Choose by the flight and the seat, not the airline name. Korean Air bought 63.88% of Asiana on December 12, 2024, and Asiana flights departing on or after December 17, 2026 will run under Korean Air flight numbers and be operated by Korean Air. For those dates you are picking between Korean Air aircraft, not between two companies. Before that date, choose by the seat on your aircraft and your mileage plans, including Asiana's exit from Star Alliance on December 16, 2026. The standard international checked-baggage allowance does not differ: both list 2 bags of up to 32 kg each in business class.
What is happening with the merger
Korean Air's own releases and Asiana's notices give this timeline:
| Date | What happened or is scheduled | Status on September 30, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| December 12, 2024 | Korean Air took 131,578,947 new Asiana shares (63.88%); Asiana became its subsidiary | Done |
| January 14, 2026 | All Asiana flights moved to Incheon Terminal 2 | Done |
| May 13, 2026 | Both boards approved the merger agreement; signing was planned for the next day and the launch of the integrated Korean Air was set for December 17, 2026 | Approved; the release describes the signing as planned |
| November 2 to December 9, 2026 | Bookings and ticket data move from Asiana to Korean Air in stages | Scheduled |
| December 16, 2026, 23:59 KST | Asiana leaves Star Alliance | Scheduled |
| December 17, 2026 | Integrated Korean Air starts; Asiana flights carry Korean Air flight numbers | Scheduled |
Asiana's 2026 pages say the transfer dates are subject to change.
What changes for a ticket you book now
Asiana's notice of September 14, 2026 covers tickets already sold.
- Flight numbers: flights departing on or after December 17, 2026 become Korean Air flight numbers, operated by Korean Air.
- Transfer dates: domestic bookings move on November 2, 9 and 16. International bookings move on November 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 30, and December 1, 2 and 3. Codeshare bookings move December 7 to 9.
- Your data: the notice lists name, contact details, passport number, card number, date of birth, gender, membership number and booking reference as data passed to Korean Air. To refuse, you must tell Asiana or your ticket seller by 10:00 PM KST on November 1, 2026. Your booking is then cancelled and refunded with fees waived.
- Changes and refunds: on or before December 16, 2026 (KST), contact Asiana or your ticketing agency. On or after December 17, 2026, contact Korean Air or your agency.
- Conditions of carriage: Asiana's terms apply to flights on or before December 16, 2026. Korean Air's terms apply to flights on or after December 17, 2026, though Asiana's terms can apply to a clause if they are more favorable to you.
Business class seats: what each airline says it flies
Korean Air calls its business class Prestige. Asiana sells Business Suite, Business Smartium and an older Business layout. The official pages name the aircraft for each. Asiana warns that seat types, layouts and monitor sizes can vary even within the same aircraft model.
| Product | Aircraft named on the official page | What the page says |
|---|---|---|
| Korean Air Prestige Suites 2.0 | Boeing 787-10 (36 Prestige seats, 325 seats in total) | Nearly a separate space with an open top; back reclines 180 degrees; seat length 78 inches (about 198 cm), seat spacing 46 inches, width 21 inches; 24-inch 4K screen with Bluetooth audio; wireless phone charger, two USB-C ports |
| Korean Air Prestige | Airbus A350-900 (28 Prestige seats, 311 seats in total) | 1-2-1 staggered layout; width 22 inches (56 cm); 77-inch (195.5 cm) bed; 47-inch pitch; every Prestige seat has aisle access; 18.5-inch screen |
| Asiana Business Suite | A380 only | Twin sliding doors; 32-inch screen; 83-inch pitch; 22-inch width; extra fee (below) |
| Asiana Business Smartium | A380, A350, B777 | 77-inch (195.5 cm) full-flat seat; 22-inch width; 74.5 to 77-inch pitch; 15.6 to 18.5-inch screen |
| Asiana Business (older layout) | B747, A330, A321 and A321neo, per an older Asiana page | B747/A330: 59-inch pitch, 20.2-inch width, 15.4-inch screen; A321/A321neo: 42 to 46-inch pitch |
A few gaps to know about:
- Korean Air's 787-10 release does not state the seat layout or whether every seat has aisle access, so don't assume either. It also does not say which routes fly it today. In July 2024 Korean Air planned a total of 20 787-10s by 2027, with Tokyo Narita first, Vancouver after initial short-haul operations, and the US West Coast and Europe later.
