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One of the Star Alliance's longest-serving members now has an official departure date.
Asiana Airlines will leave the Star Alliance on December 16, 2026, as part of its merger with Korean Air. While that's still a ways away, the announcement puts a clock on earning and redeeming miles for Asiana flights through the Star Alliance loyalty programs.
What the Alliance Exit Means for Asiana Club Loyalty Members
For now, it's business as usual, and you can continue booking Asiana award flights through programs like Air Canada Aeroplan and ANA Mileage Club. You can also continue earning miles on eligible Asiana flights through its participating Star Alliance loyalty program airlines.
Travelers with Star Alliance elite status will continue receiving their eligible benefits — including perks such as priority check-in, priority boarding and, for Gold members, lounge access — until Asiana exits the alliance on December 16, 2026.
One thing worth noting is the various timelines. Mileage earning on eligible Asiana-operated flights will continue through October 15, 2026, while award redemptions, upgrades and elite benefits will remain available until December 16, 2026.
After that, Asiana flights will no longer be eligible for Star Alliance earning, redemption, or elite-status benefits.
Related: Beginner’s Guide to Airline Alliances and Partners
If You've Been Eyeing an Asiana Redemption, Don't Wait Too Long
Because Asiana miles are notoriously hard to earn, losing Star Alliance Asiana Club redemptions won't be a huge hit for most of us. But the program does offer some impressive redemption rates on Star Alliance partners. For example, Asiana Club charges just 40,000 miles for a one-way business-class award between the U.S. and Europe during off-peak dates.
The bigger hit for most points and miles enthusiasts will be losing the ability to use Star Alliance partner miles to book Asiana flights. Once Asiana leaves the alliance, programs like ANA Mileage Club, Air Canada Aeroplan, and United MileagePlus will no longer have access to Asiana award space.
On the other hand, the merger will eventually bring Asiana's routes into Korean Air and SkyTeam. While the details are still being worked out, that could create new redemption opportunities through programs that partner with Korean Air, and — fingers crossed — open the door to some exciting award options down the road.
With an official exit date now set, travelers who have been considering an Asiana redemption may want to start planning sooner rather than later.
Asiana to void award tickets for travel on or after December 17
Speaking of not waiting, Asiana also plans to void award tickets booked for travel on or after December 17, 2026. According to the FAQ page the airline published regarding its merger with Korean Air, Asiana Club members should note the following:
Question: I have already ticketed a Star Alliance award flight using Asiana miles for travel on or after December 17, 2026. Since this falls outside the flight dates listed above, am I unable to fly?
Answer: Even if already ticketed, these tickets will no longer be valid for travel following our exit from Star Alliance. We recommend contacting the Asiana Airlines Reservation Center to review your reservation and discuss cancellation or alternative itinerary options. Affected tickets will be fully refunded and miles reinstated without penalty.
At this point, it's unclear whether Asiana will also cancel awards booked through partner airlines for travel on or after December 17, 2026. The language suggests this policy applies only to awards booked through Asiana Club. However, if the airline does not intend to honor those reservations, we wouldn't be surprised to see a similar approach taken with partner bookings.
We'll update this section as we learn more. But in the meantime, if you have an Asiana-operated award booked through a partner airline for travel on or after December 17 and receive a cancellation notice, let us know.
Bottom Line
Asiana will leave the Star Alliance on December 16, 2026. Nothing changes immediately, but the announcement starts the countdown for travelers who earn or redeem miles on Asiana through Star Alliance loyalty programs.
