What the Skypass Card Offers

The Skypass card is a co-branded credit card issued in partnership with Asiana Airlines. It earns miles on purchases you make with the card, and those miles can be redeemed for Asiana flights, seat upgrades, and other travel benefits. The card is designed for people who fly Asiana regularly or want to accumulate miles toward future trips on that airline.

The card typically earns a higher rate of miles on Asiana purchases — such as tickets and seat upgrades bought directly from the airline — and a lower rate on other everyday spending like groceries, gas, and dining. You may also receive a sign-up bonus of miles after you meet a minimum spending threshold in the first few months of card ownership.

Like most airline cards, the Skypass card charges an annual fee. That fee is usually waived for the first year, then charged each year after. Some versions of the card offer a statement credit or other benefit that offsets part of the annual cost.

Key Takeaways

  • The Skypass card earns miles at different rates depending on what you buy — typically higher on Asiana purchases and lower on everyday spending.
  • A sign-up bonus gives you a lump sum of miles if you spend a set amount within the first few months, which can cover a short flight or partial ticket.
  • The card charges an annual fee after the first year, so you should calculate whether the miles you earn and any perks offset that cost.
  • Miles can be redeemed for Asiana flights, seat upgrades, and partner airline tickets, though availability and pricing vary by route and season.
  • The card's value depends on how often you fly Asiana and whether you can use the miles before they expire or lose value.

How Miles Earning Works on This Card

When you use the Skypass card to buy an Asiana ticket directly from the airline, you earn miles at the highest rate — often 3 to 5 miles per dollar spent, depending on the card version and current promotions. When you use the card for other purchases — restaurants, retail, utilities, travel booked through other airlines — you earn a lower rate, typically 1 mile per dollar or less.

Some card versions offer bonus miles in specific categories, such as 2 miles per dollar on dining or 1.5 miles per dollar on gas. These bonuses are usually capped at a certain number of miles per year, so once you hit that cap, you earn the base rate for the rest of the year.

The sign-up bonus is separate from ongoing earning. After you open the card and spend the required amount — often $1,000 to $3,000 — within a set timeframe, usually three months, you receive a one-time bonus of miles. This bonus can be substantial enough to cover a short domestic flight or a portion of a longer ticket.

Annual Fees and Card Benefits

The Skypass card charges an annual fee, typically $95 to $150, though this varies by card version and may change over time. The first year is usually waived, so you do not pay a fee when you first open the account.

To offset the annual fee, the card often includes benefits such as a statement credit toward Asiana purchases (commonly $100 per year), priority boarding on Asiana flights, free checked bags, or lounge access. Some versions offer a credit that covers part or all of the annual fee if you use it for Asiana spending. You should review the current card terms to see which benefits explore to the specific version you are considering.

The value of the card depends on whether you use these benefits and how much you spend on Asiana. If you fly Asiana several times a year and use the priority boarding and checked bag benefits, the card may pay for itself. If you rarely fly Asiana, the annual fee may outweigh the miles you earn.

How to Redeem Skypass Miles

Miles can be redeemed through the Asiana website or by calling Asiana customer service. The most common redemption is an Asiana flight ticket, where the number of miles required depends on the route, cabin class (economy or business), and how far in advance you book. A short domestic flight might cost 15,000 to 25,000 miles, while a long international flight could cost 60,000 to 100,000 miles or more.

You can also use miles to upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin class, book a seat on a partner airline (Asiana has partnerships with other carriers), or purchase additional baggage allowance or seat selection. Some redemptions offer better value than others — for example, upgrading a ticket you already own may cost fewer miles per dollar of value than booking a new ticket outright.

Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity with Asiana at least once every three years. Account activity includes earning or redeeming miles, so regular card use or occasional flights will keep your miles active. If your account goes inactive for three years, your miles may be forfeited.

Comparing Skypass to Other Airline Cards

The Skypass card competes with airline cards from other carriers, such as United, Delta, and American Airlines cards, as well as general travel cards that earn points redeemable with multiple airlines. The main difference is that Skypass miles can only be used on Asiana and its partner airlines, whereas a general travel card gives you more flexibility to book any airline.

If you fly Asiana frequently, the Skypass card's higher earning rate on Asiana purchases and airline-specific perks like priority boarding may make it worthwhile. If you fly multiple airlines or do not have a strong preference, a general travel card or a card from a different airline might offer better value.

Some people hold multiple airline cards — one for each airline they fly regularly — to maximize earning and benefits on each. Others prefer a single general travel card to avoid managing multiple annual fees and loyalty programs. Your choice depends on your travel patterns and how much you value Asiana-specific perks.

Who Should Consider This Card

The Skypass card makes the most sense for people who fly Asiana at least a few times per year or who live in or frequently travel to cities where Asiana has strong service, such as Seoul. If you earn a high annual spending on Asiana tickets and can use the card's perks like priority boarding and checked bags, the annual fee is easier to justify.

The card is less valuable if you fly Asiana rarely, prefer to book through third-party travel sites, or do not have a clear plan for redeeming miles. Unused miles that expire or miles that sit in your account for years without redemption represent lost value.

Before opening the card, consider how many Asiana flights you plan to take in the next year and whether the sign-up bonus and annual benefits align with your travel plans. If you are unsure whether you will use the card enough to offset the annual fee, you may want to wait until you have a confirmed trip booked.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Skypass miles to another airline or use them with non-Asiana carriers?

Skypass miles can be redeemed on partner airlines, but you cannot transfer miles to another airline's program. Partner airlines vary and may include carriers in Star Alliance and other networks. Check the Asiana website for the current list of partners and their redemption rates.

What happens to my miles if I close the card?

Closing the card does not automatically cancel your Skypass account or expire your miles. Your miles remain in your Asiana account as long as you have account activity at least once every three years. You can continue to redeem miles even after the card is closed, but you will no longer earn miles from card spending.

How long does it take to earn enough miles for a free flight?

This depends on how much you spend and the earning rate. If you spend $5,000 per year on the card at an average rate of 1.5 miles per dollar, you earn 7,500 miles annually. A short domestic Asiana flight might cost 15,000 to 25,000 miles, so you would need one to three years of spending to cover it. The sign-up bonus can accelerate this timeline significantly.

Is the annual fee waived if I do not use the card?

The annual fee is typically waived only in the first year. After that, the fee is charged each year regardless of whether you use the card. Some card issuers allow you to downgrade to a no-fee version of the card to avoid the annual charge, though you would lose airline-specific perks.

Can I earn miles on credit card payments or balance transfers?

No. Miles are earned only on purchases of goods and services. Payments on the card balance, balance transfers, and cash advances do not earn miles and typically carry higher interest rates or fees.