Consumer dissatisfaction over the use of flight mileage is rising, as a rising number of people reportedly face difficulties in purchasing tickets or upgrading their seats using their air mileage.

The number of related claims filed to the Korea Consumer Agency has risen by 60 percent on-year from 280 to 448 cases as of July 2015, according to data provided by the KCA to Rep. Park Byung-suk of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy. 

“An increasing number of consumers are complaining that it is difficult to purchase flight tickets or receive seat upgrades using their air mileage,” Park said.

The net amount of usable flight mileage (1 mile = 20 won) from 2008 to June 2015 reached around 2.13 trillion won ($1.82 billion), according to data provided by the Financial Supervisory Service to the lawmaker.

Yet it is difficult for consumers to actually use their accumulated mileage toward ticket purchases or upgrades, due to strict usage restrictions set forth by airline companies, according to Park.

“Airline companies severely limit the number of tickets that can be purchased with mileage and also unilaterally determine ‘peak seasons,’” said the lawmaker, calling on the Fair Trade Commission to reform the companies’ “unfair practices.”

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)