Difference between revisions of "Skypass credit cards"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE: Skypass Credit Cards}}
 
{{Page|card|US Bank cards|airline cards}}
 
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|FTF=0
 
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|Credit=
 
|Credit=
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|CurrentOffer=30,000 Skypass miles with $3,000 spend (personal and business version)
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|CurrentOffer=
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{{NetValue|240|.08}}
 
 
|CurrentOfferCustom=
 
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|OfferLink=
 
|OfferLink=
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|NormalOffer=
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|NormalOffer=30000
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|NormalSpend=
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|NormalSpend=3000
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|NormalCustom=15,000 SkyPass miles
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|NormalValue = 240
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|NormalPer = .08
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|NormalValue = 100
 
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|PointType=SkyPass miles
 
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'''The Korean Airlines SkyPass card is one of the least interesting airline credit cards. The signup bonus is lower than normal, and it doesn't come with much in the way of benefits. It might be interesting for someone who frequently flies on Korean Airlines, and needs the boost to get or renew their Morning Calm Club status'''.
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'''The Korean Airlines SkyPass card is one of the least interesting airline credit cards. The signup bonus is lower than normal and it doesn't come with much in the way of benefits. It might be interesting for someone who frequently flies on Korean Airlines and needs the boost to get or renew their Morning Calm Club status.'''
  
 
{{TOC|All}}
 
{{TOC|All}}
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*[[#Introduction to Korean Skypass Points|Intro to Korean Skypass Points]]
 
*[[#Introduction to Korean Skypass Points|Intro to Korean Skypass Points]]
 
*[[#Collecting the Signup Bonus|Signup Bonus]]
 
*[[#Collecting the Signup Bonus|Signup Bonus]]
−
*[[#Other Notable Benefits|Other Notable Benefits]]
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*[[#Notable Benefits|Notable Benefits]]
 
*[[#Bonus Categories|Bonus Categories]]
 
*[[#Bonus Categories|Bonus Categories]]
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*[[#Getting Rid of the Card|Getting Rid of the Card]]
 
{{/TOC}}
 
{{/TOC}}
  
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=== Korean Airlines Credit Card Options ===
 
=== Korean Airlines Credit Card Options ===
  
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There are four different Korean Airlines SkyPass credit cards.  
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There are four Korean Airlines SkyPass credit cards. [//www.skypassvisa.com/ Skypass Webpage].
  
 
<ul class="checklist">
 
<ul class="checklist">
  
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<li>'''Signature version'''. If you want a SkyPass card, you should probably get the Signature version, which is the primary focus of this guide. If you just want the card for the signup bonus, the extra 10,000 miles is worth the $80 annual fee. If you were interested in the other benefits, they aren't available from the other cards. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaSignatureCard.do Alternative Webpage].</li>
+
<li>'''Signature'''. This is the normal version of the card, which is the primary focus of this guide. $95 fee. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaSignatureCard.do Skypass Webpage]. [//www.uscreditcardguide.com/us-bank-skypass-credit-card/#Historical_Offers_Chart Signup Bonus Chart].</li>
−
 
 
−
<li>'''Business version'''. The business version has the same benefits as the Signature version, except that its normal signup bonus is 10,000 miles, rather than 15,000 miles. It has a $75 annual fee, rather than $80. [//www.usbank.com/small-business/credit-cards/skypass-visa-business-card.html U.S. Bank Webpage]. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaBusinessCard.do Alternative Webpage].</li>
 
  
−
<li>'''Classic version'''. The classic version of the card has a $60 annual fee, normally offers a 5,000 point signup bonus, and has nothing in the way of notable benefits. The main benefit over the no-annual-fee version of the card is 1,000 bonus miles each year, but that isn't worth anywhere close to the $60 annual fee.  [//www.usbank.com/credit-cards/skypass-visa-classic-credit-card.html U.S. Bank Webpage]. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaClassicCard.do Alternative Webpage].</li>
+
<li>'''Business'''. The business version has the same benefits as the Signature version and often has the same signup bonus as well. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaBusinessCard.do Skypass Webpage].</li>
  
