Korean Air's loyalty program, SKYPASS, is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and offers valuable redemption opportunities, particularly for premium cabin travel. Its mileage expiration policy is based on a long 'hard expiry' period.
Korean Air SKYPASS Miles Expiration Policy
Korean Air SKYPASS miles have a fixed expiration date. Miles earned are valid for 10 years from the date they were earned (or more precisely, until December 31st of the 10th year following the earning date for miles earned before July 1, 2008, and 10 years from the boarding date/earning date for miles earned after that).
For simplicity, consider it a 10-year validity period from when the miles land in your account.
Like other hard expiry programs, account activity does NOT extend the validity of SKYPASS miles. Earning or redeeming miles does not reset the 10-year clock on miles you've already accumulated. Each mile or batch of miles has its own decade-long lifespan.
This generous timeframe allows ample opportunity for redemption, but tracking is still necessary for very long-term balances.
Keeping Track and Using Miles
Since activity doesn't prevent expiration, the only way to avoid losing SKYPASS miles is to redeem them before their specific 10-year expiration date.
- Monitor your SKYPASS account. It should provide details on mileage validity and upcoming expirations.
- Plan your redemptions, such as award flights on Korean Air or SkyTeam partners, ensuring you use miles before they reach their 10-year limit.
Korean Air SkyPass: How to Earn and Redeem Miles
Korean Air’s SkyPass program provides several ways to build your balance and offers strong redemption opportunities, especially on long-haul routes to Asia and Oceania.
How to Earn SkyPass Miles
SkyPass miles can be earned through a variety of channels:
- Flying: Earn miles on Korean Air flights or with partner airlines in the SkyTeam alliance.
- Travel Partners: Credit miles when booking with partner hotels, car rentals, and tour operators.
- Shopping: Earn miles with select retail and service partners.
- Credit Card Spending: Use Korean Air’s co-branded U.S. Bank credit cards to earn miles on everyday purchases.
Redeeming SkyPass Miles
Miles can be redeemed directly on Korean Air’s website. Simply toggle to the mileage redemption option when searching for flights.
Redemptions include:
- Award Flights: Book flights on Korean Air or SkyTeam partners.
- Seat Upgrades: Use miles to upgrade from economy to business or from business to first class. The number of miles required depends on route and class of service.
SkyPass Award Chart
Korean Air uses fixed award charts, which generally provide better value than dynamic pricing models. Below are examples for flights departing from North America.
Economy Class
| Destination | Off-Peak | Peak Season |
|---|---|---|
| Korea / Japan / China / Northeast Asia | 35,000 | 52,500 |
| Southeast Asia / Guam | 42,500 | 62,500 |
| Southwest Asia | 47,500 | 70,000 |
| Oceania | 55,000 | 82,500 |
Business Class
| Destination | Off-Peak | Peak Season |
|---|---|---|
| Korea / Japan / China / Northeast Asia | 62,500 | 92,500 |
| Southeast Asia / Guam | 75,000 | 112,500 |
| Southwest Asia | 85,000 | 127,500 |
| Oceania | 97,500 | 145,000 |
For comparison, Delta Air Lines often charges 45,000 miles for economy and 130,000 miles for business class on similar routes, making Korean Air’s pricing far more competitive.
Best Uses of Korean Air SkyPass Miles
- Business Class from the U.S. to Asia
At 62,500 miles each way, this is one of the best premium cabin values. The same rate applies whether you stop in South Korea or continue onward to Japan. - Domestic Flights within Korea
With redemptions starting at just 5,000 miles one way (or 7,500 in peak season), these are some of the cheapest flights you’ll find anywhere. - Business Class from the U.S. to Australia or Oceania
At 97,500 miles one way, this is not the lowest-cost redemption, but award availability tends to be strong. The rate is also competitive compared to other programs, which may charge significantly more for similar routes.
Official Policy
For the most accurate and official details, always consult the Korean Air SKYPASS program information:
- Korean Air SKYPASS Terms & Information (Navigate to sections covering mileage validity or expiration rules).
- Check your personal account statement for specific mile expiration details.
Summary
Korean Air SKYPASS miles are subject to a strict 10-year hard expiration policy, which cannot be reset through account activity. To preserve value, members must redeem miles before their individual expiration dates.
The program provides strong earning opportunities through flights, partners, and co-branded credit cards, and redemption rates remain highly competitive compared to other airlines — especially for business class flights to Asia, domestic Korean flights, and long-haul routes to Oceania.
While the long validity period offers flexibility, members should actively monitor their accounts to ensure they use their miles before they expire.
Disclaimer: Program terms and conditions can change. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Verify details directly with Korean Air.