Asiana Airlines is a South Korean-based airline with its international hub at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) and domestic hubs at Gimpo International Airport and Gimhae International Airport in Busan. As a member of Star Alliance, the airline flies domestic and international throughout Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. This means you can fly both Asiana Airlines and its Star Alliance partner airlines flights with Asiana miles.
Asiana Club is the frequent-flyer program of Asiana Airlines and the miles that you earn are called Asiana miles. These miles can be redeemed for award flights, among other uses. You can also use Asiana miles to book its non-Star Alliance airline flights. Non-alliance partners include the likes of Etihad Airways, Qantas Airways, and Qatar Airways.
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Credit Cards to Earn Asiana Miles
Asiana Airlines partners with Marriott Bonvoy. This means that the Marriott points that you earn can be transferred directly to Asiana Airlines. Marriott points transfer to Asiana Airlines at 3:1 and takes four days. In addition, you receive 5,000 bonus miles with every 20,000 Marriott points that you transfer.
Both American Express and Chase issue Marriott credit cards. Marriott cards to put in your crosshairs in the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, Marriott Bonvoy Bold, and Marriott Bonvoy Business. Each of these cards, except the Marriot Bonvoy Bold (it earns 3x points at Marriott), earns 6x points at Marriott and comes with benefits targeted at different types of cardmembers.
Other Ways to Earn Asiana Miles
Flying Asiana Airlines, or its partner airline flights, is likely the easiest way to earn Asiana miles for US-based travelers outside of transferring points to Asiana from Marriott. If you’re crediting a partner flight to your Asiana Airlines account, head to wheretocredit.com to see if this makes sense for your situation.
Asiana Club Shopping is an online shopping portal that allows you to earn Asiana miles with your spending. Shopping partners are limited for US-based shoppers. However, Lululemon is listed as a partner. So, you can earn miles when you spend with Lululemon.
Car rentals and hotel stays are another way to earn Asiana miles. The airline partners with household names like Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, Hertz and National. When you book rental cars or hotel stays through this partnership, you earn miles at the conclusion of your trip or hotel stay.
It’s important to note that the Asiana miles expiration date is driven by your Asiana Airlines’ elite status. If you are Magic Miles, Silver, Gold member, your miles expire December 31st of the 10th year that you earned the miles. Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Platinum members miles expire December 31st of the 12th year that you earned the miles.
Basic Asiana Miles Redemption Rules
Asiana Airlines mileage redemption charts are driven by the airline that you’re flying. The airline has separate charts for its own flights and its partner airline flights. The number of miles you need to book a flight is based upon the regions you are flying between. Otherwise known as a zone-baed award chart. An Asiana mileage calculator can be found in the form of award charts on the airline’s website. With that said, here a few of the most notable rules to know when booking award flights with Asiana Club:
- Taxes and fees are driven by the airline that you are flying
- One-way award flights are allowed
- Asiana flights use peak and off-peak pricing
- Partner airline flights can’t be searched on the Asiana website and require a phone call to book
Using the Asiana Airlines Search Engine
Asiana Airlines flights can be booked on flyasiana.com. However, its partner airline flights can’t booked on its website. So, you need to find the award space on another website first, and then call Asiana Airlines 800-227-4262 to book the flight. With that said, here’s how to book each major airline partner flight:
| Partner Airline | Search On |
| Etihad Airways | Etihad |
| Qantas Airways | American Airlines |
| Qatar Airways | American Airlines |
| Star Alliance Partner Airlines | United Airlines |
Best Ways to Use Asiana Miles
1. Asiana Airlines US to Korea
Gyeongbokgung Palace, N Seoul Tower, and Bukchon Hanok Village are reasons enough to visit Seoul. Add in Korean BBQ and you’re set. With 62,500 Asiana miles, you can book a one-way Asiana business class flight between the US and Korea. Booking the same flight in economy with 35,000 Asiana miles may even present a better deal.
Asiana flights that you can book between the US and Korea include:
- Seoul (ICN) <> Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York–JFK, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma
2. Asiana Airlines US to Japan/Taipei/Hong Kong
For those of you looking to explore Japan/Taipei/Hong Kong, Asiana Club may be the program to use. The Japan/China/Northeast Asia region in the award chart covers a vast area. So, using miles can unlock otherwise expensive flights to this region from the US. With 67,500 Asiana miles, you can book a one-way Asiana business class flight between the US and the Japan/China/Northeast Asia region. Booking the same flights in economy sets you back 37,500 miles.
