Key takeaways
- The Delta SkyMiles program helps members earn miles that are redeemable for flights to over 1,000 destinations around the world.
- As part of Delta’s membership in the SkyTeam airline alliance, SkyMiles can be redeemed for flights on Delta as well as other partner airlines — such as Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic.
- You can also earn Delta SkyMiles by using a co-branded Delta credit card for spending or purchasing tickets with the airline and its partners.
Delta SkyMiles is the official loyalty program of Delta Air Lines, one of the world’s top airlines. The program provides its members numerous benefits and savings, and its currency — SkyMiles — can be redeemed for multiple purposes, including purchasing flights, seat upgrades and more.
Joining the Delta SkyMiles program is easy and completely free to get started. Once you join, you can begin earning miles and accessing special benefits right away. In this guide, we’ll break down how to join the Delta SkyMiles program, which co-branded credit cards earn SkyMiles and how to maximize your miles.
How to sign up for Delta SkyMiles
It’s free to join the Delta SkyMiles program. The registration can be found on the airline’s website and submitted through the online membership form.
Once you’ve joined the program, you can start earning Delta SkyMiles in two primary ways:
- Through qualifying Delta purchases
- Through spending with a co-branded Delta SkyMiles credit card
There are, however, a number of less-common ways to earn rewards, as well.
How to earn Delta SkyMiles
Earn miles on Delta purchases
To earn miles on Delta Air Lines flights, you’ll need to sign up for the Delta SkyMiles program. Once you’ve joined, you’ll receive a SkyMiles number that you will enter each time you book a flight with the airline or its partners. If you log in to Delta’s website before booking a ticket, your SkyMiles number will automatically be applied to your ticket purchase.
When you fly with the airline, you will earn a base rate of five miles for every dollar you spend on Delta-marketed flight tickets (Main Cabin class and above). For partner flights, you may earn miles at a different rate. You can also boost the number of miles you earn by achieving Diamond Medallion Status, which allows you to earn up to 11 miles per dollar spent. And the good news is that there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn on a ticket.
Money tip:
If you’ve already booked your trip, and you’re wondering how to add your SkyMiles number to an existing reservation, note that you can do this after the fact by accessing the “My Trips” tab on Delta’s website.
Earn miles with a Delta SkyMiles credit or debit card
With Delta Air Lines credit cards, you can earn miles on everyday purchases. There are several Delta American Express cards for general consumers, all of which offer rewards programs and bonus miles for new cardholders, including the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
Earn miles via other rewards programs
Another way to earn Delta SkyMiles is by converting rewards from another loyalty program to Delta SkyMiles. The best way to do this is through the American Express Membership Rewards program.
You can earn Amex Membership Rewards points with any eligible American Express credit card and convert them to Delta SkyMiles in increments of 1,000 at a long-standing transfer ratio of 1:1.
Keep in mind:
American Express levies a small excise tax for U.S. card members transferring their points to Delta.
In addition to partnering with other credit card rewards programs, Delta offers a partnership with Starbucks. With this program, when you load $25 or more to your Starbucks account, you can also earn SkyMiles. For example, loading $100 to your Starbucks Rewards account will earn you 200 SkyMiles.
Earn miles with partner airlines
Delta Air Lines has many airline partners you can earn miles with. Some of Delta’s biggest partner airlines include:
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- AeroMexico
- Air France
- China Eastern
- KLM
- Korean Air
- LATAM Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
Each airline has different rules on rewards and redemptions. For more information, check out Delta’s website to learn how partner airlines work with the Delta SkyMiles program.
Earn miles with other travel partners
Beyond airline partners, Delta has a number of cruise, hotel and car partners that allow you to earn SkyMiles. The frequent flyer program also offers vacation packages where you can pick up additional miles.