−
<li>'''Select version'''. The premium version of the card has a $450 annual fee. It includes a $200 travel credit (per cardholder year), that you can use to pay for any travel purchase, dropping the effective annual fee to $250. With a combination of a low signup bonus (15,000 points) and lackluster ongoing benefits, this is not a particularly good option for anyone. [https://www.usbank.com/credit-cards/skypass-select-visa-signature-credit-card.html U.S. Bank Webpage].</li>  
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<li>'''Select Signature'''. The $450 annual fee premium version includes a $200 travel credit (per cardholder year) that you can use to pay for any travel purchase, dropping the effective annual fee to $250. With a combination of a standard signup bonus and lackluster additional benefits, most people won't be particularly interested in this version. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaSelectCard.do Skypass Webpage]. [//www.uscreditcardguide.com/us-bank-skypass-select-credit-card/#Historical_Offers_Chart Signup Bonus Chart].</li>  
  
−
<li>'''SkyBlue version'''. The no-annual-fee version of the card normally offers a 5,000 point signup bonus, and nothing in the way of notable benefits. [//www.usbank.com/credit-cards/skyblue-skypass-visa-credit-card.html U.S. Bank Webpage]. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/offer.do?redirect=38529 Alternative Webpage].</li>
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<li>'''No-annual-fee version'''. The no-annual-fee version of the card normally offers a 5,000 point signup bonus and nothing in the way of notable benefits. [//www.skypassvisa.com/credit/visaSignatureCard.do Skypass Webpage].</li>
  
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
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<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
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<li>'''You can use your Korean Airlines points on Delta Airlines, any other SkyTeam airline, and any of Korean Airlines other airline partners'''. Some notable partners include Alaska Airlines, Air France, KLM, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, and Aeromexico.</li>  
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<li>'''You can use your Korean Airlines points on Delta Airlines, any other SkyTeam airline, and any of Korean Airlines other airline partners'''. Some notable partners include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, and Etihad.</li>  
  
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<li>'''Korean Airlines has some great award chart bargains'''. For example, you can fly round trip to Hawaii, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico for only 25,000 miles, or fly to Europe round trip in business class for only 80,000 miles. </li>  
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<li>'''Korean Airlines' award chart has some great bargains'''. For example, you can fly round trip to Hawaii, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico for only 25,000 miles; or fly to Europe round trip in business class for only 80,000 miles. </li>  
  
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
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<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
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<li>{{Signup Intro|low}} {{Signup Amount|30,000 miles}}.
  
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<li>{{Signup
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{{Signup Both}}
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| level = med
 
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| reason =
 
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| offer = 15000
 
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| points = miles
 
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| pointvalue = 1.2
 
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| fee = 80
 
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| netvalue = 100
 
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}}</li>
 
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<li>'''Better signup offers are occasionally available'''. This card frequently offers promotional signup offers. A typical offer might be 30,000 miles with a $2,000 initial spending requirement.</li>
 
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{{Signup Both|15,000 miles|10,000 miles}}
 
  
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
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=== Other Notable Benefits ===
+
=== Notable Benefits ===
  
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
  
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<li>'''A $50 discount coupon, every year'''. On your card renewal.</li>  
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<li>'''A $50 discount coupon, every year''', when you renew your card.</li>  
  
 
<li>'''Two KAL Lounge passes, every year'''.</li>
 
<li>'''Two KAL Lounge passes, every year'''.</li>
  
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<li>'''Miles from the credit card can help earn Morning Calm Club status'''. Up to 20,000 credit card miles can be combined with miles earned from flying, to reach the 50,000 miles it requires to qualify. Once qualified, you can use up to 10,000 credit card miles to reach the 30,000 miles it takes to re-qualify. </li>
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<li>'''Miles from the credit card can help earn Morning Calm Club status'''. Up to 20,000 credit card miles can count towards the 50,000 miles it requires to qualify. Once qualified, you can use up to 10,000 credit card miles to reach the 30,000 miles it takes to re-qualify. </li>
  
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<li>'''2,000 mile annual bonus'''.</li>  
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<li>'''2,000 annual bonus miles'''.</li>  
  
 
{{Benefit Signature}}
 
{{Benefit Signature}}
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==== Additional benefits with Select card ====
 
==== Additional benefits with Select card ====
  
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The $450 annual fee "Select" version includes the following additional benefits, in addition to its $200 travel credit.  
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The $450 annual fee "Select" version includes the following additional benefits in addition to its $200 travel credit.  
  
