SkyTeam Reward Seat Release Dates

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In the world of points-based travel, understanding each airline’s reward seat release dates can make a substantial difference in securing your preferred flights. In this article, knowing when each airline in the SkyTeam alliance releases its reward seats is key to maximizing your miles.



SkyTeam Reward Seat Release Timeline

Here’s a breakdown of each SkyTeam member airline’s typical reward seat release schedule to help you plan:

AirlineAward Seat Opening Time
Aeroflot361 Days
Aerolineas Argentinas330 Days
AeroMexico330 Days
Air Europa353 Days
Air France359 Days
China Airlines355 Days
China Eastern365 Days
Czech Airlines361 Days
Delta Air Lines331 Days
Garuda Indonesia331 Days
Kenya Airways336 Days
KLM359 Days
Korean Air361 Days
Middle East Airlines357 Days
Saudia354 Days
TAROM361 Days
Vietnam Airlines330 Days
Xiamen Air361 Days
Virgin Atlantic331 Days

Navigating Unique Airline Practices

Now, let’s dig into some unique characteristics of these airlines’ reward programs:

Delta Air Lines

Delta has shifted to a dynamic pricing model, where the cost in miles for a free seat varies based on factors like demand. While this could mean great deals occasionally, it also introduces unpredictability in the required miles for a specific flight.

KLM & Air France

KLM & Air France, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, does not release any La Première award space to any partner programs. The only way to book a La Première flight with points is through their own Flying Blue loyalty program. They release their award seats 359 days in advance. They also offer discounted redemptions on certain routes every month known as “Promo Rewards”, which can provide savings up to 50% off.

Like its partner Air France, KLM opens its reward seat bookings 359 days in advance. Flying Blue members can also benefit from KLM’s “Promo Rewards”. Notably, in April 2018, when Flying Blue reinvented itself, the airline moved to dynamic award pricing, affecting both KLM and Air France .

Korean Air

Korean Air generally releases its award seats 361 days in advance. Known for its generous reward seat availability, especially for its own Skypass members, Korean Air has also moved to a dynamic award chart in 2023, causing redemption rates to fluctuate based on demand and seasonality.

don’t forget to get a luggage tag from the lounge if you fly First class

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic is unique in that it has separate award charts for each partner airline, which means the number of points needed for a booking varies by carrier. For most new SkyTeam partners, Virgin uses a standard award chart based on flight distance.

Remember that reward seat availability can depend on factors such as route, season, and the airline’s commercial considerations. If a reward seat is not available on your desired date, more seats may be released as the flight date gets closer – but this isn’t guaranteed. Booking early and maintaining flexibility in your travel dates is always the best approach.

For more information about specific release dates and booking strategies for each airline, refer back to this page, or check out our dedicated guides on Oneworld seat release dates and Star Alliance member release dates.

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Dan
Dan
Travelling on Points is the brainchild of a person who loves to travel and reap the benefits of doing so. Dan enjoys sharing the knowledge of travel as he believes that the more people travel the less narrow-minded, and more tolerant, people will be of each other.

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