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Delta offers all-in-one vacation packages that feature top hotels and exclusive experiences around the world. In addition to flight miles, The primary person on the booking can earn bonus miles on every flight and hotel package when you spend:
- Up to $4,999: Earn 1,000 bonus miles
- $5,000 to $9,999: Earn 5,000 bonus miles
- $10,000 or more: Earn 10,000 bonus miles
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Delta offers its own hotel and vacation rental booking engine called Delta Stays, which is powered by Expedia. On completed stays, SkyMiles members earn at least 2X miles per dollar spent on the base hotel rate. Completed car rentals earn the same rate. Members must enter their SkyMiles number during the booking process to earn miles.
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With Delta Cruises, you can earn SkyMiles on your next cruise. You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar spent on these bookings, and select cruises also come with bonus miles. Additionally, the Delta Cruises website frequently features limited-time offers and cruise line deals, so be sure to check for current promotions.
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- Airbnb: Earn 1X mile per dollar on qualifying stays
- Marriott Bonvoy: Earn 1X to 2X miles per dollar on eligible charges
- IHG Rewards Club: Earn 1X to 2X miles per dollar on eligible charges
- Le Club Accor Hotels: Earn 2.5X to 12.5X miles for every 10 euros at qualifying hotels
- World of Hyatt: Earn 500 miles per eligible stay
- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts: Earn 500 miles per eligible stay or transfer Shangri-La Golden Circle points to SkyMiles at a ratio of 1:1
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- Hertz: Earn 4X to 8X miles per eligible booking and depending on Medallion status
- Dollar Car Rental: Earn 4X miles per dollar on eligible bookings
- Thrifty Car Rental: Earn 4X miles per dollar on eligible bookings
- Uber: Earn up to 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible airport rides
- Alamo: Earn 2X miles per dollar with each qualifying rental
- Enterprise: Earn 2X miles per dollar with each qualifying rental
- National: Earn 2X miles per dollar with each qualifying rental
- Avis: Earn 2X miles per dollar on completed qualifying rentals
- Budget: Earn 2X miles per dollar on completed qualifying rentals
- Payless: Earn 2X miles per dollar on completed qualifying rentals
- Sixt Rent a Car: Earn 2X miles per dollar with each qualifying rental
- Turo: Earn 2,000 miles after you complete your first trip and 500 miles for each trip after
- Europcar: Earn 60 miles per day
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Delta partners with other companies to help you earn more miles through qualifying spending, although some of these partner offers change over time. For example, Delta offers an eShopping portal and a Delta Dining club that make it possible for members to earn miles on additional types of eligible spending.
How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?
The value of Delta SkyMiles can be difficult to determine because Delta does not have a fixed award chart. Instead, the program uses a dynamic pricing system for award tickets that is based on multiple factors. According to Bankrate’s points and miles valuations, SkyMiles are worth around 1.2 cents on average.
The best way to get an idea of how much your rewards balance is worth is to play around with the Delta website and look for deals. For example, searching for a flight with destinations and dates that fit your future travel plans will show you the cash price and the number of SkyMiles needed for that flight.
Dividing the cash price by the number of miles required will give you a sense of whether the flight is a good deal for your miles. Ex. A $500 flight for 40,000 miles means your miles are worth 1.25 cents each. ($500 / 40,000 = .0125)
Delta also lets members book with miles, cash or a combination of the two. However, members tend to get less value for their miles this way. For example, imagine a flight that costs:
- 43,500 miles plus $12 in airline taxes and fees
- 33,500 miles plus $192 with the cash and miles option
- $577 if paying with cash only
While the first option gives a value of about 1.3 cents per mile for the redemption ($565 / 43,500 =.0129), the second option only gets 1.1 cents per mile in value ($385 / 33,500 = .0114).
| Option | Miles Used | Cash Paid | Value per Mile | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All miles | 43,500 | $12 | 1.3 cents | Best value |
| Miles + cash | 33,500 | $192 | 1.1 cents | Lower value |
| All cash | 0 | $577 | N/A | Most expensvie |
Delta cardholders can get more bang for their buck
Delta credit cards offer a “Pay with Miles” feature that allows Delta co-branded cardholders to use their miles toward discounts on the price of their Delta tickets. You’ll get $50 off for every 5,000 miles you redeem, which is equal to 1 cent per mile. Simply pay the difference with cash to complete the booking.
