Air France Gold Card (Amex France): 25,000 Bonus Points + First Year Free

If you’re based in France and have a few flights planned across Europe this year, there’s a solid limited-time opportunity worth looking at—especially if you want to rack up points quickly and avoid paying for checked bags.

Right now, the Air France Gold Card from American Express is offering:

• 25,000 bonus points after spending €2,000 in the first 4 months

• First year annual fee waived

• Free checked bag on short- and medium-haul flights with Air France / KLM

Why This Offer Stands Out

The biggest appeal here is the low spending requirement for a decent chunk of bonus points. €2,000 over 4 months is very achievable for most people, especially if you shift everyday expenses onto the card.

Those 25,000 points can go a long way toward award flights or upgrades, depending on how you redeem them.

But what really makes this interesting—especially for near-term travel—is the free checked bag benefit.

Free Checked Bag = Real Savings

If you’ve flown around Europe recently, you already know baggage fees add up fast.

With this card, you get:

• 1 free checked bag on Air France / KLM flights

• Valid on short and medium-haul routes

You can get a supplementary card for free as well allowing your and your partner to each get a checked bag on your flight for free. This only works if your fare doesn't include a checked bag and cannot be combined with Air France Elite Status free checked bags.

Is It Worth Keeping Long-Term?

Here’s the honest take:

I don’t think this is a long-term keeper card and I would cancel after the first year.

Once the first year is over and the annual fee kicks in, the ongoing benefits may not justify the cost unless you:

• Fly Air France / KLM frequently

• Consistently use the baggage benefit

• Value the loyalty perks tied to the program

If You fly Air France frequently, you likely already get a free checked bag from your elite status.

When This Deal Does Make Sense

This offer is a great fit if you:

• Have planned travel in Europe within the next 6–12 months

• Want to earn a quick boost of points

• Can easily hit the €2,000 spend

• Would benefit from free checked bags on upcoming trips

In that case, you’re essentially:

• Getting 25,000 free points

• Saving on baggage fees

• Paying €0 for the first year

How to Apply

If you want to take advantage of this offer, you can use my referral link here:
https://americanexpress.com/fr-fr/referral/green?ref=tIMOtDqukY&XLINK=MYCP

👉 Important: Once you land on the page, scroll down and click “Voir Toutes Les Cartes” to find the Air France Gold Card offer.

Disclaimer: I receive a small referral credit if you use my link.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t a forever card—but that’s not the point.

It’s a strategic, short-term play:

• Earn 25,000 bonus points

• Fly with free checked bags

• Pay no annual fee in year one

If you’ve got flights coming up, it’s one of those simple moves that can save you money while building up your points balance at the same time.

Just be sure to reassess before the second year fee hits. If you are thinking 25,000 points doesn't sound like a lot; in France we don't have huge credit card bonus offers like in the United States, so this is actually one of the best deals I have seen in the last year!

If you would like to apply for the USA Air France Credit Card, you can see my article on that product here