Following the merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, Asiana's mileage will remain usable separately for 10 years. When converted to Korean Air mileage, the flight accrual will be at a 1:1 ratio, while partner accruals from credit cards and other sources will be at a 1:0.82 ratio.
Opportunities for bonus seat availability on routes to North America, Europe, and Oceania, which have previously been difficult to secure, will be expanded.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced on the 15th that it had finalized its approval of the mileage integration plan submitted by Korean Air on the 14th. The integration plan will take effect from the date of the merger, which is scheduled for December 17.
Initially, during the review of the integration plan, the KFTC requested enhancements to expand mileage usage opportunities last December. They determined that Korean Air's incentive to provide sufficient mileage redemption options could diminish post-merger. After approximately nine months of discussions, including seven face-to-face meetings and four requests for revisions, the final proposal submitted by Korean Air on September 1 was approved.
According to the integration plan, Asiana's mileage will be managed separately from Korean Air's for 10 years starting from the merger date. Consumers who do not wish to convert their mileage will automatically retain the existing deduction standards and validity periods of Asiana's mileage. After the merger, it can be used for bonus tickets, seat upgrades, mixed payments, and shopping on Korean Air routes.
This means that the separate management period is 10 years. For example, mileage accrued in 2025 that is set to expire at the end of 2035 will maintain its validity period regardless of conversion. The effectiveness of permanent mileage, which has no expiration date, will also be preserved.
If consumers wish to convert their mileage, they can apply at any time during the separate management period, but they must convert all of their Asiana mileage. After 10 years, any remaining mileage will be automatically converted at a specified rate. For instance, if a consumer holds 50,000 Asiana flight miles and 50,000 partner miles, the total after conversion to Korean Air mileage will be 91,000 miles. The actual decision to convert should consider not only the mileage amount but also the redemption standards and member benefits for the desired routes and seats.
Korean Air will also manage actual flight performance through bonus tickets and seat upgrades. Over the next 10 years, the combined performance of both airlines must exceed their 2024 totals. Specifically, for routes to North America, Europe, and Oceania, the standards have been raised to maintain levels above those achieved in 2023, which was the highest in the past decade.
If necessary, Korean Air will increase supply by deploying special mileage flights during peak seasons and popular routes. To prevent the practice of only increasing seats during off-peak seasons, the status of bonus seat supply during peak seasons will be reported annually to the implementation oversight committee.
A new annual mileage usage total standard has also been established. Based on the combined usage in 2025, the target for 2027-2028 is set at 106%, 112% for 2029, and 121% for 2030-2036.
The minimum usage for mixed payments, which combine cash, cards, and mileage, will be reduced from 500 miles to 100 miles, while the maximum limit will increase from 30% to 40% of the fare. The number of non-air products available for purchase with less than 2,000 miles will also double.
Asiana's elite members will be granted corresponding status in Korean Air. If they met the conditions for maintaining their elite status before the merger, they will retain that status for 24 months from the original expiration date.
The KFTC plans to continuously monitor compliance with the approval conditions, including bonus seat performance and mileage usage, through the implementation oversight committee. Jeon Seong-bok, head of the KFTC's Corporate Transaction Review Division, stated, "Asiana mileage holders will receive the same deduction standards and validity periods during the separate management period of 10 years, ensuring they can use their mileage on the expanded routes of both airlines without losing value."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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