I have already covered the booking transfer and mileage conversion for the Asiana merger. This time it is elite status and airline alliances.
If you hold Asiana Diamond or Gold status, or regularly use Star Alliance lounges, read on.
Asiana Airlines leaves Star Alliance at 11:59 pm Korea time on December 16 and merges into Korean Air the next day.
From then on, your benefits follow SkyTeam, the alliance Korean Air belongs to.
How tiers will match
According to Korean Air’s announcement, Asiana elites are automatically matched to Korean Air tiers and keep their current qualification period.
Here is the matching table, as reported by Travel Times from both airlines’ Q&A:
| Asiana tier | Korean Air tier |
|---|---|
| Platinum (lifetime) | Million Miler (lifetime) |
| Diamond Plus (lifetime) | Morning Calm Premium (lifetime) |
| Diamond Plus (24 months) | Morning Calm Select (24 months, new) |
| Diamond (24 months) | Morning Calm Select (24 months, new) |
| Gold | Morning Calm (24 months) |
If you have status with both airlines, you get the higher of the two.
Coupons and vouchers already issued for Asiana status can be used until their stated expiry.
What is Morning Calm Select?
Korean Air had three tiers: Morning Calm, Morning Calm Premium and Million Miler. Morning Calm Select slots in between Morning Calm and Morning Calm Premium,
mainly to take in Asiana’s Diamond members.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| SkyTeam tier | Elite Plus (SkyTeam lounges, priority boarding and more) |
| Launch | From October 28, for SKYPASS members first |
| To qualify | 100,000 miles flown or 140 flight points (as reported by NewDaily) |
Morning Calm is SkyTeam Elite, which does not include SkyTeam lounges. Select is Elite Plus, so lounges are included.
There has been pushback over how earlier flying counts towards it, and Korean Air says it is looking at additional measures. The details may change, so check the official notice around October 28.
Star Alliance benefits end on December 16
| When | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Flights up to Dec 16 | Star Alliance lounges, priority check-in and extra baggage on your Asiana tier |
| From Dec 17 | SkyTeam lounges, priority check-in and extra baggage on your matched Korean Air tier |
So from December 17, your Asiana status no longer counts on Star Alliance airlines such as United, Lufthansa or Singapore Airlines.
On SkyTeam airlines such as Delta, Air France and KLM, your matched tier applies instead.
Before the exit
1. Star Alliance award tickets
Each partner has its own deadlines for issuing and flying Star Alliance award tickets booked with Asiana miles.
If you are planning an award trip on United, Singapore Airlines or another Star Alliance carrier, check the airline-by-airline dates in Asiana’s notice on the end of Star Alliance mileage partnerships and elite benefits first.
2. Miles you already have are safe
Asiana miles earned on Star Alliance flights do not disappear with the exit.
After the merger they stay as “former Asiana miles” with the same balance and expiry. Conversion rates are in the mileage integration post.
3. Link your accounts early
Linking your Asiana Club account to SKYPASS in advance through “Find my account” on the official integration site means it moves over automatically on the day, with no separate application (as reported by Travel Leisure News).
If you have an Asiana booking departing on or after December 17, you will also be told from November 2 that its flight number is changing to KE. See the booking transfer post too.
Sources: Korean Air newsroom – mileage integration plan approved · Travel Times – your tickets and miles after December 17 · NewDaily – Morning Calm Select
Checked: September 28, 2026
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