Navigating Delta Air Lines Rewards in 2024: SkyMiles Program Deep Dive

• Earn SkyMiles
• Redeem SkyMiles
• FAQs

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• Delta SkyMiles are easy to earn from flying, using certain credit cards, or transferring Amex points.
• SkyMiles can be used for flights on Delta or SkyTeam alliance partners like Air France and KLM.
• Read Business Insider's guide to the best Delta credit cards.

Introduction to Delta SkyMiles

Delta is one of the world's largest airlines. If you live in a hub city such as Atlanta, New York, or Seattle, this airline may be your carrier of choice. And if you're loyal to this airline, earning and redeeming Delta SkyMiles through the carrier's loyalty program can help you earn your way toward award flights. 

Here's what you should know about the Delta SkyMiles awards program. 

How Delta SkyMiles works

The Delta SkyMiles loyalty program helps Delta lovers earn rewards and elite status. Loyalists can earn Delta SkyMiles from flying, from co-branded credit cards, and through a number of other options. 

Since Delta flies to so many destinations within the U.S., and Delta SkyMiles are relatively easy to earn. As a result, there are many different ways for you to redeem miles with Delta and its partners in the SkyTeam airline alliance. However, many of these redemption opportunities do not provide good value.

To find out how much Delta miles are worth (along with 29 other airline, hotel, and bank programs), check out Business Insider's guide to points and miles valuations for 2024.

How to Earn Delta SkyMiles

There are multiple ways to earn Delta SkyMiles. The most popular options are listed below. 

Flying with Delta and partner airlines

The most obvious way to earn Delta SkyMiles is to fly on Delta. Within the past several years, Delta has changed its earning structure, so the number of redeemable miles that you earn on most Delta flights is calculated by your elite status and the total cost of the fare, as follows:

• General SkyMiles Members: 5 miles per dollar
• Silver Members: 7 miles per dollar
• Gold Members: 8 miles per dollar
• Platinum Members: 9 miles per dollar
• Diamond Members: 11 miles per dollar

Delta has more than 20 airline partners — some through the SkyTeam airline alliance, as well as a few non-alliance partners. You can earn Delta SkyMiles when flying on these partner airlines by adding your SkyMiles membership information to your flight itinerary. The number of SkyMiles you earn depends on your route and the fare class of the ticket you've purchased and varies by partner.

Earn miles from Delta credit cards

Another way to quickly earn a lot of Delta SkyMiles is by earning welcome offers on American Express co-branded Delta credit cards. There are seven total: Four consumer credit cards, and three business cards.

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.

$350

N/A

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 50,000 bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns bonus miles at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual companion certificate can help you recoup most, if not all, of the annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. You get a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights

• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High annual fee

Delta's mid-tier card is a good choice for frequent flyers who can take advantage of money-saving benefits like a free checked bag and priority boarding on Delta flights, an annual companion certificate, and a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee. However, if you're unlikely to maximize these perks or you don't fly Delta that often, a travel credit card with a lower annual fee is a better choice.

• Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• 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.
• $120 Resy Credit: When you use your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $10 each month in statement credits.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 3x Miles on Delta purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1X Miles on all other purchases.

$650

N/A

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 60,000 bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual companion certificate benefit, which is valid for domestic first class and Comfort+ as well as the main cabin
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to Delta Sky Clubs and American Express Centurion Lounges when you're flying Delta
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns 3x miles on Delta purchases

• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer bonus miles on non-Delta purchases

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card is one of the best airline credit cards for frequent Delta flyers who can use benefits like airport lounge access, which can make the $650 annual fee worthwhile.

• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly Delta so you can share the experience with family and friends.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 1-2 miles per dollar on purchases

$0

N/A

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 10,000 bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns bonus miles at US restaurants

• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't offer benefits like a free checked bag when you fly Delta

If you want a credit card that earns Delta miles for your everyday spending but absolutely don't want to pay an annual fee, this card is worth considering. While it doesn't offer travel perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding, cardholders do get 20% back as a statement credit on Delta inflight purchases and access to Delta's Pay With Miles feature. For most Delta flyers, however, a Delta card with an annual fee and more benefits will prove more valuable.

• Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
• No Annual Fee.
• 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, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
• Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Terms Apply.

Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year. Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.

$0 intro for the first year, then $150

N/A

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 55,000 bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Intro annual fee is $0 for the first year (then $150)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns bonus miles on select business-related purchases as well as on Delta purchases
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Get a free checked bag and Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights

• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't earn bonus miles on common expenses like dining

If you're a Delta flyer looking for a rewards business card that comes with elite-like perks including a free checked bag and priority boarding, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card is a great choice. It earns bonus miles on Delta flights and other useful bonus categories, and has a reasonable annual fee.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 55,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Additionally, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year.
• Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year.
• Earn 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants.
• Earn 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases.
• Check and stow your bag with ease: First Checked Bag Free on Delta Flights + Zone 5 Priority Boarding.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your Delta Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
• Terms and limitations apply.

Earn 3x Miles on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels. Earn 1.5x Miles on transit, eligible U.S. shipping, and purchases of $5,000 or more (up to $100,000 per calendar year). Earn 1x Miles on all other purchases.

