대한항공 마일리지[15] On the 15th, [1 Konomi News] investigated whether Korean Air was implementing a mileage bonus seat expansion plan, and as a result, Korean Air maintains a bonus seat ratio of 5% or more of all seats, and the specific ratio and whether or not it is expanded cannot be disclosed. revealed
In February, Korean Air announced plans to expand bonus seats as controversy over the mileage system reform plan, which was scheduled to be applied from April 1, grew.
At the time, Korean Air tried to change the mileage deduction standard from ‘region’ to ‘flight distance’ through the reorganization of the mileage system. While the mileage deduction for short-distance routes is reduced, the deduction rate for long-distance routes is rather large, leading to criticism that it is a trick to lower the benefits of long-distance route users such as the United States and Europe. In particular, it was pointed out that long-distance routes with increased deductions cannot be operated by low-cost carriers (LCCs).
In response to Korean Air’s plan, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong said, “As the minister in charge of aviation, it is difficult to agree to this reorganization plan.” , Customers seem to be taking a back seat. Reasonable review of mileage usage standards and real improvement are needed. Routes and seats that meet the demand for usage must also be supplemented,” he strongly criticized.
Since then, Korean Air has been evolving by announcing plans to increase the proportion of mileage bonus seats. He also said that he plans to review special flights with a high proportion of bonus seats.
However, some consumers are dissatisfied and suspicious about the use of mileage, saying, “They said they were expanding the bonus seats, but I don’t know at all.”
Regarding this, an official from Korean Air said, “Normally, the industry does not disclose the percentage of bonus tickets as confidential. Korean Air always maintains a bonus seat percentage of 5% or more as recommended by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.” It’s a difficult part to say,” he explained.
When Korean Air reorganizes its mileage system, it has decided to pursue measures to exhaust existing mileage points, such as increasing bonus seats, and to specify this in terms and conditions. However, as the mileage system reform itself disappeared, it is interpreted that the push for increasing bonus seats has also faded.
Plans to operate special mileage flights are also in the dark. An official from Korean Air added, “As you can see from the details of the operation of special mileage flights, the mileage system itself is completely reviewed, so it can be seen as a review from the beginning.”
In the end, it means that special flights with a high percentage of bonus seats have not been introduced so far. In order to put out the urgent fire in public opinion, they came up with the trick of expanding bonus seats, but it seems to be fading as the mileage system reform itself disappeared.
The Korean Air mileage deduction table currently listed on the Korean Air website has not changed compared to the mileage deduction table (before the mileage reform), which was scheduled to be applied until March 31, 2023. Only the unit has been changed from the existing round-trip standard to one-way standard, but the deduction rate is the same as before. [1 Konomi News = Reporter Gayoung Cho]
