If you have been collecting Asiana Club miles, you are probably wondering what happens to them once Korean Air and Asiana merge. This post gathers only the confirmed facts on the integration date, how to use your miles, the redemption chart, conversion ratios, and elite tier matching, all in one place. Any difficult or unfamiliar airline mileage terms will be explained one sentence at a time so they are easy to understand.
1. Integration Schedule Explained
The mileage integration plan for Korean Air and Asiana Airlines has been finalized after approval by the Fair Trade Commission, and the integrated mileage system takes effect on December 17, 2026, the date the two carriers merge. This means the two programs run separately until that day, and from that day forward they operate as a single system.
At the point of integration, your existing Asiana Club miles are transferred to Korean Air's "Asiana Mileage" with the same balance and expiration dates, and you will hold both SKYPASS miles and Asiana Mileage inside one SKYPASS account. This means your miles are not lost—they simply keep their value and move into a single account under a new name.
[Key Terms Explained]
Fair Trade Commission: This is the government body that reviews and approves corporate mergers and acquisitions to ensure they do not harm consumers.
2. The 10-Year Separate Operation Explained
Asiana Club miles will be operated separately for 10 years after integration. This means your miles do not immediately become SKYPASS miles; for up to 10 years you can keep using them in their Asiana Mileage form.
From the integration date onward, all newly earned miles accrue only as SKYPASS miles, and Asiana Mileage can only be used, not earned. This means every future mile you collect goes to Korean Air, while your old Asiana miles can only be spent, not added to.
When the 10-year separate operation period ends, all remaining Asiana Mileage is automatically converted in bulk to SKYPASS miles at the set conversion ratio. This means any miles you have not used within 10 years are not forfeited but instead automatically turned into Korean Air miles.
[Key Terms Explained]
Separate operation: This refers to keeping two programs managed and used independently for a set period instead of merging them completely at once.
3. Where Asiana Mileage Can Be Used Explained
Asiana Mileage can be used for award tickets, seat upgrade awards, and Cash & Miles on all routes operated by Korean Air. This means you can spend Asiana miles not only on former Asiana routes but on Korean Air routes as well.
Award tickets and seat upgrade awards follow the existing Asiana Airlines redemption standards, while peak dates, taxes, and fuel surcharge rules follow the same policy as SKYPASS awards. You can also use the miles at the KE Design Store for goods, at in-flight duty-free, and at a dedicated Asiana Mileage shopping mall. This means the ticket deduction chart stays the same as the old Asiana one, but taxes and peak-season rules follow Korean Air's standards.
However, awards are available only on Korean Air-operated routes, and SkyTeam or other partner airline awards cannot be used. In addition, Asiana Mileage and SKYPASS miles cannot be combined into a single award. This means you cannot use them on other partner airlines' seats, nor mix the two mile types to book one ticket.
[Key Terms Explained]
Cash & Miles: This is a payment method that lets you pay from a minimum of 100 miles up to 40% of the fare with miles instead of cash when buying a ticket.
4. The Redemption Chart Explained
Below are the deduction standards applied when you use former Asiana Mileage for Korean Air awards. All tables are based on one-way travel departing from or arriving in Korea (unit: miles) and follow the exact redemption standards Asiana Airlines applied before integration.
Economy Class Award Ticket Deduction Standards
| Region |
Off-peak |
Peak |
| Korea (Domestic) | 5,000 | 7,500 |
| Japan/China/Northeast Asia | 15,000 | 22,500 |
| Southeast Asia/Guam | 20,000 | 30,000 |
| Southwest Asia | 25,000 | 37,500 |
| Europe/North America/Oceania | 35,000 | 52,500 |
| Middle East | 35,000 | 52,500 |
Table explanation: Domestic flights cost the least at 5,000 off-peak / 7,500 peak; Japan, China, and Northeast Asia require 15,000 / 22,500; Southeast Asia and Guam require 20,000 / 30,000. Southwest Asia is 25,000 / 37,500, while Europe/North America/Oceania and the Middle East are both the highest at 35,000 / 52,500. This means the farther the distance and the busier the season, the more miles you need.
