Korean Air SkyPass is the loyalty program of Korean Air. It also happens to be a key SkyTeam airline loyalty program used by award travelers. Generally speaking, Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), and Korean Air SkyPass are the loyalty programs one would use to book SkyTeam award flights.
While Korean Air miles can be challenging to earn, one of the main things the Korean Air SkyPass program is known for its competitive award pricing. In other words, if you can earn Korean Air SkyPass miles, you can potentially unlock high-value award travel.
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Credit Cards to Earn Korean Air SkyPass Miles
Korean Air only partners with Marriott Bonvoy. This means the Marriott points that you earn can be transferred directly to your Korean Air account. When you transfer points, your Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio to Korean Air.
Marriott cards to consider appylying for include the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Marriott Bonvoy Business, and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardmembers earn 6x points at Marriott, receive a $300 Marriott property credit, and a Free Anniversary Night at a property requiring up to 50,000 points per night. You earn 6x points at Marriott and receive a Free Anniversary Night at a property requiring up to 35,000 points per night with the Marriott Bonvoy Business. The Marriott Bonoy Boundless earns 6x points Marriott and comes with a Free Anniversary Night at a property requiring up to 35,000 points per night.
Additional Ways to Earn Korean Air SkyPass Miles
One of the primary ways to earn Korean Air SkyPass miles is to fly Korean Air or its partner airline flights. For partner flights like Delta Air Lines, you’ll need to credit the partner flight that you fly to your Korean Air account to earn Korean Air miles. Check out wheretocredit.com to determine how best to credit partner airline flights.
Another way to earn Korean Air miles is to put your spending on co-branded Korean Air credit cards. Korean Air partners with US Bank. Although Korean Air’s publicly available credit card offers generally do not offer the opportunity to earn a ton of miles from a signup bonus, you may get lucky with a sizeable signup bonus offer in the mail.
The last way to earn Korean Air miles is to book car rental and/or hotel travel with its partners. When you spend with these partners, you earn miles in the process.
Basic Korean Air SkyPass Redemption Rules
The Korean Air SkyPass program has several key rules to keep in mind when booking award flights:
- Taxes and fees vary by the operating partner airline
- Infant award tickets require 10% of the adult redemption mileage
- Korean Air flights offer peak and off-peak pricing
- Partner award flights must be booked round-trip
- One stopover is allowed for each SkyTeam itinerary
- One surface segment, or one open-jaw segment, is allowed at the destination for SkyTeam award flights
- Alaska Airlines, China Southern, Etihad Airways, Emirates, GOL, Hawaiian Airlines, and Japan Airlines are Korean Air partners
Using the Korean Air SkyPass Search Engine
Korean Air’s search engine isn’t the best when compared to Delta Air Lines, Air France, or KLM. Generally speaking, the award searches take a while, partner award flights must be searched round-trip, and you’re unable to see a full monthly calendar of award availability.
With that said, search for SkyTeam flights on delta.com, airfrance.com, or klm.com. Confirm the same availability or koreanair.com or call Korean Air at 800-438-5000 to book the flight. Search for Alaska Airlines and Japan Airlines flights on aa.com, and Etihad Airways on etihad.com.
Best Ways to Use Korean Air SkyPass Miles
1. Korean Air US to Hong Kong or Taiwan
Flying Korean Air award flights during off-peak dates can save you a ton of miles. For example, you use 62,500 Korean Air miles to fly Korean Air one-way business class from the US to Hong Kong or Taiwan with a stop in Seoul. Another option is to redeem 35,000 Korean Air miles to fly the same award flights in economy. Search for flights on koreanair.com and then book the flight.
Examples of flights you can book include:
- Boston (BOS) to Seoul (ICN) to Hong Kong (HKG)
- Chicago (ORD) to Seoul to Tapei (TPE)
2. Korean Air US to Japan
Korean Air flights to Japan from the US, with a stop in Seoul, can make sense to book with the SkyPass program. With 62,500 Korean Air miles, you can book a one-way Korean Air flight business class flight between the US and Japan. Don’t overlook using 35,000 Korean Air miles to book the same flight to Japan in economy. Search for flights on koreanair.com and then book the flight.
