Delta SkyMiles stands out as a leading loyalty program in the airline industry, associated with Delta Air Lines. With approximately 120 million members, it’s recognized as the world’s largest airline loyalty program. Delta SkyMiles are valued at around 1.2 cents each, according to recent valuations, offering versatile redemption options from flights to upgrades and hotel stays. The optimal value often arises from Delta’s flash sales, presenting discounted award flights for both domestic and international destinations.
Earning SkyMiles is straightforward, whether you’re flying or shopping online. Delta offers a variety of co-branded credit cards, many featuring substantial welcome bonuses to quickly grow your SkyMiles balance. This article dives deep into the Delta SkyMiles program, providing essential details for maximizing your rewards.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
Understanding the Delta SkyMiles Program
Delta SkyMiles is more than just a frequent flyer program; it’s a gateway to unlocking travel benefits and rewards. Joining is free, and a significant advantage is that your miles never expire, giving you flexibility in when and how you use them.
You can accumulate Delta SkyMiles through numerous activities. Common methods include:
- Flying with Delta and Partners: Earn miles when you fly with Delta or its partner airlines.
- Delta Co-branded Credit Cards: Spending on Delta credit cards earns you miles on everyday purchases.
- American Express Membership Rewards Transfers: Convert points from American Express Membership Rewards to SkyMiles.
- Delta SkyMiles Shopping Portal: Earn miles by shopping online through the Delta portal.
- SkyMiles Dining Program: Get miles for dining at participating restaurants.
- Promotional Offers: Take advantage of various promotions offered by Delta to boost your miles.
Beyond miles, the program also allows you to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs), crucial for achieving Delta elite status. Elite status comes with perks like upgrades, priority services, and airport lounge access.
Related: How to keep your points and miles from expiring
Exploring Delta SkyMiles Program Partners
Delta is a key member of the SkyTeam airline alliance, a global network encompassing over a dozen airlines. This partnership broadens your horizons for earning and redeeming SkyMiles across a vast network. SkyTeam’s extensive reach covers 1,000 destinations across six continents, offering unparalleled travel possibilities.
The SkyTeam alliance members include:
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- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- China Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- SAS
- Saudia
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- XiamenAir
Related: Delta bolsters 2025 plans in Europe, Asia with 2 new international routes
Beyond SkyTeam: Additional Partners
Delta’s partnerships extend beyond the SkyTeam alliance, providing even more avenues to earn miles when you fly with other airlines. These non-alliance partners include:
- AirBaltic
- Cape Air
- China Southern Airlines
- El Al
- Hawaiian Airlines
- LATAM
- WestJet
It’s important to note that each partnership comes with specific terms and conditions, so it’s wise to check the details before planning your travel.
Related: The best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability
Delta SkyMiles Elite Status: Elevating Your Travel Experience
The SkyMiles program features four elite status tiers designed to reward frequent Delta flyers: Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion. Each tier offers increasing benefits, enhancing your travel experience.
Delta SkyMiles offers four tiers of elite status, each with unique benefits for frequent flyers.
Achieving Delta Medallion Status
Starting January 1, 2024, Delta has transitioned to using Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) as the sole metric for earning elite status. The thresholds for achieving each tier have also been adjusted. Additionally, the MQD waiver through credit card spending has been discontinued.
You can accrue MQDs through the following methods:
- Flights with Delta and Partners: Earn 1 MQD for every dollar spent on Delta-marketed flights operated by Delta or its partner airlines.
- Eligible Credit Cards: Certain Delta SkyMiles American Express cards offer MQD earning opportunities. The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card allow you to earn 1 MQD for every $10 spent. The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card provide 1 MQD for every $20 spent. These Platinum and Reserve cards also offer an MQD Headstart of 2,500 MQDs annually. (Terms apply).
- Delta Vacations: Earn 1 MQD per dollar spent on Delta Vacations packages, covering flights, stays, cars, and activities.
Given the changes, achieving Medallion status requires more focused effort. However, the benefits offered at each tier can significantly improve your travel experience.
