfer Capital One miles to 18 airline programs — mostly at a 1:1 ratio — to book award flights with major alliances. Aeromexico, Air France-KLM, Virgin Red: 1:1 (SkyTeam) Air Canada, Avianca, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air: mostly 1:1 (Star Alliance) British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qantas: 1:1 (Oneworld) Emirates, Etihad, JetBlue: varies, not in alliances CNN Underscored's travel and credit card coverage is built on firsthand experience. This guide was written by travel editor Kyle Olsen, who used these exact strategies to book a real flight. From Paris to DC, this redemption proves that with the right tools and timing, luxury travel is within reach. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Gold card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Business Gold card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Business Platinum card. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
How I flew Air France business class for just 60,000 miles
CNN Underscored reviews financial products based on their overall value. We may receive a commission through our affiliate partners if you apply and are approved for a product, but our reporting is always independent and objective. This may impact how links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit to learn more. Flying between Europe and the US in the summer often comes with a hefty price tag. But with a bit of planning and the right travel rewards strategy, you can score a lie-flat business-class seat for a fraction of the usual cost. This summer, I flew one-way from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Washington Dulles (IAD) in Air France business class for just 60,000 American Express Membership Rewards points. Importantly, I did not use the American Express travel portal to book the ticket but transferred points to Flying Blue, the joint loyalty program of Air France and KLM. Here's how I pulled it off — and how you might be able to do the same. Flying Blue is a valuable program to book airfare with miles to or from the US. It uses dynamic pricing, meaning that award rates fluctuate, but sometimes offers advantageous transatlantic prices. You can fly one-way between North America and Europe starting at 25,000, 40,000 and 60,000 miles in economy, premium economy and business class, respectively. It's also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards®, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and Wells Fargo Rewards. That means you can transfer points from any of those programs to Flying Blue; you don't have to be a frequent flyer with Air France or KLM, or based in Europe, in order to earn miles in Flying Blue. In addition to that, the program often has transfer bonuses, meaning you can get more miles if you transfer to it from a credit card rewards program. For instance, a 20% bonus would mean that 50,000 points become 60,000 Flying Blue miles. Even without a transfer bonus, that one-way business-class flight from Paris to Washington for just 60,000 Flying Blue miles was a bargain. That's far cheaper than the 88,000 to 120,000 miles you might pay through other programs. I did have to pay taxes and fees that came to about $500, but that was still a fraction of the price of business class on a transatlantic flight. A round-trip fare between Paris and Washington is currently around $4,000, and a one-way is even more expensive, at $5,000. A post shared by Kyle Olsen (@kyleolsen10) The welcome bonus alone from some credit cards would be enough to book an award flight like this one. I've transferred Amex points and Capital One miles to Flying Blue, and here are a few standout cards from both issuers currently offering welcome bonuses that can get you all the way to 60,000 points and then some. American Express® Gold Card: Earn as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new card to make $6,000 in purchases in the first 6 months after opening the account. The welcome offer varies, and you may not be eligible for an offer; you'll need to apply first to find out your exact welcome offer amount (with no credit score impact; however, if you're approved and choose to accept the card offer, your score may be impacted). The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new card to make $8,000 in purchases in the first 6 months after opening the account. The welcome offer varies and you may not be eligible for an offer; you'll need to apply first to find out your exact welcome offer amount (with no credit score impact; however, if you're approved and choose to accept the card offer, your score may be impacted). American Express® Business Gold Card: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months of account opening. After searching on the Air France website, I located a nonstop Paris CDG to Washington IAD flight on my desired date for 60,000 miles in business class. I then transferred 60,000 Amex Membership Rewards points to my Flying Blue account. The transfer was nearly instant. It's very important to make sure an award seat, at the number of miles you want, is available before