$350

N/A

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 65,000 bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual companion certificate benefit helps you recoup the annual fee
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Application fee credit of up to $85 for TSA PreCheck and up to $100 for Global Entry

• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Doesn't earn bonus miles on everyday purchase categories like dining and office supply stores

If you own a small business and fly Delta often, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card could save you money. With elite-like perks and an annual companion certificate potentially worth hundreds of dollars, this is a great rewards business card for Delta loyalists.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 65,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after renewal of your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• Earn 1.5X miles* on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply.
• Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With the $120 Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Terms and limitations apply.

Earn 3x miles per every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1.5x miles on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, U.S. office supply stores, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150,000 in a calendar year. Earn 1x miles on other purchases.

$650

N/A

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Earn 75,000 bonus miles

Good to Excellent

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Annual companion certificate that works in first class
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounges when you're flying Delta (Effective 2/1/25, Reserve card members will receive 15 visits per year to the Delta Sky Club and must spend $75,000 or more in total eligible purchases on the card to earn an unlimited number of visits each year going forward)
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Earns 3x miles on eligible Delta purchases

• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Very high annual fee
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No bonus miles on non-Delta purchases

This premium Amex card is a good choice for small-business owners who fly Delta very frequently and can take advantage of upscale perks like Delta Sky Club and Amex Centurion Lounge access, an annual companion certificate, and complimentary upgrades. However, it has the highest annual fee of any Delta business card, so if you aren't able to use these benefits, it won't be worth it.

• Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
• Earn 3 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases.
• Get closer to elevated Status next Medallion® Year with MQD Headstart and MQD Boost: receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 on purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• With the $240 Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers.
• Save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Not a Medallion Member? Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge or Escape Lounge – The Centurion® Studio Partner.
• Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
• Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
• Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas.
• Terms and limitations apply.

Delta offers the following personal credit cards:

Delta Skymiles Gold 

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great choice if you fly Delta every once in a while.

You'll earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership as a new cardholder, and receive a free first checked bag on Delta flights for yourself and up to eight companions on the same reservation, priority boarding, a 20% discount on inflight purchases, 15% off award flights on Delta, and a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year. There's an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150.

Read more about this card in our Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex Card review.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers a bonus of 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Cardholders receive the same checked bag perk, priority boarding, award flight discount, and inflight discounts as the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.

The card also comes with an annual Delta companion certificate on each card anniversary and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100 after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider. There's a $350 annual fee.

Read more about this card in our Delta Skymiles Platinum Amex card review.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership. It comes with a $650 annual fee, but it's worth it if you fly Delta often.

This card offers unlimited access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges when you fly Delta and use your card to book the ticket. Beginning February 2025, this benefit will drop to just 15 complimentary SkyClub visits per year; cardholders will have to spend $75,000 or more in total eligible purchases on the card to earn an unlimited number of visits each year.

You'll also get two Delta Sky Club one-time guest passes each year, up to $100 for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit after you apply through any authorized enrollment provider, and access to complimentary upgrades for non-elite Delta members.

Read more about this card in our Delta Skymiles Reserve review.

Delta SkyMiles Blue

The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card has a $0 annual fee and comes with a welcome bonus offer of 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first six months from account opening. 

This card doesn't offer many extra perks, but cardholders earn 2x miles on Delta and restaurant purchases and 1x miles on everything else. You'll also get 20% back on inflight purchases of food and beverages as a statement credit, and the ability to Pay with Miles when booking on Delta.com.

Read more about this card in our Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex card review.

If you qualify for a small-business credit card — either by running your own business or by doing some freelance work  — you could be eligible for one of Delta's three business credit cards:

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business

Small-business owners who fly Delta occasionally should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, with a welcome bonus offer of 55,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

This card comes with most of the same perks as the personal Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, Delta award flight discount, and inflight discounts on Delta flights, as well as a $200 Delta flight credit after you spend $10,000 on the card in a calendar year. There's an annual fee of $0 intro for the first year, then $150.

Read more about this card in our American Express Delta Gold Business card review.

Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card is offering 65,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership, and cardholders receive the same perks as the personal version of the card, including a free checked bag, priority boarding, discount on Delta flights, and inflight discounts on Delta, and an annual companion certificate. There's a $350 annual fee.

One additional benefit is the ability to earn 1.5x miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more on up to $100,000 per year. Cardholders also earn 3x miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.

Read more about this card in our American Express Delta Platinum Business card review.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card comes with a bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.

You'll get access to Delta Sky Club airport lounges when flying Delta, and access to Amex Centurion Lounges when you fly Delta and use your card to book the ticket. (As with the consumer version, this benefit drops to 15 complimentary visits per year come February 2025.)

The card has a $650 annual fee.

Read more about this card in our Amex Delta Reserve Business card review.

Having an airline credit card can get you additional perks when you fly. In addition to all of the bonus SkyMiles, most of these Delta credit cards come with benefits including free checked bags and priority boarding on Delta flights.