- Korean Air's A350-900 began on Japan routes on January 27, 2025, with Taipei, Madrid and Rome planned later that year. The pages don't say where it flies now.
- The pages used here do not describe Korean Air's other business cabins, such as the one on the 787-9.
- Asiana's Smartium page is from 2026. The older-layout row comes from an older page that still mentions COVID-19 rules, and it does not say which of those aircraft still fly. The 2026 page also shows a third tier with "angled lie-flat" seats without naming the aircraft.
- Asiana's pages describe Smartium as a staggered (zigzag) layout; the older page says you can reach the aisle without disturbing a neighbor.
Asiana's Business Suite fee
Buying a Suite seat on the A380 costs extra on top of a business ticket. Asiana's Business Suite page lists one-way fees by route and point of purchase: the KRW amounts below apply to purchases in Korea, and the USD amounts to purchases in the U.S. Elsewhere, the KRW amount is collected in local currency at the day's exchange rate. Website and app purchases use the currency paid for the ticket.
| Route | Fee per seat, one way |
|---|---|
| Korea to Japan, China, Northeast Asia | KRW 200,000 or USD 200.00 |
| Korea to Southeast Asia, Southwest Asia | KRW 350,000 or USD 350.00 |
| Korea to the U.S., Europe, Oceania | KRW 850,000 or USD 850.00 |
These are seat fees, not fares. You need a business ticket in booking class J, C, D or Z on an international Asiana flight; codeshare passengers can't buy it. You can buy from 360 days to 48 hours before departure, or at airport check-in after that. If you bought your flight ticket with another airline, you can only buy the Suite seat at the airport within 48 hours of departure. Refunds are available up to 48 hours before departure. The page does not say whether the Suite seat or its fee continues after December 17, 2026.
Checked baggage in business class
| Korean Air Prestige | Asiana Business | |
|---|---|---|
| International flights | 2 bags, 32 kg or less each | 2 bags, 32 kg each, on U.S. and non-U.S. routes |
| Domestic Korea | 30 kg or less | 30 kg |
| Size per bag | Some countries limit bags over 32 kg or 158 cm (62 in) in total linear size | 158 cm (62 in), all classes |
Asiana says its business allowance also applies to Business Suite. Asiana Club Platinum, Diamond Plus and Diamond members get 3 bags of up to 32 kg on international business tickets. On connections or codeshares with another airline, both sites say the other airline's rules may apply. Sources: Korean Air, Asiana.
Incheon: terminal, check-in and lounges
Both airlines use Terminal 2. Asiana moved there on January 14, 2026: flights before 23:59 on January 13 used Terminal 1, and from 00:00 on January 14 all Asiana flights use Terminal 2, check-in counters G to J. Asiana's 2026 business page gives business check-in counters J24 to J35. Korean Air's Prestige check-in is at counters A1 and A2. On a codeshare ticket, use the operating airline's terminal.
The lounges that Asiana's 2026 page lists for Terminal 2 are Korean Air's Prestige lounges:
| Lounge | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige West | Upstairs (4F), Gate 248 | 06:00 to 23:30 |
| Prestige East (Left) | Upstairs (4F), Gate 253 | 06:00 to 22:00 |
| Prestige East (Right) | Upstairs (4F), Gate 253 | 06:00 to 22:00 |
| Prestige Garden East | Upstairs (4F), Gate 281 | 06:00 to 22:00 |
| Prestige Garden West | Upstairs (4F), Gate 218 | 04:00 to 22:00 |
Asiana's A380 Suite page says Suite passengers get access to the Korean Air Prestige Lounge in Terminal 2, effective January 14, 2026. The same 2026 page still carries a Terminal 1 tab of Asiana lounges; since all Asiana flights moved to Terminal 2, that tab looks like a leftover. Korean Air's own May/June 2026 lounge report says it will operate seven lounges in Terminal 2 following the renewal, with total space about 2.5 times the previous scale. It calls Prestige West the largest lounge at the airport. Prestige Garden East has a cooking studio, a ramyeon library and an arcade room. Asiana's page lists five lounges, and the pages don't say whether Asiana business passengers can use all seven.