transferring points. That's because transfers are not reversible. To be clear, here's what the process looked like: I searched for award availability on and ensured a seat was available at 60,000 miles. I transferred 60,000 Amex points to Flying Blue. Within minutes, the miles posted, and I booked the flight. The fare I booked included two checked bags, access to the Air France business-class lounge at CDG, lie-flat seating, priority boarding, a multicourse French meal and champagne on board. The flight from Paris to Washington, D.C. was operated by a Boeing 777-300ER featuring a 1-2-1 reverse herringbone configuration in business class. This layout gives every passenger direct aisle access and a greater amount of privacy. While this wasn't Air France's newest business-class cabin — you'll find a more recent version on the Airbus A350 and on some 777s — the experience still felt elevated. Besides converting into a fully lie-flat bed, my seat included a plush duvet and pillow. The service, food and beverages stood out as well. From the moment I boarded, the crew was gracious and attentive. I was welcomed with a chilled glass of champagne served in real glassware, followed by a personalized introduction from the flight attendant. Lunch was a highlight too: a multicourse, French-inspired meal that included an amuse-bouche, starter, salad, main course, cheese selection, dessert and warm bread, all paired with a curated selection of French wines. The menu was printed and presented elegantly, and each course was served on fine china with stainless steel cutlery. An amenity kit stocked with Clarins skin care products, a sleep mask and other in-flight essentials was provided after takeoff. Headphones, a large entertainment screen and ample storage rounded out the seat experience. By the time we touched down in Washington, D.C., I felt genuinely rested and refreshed, something I rarely say after a long-haul flight. Even though I didn't use a transfer bonus in this case, Amex and Capital One frequently offer transfer bonuses to Flying Blue, sometimes at up to 25%. That would have lowered your cost in points even more. Regardless of bonus, here are the steps to follow to prep for your own redemption: Sign up for a Flying Blue account. Monitor Flying Blue's monthly Promo Rewards page, which often offers points deals to/from North America. Search for flights to/from your desired destinations, including the vast Air France and KLM network in Europe, which goes well beyond the Paris and Amsterdam hubs. Often, you'll find deals even outside Flying Blue promotions. Remember to confirm award space before transferring points, since transfers from credit card programs like Amex to Flying Blue are instant and can't be reversed. Flying business class across the Atlantic for just 60,000 Amex points and around $500 in taxes was one of the best redemptions I've made all year. There's something especially satisfying about using your points for a lie-flat experience, complete with wine, cheese and lounge access. If you keep an eye on Flying Blue Promo Rewards and transfer bonuses, you might just find yourself sipping champagne at 35,000 feet for even less than the 60,000 points I used. The following FAQs have been answered by CNN Underscored travel editor and credit card expert Kyle Olsen. How much are 60,000 Flying Blue miles worth? How much are 60,000 Flying Blue miles worth? While redemption rates vary, The Points Guy values 60,000 Flying Blue miles at $780. Which credit card points transfer to Flying Blue miles? Which credit card points transfer to Flying Blue miles? You can transfer points from the following points currencies to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio: American Express Membership Rewards Bilt Rewards Capital One Miles Chase Ultimate Rewards Citi ThankYou Rewards Wells Fargo Rewards What airlines can I use Capital One miles on? What airlines can I use Capital One miles on? You can use Capital One miles in the Capital One travel portal on most major airlines or transfer Capital One miles to 18 airline programs — mostly at a 1:1 ratio — to book award flights with major alliances. Aeromexico, Air France-KLM, Virgin Red: 1:1 (SkyTeam) Air Canada, Avianca, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, EVA Air: mostly 1:1 (Star Alliance) British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Qantas: 1:1 (Oneworld) Emirates, Etihad, JetBlue: varies, not in alliances CNN Underscored's travel and credit card coverage is built on firsthand experience. This guide was written by travel editor Kyle Olsen, who used these exact strategies to book a real flight. From Paris to DC, this redemption proves that with the right tools and timing, luxury travel is within reach. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Gold card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Platinum card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Business Gold card. Click here for rates and fees of the American Express Business Platinum card. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Two European airlines to start charging for hand luggage with new ‘no-frills' fares
