Korean Air Skypass - Rate Korean Air SKYPASS

InsideFlyer magazine is reviewing Korean Air SKYPASS in our September issue and would like your input.

If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in SKYPASS and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.

You can respond directly to the editors at InsideFlyer at lynda@insideflyer.com if you would prefer.

We look at earning ability, award choices, partnerships, elite-level program, rules & conditions, customer service, online service and the general pluses and minuses of being a member. You can rate any or all of these categories.

Thank you. You can see the completed review at InsideFlyer.com in September.

Morning Calm member (SkyTeam Elite) for 4 years, based in HKG.
Earning ability: average on KE, but very limited on partner airlines, unless you fly full fare economy or C class. The earning chart for the around 20 partners (SkyTeam and others) shows more "no accrual" than eligible fare classes, which limits earning capability for economy class flyers quite seriously. For those living in Asia, they have a lot of Chinese airlines as partners. Earning ability with non-airline partners are limited (car-rental and hotel only) particularly if you don't live in Korea. As entry level elite member, you get 4 times lounge access on KE flights and KE lounges, and elite class check-in. So the program seems to be rather unattractive to most outside Korea; a feature I like is that Morning Calm status is valid for 2 years, which makes it attractive for not so frequent flyers. Award choices are standard, C class Korea to US starts from 105K miles, there are peak and off peak, quite good online award redemption feature. Overall, SKYPASS is probably only useful if you live in Korea or the US, but US SkyTeam airlines are generally more generous and have more earning options. It would be great if the KE marketing team could make the program more attractive for international travelers.