Great Card If
- You are a Korean Air frequent flyer.
- You’ll get more value out of the card benefits than what you’ll pay for the annual fee.
Don’t Get If
- You rarely fly with Korean Air.
- You can’t justify the large annual fee.
SKYPASS Select Signature Card: Is It Worth It?
If you’re U.S.-based but frequently fly with Korean Air, it is worth considering adding the SKYPASS Select Signature card to your wallet.
Korean Air SKYPASS miles are among the hardest loyalty program miles to earn. The airline does not partner with any major transferable points programs in the U.S., such as American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards. Adding the SKYPASS Select Signature card to your wallet can help you earn miles significantly faster than you would otherwise.
Despite its high annual fee, the card offers several useful benefits, including 2 Korean Air 5% discount coupons annually, lounge passes to both Korean Air and Priority Pass lounges, annual bonus miles based on your spend, a $200 annual travel credit, and spending-based bonuses.
SKYPASS Select Signature Card Top Benefits and Perks
Here is a look at the top benefits and perks you can expect from the SKYPASS Select Signature card:
- 5% off Korean Air tickets twice annually: You’ll receive 2 5% discount coupons annually that can be applied to flights purchased for you and a companion. For instance, a $2,000 purchase in which you apply 1 of your 5% coupons would net you a $100 savings.
- $200 annual travel credit: Receive a $200 credit annually that applies to airlines, hotels, or car rental purchases made with your card.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Get your application fee reimbursed when you submit an application for one of these expedited security screening programs. We recommend you opt for Global Entry, as it includes TSA PreCheck.
- 2 Korean Air Lounge vouchers annually: Receive 2 complimentary visits to Korean Air Lounges each year with your card. While there are only 3 Korean Air Lounges in the U.S., there are many others worldwide, including many in South Korea.
- 4 Priority Pass visits annually: You’ll also receive 4 complimentary visits to Priority Pass lounges annually, which offer more than 1,600 locations worldwide.
- No foreign transaction fees: Use your card during international travel to continue earning miles without additional fees.
- Bonus miles with annual spend: Each year, you can earn 5,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 on your card annually and 10,000 bonus miles after spending $35,000 on your card annually.
- Travel protections: Receive travel protections that offer coverage for trip delays, trip cancellation, trip reimbursement, and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
Best Ways To Earn and Redeem Your SKYPASS Miles
SKYPASS miles are notoriously difficult to earn because the program isn’t part of any major transfer partner program.
Adding the SKYPASS Select Signature card can help you earn SKYPASS miles much faster than if you were relying purely on flight earnings, thanks to its 3x miles on Korean Air purchases, 2x miles on other airlines, hotels, car rentals, and dining, plus 1x miles on all other purchases.
There are multiple ways to redeem SKYPASS miles, including for travel with Korean Air and its SkyTeam partners, such as flights between the U.S. and South Korea for 35,000 to 52,500 miles in economy, 62,500 to 92,500 miles in business class, and 80,000 to 120,000 miles in first class.
Alternative Cards to the SKYPASS Select Signature Card
SKYPASS Visa Signature® Card
The SKYPASS Signature card is a good option if you fly with Korean Air relatively often and want to earn more miles on your daily purchases, but can’t justify the annual fee of the SKYPASS Select Signature card.
It earns 2x miles on Korean Air purchases, hotels, and dining, and 1x miles on all other purchases. Plus, it still offers solid perks like a 5% discount coupon, 2 Korean Air Lounge vouchers annually, and no foreign transaction fees, all for a reasonable $99 annual fee.
SKYPASS SkyBlue Visa® Card
Those who want a card that helps them earn SKYPASS miles but do not want to pay an annual fee at all should opt for the SKYPASS SkyBlue card. It earns 2x miles on streaming and rideshare services and 1x miles on all other purchases.
It doesn’t offer many benefits, but it does let you earn SKYPASS miles on your daily purchases without worrying about an annual credit card fee.