Be aware that Delta cardholders also get a better rate with their miles through a program called TakeOff 15. Essentially, this promotion lets Delta credit card members get 15 percent off all award flights. Continuing with the example above, a $577 flight that normally requires 43,500 miles (plus $12 in fees) could be booked for 36,975 miles through this program, resulting in a redemption value of 1.5 cents per mile.
How to redeem Delta SkyMiles
Redeem for flights
Redeeming Delta SkyMiles is simple when you want to buy a flight ticket. Booking through Delta will give you the option to pay with SkyMiles, cash or both.
- Select “Book” on Delta.com or in the Fly Delta mobile app. Enter your trip information. Then, select the option to “Shop with Miles” on Delta.com or “Show Price in Miles” if you’re using the Delta app.
- Search for a flight. You’ll see the price in miles. Choose your flight(s) and complete your purchase with miles. If you don’t have enough miles to cover the cost of the ticket, you can switch from “Show Price In Miles” to “Show Price In Miles + Cash.” If you’re a Delta credit card customer, you can also redeem rewards starting at 5,000 miles for $50 off your flight on the checkout page.
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Redeem with Delta Air Lines transfer partners
You can redeem SkyMiles on partner flights, which provides you with greater flexibility when it comes to purchasing your next flight. Partners you can book through Delta.com include:
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- Aeromexico
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Air France
- Cape Air
- China Eastern
- China Airlines
- China Southern
- Garuda Indonesia
- Hawaiian Airlines
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
- Korean Air
- LATAM
- Mandarin Airlines
- Middle East Airlines
- Saudia Airlines
- Shanghai Airlines
- Tarom Airlines
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- WestJet
- Xiamen Airlines
Medallion members or Delta SkyMiles credit card members who live in Japan can redeem miles for select Skymark Airlines flights. Make sure to read the terms and conditions and check Skymark’s flight schedule before booking.
Other ways to redeem your SkyMiles
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SkyMiles can also be used to book travel packages through Delta Vacations. You can use miles to pay for all or part of your reservation. After choosing a package, simply select miles for your payment type. Enter the number of miles you’d like to redeem, and your mileage discount will be applied prior to completing your purchase.
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You can also use SkyMiles to book a hotel or vacation rental through Delta Stays. Simply log in to your SkyMiles account on the Delta Stays platform, click the “Book Now” button and select the option to “Pay with miles” while searching for properties.
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Delta routinely offers SkyMiles sales, allowing members to redeem miles for flights at a set discount if the member travels between the current offering of city pairs on sale for a specific time period. The list of routes on sale can be found on the SkyMiles Deals website.
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- Upgrade your seat
- Purchase premium drinks
- Redeem miles for checked baggage fees
- Purchase a Sky Club membership
- Pay for ticket change fees, same-day confirmed fees or an external ticket charge
- Donate miles through Delta’s SkyWish program
- Gift miles
- Buy gift cards
- Buy magazines
- Shop for merchandise in the SkyMiles Marketplace
- Bid on exclusive opportunities, like VIP passes, classes and backstage access at events through SkyMiles Experiences
What to know about the Delta SkyMiles Medallion program
Medallion Status opens up more opportunities for SkyMiles members, although the program perks you’ll receive depend on which tier you’ve achieved.
There are four status tiers in the Medallion program: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Reaching each tier is based on Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). You’ll earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on a ticket for a Delta-marketed flight operated either by Delta or one of its airline partners. Here are the differences between each tier:
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The first status tier, known as Silver Medallion, unlocks unlimited complimentary upgrades, priority check-in, priority boarding, waived baggage fees, a preferred Clear Plus membership rate, Hertz car rental benefits and free selection of preferred Main Cabin seats.
You’ll also earn 7X miles per dollar spent, rather than the standard 5X miles per dollar. Reaching this status requires $5,000 MQDs.
