[Q&A] Asiana to Korean Air Mileage Conversion Guide Begins Today... Applications Accepted from December 17

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With the Korea Fair Trade Commission approving the final plan for the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines mileage programs, there is growing attention from consumers regarding how this will be practically implemented. We have organized the key questions most frequently asked by consumers in a Q&A format, covering topics such as the mileage conversion process, expiration periods, and maintaining elite status.

Korean Air and Asiana Airlines aircraft are parked at Gimpo Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

When will the unified mileage program actually be implemented?

The approval for integration does not mean the mileage policy will change immediately. Following necessary procedures such as amendments to airline terms and conditions, the program will be fully launched on December 17, 2026, when the two airlines legally become a single entity. Until the date of integration, the existing independent mileage policies of each airline will remain unchanged.

Do I need to submit a separate request to keep my Asiana mileage?

Asiana Airlines mileage has been designed to be managed separately for ten years from the date of merger, which means that unless you specifically request otherwise, your mileage will automatically be maintained according to the existing Asiana policies. Only consumers who want to combine their Asiana mileage with their Korean Air mileage must submit a separate application for conversion.

What is the reason for setting the independent management period at ten years?

Under domestic airline terms and conditions, the statute of limitations for mileage expiry is typically set at ten years. To ensure that Asiana mileage accrued right before the merger can be fully used until its expiration, ten years was chosen as the management period.

How do I apply for mileage conversion? Is partial conversion allowed?

You can apply for mileage conversion at any time after the merger date, and your request will be processed within five business days. However, partial conversions—selecting and converting only a portion of your mileage—are strictly prohibited; all mileage must be converted in full. This is because converting only some of the mileage at different times would cause significant disruption to the elite membership status system, which needs to be recalculated at the point of conversion. Starting from the afternoon of the 15th, Korean Air and Asiana will launch a “Mileage Conversion Guide site” accessible via their websites, and individual email notifications will also be sent to consumers.

How are conversion ratios calculated for flight and partner miles?

Miles earned through actual flight segments will transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Korean Air mileage. However, partner miles accumulated through credit card use, hotels, car rentals, or other partner services will convert at a rate of 0.82 Asiana miles to 1 Korean Air mile. For example, if you have 10,000 Asiana partner miles from credit card spending, they will convert to 8,200 Korean Air miles.

Does the mileage validity period change depending on conversion?

The legal status of the mileage already held by consumers will remain unchanged. “Lifetime mileage” can continue to be used as Asiana mileage for ten years and then, whether converted immediately or after the ten-year period, will retain its status as lifetime mileage with no expiration. In contrast, standard mileage subject to a ten-year expiration term will not have its expiration extended even after conversion. For example, miles accrued in 2025 will expire on December 31, 2035, regardless of whether they are converted or not.

How will Asiana elite members be treated by Korean Air?

The five elite tiers of Asiana will be automatically matched to the corresponding Korean Air elite levels. After applying for mileage conversion, the combined flight history from both airlines will be reviewed; if the combined record qualifies for a higher tier, the member will be upgraded immediately. Importantly, even if the combined record is lower than the initial automatically matched tier, the previously awarded status will not be downgraded. Furthermore, members who satisfy the requirements for 24-month fixed-term elite status before the merger date will have their status extended by an additional 24 months after their qualification period expires post-merger.

How will access to Star Alliance partner airlines change?

After the integration date, using Star Alliance partner airlines with Asiana mileage will not be possible in principle. However, depending on the policies of each airline, tickets issued before the merger date may still be valid for travel after the merger, so it is important to check the respective airline’s notifications. Instead, after the integration, members will gain access to SkyTeam airline partners and Korean Air-only routes.

Is it better for consumers to convert their Asiana mileage or keep it?

This depends entirely on the nature of your existing mileage. If most of your Asiana mileage is from actual flight segments and you already have Korean Air mileage accumulated, converting may be beneficial as it could result in a higher membership tier. However, for consumers whose mileage is mostly from credit card or partner accrual, it may be more advantageous to spend down Asiana mileage over ten years under the original terms, as the 0.82 conversion factor will apply. Regardless of whether you keep your Asiana mileage or convert it to Korean Air mileage, you can redeem awards, upgrade seats, make mixed payments, and shop across all Korean Air routes without discrimination. Korean Air plans to offer a simulation system that will compare mileages and estimate potential elite status upon conversion, helping consumers make an informed decision.

What measures will be taken if an airline fails to fulfill its commitments?

The Fair Trade Commission has made it clear that the approved integration plan is a legal obligation stemming from merger remedies. If Korean Air fails to meet required ratios for award seat allocation on popular routes or fails to achieve the annual total mileage redemption target, this will be regarded as a violation subject to substantial compulsory fines. The commission intends to regularly audit compliance through a dedicated oversight committee.

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