Examples of flights from to Japan you can book include:
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Seoul (ICN) to Haneda (HND)
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Seoul to Narita (NRT)
- Washington-Dulles (IAD) to Seoul to Haneda
3. US to South America
Delta is the SkyTeam airliner partner with flights that are likely the easiest to fly for US-based travelers for this redemption. With 110,000 Korean Air miles, you can book a round-trip Delta business class flight between the US and South America. Note that SkyTeam flights must be booked round trip. Search for flights on airfrance.com or klm.com, and call Korean Air at 800-438-5000 to book the flight.
Examples of Delta flights to South America you can book include:
- Atlanta (ATL) to Buenos Aires (EZE)
- Atlanta to Santiago (SCL)
- New York (JFK) to São Paulo (GRU)
4. Korean Air US to South Korea
There are several US cities with nonstop Korean Air flights to Seoul. This is great news for award travelers as you can redeem 62,500 Korean Air miles to fly Korean Air one-way business class to Seoul. 35,000 Korean Air miles books the same flight in economy. Search for flights on koreanair.com and then book the flight.
Examples of flights to Seoul you can book include:
- Las Vegas (LAS) to Seoul (ICN)
- New York (JFK) to Seoul
- Seattle (SEA) to Seoul
5. Korean Air US to Southeast Asia
75,000 Korean Air miles are what you need to book a one-way Korean Air business class from the US to Southeast Asia during off-peak dates. You can also book the same flights in economy with 42,500 miles. Cities in this region include Bangkok Thailand, Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam, and Singapore, among others. Search for flights on airfrance.com, klm.com, and delta.com, confirm the same flight is available on koreanair.com, and then book the flight.
Examples of Korean Air flights to Southeast Asia you can book include:
- Dallas (DFW) to Seoul (ICN) to Bangkok (BKK)
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Seoul to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN)
- New York (JFK) to Seoul to Singapore (SGN)
Korean Air SkyPass FAQs
How do I get Korean Air SkyPass?
Login to your Korean Air account and download your digital membership card at [My Page] > [My Mileage] > [My SKYPASS Mobile Card]. You may also request your digital membership card through Korean Air offices or service centers.
What is Korean Air SkyPass?
SkyPass is the loyalty program of Korean Air. It’s a free program that allows its member to earn miles by flying. You can also redeem miles for you or a family member to book award flights or shop with its partners.
Can I use Korean Air SkyPass for Delta?
Yes. Korean Air SkyPass miles can be used to book Delta Air Lines award flights. You can also book award flights with Korean Air’s SkyTeam airline partners as well as Alaska Airlines, China Southern, Etihad Airways, Emirates, GOL, Hawaiian Airlines, and Japan Airlines
Do Korean Air SkyPass miles expire?
Miles earned on/after 7/1/08 are valid for 10 years and expire if unredeemed. Miles earned on/before 6/30/08 do not expire. The ten year mileage validity period is based on the date flown on Korean Air and partner airlines.
What airlines does Korean Air partner with?
Korean Air is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance and also partners with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, GOL, Hawaiian Airlines, and Japan Airlines.
Conclusion on Korean Air SkyPass
The SkyTeam alliance is limited in terms of valuable airline loyalty programs. One of the primary ways to earn Korean Air miles is to earn Marriott Bonvoy points that can then be transferred directly to Korean Air. Additional ways to earn miles include crediting partner airline flights to your Korean Air account, spending on Korean Air credit cards, and using its car rental and hotel partners. Korean Air has straightforward award flight rules, however, its search engine needs some work. All in all, it’s fairly easy to find high-value ways to redeem your Korean Air miles.
What’s your favorite way to use Korean Air SkyPass miles? How does SkyPass provide you value? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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