Earn miles from non-Delta American Express credit cards

If you prefer earning transferable points instead of locking yourself into Delta SkyMiles, consider a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards points. Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Delta SkyMiles. That means you can earn Amex points and have the flexibility to transfer to Delta or use them however you see fit.

Here are a few of the best American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points that you can transfer to Delta SkyMiles:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
• American Express® Gold Card: 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first six months of card membership plus 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first six months of card membership, up to $100 back (offer ends 11/6/24)
• American Express® Green Card : 60,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership and earn 20% back on eligible travel and transit purchases, up to a total of $200 back, made during your first six months of card membership
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first three months of card membership
• American Express® Business Gold Card: 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the card within the first three months of card membership
• Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card : 15,000 points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening
• Amex EveryDay® Credit Card : 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months.

Earn Delta miles through shopping and dining programs

There are also a few other ways to earn Delta SkyMiles without flying or spending on credit cards. Delta has an online shopping portal where you can earn SkyMiles based on making online purchases at thousands of different stores. If you're making any online purchases, you should use shopping portal first — if not, you're missing out on thousands of miles or more per year.

Delta also has a SkyMiles dining program, which allows you to get extra miles by eating out at restaurants. You link your credit cards via the SkyMiles dining website, and then when you use a linked credit card at a participating restaurant, you will earn bonus miles. These miles are in addition to the miles that you earn from the actual purchase itself.

How Much are Delta SkyMiles Worth?

Many experienced award travelers hold Delta SkyMiles in low esteem for good reason. The SkyMiles program offers less upside than most of its counterparts among major airlines, resulting in a relatively low average redemption value of 1.1 cents per mile in Business Insider's most recent valuations.

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles

There are many ways to use Delta SkyMiles.

Booking Delta flights and seat upgrades

It may not be the most glamorous redemption, but one of the best uses of your SkyMiles is to fly Delta within the U.S. 

If you're an eligible American Express Delta cardholder, you have the option to either pay for your ticket directly with SkyMiles or use Delta's Pay With Miles feature. With Pay With Miles, you can lower the cost of your ticket by $50 for 5,000 miles, $100 for 10,000 miles, and so on. Indeed, you can often get better than 1 cent per mile value from your SkyMiles, but this serves as a good minimum value redemption for SkyMiles.

Delta also added a benefit to most of its co-branded credit cards called TakeOff 15, which gets you a 15% discount on award flight prices when you use miles to book a Delta itinerary. If you have an eligible card, this is an easy way to make your miles go further—just note that you need to be signed in to your Delta account to take advantage, and you can't combine this discount with certificates, gift cards, or Pay With Miles.

Remember, too, that you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio to top off your account if you're short on SkyMiles.

You may be able to upgrade a paid or award flight using Delta SkyMiles. After you book your flight, check the Delta app or website to see what options are available to you.

Book Delta award sales

Delta was the first airline to remove its award chart several years ago. Today, the price of a flight in SkyMiles varies based on the route, the date, the time, the number of stops, and any other whims of the airline. The number of SkyMiles you'll need for an award flight often correlates to that flight's price in cash, although you can find some surprise fares on both sides.

Delta releases sales fares from time to time, usually unadvertised. If you keep your eyes peeled, you can find some pretty great deals on redemptions for both domestic and international awards.

Partner airline travel opportunities

Since Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, you can use your Delta miles to fly on Delta's alliance and other partners such as Air France, China Eastern, Air Tahiti Nui, and Korean Air.

Use Delta miles for merchandise and experiences

In addition to redeeming Delta SkyMiles for flights on Delta and its partners, there are also a few other ways to use them. You can use your miles for magazines, gift cards, upgrading your seat, and even other experiences. These are almost always a worse value than using your miles to fly on Delta or partner airlines, and are not recommended.

Delta SkyMiles frequently asked questions

You can earn SkyMiles by flying with Delta and its partner airlines, spending on Delta co-branded credit cards and participating in partner shopping and dining programs.

You can redeem SkyMiles for award flights, seat upgrades, Delta Sky Club memberships, exclusive experiences, merchandise, or gift cards. 

Delta elite status enhances your travel experience with complimentary upgrades, priority boarding, waived fees, bonus mile earning, and exclusive partner offers. The benefits increase with each tier: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

You can earn Delta SkyMiles elite status by accumulating Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). You can earn these by flying with Delta and spending on Delta co-branded credit cards.

Make the most of your SkyMiles by booking flights during promotional periods and holding a Delta credit card for a 15% discount on award flights.

Delta miles do not expire. Even if it's been years since you've earned or redeemed your miles, you won't have to worry about them disappearing on you.

Several credit cards are great for earning Delta SkyMiles. The Delta Gold Card comes with priority boarding and a free checked bag in addition to elevated rewards per dollar on Delta purchases. 

Business Insider values Delta SkyMiles at 1.1 cents apiece, on average. Thus, a welcome bonus of 70,000 Delta SkyMiles could be worth $770 in travel rewards, or more if you can find a better redemption opportunity. 

The Delta Gold Card offers good value for infrequent Delta travelers. However, Delta fans can consider the Delta Platinum card for its annual companion certificate, or even the top-tier Delta Reserve, which comes with airport lounge access. 

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, please click here.

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Reference

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