Some of you mentioned Flying Blue now has biz class seat selection fees, and they are like $90 each way pp, so not inexpensive! I noticed the BoA AirFrance Flying Blue card in this
post, which has a 70k SUB, $100 statement credit for $2k MSR/3 mos. $89 AF. But card approval + meeting SUB seems to earn 100 XP, which would earn Flying Blue Silver status (from what I can tell), which would allow for free seat selection. That status is good from one year from earning it, so perhaps this might just be a one year card. The MSR is pretty minimal and 70k SUB is equivalent to one biz class flight, so it's definitely something to consider. For me, the seat selection would really add up because we tend to travel in a party of four or more in Flying Blue biz class. And I do like to sit next to my family in biz class because otherwise it seems so isolating.
6.1 Air France and KLM Flying Blue Platinum members, Club 2000* card holders, Flying Blue Gold members, and Flying Blue Silver members may reserve a Business Seat free of charge granted they have provided their Flying Blue number at the time of booking.
This fee waiver also applies to traveling companions in the same booking. Customers who have not provided their Flying Blue card numbers at the time of purchasing their tickets can book a Business Seat at applicable rates.