Contrary to the name, you don’t have to fly to Korea to take advantage of the perks and benefits that the Korean Air SKYPASS program has to offer. With this program, you can easily earn miles on flights with partner carriers or with a co-branded credit card. Afterwards, use those miles to book flights to anywhere in the world with Korean Air or one of their many airline partners.
See our best credit card bonuses here.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Korean Air’s frequent flyer program.
SKYPASS Quick Facts
Airline Alliance | SkyTeam |
Hubs | Seoul-Incheon (South Korea) |
U.S. Destinations | Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C. |
Credit Cards | SKYPASS Select Visa Signature Card SKYPASS Visa Signature Card SkyBlue SKYPASS Visa Card SKYPASS Visa Business Card |
Redemption Options | Award flights, upgrades, lounge passes, excess baggage, luxury bus transportation, airport coat check, hotel stays, rental cars, Korean Air merchandise, Jeju activities |
Average Mile Value | $0.017 |
SKYPASS Elite Status
As with any other frequent flyer program, you’ll want to move up elite status tiers. With each tier, you’ll unlock benefits designed to make your travel easier and more comfortable. SKYPASS has three status tiers: Morning Calm Club, Morning Calm Premium Club and Million Miler Club.
In order to reach elite status, you’ll need to meet the following requirements.
Status | Requirements |
Morning Calm Club | 50,000 Korean Air miles, 40 qualifying flights, or 50,000 Korean Air & SKYPASS partner miles* |
Morning Calm Premium Club | 500,000 Korean Air & SkyTeam partner miles |
Million Miler Club | 1,000,000 Korean Air & SkyTeam partner miles |
In order to maintain your Morning Clam Club membership for another two years, you will need to fulfill one of the following during your membership period:
- Accumulate at least 30,000 flown miles on Korean Air
- Fly 20 or more qualifying segments on Korean Air
- Accumulate at least 30,000 combined flown miles with Korean Air and partner airlines (at least 20,000 miles or 15 qualifying flight segments on Korean Air)
Once you achieve Morning Calm Premium Club and Million Miler Club, you’ll keep that status for life!
As you move up in SKYPASS elite status, you will unlock special VIP perks.
Morning Calm Club | Special check-in counter Additional baggage allowance Priority baggage Priority waitlist SkyTeam Elite membership Lounge access |
Morning Calm Premium Club | Morning Calm Club benefits Exclusive check-in counter Unrestricted lounge access Off-peak redemption mileage during peak times Reissue fee waived on bonus tickets |
Million Miler Club | Morning Calm Premium Club benefits Exclusive hotline in Korea Waived award ticket change fees Special gifts |
Earning SKYPASS Miles
Earn SKYPASS miles when you fly on Korean Air. The amount that you earn will depend on your route and booking class. Please not that, you won’t earn miles on award tickets, baby tickets and some discounted tickets.
Additionally, you can earn SKYPASS miles by flying with partner airlines, including:
SkyTeam Member Airlines
- Aeroflot
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- AeroMexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- Alitalia
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- Czech Airlines
- Delta
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Korean Air
- MEA (Middle East Airlines)
- Saudia
- Tarom
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Air
*Visit skyteam.com for the current list of members
Be sure that you type in your SKYPASS number and present your SKYPASS card when you check in at the airport to make sure you get your rewards. Hold onto your ticket and boarding pass until the miles post to your SKYPASS account. It may take up to 14 days after travel to post.
SKYPASS Select Visa Signature Card ($450 annual fee). Earn 30,000 bonus miles ($510 value) when you spend $3,000 within your first 90 days. You’ll also receive 10,000 bonus miles at renewal if you spend at least $35,000 annually. Get 2x miles on Korean Air ticket purchases, 2x miles on airline tickets, car rentals and hotel stays, and 1x miles for all other purchases. Extras include an annual $200 travel credit, TSA Precheck/Global Entry credit, an annual $100 Korean Air ticket coupon, two annual Korean Air in-flight duty free $25 coupons and two annual KAL Lounge coupons.
SKYPASS Visa Signature Card ($95 annual fee). Earn 30,000 bonus miles ($510 value) when you spend $3,000 within your first 90 days. You’ll also receive 2,000 bonus miles every year at renewal. Get 2x miles on Korean Air ticket purchases, 2x miles at gas stations and hotels, and 1x miles for all other purchases. Extras include an annual Korean Air ticket $50 coupon and two annual KAL Lounge coupons.
SkyBlue SKYPASS Visa Card ($0 annual fee). Earn 5,000 bonus miles ($85 value) after your first purchase. Get one mile for every $2 you spend in eligible purchases.
SKYPASS Visa Business Card ($95 annual fee). Earn 30,000 bonus miles ($510 value) when you spend $3,000 within your first 90 days. You’ll also receive 2,000 bonus miles every year at renewal. Get 2x miles on Korean Air ticket purchases, 2x miles at gas stations and hotels, and 1x miles for all other purchases. Extras include an annual Korean Air ticket $50 coupon and two annual KAL Lounge coupons.
As of recently, Korean Air has ended their partnership with Chase Ultimate Rewards making them down to one flexible point program partner: Marriott Bonvoy. Use this partnership by earning points on Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and transferring those point to your SKYPASS account when you’re ready to fly.
