Korean Air Reveals More Details of New SkyPass FFP

Korean Air is currently in the process of renewing its SkyPass frequent flyer program.

Amongst the many changes, the new program will allow customers to purchase flight tickets using a combination of mileage and cash/card. The cash and miles payment option for flight tickets is expected to be introduced in a trial period from November 2020.

From April 2021, "more reasonable" mileage accrual and redemption rates based on airfare and flight distance will be implemented, and from February 2022 SkyPass will have with four membership levels.

Taking global standards and airfare levels into consideration, passengers taking first or prestige classes will be able to enjoy increased accrual rates of up to 300% and 200%, respectively. Economy class ticket accrual rates will be reorganized into four categories based on booking class.

The new mileage redemption rates for award tickets will be based on zones categorized by flight distance, allowing mileage to be redeemed in proportion to the distance flown. The new system will replace the current classification by region. In particular, the significant markdown of mileage redemption on short-distance routes will allow users to use economy class awards for one-way tickets to Qingdao and Taipei with only 20,000 and 25,000 miles respectively, compared to the previous 30,000 miles.

When using economy class award tickets for Korean Air's 125 international flight routes, 64 routes will require less mileage, 49 routes more mileage and 12 routes the same amount. There will also be no change to economy class award tickets for Korean domestic flights.

Finally, elite member qualifications will be significantly lowered. Members will need to earn either 10,000 miles or take 10 flights in the previous year to qualify for an elite status. The existing three elite tiers will be replaced by four new tiers: silver, gold, platinum and diamond. The new elite program will provide greater benefits such as an additional 20% to 80% of elite miles when boarding a Korean Air flight, upgrade vouchers and an invitation of one family member to a silver member.

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