Korean Air's loyalty program, SKYPASS, is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and offers valuable redemption opportunities, particularly for premium cabin travel. Its mileage expiration policy is based on a long 'hard expiry' period.

Korean Air SKYPASS Miles Expiration Policy

Korean Air SKYPASS miles have a fixed expiration date. Miles earned are valid for 10 years from the date they were earned (or more precisely, until December 31st of the 10th year following the earning date for miles earned before July 1, 2008, and 10 years from the boarding date/earning date for miles earned after that).

For simplicity, consider it a 10-year validity period from when the miles land in your account.

Like other hard expiry programs, account activity does NOT extend the validity of SKYPASS miles. Earning or redeeming miles does not reset the 10-year clock on miles you've already accumulated. Each mile or batch of miles has its own decade-long lifespan.

This generous timeframe allows ample opportunity for redemption, but tracking is still necessary for very long-term balances.

Keeping Track and Using Miles

Since activity doesn't prevent expiration, the only way to avoid losing SKYPASS miles is to redeem them before their specific 10-year expiration date.

  • Monitor your SKYPASS account. It should provide details on mileage validity and upcoming expirations.
  • Plan your redemptions, such as award flights on Korean Air or SkyTeam partners, ensuring you use miles before they reach their 10-year limit.

Official Policy

For the most accurate and official details, always consult the Korean Air SKYPASS program information:

Korean Air's 10-year hard expiry provides significant flexibility, but remember that activity won't save your miles – redemption before the deadline is key.

Disclaimer: Program terms and conditions can change. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Verify details directly with Korean Air.