I receive compensation for content and many links on this blog. Citibank is an advertising partner of this site, as is American Express, Chase, Barclays and Capital One. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by my advertising partners. I do not write about all credit cards that are available -- instead focusing on miles, points, and cash back (and currencies that can be converted into the same). Terms apply to the offers and benefits listed on this page.
Chase will be losing Korean Air SkyPass as a points transfer partner after August 24. That’s unfortunate because Korean Air’s loyalty program is excellent, with many sweet spots such as first class awards on Korean, China Eastern, and Saudia; Europe business class roundtrips for 80,000 miles; and cheap Hawaii awards to name just a few.
Korean Air First Class
There’s been discussion on reddit and blogs about whether Korean Air could become an American Express Membership Rewards transfer partner. The thinking seems to be,
- It could explain why Chase was losing Korean Air as a partner
- There are apparently online ads about an American Express and Korean partnership (not specific to Membership Rewards)
- There was an unconfirmed screen shot floating around purporting to show Korean Air as a transfer partner on the American Express website, though I don’t believe I’ve seen anyone claim they could replicate
I reached out to American Express to see whether there was any truth to this hope. While noting that Korean Air is a Membership Rewards transfer partner for cardmembers in South Korea, an American Express spokesperson tells me unequivocably, “there are no plans or agreements for Korean Air to become a transfer partner for U.S. [Membership Rewards]-enrolled Card Members.”
this sucks, loosing a very good option to travel to Asia on miles
Since Barclays issues their US credit card, it would make the most sense that they become a transfer partner of Barclays.
** Correction, US Bank
This statement simply means that nothing can be publicly announced. It does not mean that Korean Air will not become a transfer partner to the same degree that the speculation cited indicated that they would become a transfer partner.
Announcements of new business relationships are very well orchestrated and carefully timed. The statement from American Express’s spokesperson is undoubtedly true for the immediate future, but does not preclude such a relationship being developed/announced at some (possibly distant) point in the future.
The rumor was that something was imminent, that there was a deal in place, that it was going to happen — that it was even briefly on the website.
The statement is about as solid a denial as I usually see. Frequently we get non-denial denials.
No one is saying “it could never happen.”
@Gary
Do you expect Korean Airlines to be a US Bank transfer partner?
Lucky wrote an article about who he thinks could/could not be added to Ultimate Rewards. I was hoping you could enlighten us on who you think we could see.