Prestige (Business) Class Award Ticket Deduction Standards
| Region |
Off-peak |
Peak |
| Korea (Domestic) | 6,000 | 9,000 |
| Japan/China/Northeast Asia | 22,500 | 33,750 |
| Southeast Asia/Guam | 30,000 | 45,000 |
| Southwest Asia | 37,500 | 56,250 |
| Europe/North America/Oceania | 62,500 | 93,750 |
| Middle East | 62,500 | 92,500 |
Table explanation: Prestige class starts at 6,000 / 9,000 domestically, then 22,500 / 33,750 for Japan/China/Northeast Asia and 30,000 / 45,000 for Southeast Asia/Guam. Southwest Asia is 37,500 / 56,250, Europe/North America/Oceania is 62,500 / 93,750, and the Middle East is 62,500 / 92,500. This means the same route in a business-class seat requires far more miles than economy.
Economy → Prestige Seat Upgrade Award Deduction Standards
| Region |
Off-peak |
Peak |
| Korea (Domestic) | 1,500 | 2,250 |
| Japan/China/Northeast Asia | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| Southeast Asia/Guam | 12,500 | 18,750 |
| Southwest Asia | 12,500 | 18,750 |
| Europe/North America/Oceania | 40,000 | 60,000 |
| Middle East | 40,000 | 60,000 |
Table explanation: Seat upgrades cost 1,500 / 2,250 domestically, 10,000 / 15,000 for Japan/China/Northeast Asia, and 12,500 / 18,750 for both Southeast Asia/Guam and Southwest Asia. Europe/North America/Oceania and the Middle East are both 40,000 / 60,000. This means these are the extra miles deducted when moving an already-purchased economy ticket up to Prestige class.
[Asiana Airlines] Business Smartium Deduction Standards
| Region |
Off-peak |
Peak |
| Japan/China/Northeast Asia | 25,000 | 37,500 |
| Southeast Asia/Guam | 35,000 | 52,500 |
| Southwest Asia | 45,000 | 67,500 |
| Europe/North America/Oceania | 62,500 | 93,750 |
Table explanation: Business Smartium requires 25,000 / 37,500 for Japan/China/Northeast Asia, 35,000 / 52,500 for Southeast Asia/Guam, 45,000 / 67,500 for Southwest Asia, and 62,500 / 93,750 for Europe/North America/Oceania. This means these are the separate standards applied when using Asiana's higher-tier business product, Smartium.
[Asiana Airlines] Economy → Business Smartium Upgrade Deduction Standards
| Region |
Off-peak |
Peak |
| Japan/China/Northeast Asia | 12,500 | 18,750 |
| Southeast Asia/Guam | 17,500 | 26,250 |
| Southwest Asia | 20,000 | 30,000 |
| Europe/North America/Oceania | 40,000 | 60,000 |
Table explanation: Smartium upgrades require 12,500 / 18,750 for Japan/China/Northeast Asia, 17,500 / 26,250 for Southeast Asia/Guam, 20,000 / 30,000 for Southwest Asia, and 40,000 / 60,000 for Europe/North America/Oceania. This means these are the extra miles needed to upgrade from economy to Asiana Business Smartium.
Infant/child deduction standards: Children occupying a seat (domestic ages 2–12, international ages 2–11) and seat-occupying infants are charged 75% of the adult deduction. Infants not occupying a seat are charged 10% of the adult amount on international routes and travel free on domestic routes. Children traveling alone are charged the same miles as adults. This means a child who takes a seat costs 75% of an adult's miles, while an international lap infant costs only 10%.
[Key Terms Explained]
Off-peak / Peak: This refers to dividing periods into ordinary times with lower travel demand (off-peak) and busy times such as holidays and vacation seasons (peak), with more miles deducted during peak periods.
