Fellow travellers,
I am flying out of ICN with Delta today. Booked through Korean Air, both SkyTeam. I paid $5k for a one-way business class ticket. My partner paid $2k for premium economy on the same flight.
I'm a long-time Korean Air member with elite status. We walk up to the KE Prestige Lounge at ICN and they refuse to let my partner in because their ticket is premium economy and wouldnt allow my 1+1 option because they booked via Delta directly and not via Korean air. No exception. No "just this once." Nothing. So I either drink alone or skip the lounge I'm entitled to. Cool. Paid $7k for this btw.
And honestly this is just the latest one. A few things that have been bothering me about SkyTeam for a while:
- Boarding priority is meaningless on Korean Air. Morning Calm status is handed out like candy now, so by the time "priority" boards you're still standing in a line of 50 people. Even though flying business class.
- Lounge access outside hubs is rough. Most airports I transit through don't have a SkyTeam partner lounge, so elite status dumps you into whatever Priority Pass place is nearby. Which is usually the worst lounge in the terminal.
- The actual on-board product is fine, but the *ecosystem* around it (lounges, recognition, partner benefits) is pretty damn bad.
Compare that to Star Alliance, where Asiana, ANA, Lufthansa, United etc. all actually recognise each other's status in a way that feels consistent.
If you're at the start of building loyalty with one alliance and you fly through Asia regularly, my honest take: go Star Alliance. I'll be moving my spend to Asiana from here on out. What sucks for me is that Korean Air will merge with Asiana next year but thats next years problem. For now, Ill stick to Star Alliance.