Miles and alliances: Star Alliance exit, then SkyTeam
Asiana leaves Star Alliance on December 16, 2026 at 23:59 KST, according to its June 23, 2026 notice. Asiana says it is because of the merger, and that after integration its members can enjoy SkyTeam benefits through the integrated Korean Air network. These are the dates that matter:
| Date (KST) | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | Last departure date to earn Star Alliance partner miles on an Asiana-operated flight. Automatic Asiana Club accrual on partner flights also stops after this date |
| October 31, 2026 | Deadline for missing-mileage claims on flights up to October 15. Last ticketing date for Asiana award tickets on Copa, Lufthansa, Swiss, Air New Zealand, Austrian and Brussels Airlines |
| November 30, 2026 | Last ticketing date for awards on Air India, Ethiopian, LOT, EgyptAir and ANA |
| December 16, 2026 | Last ticketing date for awards on Air Canada, EVA, Air China, South African, Singapore, Thai, TAP, United and Shenzhen Airlines. Aegean, Avianca, Croatia and Turkish awards must also be ticketed by this date, with travel up to December 16, 2027. Asiana leaves Star Alliance at 23:59 |
What this means in practice:
- Flights October 16 to December 16: Asiana Club accrual on Star Alliance flights is only by a separate request after you fly, with accrual available until December 16, 2026. The process had not been announced when the notice was posted.
- Award tickets: Star Alliance awards must be ticketed at least 3 days before the first departure. Awards already ticketed for travel outside the applicable airline's travel period stop being valid; Asiana says affected tickets will be refunded with miles reinstated and no penalty.
- Elite benefits: Star Alliance benefits for Asiana Club members (lounges, priority check-in, extra baggage) apply to flights departing on or before December 16, 2026. Members holding Star Alliance Gold through Diamond or above will be converted to SkyTeam Elite Plus. The notice does not describe other tiers.
- Your balance: miles already earned from Star Alliance flights, and their expiry dates, stay unchanged after the alliance exit.
The official pages used here do not cover SKYPASS earning rules or how Asiana miles will convert. In May 2026 Korean Air said the mileage integration plan was still being discussed with authorities and would be announced when confirmed. Asiana's notice list shows a follow-up titled "Notice on Mileage Integration Plan for Korean Air and Asiana Airlines", whose text is not in these pages.
Which should you choose
- Departing on or after December 17, 2026: an Asiana ticket will be a Korean Air flight number, operated by Korean Air. Choose on the aircraft's seat map and the schedule; the airline name no longer separates them.
- Departing before December 17, and you want the most private seat: look for the A380 with Asiana's Business Suite (twin sliding doors, extra fee), or Korean Air's 787-10 Prestige Suites 2.0. Confirm the flight is on that aircraft, because these pages do not confirm which routes currently offer these seats.
- Departing before December 17, and you want a full-flat seat with easy aisle access: Korean Air's A350-900 (1-2-1, every Prestige seat on the aisle) or Asiana Smartium on the A380, A350 or B777. The official pages describe both that way.
- You want to credit the flight to a Star Alliance partner program such as United: fly an Asiana flight departing on or before October 15, 2026. After that date, Asiana flights no longer earn Star Alliance partner miles.
- You collect Asiana Club miles on Star Alliance flights: flights up to October 15 credit normally; flights October 16 to December 16 need the separate request.
- You hold Asiana Club Diamond or above: your Star Alliance Gold status converts to SkyTeam Elite Plus, so flying Korean Air after December 17 does not cost you status benefits. Your miles earned from Star Alliance flights and their expiry dates stay unchanged after the alliance exit; these pages do not state how Asiana miles will convert.
- Baggage or lounge as the tiebreaker: both list a standard international business-class allowance of 2 bags of up to 32 kg each, and Asiana lists Korean Air Prestige lounges in Terminal 2.
Want a business class fare quote?
If you send us your route and travel dates, we can put together a business class quote on Korean Air or Asiana. Send us your route and dates.
