Korean Air SKYPASS Visa Signature Business Card
- Annual Fee
- $99
- miles · Welcome Bonus
- 50,000
- Top Rate
- 2X
Terms checked against the issuer on October 10, 2026
At a Glance
- 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
Earning Rates
- 2X
Dining
2X miles at restaurants and food delivery
- 2X
Gas Stations
2X miles at gas stations
- 2X
Telecom
2X miles on cell phone services
- 2X
Office Supplies
2X miles on office supply purchases
- 2X
Korean Air
2X miles on Korean Air ticket purchases
- 1X
All Other
1X mile on all other business purchases
Benefits & Perks
Lounge Access
2 Korean Air Lounge vouchers each year
2 KAL Lounge coupons each year
Dining Out
2x at restaurants
Korean Air SKYPASS
≈$2.40 in value on a $100 dinner, at our valuation of 1.2¢ per point
Annual fee: $99
Explore 5,512 New York restaurants with this cardStack a dining program
Rakuten Dining
5% back at 20,618 participating restaurants, on top of this card's 2x, once you join and link this card.
+$5
cash back, or ≈$5.50 as points
More on a $100 dinner
Program & Transfers
Korean Air SKYPASS
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.
Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions
| Route / Property | Points | Cabin/Type | Value / Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| US/Canada to Hawaii in Economy on SkyTeam | 25,000 | economy | United States |
| 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 |
Reviews & Analysis
Pros and Cons
Pros
- +2X miles on Korean Air purchases plus dining, gas, telecom, and office supplies
- +50,000 bonus miles with $5,000 spend in 90 days
- +Visa Signature business benefits
- +No foreign transaction fee
- +2 KAL Lounge coupons annually
Cons
- -$99 annual fee (niche card, limited value outside Korean Air travel)
- -1X baseline is low for non-earning categories
- -Korean Air is regional/niche airline (limited reach)
- -Limited to business applicants
- -Requires sustained Korean Air loyalty to justify fee
Who It's Best For
Best For
- Business owners and companies with Korean Air travel needs
- Those frequently flying Korean Air or Star Alliance carriers
- Niche businesses with Asia-Pacific travel focus
- Companies seeking airline miles co-brand perks
Not Ideal For
- Businesses without Korean Air travel itineraries
- Those seeking premium business cards with broader benefits
- Companies preferring cash back over miles
- Small businesses unwilling to pay $99 annual fee
The Math: Is $99 Worth It?
First-year value includes $600 welcome bonus
Credit Utilization (60%)
Excludes earning value, lounge access, insurance, and elite status
Total Value Captured
$0
Annual Fee
-$99
Net Annual Value
-$99
Details & Terms
Payment Terms
| Purchase APR | 21.74%–28.74% (Variable) |
| Cash Advance APR | 30.74% (Variable) |
| Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 |
FAQs
Can I hold award tickets before transferring miles?
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.
Who can I book award tickets for?
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.
How long does family registration take?
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.
Can I book one-way awards?
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.
Are stopovers allowed?
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.
What are the carrier-imposed surcharges like?
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).
Can I transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards?
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).
How do I earn miles with Korean Air SKYPASS?
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.
Media & Resources
Card Design
Evidence Sources
| 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 | |
| Issuer Page | Issuer Page | |
| U.S. Bank Official | U.S. Bank Official | |
| U.S. Bank Official | U.S. Bank Official |
Top brands for this card
Brands where this card's earn-rate structure makes it a strong choice. Open a brand for the full ranked list.
