Asiana Airlines said on the 23rd that it will maintain its Star Alliance membership through Dec. 16, the day before integrated Korean Air Lines launches on Dec. 17.
Accordingly, Asiana Club members can earn Asiana Airlines miles when flying Star Alliance flights through Dec. 16. In addition, existing elite benefits such as access to Star Alliance lounges and priority boarding are available.
However, conditions vary by airline when using accumulated miles to book tickets on Star Alliance members.
Six airlines, including Lufthansa, Copa Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, require ticketing and travel to be completed by Oct. 31 this year.
Five airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and EgyptAir, require completion by Nov. 30 this year, and nine airlines, including Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, EVA Air, Air China, South African Airways, Thai Airways, TAP Air Portugal and Shenzhen Airlines, require ticketing and travel to be completed by Dec. 16 this year.
Four airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Aegean Airlines, Avianca and Croatia Airlines, allow travel through Dec. 16 next year if ticketing is completed by Dec. 16 this year.
Customers of other Star Alliance member airlines will also retain existing benefits such as lounge access and priority boarding when using Asiana Airlines-operated flights through Dec. 16 this year. However, crediting miles to their own airline after flying on an Asiana Airlines-operated flight is only possible for travel through Oct. 15 this year.
An Asiana Airlines official said, "We will work to ensure that Asiana Club members using Star Alliance can keep their benefits as much as possible until just before the launch of integrated Korean Air Lines," and added, "We will do our best to provide accurate and detailed guidance to members."