Korean Air Delays Mileage Program Overhaul by 2 Years Due to COVID-19

Mileage Expiring This Year Also Extended by 1 Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] Korean Air has postponed the implementation of the 'Skypass' reform plan, a frequent flyer program (FFP), to April 2023, two years later, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the validity period of mileage expiring this year will be extended by one year.

Korean Air announced on the 6th that due to travel restrictions caused by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, which made it difficult for customers to use their mileage, the implementation of the Skypass reform plan originally scheduled for April has been postponed accordingly.

Earlier, at the end of 2019, Korean Air had introduced a reform plan that included increasing the mileage accrual rates for First Class and Prestige Class, adjusting the accrual rates for Economy Class according to airfare levels, and changing the mileage deduction criteria for seat upgrades.

However, with this postponement decision, changes to mileage accrual rates and deduction criteria will be delayed by two years, allowing a total preparation period of 3 years and 3 months, including a 3-month prior notice and a 3-year grace period. Furthermore, the new elite membership system, originally scheduled to be implemented in February next year, will also be postponed by two years and will take effect from February 2024. The end date for lifetime elite membership qualification will be delayed from February next year to the end of 2024.

Korean Air has also relaxed the annual flight performance criteria required to obtain elite membership status. Instead of limiting it to Korean Air flight performance only, mileage flown on SkyTeam airlines will be added as a condition for obtaining elite membership status.

In addition, Korean Air has extended the usage period of mileage expiring this year by one additional year, allowing it to be used until the end of next year. Mileage whose validity was already extended once (expiring at the end of last year) will also be extended again and can be used until the end of 2022.

Meanwhile, Korean Air will conduct a pilot operation of mileage mixed payment from tomorrow (the 7th) until the end of next year. Korean Air stated, "We plan to continuously improve systems so that customers can use mileage mixed payments more conveniently and securely."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.