AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Despite being a member of the SkyTeam alliance, Korean Air has long maintained a partnership with Oneworld member Alaska Airlines and partnered with Hawaiian Airlines until June 2025. However, Korean Air's partnership with Alaska Airlines is about to change.
Starting January 1, 2026, this partnership will look quite different, and there will be two new key limitations. Here’s what you need to know.
No More Earning SKYPASS Miles on Alaska or Hawaiian Flights
Effective January 1, 2026, Korean Air SKYPASS members will no longer be able to earn miles on flights operated by Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines. Since SKYPASS miles are already difficult to earn, this has long been one of the most viable methods for U.S.-based travelers — but it won't last for much longer.
Members can still accrue miles on eligible flights through the end of 2025. After that, flyers will need to credit paid flights to a different partner instead.
Related: Comprehensive Guide to the New Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Program
Korean Air Ending Redemptions on Hawaiian, Restricting Ones on Alaska
But wait, there's more. Starting with flights ticketed after January 1, 2026, Korean Air SKYPASS members will no longer be able to redeem miles for flights operated by Hawaiian Airlines, and only for Alaska Airlines flights within the U.S. (including Hawaii).
According to the announcement, “Hawaiian Airlines routes within Hawaii and between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland will be available on Alaska Airlines coded flights as of April 22, 2026, following the merger between Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines.”
In other words, Korean Air miles will no longer be usable for flights outside the U.S. on either airline. International routes, such as Hawaiian’s Seattle to Seoul service, will not be redeemable with SKYPASS miles beginning next year.
Related: Alaska Atmos Rewards Award Chart Sweet Spots: Best Ways to Redeem Your Alaska Airlines Points
Bottom Line
Korean Air's partnership with Alaska Airlines (and, by extension, what's left of Hawaiian Airlines) is clearly shrinking in a major way. The loss of SKYPASS mileage earning on Alaska and Hawaiian flights is disappointing, and the reduction in redemption options to only domestic Alaska flights and limited Hawaiian routes beginning in April 2026 makes things even worse for SKYPASS members.
And unfortunately, this isn't the first negative change to an Alaska Airlines partnership we've observed this year. Earlier in 2025, Alaska Airlines' partnership with LATAM ended, and its partnership with Singapore Airlines was massively scaled back. This is just the latest negative development with one of Alaska's non-Oneworld partners, and we're hopeful it's the last.
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.