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
−
<li>'''10,000 mile annual bonus''' (with $35,000 spend). Ignoring the annual fee, it isn't worth using this card for $35,000 worth of spending, just to get an extra 10,000 miles.</li>
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<li>'''10,000 annual bonus miles (with a $35,000 spend requirement)'''. Ignoring the annual fee, it probably still isn't worth using this card for $35,000 worth of spending just to get an extra 10,000 miles.</li>
  
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<li>'''$100 annual discount coupon.''' Good only for Korean Air round-trip tickets that travel between the US and Korea.</li>
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<li>'''$100 annual discount coupon.''' Good only for Korean Air round trip tickets that travel between the US and Korea.</li>
 
   
 
   
−
<li>'''Double miles on travel purchases'''. But 2 Korean miles isn't as valuable as what you can earn from a credit card that offers good bonus rewards on travel purchases. For example, the Sapphire Reserve earns 3 Ultimate Reward points, which can be converted into 3 Korean miles. {{Link|travel spending}}.</li>
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<li>'''Double miles on travel purchases'''. But 2 Korean miles isn't as valuable as what you can earn from a credit card that offers good bonus rewards on travel purchases. {{Link|travel spending}}.</li>
  
 
<li>'''2 in-flight duty free $25 coupons per year'''. Each coupon must be used for at least $50 worth of purchases.</li>  
 
<li>'''2 in-flight duty free $25 coupons per year'''. Each coupon must be used for at least $50 worth of purchases.</li>  
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<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
  
−
<li>'''You are usually better off making your Korean Airlines purchases with a card that earns a high reward rate on all your airfare purchases'''. 2x Korean Airlines miles are more valuable than what you'd earn from most general-purpose reward cards, but not as good as what you'd earn from a card that offers high bonus rewards on airfare purchases. {{Link|Travel Spending}}.</li>
+
<li>'''You are usually better off making your Korean Airlines purchases with a card that earns a high reward rate on all your airfare purchases'''. 2x Korean Airlines miles are more valuable than what you'd earn from most general-purpose reward cards, but not as good as what you'd earn from a card that offers high bonus rewards on airfare purchases (and you won't get any travel insurance coverage). However, Korean Airline miles can be very valuable and are hard to earn otherwise.{{Link|Travel Spending}}.</li>
 +
 
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<li>{{Bonus Medium|hotel|2x Korean Airlines miles are|gas}} {{Link|gas spending}}.</li>
  
 
{{Bonus Everyday|plural}}
 
{{Bonus Everyday|plural}}
 +
</ul>
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 +
=== Getting Rid of the Card ===
 +
 +
<ul class="bulletlist">
 +
<li>{{Cancel Keep Points|Korean Airlines miles|miles|Skypass}}</li>
 +
 +
<li>'''Rather than cancelling the Signature or Select Signature Card, you may want to downgrade it to the no-annual-fee version'''. It has no annual fee, preserves some minor benefits, and makes it easy to convert back to one of the more valuable versions should you change your mind.</li>
 +
 +
<li>'''You can wait to cancel or downgrade the card until after the annual fee shows up on your statement'''. As long as you cancel within 30 days of being charged the annual fee, U.S. Bank will refund it. After 30 days, we think you'll still be able to get a prorated refund if you convert to the no-annual-fee version. The business version can't be downgraded. </li>
 +
 +
<li>{{Cancel Retention}}</li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  

Latest revision as of 15:32, 14 June 2021

  U.S. Bank Credit Cards, Airline Credit Cards

Skypass2.png

U.S. Bank Webpage
Alternative Webpage
Business Version Available
Annual Fee

$95

Typical Signup Offer

30,000 SkyPass miles

$3,000 initial spend

($240 net value, .08/$)

Signup Bonus Chart
Bonus Categories

2x Korean Airlines Purchases

2x Hotels

2x Gas

1x Everything Else


No Foreign Transaction Fee


Skypass2.png

The Korean Airlines SkyPass card is one of the least interesting airline credit cards. The signup bonus is lower than normal and it doesn't come with much in the way of benefits. It might be interesting for someone who frequently flies on Korean Airlines and needs the boost to get or renew their Morning Calm Club status.


Jump to


Korean Airlines Credit Card Options

There are four Korean Airlines SkyPass credit cards. Skypass Webpage.

  • Signature. This is the normal version of the card, which is the primary focus of this guide. $95 fee. Skypass Webpage. Signup Bonus Chart.
  • Business. The business version has the same benefits as the Signature version and often has the same signup bonus as well. Skypass Webpage.
  • Select Signature. The $450 annual fee premium version includes a $200 travel credit (per cardholder year) that you can use to pay for any travel purchase, dropping the effective annual fee to $250. With a combination of a standard signup bonus and lackluster additional benefits, most people won't be particularly interested in this version. Skypass Webpage. Signup Bonus Chart.
  • No-annual-fee version. The no-annual-fee version of the card normally offers a 5,000 point signup bonus and nothing in the way of notable benefits. Skypass Webpage.

