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Annual Fee
$99
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
Network
Visa Signature
Rewards Currency
Korean Air SKYPASS
Point Valuation
1.2–1.2 cpp (mid: 1.2)
Credit Required
Good to Excellent
Welcome Offer
50,000
miles
Spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
Benefits & Perks
Program & Transfers
Fly farther with every trip.
Korean Air SKYPASS is a SkyTeam airline loyalty program offering exceptional value for award travel, particularly to Hawaii, Mexico, and transpacific routes. Operating since the 1960s, Korean Air now serves 120 destinations across 43 countries with 159 aircraft. The program features generous hold policies (6+ months for Korean-operated flights), family pooling for up to 5 members, and access to both SkyTeam partners and non-alliance airlines like Alaska, Emirates, and Etihad. While earning miles can be challenging (Marriott Bonvoy is the only transferable points partner after Chase dropped the partnership in 2018), redemption rates are highly competitive with standout sweet spots like 25,000 miles round-trip to Hawaii in economy or 45,000 in first class.
| Route / Property | Points | Book With | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US/Canada to Hawaii in Economy on SkyTeam | 25,000 | — | economy | united_states |
Reviews & Analysis
Details & Terms
| Purchase APR | 16.24%–24.24% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | —% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
Yes, Korean Air has an incredibly generous hold policy. For Korean-operated flights, you can hold awards for months (6+ months reported) with zero miles in your account. For partner airline flights, holds are typically 5 days.
Awards can only be booked for immediate family members (spouse, children, parents, siblings, parents-in-law, sons/daughters-in-law, grandparents, grandchildren). You must register family members through the SkyPass Family Plan with documentation proving relationship.
Media & Resources
| Source | Verified | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Usbank Official | — | Usbank Official |
| Korean Air Official | — | Korean Air Official |
| RewardsCC API | — | RewardsCC API |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page: Welcome offer | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
Combined Protection Value
$13,850
Get an additional year of warranty protection on eligible electronics and appliances with original warranties of 3 years or less.
Get coverage for collision damage, theft, and loss-of-use when renting a car. Coverage type (primary vs secondary) varies by issuer.
Access 24/7 multilingual travel assistance including medical referrals, legal help, emergency cash, and lost luggage support.
Get reimbursement up to $10,000 per claim for items stolen or damaged by accident within 90 days of purchase.
Get reimbursed up to $3,000 per person per trip for lost, stolen, or damaged luggage when traveling with your card.
Reimbursement up to $300 for meals and lodging after 12+ hour delay. Signature requires 12 hours vs Infinite's 6 hours.
| US/Canada to Hawaii in First on SkyTeam |
| 45,000 |
| — |
| first |
| united_states |
| US to Hawaii in Economy on Alaska/Hawaiian | 30,000 | — | economy | united_states |
| US to Hawaii in First on Alaska/Hawaiian | 60,000 | — | first | united_states |
| US to Europe in Business on SkyTeam | 80,000 | — | business | europe |
| UAE to Europe in First on Etihad | 120,000 | — | first | europe |
| US to Europe in Business on Emirates | 125,000 | — | business | europe |
| US to Central America in Economy on Alaska | 30,000 | — | economy | central_america |
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$99
Net Annual Value
-$99
Family registration through the online form takes 1-2 weeks to process. You'll need to upload scans of relationship documents (marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc.) that show birthdates.
No, all SkyTeam and non-alliance partner awards must be booked as round-trip itineraries. Only Korean Air-operated flights can be booked one-way.
Yes, for SkyTeam awards booked online you can add 1 stopover and 1 surface transfer (open jaw) at no additional cost. Up to 2 connections allowed on each leg.
SkyTeam partner awards, especially to/from Europe, can have significant carrier-imposed surcharges (~$500 for transatlantic). However, some routes and partners outside Europe have lower fees (couple hundred dollars).
No, Korean Air was dropped as a Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partner in August 2018. The only transferable points partner is now Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 ratio with 5,000 bonus per 60,000 transferred).
You can earn by flying Korean Air or partner airlines (earning based on distance and fare class), using Korean Air co-branded credit cards from US Bank, transferring Marriott Bonvoy points (3:1), or through partner hotels and car rental companies.
| Issuer Page |
| Issuer Page |
Get reimbursed up to $300 for essential purchases like clothing and toiletries when checked baggage is delayed 4+ hours.
Get reimbursement up to $250 per item when a merchant won't accept returns within 90 days of purchase (Signature tier).
24/7 roadside assistance including jump-start, lockout, towing, and fuel delivery. Services charged as flat fee per call.
Merchants this card gives you a statement credit or membership at. Unlike the brands above, this isn't about earn rate — it's money the card hands back when you spend there.
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
