# Korean Air May Continue Asiana’s Frequent Flier Program Past Merger Amid Regulatory Delays

_Jul 15 10:20_

Tags: Alaska Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana Mileage Plan, Morning Calm, SkyTeam, Star Alliance, South Korea, US, loyalty program

Asiana Mileage Plan members are losing Star Alliance earning and redemption benefits as the airline exits the alliance in December 2026, with full program integration into Korean Air delayed by antitrust regulators

## Summary

Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana Airlines is facing continued regulatory scrutiny from South Korea's antitrust authority (FTC) regarding the integration of Asiana's frequent flier program, Asiana Mileage Plan, into Korean Air's Morning Calm program. Key impacts for frequent fliers:
- **Star Alliance Exit:** Asiana is confirmed to exit Star Alliance on December 16, 2026. Miles earning in Star Alliance ends on October 15, 2026.
- **Benefit Degradation:** Asiana members can no longer use miles on Star Alliance airlines. Since Korean Air is in SkyTeam (often considered inferior to Star for certain routes/alliances), members are effectively worse off despite regulatory protections.
- **Regulatory Conditions:** The Korean FTC has rejected previous integration plans. Korean Air agreed to a 1:1 transfer ratio for miles earned from flights, but other sources convert at 1:0.82. They also agreed not to reduce benefits below 2019 levels, facing a $620K daily penalty for violations.
- **Timeline:** The Asiana brand will disappear and fully merge into Korean Air on December 17, 2026, pending final regulatory sign-off. This represents a significant program change for Asiana members, altering their alliance utility and redemption options ahead of the complete merger

## Why it matters

Affects 3 airline programs (Alaska Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Korean Air).

## Sources cited

- [LoyaltyLobby](https://loyaltylobby.com/2026/07/15/korean-air-may-have-to-continue-operating-asianas-frequent-flier-program-past-merger-star-alliance-exit?omhide=true) — Korean Air May Have To Continue Operating Asiana’s Frequent Flier Program Past Merger & Star Alliance Exit

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