Introduction to Korean Skypass Points

  • You can use your Korean Airlines points on Delta Airlines, any other SkyTeam airline, and any of Korean Airlines other airline partners. Some notable partners include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, and Etihad.
  • Korean Airlines' award chart has some great bargains. For example, you can fly round trip to Hawaii, Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico for only 25,000 miles; or fly to Europe round trip in business class for only 80,000 miles.

Collecting the Signup Bonus

  • The normal signup bonus is not that great. The typical signup bonus is 30,000 miles..
  • You may be able to earn the signup bonuses from both the personal and business version of the card. If you have any kind of side business, you are entitled to apply for business cards. If so, you can earn the signups from either or both versions. Unlock Extra Reward Points with Business Credit Cards.

Notable Benefits

  • A $50 discount coupon, every year, when you renew your card.
  • Two KAL Lounge passes, every year.
  • Miles from the credit card can help earn Morning Calm Club status. Up to 20,000 credit card miles can count towards the 50,000 miles it requires to qualify. Once qualified, you can use up to 10,000 credit card miles to reach the 30,000 miles it takes to re-qualify.
  • 2,000 annual bonus miles.
  • Access to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection. As with all Visa Signature cards, you'll get access to Visa's luxury hotel program. Whenever you book one of the 900+ participating hotels, you'll receive a set of valuable benefits, including free breakfast, late check-out, and a $25 food and beverage credit. The Visa program has slightly weaker benefits than the other luxury hotel programs, but includes a larger number of more affordable hotel options and a best price guarantee. Take Advantage of Luxury Hotel Programs for Valuable Extra Perks.
  • Access to Visa Signature Offers. Your card entitles you to a set of special offers available from Visa.

Additional benefits with Select card

The $450 annual fee "Select" version includes the following additional benefits in addition to its $200 travel credit.

  • 10,000 annual bonus miles (with a $35,000 spend requirement). Ignoring the annual fee, it probably still isn't worth using this card for $35,000 worth of spending just to get an extra 10,000 miles.
  • $100 annual discount coupon. Good only for Korean Air round trip tickets that travel between the US and Korea.
  • Double miles on travel purchases. But 2 Korean miles isn't as valuable as what you can earn from a credit card that offers good bonus rewards on travel purchases. Best Credit Cards for Travel Spending.
  • 2 in-flight duty free $25 coupons per year. Each coupon must be used for at least $50 worth of purchases.
  • $100 TSA fee credit. Every 4 years, you can receive an automatic reimbursement of your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee (up to $100).

Bonus Categories

  • You are usually better off making your Korean Airlines purchases with a card that earns a high reward rate on all your airfare purchases. 2x Korean Airlines miles are more valuable than what you'd earn from most general-purpose reward cards, but not as good as what you'd earn from a card that offers high bonus rewards on airfare purchases (and you won't get any travel insurance coverage). However, Korean Airline miles can be very valuable and are hard to earn otherwise.Best Credit Cards for Travel Spending.
  • There are better options for your hotel and gas purchases. 2x Korean Airlines miles are more valuable than what you would get from a good general-purpose reward card, but you can earn even more valuable rewards with other cards. Best Credit Cards for Gas Spending.
  • You don't want to use these cards for your everyday spending. You'll earn higher rewards from a good general-purpose reward card. Get a Great General Purpose Reward Card and Use It for All of Your Spending.

Getting Rid of the Card

  • You can cancel without worrying about losing your Korean Airlines miles. Once you earn them, they are treated like any other miles in your Skypass account.
  • Rather than cancelling the Signature or Select Signature Card, you may want to downgrade it to the no-annual-fee version. It has no annual fee, preserves some minor benefits, and makes it easy to convert back to one of the more valuable versions should you change your mind.
  • You can wait to cancel or downgrade the card until after the annual fee shows up on your statement. As long as you cancel within 30 days of being charged the annual fee, U.S. Bank will refund it. After 30 days, we think you'll still be able to get a prorated refund if you convert to the no-annual-fee version. The business version can't be downgraded.
  • You might be able to receive a retention offer to keep your card. It could be enough to make it worthwhile to keep the card.



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