The Korean Air SKYPASS Select Visa Signature Card has an introductory offer of: 30,000 bonus SKYPASS miles when you make at least $3,000 in the first 90 days. The value of these 30k points will be worth about $510. This bonus value offer isn’t a lot when you compare it with their competitors, plus, the annual fee is $50.
With the “Premium” SKYPASS card, it won’t really give you the best perks. The real premium cards such as Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Platinum Card from American Express do a lot better than this card does.
It doesn’t mean that this credit card doesn’t have any value for their Korean Air clients. You can make up for the annual fee with the cards perks and benefits.
- Travel credit is worth $200.
- TSA Precheck or Global Entry fee credit will be worth $85-$100. This perk is used every 4 years.
- Introductory bonus will be worth about $510.
- With the annual spend bonus included, if you spend about $35k annually, the 10,000 miles will be worth about $170.
- Get $100 off for the annual Korean Air ticket coupons.
- The 2 KAL Lounge coupons are worth 2,000 miles (about $30+) Domestic and 4,000 miles (about $60+) International.
This will all depend on the card perks that you choose to use.
There are 4 SKYPASS cards to compare:
- SKYPASS Select Visa Signature Card (subject of this page)
- SKYPASS Visa Signature Card
- SkyBlue SKYPASS Visa Card
- SKYPASS Visa Business Card
SKYPASS Select Visa Card Quick Facts
Bonus Available | Receive 30,000 bonus miles once you spend at least $3,000 in the first 90 days of opening your account. |
Bonus Value | $510 |
Travel Credit | Gain no more than $200 annual statement credit on travel purchases. |
Ongoing Rewards/Benefits | Earn 2 miles for each $1 used for Korean Air ticket expenses, 2 miles for each $1 used towards non-Korean Air airline tickets, car rentals and hotels, and 1 mile for each $1 used for other qualifying expenses.
One $100 Off coupon each year for a Korean Air ticket purchase. Gain two $25 off coupons every year for In-Flight Duty Free purchases. Get 10,000 bonus miles at renewal once you’ve spent a minimum of $35,000 annually. TSA Precheck or Global Entry application fee statement credit. |
Foreign Transaction Fees? | No |
Airport Lounge Access | Get two KAL Lounge coupons each year. |
Annual Fee | $450 |
Recommended Free Credit Score (Get Free Score)
720 – 850 (Excellent)
*SKYPASS Select Visa is issued by U.S. Bank. Compare this card to other credit card offers.*
Pros
- Bonus miles
- Bonus on non-airline spending
- $200 annual travel credit
- Annual $100 air ticket coupon
- Annual $25 inflight duty free coupons
- 2 KAL Lounge passes every year
- Anniversary bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- High annual fee
- Excellent credit needed to qualify
- Weak luxury perks
- Complicated rewards
Editor’s Alternate Pick
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase TravelSM. You'll earn • 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. • 3x points on other travel and dining • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. Member FDIC |
SKYPASS Select Card 30,000 Bonus Miles Offer
Make use of the SKYPASS Select credit card’s bonus offer of: 30,000 bonus miles. The evaluation for these points will be worth about $510 (more on that below).
You must charge your card with a minimum of $3,000 in the first 90 days of having your account open to be able to qualify for this bonus offer.
Here are some ideas on meeting the spending requirement:
What are Korean Air SKYPASS Miles Worth?
Compared to other airline branded credit cards, depending on how you use your miles will reflect their value. You can redeem these miles towards flights and upgrades for Korean Air and other qualifying SkyTeam Members. There are some non-SkyTeam partners that you would be able to redeem towards flights as well. Typically, every SKYPASS mile will be worth about $0.017. This is a great value since the average for cards in this platform is worth about $0.01 for each point.
You’ll be able to use your SKYPASS miles for:
- Flights (Korean Air, SkyTeam partners, non-SkyTeam partners)
- Upgrades (Korean Air, SkyTeam partners)
- KAL Lounge access
- Excess baggage (Korean Air)
- Hotel stays
- Car rentals
- KAL limousines
- Merchandise
- Coatroom service
- Visits to Jeju Folk Village Museum
To get the best value for your SKYPASS Miles would be to use them towards flights with Korean Air or one of their partner airlines. When you redeem your rewards with this, it won’t be easy. However, it’s definitely worth the extra effort and time.
SkyTeam Member Airlines
Aeroflot | China Eastern | Korean Air |
Aerolineas Argentinas | Czech Airlines | MEA (Middle East Airlines) |
AeroMexico | Delta | Saudia |
Air Europa | Garuda Indonesia | Tarom |
Air France | Kenya Airways | Vietnam Airlines |
Alitalia | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | Xiamen Air |
China Airlines |
Korean Air’s Non-SkyTeam Partner Airlines
Alaska Airlines | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines |
American Airlines | Etihad Airways | Japan Airlines |
China Southern | GOL Airlines | Jet Airways |
SKYPASS Select Visa Card Top Features
Receive immediate statement credits being no more than $200 altogether for every membership year for travel purchases. This will also include purchases that merchants list as airlines, hotels, and car rentals.
You need to have expenses that are made directly with the airlines, hotels, or car rental places to be able to qualify.
Benefit from a large variety of Korean Air perks each year. You can even receive:
- One $100 coupon towards a Korean Air ticket purchase
- Two $25 coupons towards Korean Air in-flight duty free purchases
- Two KAL Lounge coupons
Gain 10,000 bonus SKYPASS miles when you’ve spent a minimum of $35,000 in one membership year. All you have to do is pay the annual fee that comes with the card in the month it’s due to be able to qualify.
Get a statement credit for TSA Precheck ($85) or Global Entry ($100) application fee for every 4 years that has passed.
Buy things overseas without having to stress about having any foreign transaction fees with the SKYPASS Select Visa Signature credit card.
Bottom Line
The SKYPASS Select Visa Signature Card is an excellent premium credit card to have. However it doesn’t quite match up with their competitors in this platform. It’s not easy to make up for the credit cards annual fee of $450 with the small perks they have. Basically, the SKYPASS Select Visa card comes with premium costs, but acts like an average credit card. There are tons of other credit card options that would give you more for your moneys worth.
(Visit SKYPASS for more information)
What’s the Competition?
There are some of SKYPASS Select Visa Signature credit card’s top competitors listed below.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase TravelSM. You'll earn • 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. • 3x points on other travel and dining • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel. This card does carry a $550 annual fee and there are no foreign transaction fees. However, you're able to earn a $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year & up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®. Member FDIC |
The Platinum Card® from American Express offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. You'll earn: • 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. • 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This card comes with an annual fee of $695 (See Rates & Fees), but you cardholders can enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only. Terms Apply. |
The American Express® Gold Card offers 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms apply. You'll earn: • 4X Membership Rewards Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., • 4X Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). • 3X Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com. $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required. This card has an annual fee of $250 with no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. |