Related: Is Delta Air Lines status worth it? What this disappointed soon-to-be-Diamond thinks
SkyMiles Silver Medallion Benefits
Silver Medallion is the entry-level elite tier, offering valuable perks:
- Complimentary First-Class Upgrades: Available 24 hours before departure on domestic and short-haul international flights.
- Comfort+ Upgrades: Upgrade to Comfort+ seats within 24 hours of departure.
- Priority Services: Priority boarding (Zone 5) and check-in.
- Free Checked Bag: One free checked bag for you and up to eight companions on Delta flights.
SkyMiles Gold Medallion Advantages
Moving up to Gold Medallion status brings enhanced benefits:
- Enhanced Upgrade Windows: First-class upgrades on domestic and short-haul international flights from 72 hours before departure.
- Earlier Comfort+ Access: Access to Comfort+ upgrades starting 72 hours prior to departure.
- SkyPriority: Enjoy SkyPriority status for expedited airport services.
- Waived Change Fees: Fees waived for same-day confirmed flight changes.
SkyMiles Platinum Medallion Privileges
Platinum Medallion status offers even more premium benefits:
- Extended Upgrade Window: First-class upgrades starting 120 hours (five days) before departure for domestic and short-haul international flights.
- Instant Comfort+ Upgrades: Confirm Comfort+ upgrades at the time of booking.
- Choice Benefits: Select a Choice Benefit from a range of options.
SkyMiles Diamond Medallion Top-Tier Benefits
Diamond Medallion is the highest publicly attainable status, offering the most comprehensive perks:
- Expanded Choice Benefits: Access to a wider selection of Choice Benefits.
- Complimentary Clear Plus Membership: Expedited security screening through Clear Plus.
- Highest Upgrade Priority: Top priority for upgrades among Medallion members.
Delta also operates an invitation-only tier, Delta 360, which is shrouded in exclusivity, with details on benefits and qualification not publicly disclosed.
Related: Delta 360 status: What it is and how to earn the invite-only elite status
Maximizing SkyMiles Earnings
There are numerous ways to increase your SkyMiles balance. The most common are flying, using co-branded credit cards, and leveraging shopping portals.
Delta SkyMiles credit cards are a fast way to earn miles and enjoy travel perks.
Earning Miles Through Flights
When flying Delta, the number of SkyMiles you earn is based on your status and the base fare of your ticket (excluding basic economy). Higher status tiers earn miles at a faster rate:
- General Member: 5 miles per dollar
- Silver Medallion: 7 miles per dollar
- Gold Medallion: 8 miles per dollar
- Platinum Medallion: 9 miles per dollar
- Diamond Medallion: 11 miles per dollar
For partner airline flights booked through Delta, mileage earning is similar to Delta flights. However, if booked directly with a partner airline, miles are earned based on a percentage of distance flown, varying by partner, booking class, and status.
Related: Can I earn the miles if I buy someone a ticket?
SkyMiles Credit Cards: A Fast Track to Miles
Delta offers a range of credit cards with American Express, catering to different spending habits and travel preferences. Most cards, except the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, offer benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, and discounts on inflight purchases and award redemptions.
Here’s a comparison of some top Delta SkyMiles credit cards:
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome bonus | TPG’s valuation | Notable perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months. | $960 | – $200 Delta flight credit after $10,000 annual spending – Up to $100 annual Delta Stays credit |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card | $350 | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months. | $1,080 | – Annual companion certificate for main cabin flights – Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck – Monthly Resy and ride-hailing credits – Up to $150 annual Delta Stays credit – Hertz Five Star status |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card | $650 | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months. | $1,200 | – 15 Delta Sky Club visits (from Feb 2025) & Amex Centurion Lounge access – Annual companion certificate for main cabin, Comfort+, or first class – Upgrade priority for non-Medallion members – Monthly Resy and ride-hailing credits – Up to $200 annual Delta Stays credit – Hertz President’s Circle status |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on your new card within the first six months. | $1,080 | – 2x miles on shipping and advertising (up to $50,000/year) – $200 Delta flight credit after $10,000 annual spending – Up to $150 annual Delta Stays credit |
| Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card | $350 | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 in the first six months. | $1,200 | – 1.5x miles on transit and purchases over $5,000 (up to $100,000/year) – Annual companion certificate for main cabin flights – Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck – Monthly Resy and ride-hailing credits – Up to $200 annual Delta Stays credit |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card | $650 | Earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases within the first six months. | $1,320 | – 15 Delta Sky Club visits & Amex Centurion Lounge access – 1.5x miles on transit, shipping, and office supplies; 1.5x on all purchases after $150,000 annual spending – Annual companion certificate for main cabin, Comfort+, or first class – Upgrade priority for non-Medallion members – Monthly Resy and ride-hailing credits – Up to $250 annual Delta Stays credit – Hertz President’s Circle status |
Related: 5 things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles
Utilizing Shopping Portals for Miles
Online shopping portals are an easy way to accumulate airline miles on everyday purchases.
The Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal provides an effortless way to earn miles on online purchases from over a thousand merchants. Simply log in with your SkyMiles account, find your desired store through the portal, and shop as usual. Miles are automatically credited to your account post-purchase. Using a shopping portal aggregator can help you compare rates across different portals to ensure you maximize your miles earning.
Related: Your guide to maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases
Transferring Amex Points to SkyMiles
American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. However, it’s generally not the most valuable redemption, as Amex points are typically valued higher than SkyMiles. Additionally, transfers to domestic programs like Delta incur an excise tax offset fee.
Related: American Express Membership Rewards transfer partners: Maximize your points
Redeeming SkyMiles for Flights and More
Delta SkyMiles uses dynamic pricing, meaning there’s no fixed award chart. The number of miles needed for a flight varies based on demand, route, and time of year. To find out How Many Points To Fly Delta, you need to search directly on the Delta website or app. The calendar feature is useful for finding the lowest mileage options for your travel dates.
Redeeming Delta SkyMiles for flights can offer good value, especially for domestic routes.
Domestic flights often present the best redemption values. Cardholders with a 15% discount on Delta award tickets can sometimes find short-haul flights for under 4,000 SkyMiles one-way. Delta award tickets (excluding basic economy on flights originating in the US/Canada) are fully refundable, offering flexibility if your plans change or if prices decrease after booking.
You can also use SkyMiles to book flights with partner airlines, but the value might be less optimal due to pricing alignment with Delta’s own flights, particularly for premium cabins.
Related: How to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
Finding Sweet Spots for SkyMiles Redemption
While dynamic pricing limits traditional “sweet spots,” there are still opportunities to maximize your SkyMiles value.
Even with dynamic pricing, Delta SkyMiles can unlock valuable travel experiences.
Delta Flash Sales: A Prime Opportunity
Delta frequently offers SkyMiles flash sales, featuring discounted award flights to various destinations, including Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. These sales can offer significant savings, with past deals including round-trip flights to Europe for as low as 33,000 miles and fares to Tahiti starting at 60,000 miles. Keeping an eye on these sales is crucial for maximizing your redemption value.
Delta and LATAM Economy Flights to South America
Flights to South America, especially Brazil, can be expensive. Redeeming SkyMiles for LATAM flights, a Delta partner, can offer good value. Round-trip flights from JFK to Sao Paulo can sometimes be found for around 66,000 SkyMiles, including nonstop options.
Related: How to get value from 5,000 or fewer Delta SkyMiles
Final Thoughts on Delta SkyMiles
Delta Air Lines is often recognized as a top domestic airline, consistently ranking high in customer satisfaction and operational performance. Despite recent changes to award pricing and elite status qualification that have adjusted the program’s landscape, the Delta SkyMiles program remains a valuable asset for travelers.
To effectively utilize SkyMiles, focus on a combination of flying with Delta and partners, using shopping portals, and strategic spending on Delta credit cards. This approach will help you accumulate miles efficiently and unlock rewarding travel experiences. When considering how many points to fly Delta, remember to check the Delta website for real-time pricing and explore opportunities like flash sales and partner redemptions to get the most out of your miles.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, click here.For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, click here.
