I just became "Morning Calm" on Korean Air and now my boarding pass says that I'm "SkyTeam Elite". I went to Korean Air's website, but didn't see any info there about being Morning Calm or SkyTeam Elite and what perks that will get me.

I'd appreciate any info or link you folks could pass along to a newbie "elite".

Thanks!

peace,
~Ben~

Do a google search for skyteam or click the little skyteam logo on member websites. The skyteam website should give you info on benefits across member carriers. The biggest benefit, for me at least, is access to elite check-in across carriers.

elite check-in and long-haul seat selection are Skyteam Elite's only benefits worth mentioning. Sometimes you might even get lucky and squeeze into a lounge if the attendant isn't too careful, but I didn't tell you that.

http://www.skyteam.com/EN/benefits/skyteam_elite.jsp

Does SkyTeam not give lounge access to first and business class pax regardless of FF status? If they do, why is lounge access for F & C pax listed as an Elite benefit?

Same thing with Elite Qualifying Miles across the alliance. Is that only available to Elite members?

My guess is that as a Skyteam Elite you can access ANY Skyteam lounge on the day of your flight so, if your airline has a tiny lounge or uses a sub-par contracted one, you can use others used by other Skyteam airlines.


AFAIK it's universally available. Mind you, KE's programme seems quite strange to me, and I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't give you EQM on other Skyteam flights before you become Elite with them!

SkyTeam Elite Plus, not SkyTeam Elite, status grants you access to lounges. So a SkyTeam Elite member must be traveling in F or C in order to get access to a SkyTeam lounge.

Right, but according to http://www.skyteam.com/EN/benefits/skyteam_lounges.jsp:

SkyTeam member airlines operate over 340 lounges worldwide.

� All First and Business Class passengers have access to these exclusive facilities.

So, it's not a SkyTeam Elite benefit but rather something that's available to everyone paying for F or C...

Yeah - Korean Air definitely has one of the most archaic frequent flyer programs there is. Other than on flights, there are virtually no opportunities to accrue (even the SkyPass credit card sucks) and nothing is ever clear on how it should work. Even buying tickets online can be a pain in the a$$. On the plus side, if you are an elite with them, their archaic, unclear way of doing things benefits you as they'll just disregard or bend rules willy-nilly in your favor sometimes. The fogginess of rules on a lot of things is mostly accidentally done on purpose, I think.

peace,
~Ben~

Yes, that's correct, there is no benefit with regard to lounge access for someone with SkyTeam Elite status. The same rules, F or C ticket requirement, apply to SkyTeam Elites which are applicable to everyone.

SkyTeam Elite Plus status, on the other hand, grants access to these lounges without regard to class of service flown so long as the flight is in conjunction with a same day international flight.

In addition, SkyTeam members have rules specific to their individual programs which permit their own elites access to member-operated lounges which are different from SkyTeam rules. For example, a DL PM can access DL CRCs on a purely U.S. domestic itinerary - access is granted based on comp membership in the CRC program and not SkyTeam Elite Plus status. I believe AF F+ Rouge members have access to AF lounges on purely domestic French itins based on Rouge status, not SkyTeam Elite Plus status.

I used to be able to access the CRC on US domestic flights flying with Delta, but recently not anymore. As an AM Platino now I can only access other SkyTeam lounges like the CRC when I have a same day international flight. That's pretty bad since I fly a lot of domestic routes with Delta too

There's nothing stopping you from purchasing a fully refundable int'l ticket for that date.

Can you elaborate more on the implementation of such a plan? Do I have to check in for the Intl flight + the domestic one?

Thanks

Well, KE sent me the Morning Calm SkyTeam Elite card in the mail - twice. Since my Dad (Seoulman, Sr.) has the same name but for a middle initial, I'm gonna put the extra one in a birthday card for him.. So at least we're gonna make the most of what little perks there are!

peace,
~Ben~

Well, I have to admit that it was not more than just a thought. I guess you can find some international flights departing very late in the evening (2200 or later). You show said ticket to lounge attendants. You clearly have a "same-day international ticket", and tell them you are planning to check in shortly before the flight (perhaps you've got to do some shopping and you want to put extra stuff into checked baggage). I can't see how they can possibly refuse entry!