Asiana Airlines to retain Star Alliance membership through Dec. 16

Asiana Airlines announced Tuesday that it will retain its Star Alliance membership through Dec. 16, just before the integrated Korean Air launches.

Since joining Star Alliance as its 15th full member in March 2003, Asiana Airlines has contributed to the alliance's development over 23 years — expanding its Northeast Asia route network, upgrading its digital service platform and participating in the joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Star Alliance expressed its appreciation, saying Asiana Airlines "has played an important role in delivering seamless and differentiated experiences to customers around the world since joining in 2003."

Asiana Club members will be able to accrue Asiana Airlines mileage on Star Alliance member flights through Dec. 16. Existing elite benefits — including Star Alliance lounge access and priority boarding — will also remain in place.

However, conditions vary by carrier when using accrued mileage to book Star Alliance member flights. Six airlines, including Lufthansa, require both ticketing and travel to be completed by Oct. 31, while five airlines, including All Nippon Airways, require both by Nov. 30.

Nine airlines, including Singapore Airlines and United Airlines, require ticketing and travel to be completed by Dec. 16. Four airlines, including Turkish Airlines, allow travel through Dec. 16, 2027, provided tickets are issued by Dec. 16 this year.

Customers of other Star Alliance member airlines will also be able to enjoy existing benefits — such as lounge access and priority boarding — when flying Asiana Airlines through Dec. 16. However, accrual of Asiana Airlines flight credits toward each member airline's mileage program will only apply to flights taken through Oct. 15 this year.

"We will do our best to ensure that Asiana Club members who use Star Alliance retain as many benefits as possible right up until the launch of the integrated Korean Air," an Asiana Airlines official said. "We will also make every effort to provide members with accurate and detailed guidance."

Meanwhile, Asiana Airlines, which is preparing to merge with Korean Air, will finalize its shareholder registry on Tuesday. Notices of the shareholders' meeting and the acceptance of dissenting opinions will begin July 28, with the deadline for dissenting opinions set for Aug. 11. An extraordinary shareholders' meeting is scheduled for Aug. 12 to vote on the merger approval.