The SKYPASS Visa® Business Card lets companies earn big miles on Korean Air flight bookings. The card features no foreign transaction fees, travel and emergency support, and Visa’s 24/7 Concierge assistance. This card is especially useful for those companies whose business travel often takes them to South Korea.
How It Works
Businesses can expect the following from the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card:
How to Earn Rewards:
Fly with Korean Air: Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on Korean Air ticket purchases. Double miles rewards are also available for tickets purchased through any other SkyTeam partner, including Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia. Air France, and more. Double points also apply to non-SkyTeam partner airlines. These carriers include American Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Jet Airways, and Japan Airlines.
Everyday Purchases: Businesses earn 2 miles for every eligible dollar spent at gas stations and hotels (including Marriott), as well as 1 point for every dollar spent on any other eligible purchase.
Renewal Reward: Earn 2,000 bonus miles at each membership renewal period.
Earn with SkyTeam Partners: Travelers can earn bonus miles when they use their Visa card at select SkyTeam partners.
SKYPASS Mile Value: SKYPASS miles earned with the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card have considerable value when compared with other similar airline rewards miles. The average value of a SKYPASS rewards mile is roughly $.17/ mile, which is very good when compared to other airline rewards programs, where the typical mile value s $.01/mile.
No Cap: Members can earn unlimited bonus miles on all valid purchases made with their SKYPASS Visa Signature® Card
Expiration: All miles earned do not expire for 10 years. It should also be noted that if the account is closed, you will no longer be able to accrue and use mileage when you fly with Korean Air or use its partner companies.
How to Redeem Miles:
Travel: Redeeming bonus miles with Korean Air and other SkyTeam partner airlines is straightforward. Businesses can use their SKYPASS miles to save on select Korean Air flights. There are no blackout dates with reward travel. They can also use miles to travel on SkyTeam partners. Other flight award options include purchasing seat upgrades, or access to the exclusive KAL Lounge.
Hotels: Businesses can use SKYPASS miles to book stays at partners, including Marriott hotels worldwide.
Rental Car Services: SKYPASS miles may also be used to book rental cars with Korean Air partners, as well as select limousine services in Incheon, South Korea.
Other: SKYPASS members can also redeem miles toward Korean Air merchandise, visits to the Jeju Folk Village Museum, or exclusive coatroom access at Incheon Airport.
Today’s Bonus Offer
Earn 30,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days of opening the account.
The Plane Facts
Can you expect a smooth flight from the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card, or will there be turbulence?
Annual Fee: The SKYPASS Visa® Business Card features an annual fee of $95. This fee is reasonably high, given the availability of miles earnable. The cost isn’t a deal-breaker for those who frequently travel to South Korea. For others, however, better business cards and a lower annual fee may exist.
Airline and Airport Perks:
Free Lounge Access: Receive 2 complimentary KAL Lounge coupons each year. These passes provide access to Korean Air’s exclusive lounge. Additional KAL visits are available with bonus miles.
$50 off Korean Air Flights: Cardholders also receive a $50 off voucher for a Korean Air ticket purchase each year of membership.
Cardholder Protections:
Baggage Insurance Plan: Reimbursement for lost or stolen luggage when paying the entire fare using the card
Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: Auto rental collision damage is covered when you pay the total cost of your rental car with the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card and waive collision protection at the rental counter.
Global Assistance: 24/7 access to Visa’s bilingual account services, as well as access to Visa Concierge, which provides travel assistance and coordination for any issues that may arise during travel.
Fraud Protection: Businesses have total protection from any fraudulent or unauthorized purchases made.
Additional Benefits:
No foreign transaction fees
Purchase Protection: Businesses receive protection when an eligible purchase breaks or suffer damage.
Additional Employees: Businesses can add extra employees to their SKYPASS Visa® Business Card account, including additional employee cards.
Your Company Name on the Card: Place your company name on the card. Make the SKYPASS Visa a visible representation of your brand.
Expense Reports: U.S. Bank provides businesses with comprehensive expense reporting. These reports help companies better understand employee spending habits. They also let them see where potential savings lie.
U.S. Bank Connect: Complimentary online business tools and resources to help grow and manage your business.
The Perks That Make the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card Worthwhile:
What are some of the Pros that set this card ahead of the rest?
A Generous Introductory Bonus Offer: Earn 30,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 or more in eligible purchases in the first 90 days, which is a great reward (a $500 value) for a minimum spend for any business.
Booking Flights: Miles earned can be used on ticket purchases for Korean Air, or any of their partner airlines (both SkyTeam and non-SkyTeam)
No Blackout Dates: There are no blackout dates on when miles can be used.
Additional Rewards: the SKYPASS Business Card offers frequent Korean Air or SkyTeam passengers with access to the exclusive Korean Air Lounge twice a year, with the option of purchasing access using miles, the potential to earn membership in the Morning Calm Club, and the ability to share miles with family members.
Morning Club Membership: Morning Club Membership offers members the benefit of an exclusive counter to expedite the check-in process, additional checked baggage allowances, priority baggage handling on Korean Air flights, priority reservation waitlisting, and access to Korean Air’s exclusive Prestige Lounge on the day of travel twice per year.
Multiple Booking Options: SKYPASS allows cardholders to book a round-trip, one-way, and multi-city trips, as well as open-jaw bookings. Open-jaw bookings are those where one leg of a flight goes from point A to B, while the return flight goes from point C to A. Additionally, Korean Air permits first-class reward purchases.
Potential Turbulence with the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card:
What are some cons that take the wind from under this card’s wings?
Seat Restrictions: Seat restrictions may apply depending on the date and time of individual bookings.
No Partial Miles: Redeeming flights with partial miles isn’t possible. This adds an extra restriction on cardholders. Partial miles refers to using your rewards miles to pay for part of a journey, rather than the entire cost.
Additional Charges: Flight booking may be subject to additional fees, such as fuel surcharges, which aren’t payable with miles.
Thoughts Before Takeoff
Is the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card right for you? While the rewards on offer from the SKYPASS Visa® Business Card are great for those whose business takes them to South Korea, the annual fee of $95 is a burden not found in other comparable airline rewards cards. While this card is geared towards businesses who frequent South Korea, the availability of gaining and using points with other SkyTeam members makes it a practical business card for many companies. This practicality, however, must be balanced with the annual fee, and the weighting of miles on Korean-based rewards.