Redeeming SkyMiles on Korean Airlines
 

I'm thinking about using my DL miles to fly business class on the new A380 LAX-ICN on KE and was wondering what website (flying blue, delta.com) would show online availability for Korean Airlines so when I call DL to book I'll be sure those flights have space?

I tried Delta.com since I know it lists AF/KL flights using miles but it doesn't show any KE services. Is that right?

You won't get it on DL.com that's for sure. Not sure about other services. Watch out for blackout dates, there are many and DLis more restrictive about KE blackout dates than KE is with its own customers.

Very difficult to do this and even calling DL is hit a miss. Some agents are more clued in than others.

I had no problem getting it. Wasn't even know about the KE A380, and was pleased to find that I had seats on it.

Just watch the blackout periods, and it's not that hard to get, in my experience.

You need to call DL. KE website shows availability using KE miles. It can be a reference but not always correct for using DL miles.

Like what people have already said, booking KE on DL is really hit or miss. I got lucky and the first agent I talked to found the availability that I saw for Feb 2012 on LAX-ICN.

Like always with Delta, try and try again and you'll eventually get a capable agent.

In a chat with a Delta CSA they noted that KE was on par with AF in terms of getting awards. Neither were great. Also one issue was that often on would get an award but then two week later is was canceled because it was a black out period.

Where are the blackout periods listed?

Check www.koreanair.com. The peak season for KE members are blacked out for DL members. KE members pay 50% surcharge during peak season, no such option for DL members.:(

Lots of threads here in the DL forum on this, search is your friend.

Be VERY clear with the agent that you intend on flying Korean Air- if possible, quote the flight numbers that you want him/her to look up availability for. Often agents will quote you 360K miles, then tell you that's DL metal.

Often? How many times have you had this experience directly?

I've had that experience just last night. Maybe 10 percent overall.

check the blackout dates and then use EF to look up availability. Call DL and tell the agent dates and flight numbers. DL inventory is more restrictive than KE so you can get a head start on what to look at. Hang up and call back if the DL agent is incompetent.

I've redeemed Skymiles twice for flights on Korean Air to New Zealand. I never had a problem, but made it a practice to call Korean first to find out availability before talking to Delta. I found it easier to have the information to simply give to the Delta agent rather than them trying to piece my itinerary together. Enjoy the trip as Korean offers a wonderful product.

We have twice used skymiles on KAL to southeast asia destinations in Prestige. Both times availability was not a significant question. You need to look early on with some flexibility and you can find flights... recently it seems to be less difficult to get 2 tkts at the same time due to 380 lax-icn flights than was previously the issue with other Korean aircraft types.

But Delta reservations does seem to be able to find those flights. If you get someone who doesn't seem to know what they are talking about, just hang up and try again. I think making reservations on KAL, as early as you can, before the dates you want, is important... and if seats are available it is not with inflated miles like you find with many flights (at least that's been my experience). ICN by the way is a great airport and relatively easy to manuever and make connections throughout asia and perhaps other destinations like Aus, etc.

Interestly the biggest problem has been the connection from SLC to LAX at the basic 1st class rate (had to fly coach to keep the skymiles at minimun).
We are flying on the 380 in February returning in March. 380 was scheduled to only fly 3 times a week, but I think that's been changed to daily for now. You might want to click on KAL forum to get other flyers experience with their 380 with a couple of great photo/video accounts as well.

EF doesn't have KE award availability, just upgrade inventory.

Will DL silver get an upgrade in KE?
 

Hi all,
I may have a good shot of being a silver member with DL skymiles this year with 1 more flight to go, but I'm contemplating if getting silver is worth my money, since I fly KE more than DL metal most of the time.

Does anyone know that as silver member, will the upgrade benefits at DL also apply to sky team members such as KE?

For example, if I buy a Y, does that qualify me a biz class upgrade just like in DL flights? And what are the chances if I'm on deeply discounted prices such as Q, can I have a slight expectation to be upgraded at the gate?

I've seen some people got upgraded as the gate during my FUK-ICN flight recently, but just not sure whether they were it's own skypass members or what...
Need your expert comments here. Thanks!

Delta does not upgrade (for free) any class of International ticket. Y/B/M is eligible to use mules/SWUs but that is it.

If the person buys a full Y fare, DL miles can be used to obtain a SkyTeam upgrade, confirmable in advance. How KE treats DL elites with respect to OPUPs is anyone's guess, but I would imagine that OPUPs are not very frequent on KE.

I took the info about the "upgrades at the gate" to mean ala UDU.

Yes, but using SWU or miles on YBM fares can only be done on DL, AF, or KL metal. No other UG options exist on any partner unless original ticket is in J.

This has happened to me at least 5 times.

I call a lot to get KE availability becuase DL's flight times from SE Asia are horrible. Not to mention 3x as many miles needed...

This is a common occurrence.

Not truth.
You can upgrade with miles full fare economy ticket on almost all SkyTeam carriers, including KE: http://www.skyteam.com/en/Why-SkyTea...-Redeem-Miles/

No argument, but alas from my limited checks a Y fare on KE makes a DL M look like a bargain.

Truth. I called 4 times and was quoted 360,000 miles 4 times. Then I finally got the CSA to get me KE availability and it was about a third as many miles as it was on DL. This is JFK-ICN-SE Asia-ICN-JFK

Wow, didn't know that. Thanks. Not sure if it is useful though as full Y is expensive, for sure swu's nay on DL, KL, or AF though.

I've seen some not too bad KE fares that book into the Y bucket on Europe-Southwest Pacific, but I'm not sure exacly what "full Y" means, since they publish more than one Y fare.

The Star Alliance has a similar alliance-side upgrade program, but the fare requirement is also full-fare or near-full-fare.

Generally, alliance-wide upgrade programs are not aimed at individual price-conscious travelers such as ourselves. It is aimed at corporate travelers whose travels are paid by company, but for whatever reason could not buy business fare.

For reasonable upgrade deals on any particular airline, you almost always have to use that carrier's own miles, and not mileage from another programs.

Here's a general question for Korean redemption.

I'd like to do LAX-ICN-AKL-SYD-ICN-LAX. Is this possible using KE on everything except AKL-SYD? (Thinking VA for the AKL-SYD route)

I had a similar experience when I booked my tickets a few months ago. We're flying JFK-ICN-BKK-ICN-JFK next month and on Delta metal it was starting at 175,000 each for economy (going through NRT). Instead I had them price out KE flights and we got them for 240,000 total for two in Prestige. Now thats a good way to use your miles...

A couple months back, the VA rep here indicated to me via PM that at the moment, you need a VA or DL long-haul sector to get the short-haul (domestic and trans-Tasman) VA/DJ flights on your award. It might work if you did LAX-ICN-AKL on KE and then AKL-SYD-LAX on VA/DJ. Should cut the YQ down by at least half, too.