Has Korean Gutted Awards?
Jun 10, 2022, 8:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 877
Has Korean Gutted Awards?
Korean used to have fantastic award availability for award tickets in premium cabin.
I a few hundred thousand miles saved up, but every route I search has either 0 award seats or just economy.
What’s going on?
I a few hundred thousand miles saved up, but every route I search has either 0 award seats or just economy.
What’s going on?
Jun 11, 2022, 1:58 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 340
It's been addressed in other threads, but yes, they are releasing less inventory than they have in the past--seems like only 2 J seats per flight. I just booked some flights in April 2023, and even that far out, the availability of 2 J seats on the same flight was spotty.
Jun 18, 2022, 5:08 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Chicago, USA
Programs: UA 1MM Gold AA Gold NW Silver Marriott Plat. SPG Plat. Hilton Gold Hertz 5 Star
Posts: 3,215
sorry I didn't see in the other threads, so they won't release more J award inventory closer to actual flight date?
meaning only way of getting J if not a year out is hoping someone will cancel?
thanks
meaning only way of getting J if not a year out is hoping someone will cancel?
thanks
Jun 18, 2022, 10:00 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
Correct. Grab it the day it's available or you'll never get it unless someone cancels.
Jun 28, 2022, 10:42 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Switzerland; South Korea
Posts: 346
Good news.
KE has started releasing « last minute » rewards again on some flights (not all).
A quick check with US flights such as JFK or ATL and you can see premium cabin rewards unlock for dates from tomorrow to a few weeks ahead. This includes Y, J and F (for JFK) rewards.
This is exactly as it used to be. Fixed number of rewards unlocking upon release and then rewards being released later on depending on demand.
KE has started releasing « last minute » rewards again on some flights (not all).
A quick check with US flights such as JFK or ATL and you can see premium cabin rewards unlock for dates from tomorrow to a few weeks ahead. This includes Y, J and F (for JFK) rewards.
This is exactly as it used to be. Fixed number of rewards unlocking upon release and then rewards being released later on depending on demand.
Jul 2, 2022, 11:43 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Is KE systematically blocking all Saudia First awards now? Even when Expert Flyer shows 5 seats in "A", no matter what, koreanair.com doesn't show any availability in Saudia F award inventory.
Jul 10, 2022, 1:59 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
Korean and all airlines are always this way. It's not about what Expert Flyer shows, but what Saudi and Korean agree to give each other. So, if it's not on the Korean Air website - call them and ask, but if they don't have it, that's that. No magic trick to get it otherwise from Korean.
Jul 13, 2022, 2:13 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Korean and all airlines are always this way. It's not about what Expert Flyer shows, but what Saudi and Korean agree to give each other. So, if it's not on the Korean Air website - call them and ask, but if they don't have it, that's that. No magic trick to get it otherwise from Korean.
Jul 14, 2022, 1:37 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
But if it's not there, it's not there, so it doesn't really matter whose fault that is.
Jul 14, 2022, 9:02 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: East Coast
Programs: AA CONCIERGE KEY & 1MM, HILTON DIAMOND
Posts: 11,970
Aug 4, 2022, 5:34 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,526
I haven't had a chance to go overseas for a couple years, and just now checked on my KE account and noticed this:
Award Ticket Redemption Table (for tickets issued on or after April 1, 2023)
Seems like they are going back to the Zone idea, which will increase the amount required by 50% or more for many of my potential flights.
Aug 11, 2022, 7:21 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
Oddly, I noticed for May 2023 - just was checking randomly - ICN ATL has FIRST CLASS space at 80k one way. Like TONS OF IT EVERYDAY. but no biz seats.
Aug 16, 2022, 5:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Switzerland; South Korea
Posts: 346
Likely due to the fact that KE has just announced resuming some F flights to Europe ans US from this October-November.
Aug 21, 2022, 12:32 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: SFO, JFK/LGA, SEA
Programs: Alaska 75K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, *A Gold w/ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 814
Just the ATL route it seems... too bad they also only flag that as a 777-300ER for now. Hopefully they get enough confidence to start scheduling the planes they actually want to fly (and put the 747-8i on) in the future!