Air France only allows first class award redemption to be available to its own Flying Blue elite members, not to partner airline frequent flyer members. And its own frequent flyers have to spend the rule-buster amount of miles to redeem. It’s a ton of miles, and the product is generally several standard deviations behind the top first class products in the world. But at least spending more miles also means it’s available pretty much whenever you want it.

You also have to be a Flying Blue elite member in order to upgrade from business to first class. But for Flying Blue elites first class upgrades are 50% off for bookings made by August 31, travel in July and August.

Flying Blue Platinum, Gold and Silver members can save 50% on the Award Miles usually required for an upgrade award from the Affaires cabin to the sheer exclusivity of La Première. This offer is available on all Air France routes with La Première cabin. For bookings, please contact the Flying Blue Service Centre.

Upgrades — even at 50% off — are still expensive under this program. From North America to Paris it costs 75,000 points each way normally, under this promotion it’s 37,500 points for the upgrade from business to first. I’d absolutely pull the trigger if I could from the West Coast of the U.S. to Paris, for instance. From Paris to Southern Africa and most of Asia a one-way upgrade is normally a whopping 120,000 points, this promotion drops this to a still-expensive 60,000.

Flying Blue is offering up to a 50% bonus on purchased miles until July 18.

Earn 10% Bonus Miles with a purchase of 10,000 – 18,000 Miles
Earn 20% Bonus Miles with a purchase of 20,000 – 28,000 Miles
Earn 30% Bonus Miles with a purchase of 30,000 – 38,000 Miles
Earn 40% Bonus Miles with a purchase of 40,000 – 58,000 Miles
Earn 45% Bonus Miles with a purchase of 60,000 – 88,000 Miles
Earn 50% Bonus Miles with a purchase of 90,000 – 100,000 Miles

Non-elites can only buy up to 40,000 miles per year, so are capped at a 40% bonus. Elites have no limit on purchased miles.

Of course, Flying Blue is an American Express Membership Rewards points transfer partner.