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Along with the benefits and complimentary upgrades of the Silver tier, you’ll also receive access to the full Sky Priority suite of services. This suite provides priority security line access, expedited baggage perks and Zone 4 priority boarding.
You’ll earn 8X miles per dollar spent. Reaching this status requires $10,000 MQDs.
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With Platinum Medallion status, you’ll get all the previous tiers’ benefits, plus a customizable Choice Benefit. Choice Benefits allow you to pick an additional benefit from a list of options. For example, starting with the 2025 program year, you could choose to receive 30,000 bonus miles, give Silver status to two friends or family members, receive a $1,000 MQD accelerator towards the next Medallion Qualification Year or receive a $300 Delta travel voucher, among other options.
You’ll earn 9X miles per dollar spent at this level. Reaching this status requires $15,000 MQDs.
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Diamond Medallion, the highest Medallion tier, offers all the previous tiers’ benefits plus higher-priority booking, upgrading and boarding and a complimentary CLEAR membership. You’ll also receive three Choice Benefits that include additional options — such as Delta Sky Club membership, 35,000 bonus miles and more.
You’ll earn 11X miles per dollar spent at this level. Reaching this status requires $28,000 MQDs.
Best credit cards that earn Delta SkyMiles
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The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is a great card to consider if you travel sporadically, prefer flying with Delta and are looking to get started with the SkyMiles program. Cardholders can:
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
This card comes with a $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, 20 percent back on eligible in-flight purchases and an attainable welcome offer of 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 within the first six months of card membership.
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With the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, the rewards and benefits you’ll receive can make the cost of membership worth it. The card includes a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150. Plus, the welcome offer requirement is fairly easy to meet — you can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within the first six months.
As for rewards, you can:
- Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
Other benefits include a $200 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year, a 20 percent discount (in the form of a statement credit) on in-flight purchases, the first checked bag free on Delta flights, baggage insurance, car rental loss and damage insurance, extended warranty coverage and purchase protection.
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For those who love to fly Delta and are looking to enjoy some upgraded benefits, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card may be a good fit. Cardholders can:
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
You’ll also enjoy 60,000 bonus miles when you make $3,000 in purchases within the first six months after opening your account.
Even better, you’ll also receive a handful of benefits while flying with Delta — including Zone 5 priority boarding and your first bag checked free. You’ll also get access to various annual credits, and the card even helps you achieve Medallion status quicker (offering $2,500 MQDs each year). However, it does come with a $350 annual fee.
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If you’re a Delta loyalist looking for luxury travel benefits, you should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Although this card comes with a high annual fee of $650, frequent travelers can recoup the cost through the card’s benefits and perks. To start with, the card includes a welcome offer of 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 in the first six months. Cardholders can:
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
Additionally, the card comes with an MQD headstart of $2,500 MQDs each year, plus you’ll earn $1 MQD per $10 in purchases on your card. Cardmembers also get complimentary Centurion Lounge access and up to $560 a year in various other statement credits.
The bottom line
If you’re a loyal Delta traveler, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to earn frequent flyer miles with the Delta SkyMiles program, an eligible Amex Delta credit card or both. That said, this program’s true potential is unlocked once you reach an elite Medallion status tier that includes luxury travel benefits and boosted reward rates.
While the number of points required to redeem a flight can be steep, Delta’s program has no blackout dates, offering flexibility of reward space in exchange for more miles required. Be sure to thoroughly compare the Delta SkyMiles program to other airline credit cards and airline loyalty programs so that you can find the best travel card and program for your needs.
Frequently asked questions about Delta SkyMiles
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Delta SkyMiles do not expire. As long as your account is active and in good standing, your points remain available for use. Keep in mind, if a member violates the terms and conditions of the program, their account may be closed and their points forfeited.
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You can gift your SkyMiles to up to four recipients at a time, and you can transfer your miles to up to four SkyMiles members at a time. This entire process can be done online via the transfer miles webpage. Terms and conditions, including transfer transaction fees, apply.
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Yes, you can purchase Delta SkyMiles in 2,000-mile increments and a total of 60,000 miles per year.
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