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🌟 Amex MR Points Now Transfer 1:1 to Flying Blue + Get Up to 20% Off Qatar Airways Flights

🌟 Amex MR Points Now Transfer 1:1 to Flying Blue + Get Up to 20% Off Qatar Airways Flights

Flying Blue finally goes 1:1 with Amex, and Qatar Airways is running a sale that rewards flexible travellers. Here’s what’s actually worth booking.

Brianna Harrison
January 10, 2026

In This Issue:

🙌 New 1:1 Transfer Ratio from Amex to Flying Blue

✈️ Save Up to 20% on Qatar Airways Flights & Get Up to 10,000 Bonus Avios

🛫 Chexy Deals: Business Class to Europe + Asia from YYZ, YUL, & YVR

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🙌 Huge Upgrade: Amex MR Points Now Transfer to Flying Blue 1:1

Huge news for those who use Amex and fly with Air France or KLM: last week, American Express upped the transfer ratio of Membership Rewards points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio. That means 1,000 Amex MR points = 1,000 Flying Blue miles, instead of the old 0.75 rate.

Let’s break down why this matters.

⭐️ What Changed (And Why It’s a Big Deal)

Until now, Amex points transferred to Flying Blue at a 1:0.75 ratio. So a “60,000-mile” business class flight actually costs 80,000 Amex points behind the scenes.

With the new 1:1 transfer:

25,000 Flying Blue miles = 25,000 Amex points
60,000 Flying Blue miles = 60,000 Amex points

It sounds obvious, but it’s huge. Flying Blue redemptions are now priced exactly as advertised, which puts them much more in “bookable” territory for us Canadians.

What Flying Blue Flight Redemptions Cost

At standard (non-promo) rates, flight redemptions for Air France or KLM start at:

25,000 miles one-way in economy
40,000 miles in premium economy
60,000 miles in business class

That’s already competitive for flights to Europe, but you get even better value when monthly Promo Rewards enter the chat.

🔥 Monthly Promo Rewards (the Real Value)

Flying Blue runs monthly Promo Rewards that usually discount select routes by 25%. Some months it’s economy, some months business class, and occasionally both. For example, for the month of January 2026, you can save 25% off business class flights out of Montreal (although you need to be a Flying Blue Extra subscriber, but most months you don’t need to be).

With these promos, the redemption pricing drops to:

18,750 miles one-way in economy
30,000 miles in premium economy
45,000 miles in business class

A one-way business class seat to Europe for 45,000 Amex points is a strong value, especially compared to other airline programs (like Aeroplan) that often creep well past 80,000 to 100,000 points.

Here are some recent flight redemptions that were available with Flying Blue’s 25% Promo Rewards:

Toronto (YYZ) to Amsterdam (AMS) in KLM business class for 45,000 Miles

Montreal (YUL) to Lisbon (LIS) in Air France Economy for 18,750 Miles

In cash, these one-way flights usually run about $1,500 in economy and over $7,000 in business class. When you book using Promo Rewards, that drops to just 18,750 miles for economy or 45,000 miles for business, which works out to roughly 8 cents per mile in economy and 16+ cents per mile in business. This is an insane value.

Some Things to Note About Flying Blue Redemptions

A few quick caveats before you go ahead and transfer those Amex points:

Award availability varies by route and month
Some promos are limited to Flying Blue Extra subscribers (like this month)
Always find the award first, then transfer points (transfers are one-way)

💳 Want to supercharge your Amex points earning?

If you’re eyeing a 45,000-point business class redemption but don’t have enough Amex points, Chexy can help you get there faster. If you put just $2,600 a month in rent and bills on your Amex through Chexy, you’d reach roughly 70,000 points in under three months. That’s already enough for a one-way business class flight at Promo Rewards pricing.

And that’s before factoring in Amex welcome bonuses, which can add up to 100,000 points in your first year. 🤑

Final Thoughts

The new 1:1 transfer from Amex to Flying Blue makes one of the best Europe award programs even easier to use. The prices you see are now the prices you actually pay, and with monthly Promo Rewards, getting to Europe in economy or business class requires far fewer points than most Canadian programs.

Pair that with earning Amex points on rent and bills through Chexy, and those flights come up faster than you’d expect - all without changing how you spend.

✈️ Save Up to 20% On Qatar Airways Flights from Toronto & Montreal + Get Up to 10,000 Bonus Avios

Qatar Airways is currently offering up to 20% off flights out of Toronto and Montreal, plus up to 10,000 bonus Avios on top. On paper, this 20% deal sounds great, but in practice, you’ll need to search a bit to find the best value.

Let’s take a look at what’s actually worth your attention. 👇

🤑 The 20% Off Deal

The sale applies to select routes out of Toronto (YYZ) and Montreal (YUL), mostly to Asia, the Middle East, and parts of South Asia. Think destinations like Bangkok, Phuket, Dubai, Delhi, Colombo, Kathmandu, Bali, and a handful of others.

Not every date or route shows the full discount, and availability varies a lot. This isn’t a “book anything and save 20%” situation; it’s more of a hunt-and-reward deal. You’ll find the best deals if your dates are flexible.

One standout redemption we’re seeing is from Toronto (YYZ) to Bangkok (BKK) in economy for 47,500 Avios, or just under $1,000 CAD in cash.

At 47,500 Avios, you’re getting roughly 2.1 cents per Avios, which is right at (or slightly above) what many people consider a strong baseline value. It’s not a once-in-a-lifetime sweet spot, but for a long-haul economy flight to Southeast Asia, it’s a solid redemption, especially if cash prices stay high.

Business class discounts are more limited. While up to 20% off is advertised, we didn’t find any business class deals worth highlighting, so availability may be tough to find.

💰 Bonus Avios

Qatar is also layering in bonus Avios if you book flights by January 14th, 2026, for travel by March 31st, 2026:

Earn 5,000 bonus Avios for economy flights
Earn 10,000 bonus Avios for premium cabins

Use the promo code JANBONUS.

If you’re not yet a member, you can earn up to 4,000 bonus Avios when you join Qatar Airways Privilege Club and book your first flight. Use the promo code AMOFFER26, join by December 31st, 2026, for travel by June 30th, 2027.

💳 How to Get the Avios for These Deals

One of the easiest ways to book these discounted flights is by earning Amex Membership Rewards points, then:

Transfer Amex points 1:1 to British Airways Avios
Move those Avios 1:1 to Qatar Airways Privilege Club

If you’re not earning a lot of Amex points month-to-month, this is where Chexy comes in. Put your monthly rent and bills on your Amex through Chexy, and you’ll earn points on expenses you’re paying anyway. Over a few months of Chexy + everyday spending, that can easily get you into the 40,000 to 50,000 Avios range, which is enough to start booking these discounted long-haul flights.

Final Take

This Qatar Airways sale isn’t effortless, but it’s rewarding if you’re willing to search. The 47,500 Avios economy pricing to places like Bangkok is a good use of points, the bonus Avios are a nice add-on, and earning Avios via Amex (and Chexy) makes these deals much more accessible.

It’s not flashy, but definitely worth a look if travel to Asia or the Middle East is on your radar this year.

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