5. The SKYPASS Conversion Ratio Explained
You can convert to SKYPASS miles instantly at any time, and once you convert, the separate holding of Asiana Mileage ends and the conversion cannot be canceled. This means once you switch to SKYPASS, it is irreversible, so you should decide carefully.
The conversion ratio depends on how the miles were earned: flight miles convert at 1:1, and partner miles convert at 1:0.82. This means miles earned by flying transfer at full value, while miles earned through cards or partners are recognized at 82%.
The expiration date of converted miles stays the same as before, and conversion applies to your entire balance. This means you cannot convert only a portion, and after converting, the original expiration dates carry over unchanged.
[Key Terms Explained]
Flight miles / Partner miles: These terms distinguish miles earned by actually boarding a flight (flight miles) from miles earned through partners such as credit cards and hotels (partner miles).
6. Elite Tier Matching Explained
Upon integration, Asiana Airlines elite tiers are matched to comparable Korean Air elite tiers, and your existing elite membership period is retained. This means your Asiana tier is automatically converted to a similar Korean Air tier, and your remaining qualification period is not lost.
| Asiana Airlines Elite Tier |
Korean Air Elite Tier |
| Platinum | Million Miler Club |
| Diamond Plus | Morning Calm Premium Club |
| Diamond Plus (fixed-term) | Morning Calm Select Club |
| Diamond | To be newly established |
| Gold | Morning Calm Club |
Table explanation: Platinum matches to Million Miler Club, Diamond Plus to Morning Calm Premium Club, and Diamond Plus (fixed-term) to Morning Calm Select Club. Diamond is listed as a tier to be newly established, and Gold carries over to Morning Calm Club. This means higher Asiana tiers map to higher Korean Air tiers, and a separate new tier is being prepared for Diamond.
When matching tiers, the final tier is the higher of (i) the matching tier set by your Asiana tier and (ii) the tier you already hold as a Korean Air member. Also, converting to SKYPASS miles ends the separate holding of Asiana Mileage and re-evaluates your tier based on the combined records of both carriers. This means you are given whichever tier is more favorable, and once you convert, your tier is reassessed using both airlines' activity.
[Key Terms Explained]
Tier matching: This refers to recognizing a member's elite tier from one airline as an equivalent tier in a merged or partner airline.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Explained
Q1. When exactly does the integration begin?
The integrated mileage system applies from December 17, 2026. This means from this date both airlines' miles are managed within a single account.
Q2. Do Asiana miles disappear immediately upon integration?
No. They are operated separately for 10 years after integration, keeping their existing balance and expiration dates. This means you do not need to rush, as you can use Asiana miles for up to 10 years.
Q3. Can I use Asiana miles on Korean Air routes too?
Yes, they can be used for award tickets, seat upgrades, and Cash & Miles on all Korean Air routes, but not for SkyTeam or other partner airline awards. This means they work on Korean Air seats but not on other cooperating airlines' seats.
Q4. When I convert, do the miles transfer at full value?
Flight miles convert at 1:1 and partner miles at 1:0.82, and conversion cannot be canceled afterward. This means miles earned by flying transfer fully, while partner-earned miles transfer at only 82%.
Q5. What happens if I do not use my miles for 10 years?
When the 10-year separate operation period ends, remaining Asiana miles are automatically converted to SKYPASS miles at the set ratio. This means even if left untouched, they are not forfeited but automatically become Korean Air miles.
Q6. Can I combine both mile types to buy one ticket?
No. To use them together you must convert Asiana Mileage to SKYPASS, and conversion ends the separate holding. This means you have to merge them into one first before spending them together.
Note: Peak dates, taxes, fuel surcharges, and detailed policies may change over time, so please verify the latest details on Korean Air's official page (oneskypass.koreanair.com) before use. As some of the above was confirmed through search, please note it may change over time.
(The table and all content have been kept as in the original.)
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