Marriott transfers to SKYPASS at a 3:1 ratio. And for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer directly to your SKYPASS account, you’ll get a 5,000-point bonus. So instead of 20,000 SKYPASS miles for 60,000 Marriott points, you’ll receive a total of 25,000 miles.
You will be able to earn SKYPASS miles by staying with the following hotel partners
- ALL
- KAL Hotel
- Hotels.com
- Hotel Nikko & JAL CityCars & Transport
- Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
- IHG
- Lotte Hotel
- Marriott
- Okura Hotels & Resorts
- Seoul Shilla Hotel
- Shangri-La Hotels
- Waikiki Resort Hotel
And through the following car rental partners
Other methods of earning SKYPASS miles include:
- Shop on Korean Air SkyShop (earn SkyPoints which you can then convert to SKYPASS miles)
- Follow the Korean Air Facebook and Twitter accounts
- Hosting an event at Marriott
- Participate in a Korean Air limited-time promotion
For all the ways you can earn SKYPASS miles, click here.
Earning SKYPASS Miles With Marriott Bonvoy Points
As mentioned previously, Marriott transfers to SKYPASS at a 3:1 ratio. And for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer directly to your SKYPASS account, you’ll get a 5,000-point bonus. So instead of 20,000 SKYPASS miles for 60,000 Marriott points, you’ll receive a total of 25,000 miles.
Chase offers two personal credit cards that earn Marriott points, while American Express (Amex) offers one personal and one business card. If you’re looking to apply for a Marriott credit card, keep in mind:
- The Chase 5/24 rule. If you opened five or more new credit cards in the past 24 months (from any bank), you won’t be approved for a new credit card from Chase.
- The Amex once-in-a-lifetime welcome bonus rule. You can only qualify for the introductory offer on each Amex personal and business card once in your lifetime.
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. • $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts(R) or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card(R). The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. • $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required. • The American Express Global Lounge Collection can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023. • $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month. • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card. • $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit. • $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: CLEAR Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues. • Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. • Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. This card comes with a $695 annual fee.¤ (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. Terms Apply. |
The American Express® Gold Card offers 60,000 points + earn up to $100 back. Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24. Terms apply. You'll earn: • 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. • 4X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. • 3X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. • 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. • 1X Membership Rewards point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. Other benefits: • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at Dunkin' locations. • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required. • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express(R) Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required. • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property. This card has an annual fee of $325 with no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. |
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express has a welcome offer of 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com. • 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus. • 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases • Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card. Enrollment required. • $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card. • $199 CLEAR Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card. This card does come with a $695 annual fee. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
The American Express® Business Gold Card offers 100,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.* 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.99% to 27.99% variable APR.* You'll earn more rewards: • 4X Membership Rewards(R) points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.* • 3X Membership Rewards(R) points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.* • Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required. • Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.* This card does carry a $375 annual fee, but no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. |
Redeeming SKYPASS Miles
Use your SKYPASS miles for award flights on Korean Air. Choose from three different award types.
- On-peak and off-peak travel dates
- Award charts show roundtrip pricing
- Korean Air flights can be booked one way
- Partner flights are always charged roundtrip pricing
You’ll want to utilize the Korean Air award chart, the SkyTeam award chart, and the non-alliance award chart.
[/su_table]Use your SKYPASS miles to make your travel more enjoyable, including:
- Korean Air upgrade awards
- SkyTeam member airline upgrade awards
- Korean Air Lounge passes
- Excess baggage rewards
- KAL luxury bus awards
- Coat check awards
- Hotel stays
- Rental cars
- Korean Air merchandise
- Hanwha Aqua Planet Jeju passes
- Jeju Island Folk Village Museum passes
Asia Miles Tips & Tricks
SKYPASS has three different award charts that goes with their three tiers. However, we’ve created a much easier chart for you to read and here is what we’ve concluded are some sweet spots.
- North America – Europe | Roundtrip | SkyTeam | Business 80,000
- North America – Africa | Roundtrip | SkyTeam | Business 120,000
- North America – Hawaii | Roundtrip | Delta | Economy 25,000
- North America – Hawaii/Mexico/Puerto Rico | Roundtrip | Delta | Business 45,000
- North America – Northeast Asia | One Way | Korean Air | First 80,000
- North America – Australia | One Way | Korean Air | Business 97,500
- North America – Australia | One Way | Korean Air | First 120,000
Keep in mind, Korean Air allows one complimentary stopover on one-way awards, so you get two complimentary stopovers on roundtrip awards. That’s both generous and rare in the frequent flyer world.
Book a Round The World award for just 140,000 miles in economy or 220,000 miles in business. Your itinerary must:
- Pass through the Pacific and the Atlantic
- Must be a continuous route, either East or West
SKYPASS members can transfer their miles to registered family members to redeem for awards. Below are some notable Family Plan rules:
- Up to 5 family members are allowed to redeem rewards through the Family Plan at a time
- Authorization from family members is required
- Family members are defined as spouses, children, parents, siblings, parents-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandparents and grandchildren
Bottom Line
Although SKYPASS miles can no longer be earned from Chase Ultimate Rewards, the Korean Air loyalty program still has some great perks for all kinds of travelers. The best part is that it is easy to earn and use with great value.
In the case that you don’t often travel with Korean Air often, be sure to check out our page for more travel tips from other loyalty programs like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan or Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards. For more posts like this, check out our list of credit card bonuses.
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