Examples of flights that you can book include:
- Los Angeles > Seoul (ICN) > Haneda (HND)
- New York–JFK > Seoul > Taipei (TPE)
- San Francisco (SFO) > Seoul > Hong Kong (HKG)
3. Star Alliance US to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is an incredible place to visit. Bangkok Thailand, Phuket Thailand, Siem Reap Cambodia, Ho Chi Minh Vietnam, and Singapore get you completely out of your comfort zone. In a good way. Not only are the sites fascinating to take in but you’ll indulge in some of the best food in the world. With 67,500 Asiana miles, you can book a one-way Asiana Airlines business class between the US and Southeast Asia. You can save miles by using 42,500 miles to book the same flight in Asiana Airlines economy, instead of flying a Star Alliance flight. For reference, Asiana includes Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Phuket, Phnom Penh, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh in this region.
Examples of Asiana flights that you can book include:
- Seattle/Tacoma > Seoul (ICN) > Ho Chi Minh (SGN)
- Los Angele > Seoul > Bangkok (BKK)
- New York (JFK) > Seoul > Singapore (SIN)
4. Avianca or United Airlines US to southern South America
Asiana divides South America into South America 1 and South America 2. South America 2 includes the southern South American countries of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Paraguay. With 35,000 Asiana miles, you can book an Avianca or United business class flight between the US and southern South America. Economy is also a steal with only 25,000 miles needed to book the same flight.
Examples of flights that you can book include:
- Houston (IAH) > São Paulo (GRU) – United Airlines
- Newark (EWR) > Panama City (PTY) > Santiago Chile (SCL) – United Airlines, COPA
- Denver (DEN) > Houston (IAH) > Buenos Aires Argentina (EZE) – United Airlines
5. Lufthansa US to Europe
Transatlantic first class flights are hard to come by. Unfortunately, there simply aren’t many airlines that offer this product. For the ones that do, Lufthansa is the only one that’s fairly easy to book with miles. Air France, Singapore Airlines and Swiss Air Lines require you to use miles within its respective frequently flyer program to book its first class flights. In some cases, you also need to hold elite status with the airline that you’re flying. With 50,000 Asiana miles, you can book a one-way Lufthansa first class flight between the US and Europe. It’s important to note that the taxes and fees are high and you can only book these flights within two weeks of the departure date.
Examples of Lufthansa flights that you can book include:
- New York (JFK) > Frankfurt (FRA)
- Chicago (ORD) > Frankfurt (FRA)
- Los Angeles (LAX) > Frankfurt (FRA)
Asiana Miles FAQs
What can I do with Asiana mileage?
You can redeem Asiana miles for Asiana Airlines and its partner airline award flights. Miles can also be used to upgrade the cabin class of your flight.
How much are Asiana miles worth?
Data points suggest Asiana miles are worth 1.4 cent per point. Generally speaking, receiving more than 2 cents per point is considered solid value.
Can I transfer miles from Asiana to United?
Unfortunately, no. You can’t transfer miles from Asiana. Instead, you can use miles to book Asiana Airlines or its partner airlines award flights.
What alliance is Asiana part of?
Asiana Airlines is a Star Alliance member. Therefore, Asiana miles can be used to book flights on any partner in the alliance.
How do you use Asiana miles on United?
Both airlines are in the Star Alliance. This means that you can use Asiana miles to book United Airlines flights. Search for United award availability on united.com, and then call Asiana Airlines at 800-227-4262 to book the flight.
Can you buy Asiana miles?
Asiana Airlines doesn’t currently sell its airline miles. So, you need to earn miles by flying or transferring points from Marriott.
How do you book Star Alliance flights with Asiana miles?
Find the award flight on united.com, and then call Asiana to book the flight.
How do you book Asiana award flights?
Go to flyasiana.com, click “Book” at the top of the page, click “Use Mileage” on the right side of the page, search for your flights, and then book the flight on flyasiana.com.
Conclusion on the Best Ways to Use Asiana Miles
One of the most efficient ways to earn Asiana miles is to transfer points from Marriott to Asiana. Once you start earning miles, business class flights between the US and Asia, South America, and Europe are likely to yield high-value. All in all, Asiana Club can be a valuable loyalty program. That’s assuming of course that you can get your hands on hard-to-get Asiana miles.