MONEY BAGS Two European airlines to start charging for hand luggage with new 'no-frills' fares Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TWO EUROPEAN airlines are set to introduce a new 'no frills' fare, cutting free luggage. KLM and Air France will be testing a new 'basic' ticket on select European routes with travellers only allowed to bring a small personal item on board. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Two airlines are trialing a new 'basic' fare Credit: Getty The maximum measurements for this bag will be 40x30x15cm and will be free of charge. Standard cabin baggage will now have to be purchased for an extra fee. The new basic fare will initially be rolled out on 10 medium haul routes, for non-stop flights starting September 9, 2025. The routes being included in the trial are Helsinki, Finland; Tunis-Carthage, Tunisia; Athens, Greece; Vienna, Austria; Dublin, Ireland; Stockholm Arlanda, Sweden; Munich, Germany; Turin, Italy; Florence, Italy and Prague, Czech Republic. No changes will be made to long-haul fares. The new fare will be implemented alongside existing 'light', 'standard' and 'flex' fare offers. If passengers wish to add hand luggage, they will still be able to for an additional fee up to four hours before departure. The cost for this will start from €15 (£13.10) per leg. Many airlines use a similar model to this, such as Ryanair. The model allows airlines to offer cheaper fares whilst giving passengers the option to pay for additional luggage if needed. The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her expert packing tips Recently, Ryanair announced that they would be changing the size of hand luggage allowance from 40x20x25cm to 40x30x20cm - an increase of 5cm. The new size means that Ryanair's free hand luggage capacity has risen from 20 litres to 24 litres. The new rules are expected to be introduced later this month, which means airports will need to update their baggage sizers. These are five cabin bags under £20 that fit Ryanair's new hand luggage rules including Amazon buy that fits 11 days worth of clothes. Plus, UK may ban airlines from charging for hand luggage – but it could hike your flight price, experts warn. Hand luggage rules for UK airlines We've rounded up how much hand luggage you can take on UK airlines when booking their most basic fare. Ryanair One personal bag measuring no more than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm EasyJet One personal bag measuring no larger than 45cm x 36cm x 20cm Jet2 One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm x 25cm weighing up to 10kg TUI One personal item that its underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 55cm x 40cm x 20cm weighing up to 10kg British Airways One personal bag no larger than 40cm x 30cm x 15cm and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 45cm 25cm weighing up to 23kg Virgin Atlantic One personal item that fits underneath the seat in front and one cabin bag no larger than 56cm x 36cm x 23cm weighing up to 10kg
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Two European airlines to start charging for hand luggage with new ‘no-frills' fares
TWO EUROPEAN airlines are set to introduce a new 'no frills' fare, cutting free luggage. KLM and Air France will be testing a new 'basic' ticket on select European routes with travellers only allowed to bring a small personal item on board. The maximum measurements for this bag will be 40x30x15cm and will be free of charge. Standard cabin baggage will now have to be purchased for an extra fee. The new basic fare will initially be rolled out on 10 medium haul routes, for non-stop flights starting September 9, 2025. The routes being included in the trial are Helsinki, Finland; Tunis-Carthage, Tunisia; Athens, Greece; Vienna, Austria; Dublin, Ireland; Stockholm Arlanda, Sweden; Munich, Germany; Turin, Italy; Florence, Italy and Prague, Czech Republic. No changes will be made to long-haul fares. The new fare will be implemented alongside existing 'light', 'standard' and 'flex' fare offers. If passengers wish to add hand luggage, they will still be able to for an additional fee up to four hours before departure. The cost for this will start from €15 (£13.10) per leg. Many airlines use a similar model to this, such as Ryanair. The model allows airlines to offer cheaper fares whilst giving passengers the option to pay for additional luggage if needed. The Sun's Travel Editor Lisa Minot shares her expert packing tips Recently, Ryanair announced that they would be changing the size of hand luggage allowance from 40x20x25cm to 40x30x20cm - an increase of 5cm. The new size means that Ryanair's free hand luggage capacity has risen from 20 litres to 24 litres. The new rules are expected to be introduced later this month, which means airports will need to update their baggage sizers. These are five cabin bags under £20 that fit Ryanair's new hand luggage rules including Amazon buy that fits 11 days worth of clothes. Plus, UK may ban airlines from charging for hand luggage – but it could hike your flight price, experts warn. 2
