There’s a new way to get free elite status with Air France/KLM’s loyalty program, Flying Blue, which offers enticing perks even for U.S.-based fliers. Bilt Rewards, the first-ever loyalty program allowing users to earn points on rent, has launched a new promotion exclusively for its top-tier Platinum status members. By transferring 10,000 Bilt Points to the Flying Blue loyalty program, travelers can then earn 12 months of Flying Blue Gold status. While it’s likely that most US-based travelers won’t fly these European airlines very often, having Flying Blue status can still be quite useful for frequent fliers. Air France and KLM are part of the SkyTeam Alliance, which means elite status holders get a suite of perks when flying on nearly two dozen member airlines, including Delta Air Lines. Travelers looking for more legroom will enjoy getting a 50 percent discount on all Delta Comfort+ seats thanks to Flying Blue Gold status. In addition, they can enjoy SkyTeam priority check-in, extra baggage allowance, and access to SkyTeam airport lounges on international flights — even when flying in economy.<br/>
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Korean Air Lines is close to making a significant order for Airbus widebody jets, according to people familiar with the matter, as the carrier looks to simplify its fleet once it merges with Asiana Airlines. The airline plans to buy around 20 A350 jets, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The agreement could be announced as soon as this week, though the deal isn’t final and could still fall apart depending on the outcome of a March 21 board meeting, the people said. Korean Air is also mulling adding more A321neo single-aisle planes, one of the people said. The carrier placed a 4.1t won ($3.1b) top-up order for 20 of the jets in October, taking its total order to 50. The airline has also been evaluating Boeing Co.’s 777X, CEO Walter Cho said in 2022. The US planemaker’s newest widebody, which it says will be the world’s largest and most fuel-efficient twin-engine, is still undergoing certification. Boeing, which is being plagued by production issues as it focuses on fixing quality lapses exposed by the Jan. 5 accident on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max flight, last month said the 777X is still on track to be ready for 2025. A spokesperson for Korean Air said the carrier is unable to comment on any potential order at this point in time. An Airbus spokesperson said the planemaker doesn’t comment on “discussions we may or may not be having with airlines.” Cho said in an interview in November that the carrier was reviewing its options for a long-haul widebody jet order that would come soon. The fleet decision comes ahead of Korean Air’s pending acquisition of Asiana, which is now just awaiting US regulatory approval. An enlarged Korean Air is aiming to reduce the many types of planes it operates across the Boeing and Airbus families to simplify operations and reduce costs. Korean Air doesn’t operate the A350 but does fly the older generation 777, while Asiana has 15 A350s with a further 15 on order. A Korean Air order indicates it will stick with its rival’s A350 fleet post-merger.<br/>