Frequent Flyer Guide To Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is the official loyalty program for Delta Air Traces, one of many world’s high airways. This system supplies members quite a few advantages and financial savings. SkyMiles will be redeemed for a number of functions together with buying flights, seat upgrades and extra.

Becoming a member of SkyMiles is straightforward and utterly free to get began. When you be a part of, you’ll be able to start incomes factors and accessing particular advantages immediately. On this information, you’ll study be a part of the Delta SkyMiles program, co-branded bank cards that earn SkyMiles and methods you’ll be able to maximize your miles.

How to join Delta SkyMiles

It’s free to affix the Delta SkyMiles program. The registration will be discovered on the airline’s web site and submitted via the net membership type. 

When you’ve joined this system, you can begin incomes Delta SkyMiles in two main methods — via qualifying Delta purchases and spending with a co-branded Delta SkyMiles bank card — although there are a variety of different less-common methods to earn rewards as properly.

Find out how to earn Delta SkyMiles

Earn miles on Delta purchases

To earn miles on Delta Air Traces flights, you’ll want to join the Delta SkyMiles program. When you’ve joined, you’ll obtain a SkyMiles quantity that you’ll enter every time you e-book a flight with the airline or its companions. In case you log into Delta’s web site earlier than reserving a ticket, your SkyMiles quantity will routinely be utilized to your ticket buy. In case you’ve already booked your journey and also you’re questioning add your SkyMiles quantity to an current reservation, observe that you are able to do this after the very fact by accessing the “My Journeys” tab on Delta’s web site.

If you fly with the airline, you’ll earn a base price of 5 miles for each greenback you spend on Delta-marketed flight tickets (Primary Cabin and above). For associate flights, chances are you’ll earn miles at a distinct price. You can too increase the variety of miles you earn by attaining Medallion Standing, which lets you earn as much as 11 miles per greenback spent. There isn’t any restrict to the variety of miles you’ll be able to earn on a ticket.

Earn miles with a Delta SkyMiles credit score or debit card

With Delta Air Traces bank cards, you’ll be able to earn miles on on a regular basis purchases. There are a number of Delta American Specific playing cards for common shoppers, all of which provide rewards applications and bonus miles for brand new cardmembers.

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Specific Card: You possibly can earn a welcome supply of 10,000 bonus miles when you spend $1,000 inside the first six months of card membership. Plus, you’ll earn 2X miles at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.), 2X miles on Delta purchases and 1X miles on all different purchases.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Specific Card: You possibly can earn a welcome supply of 40,000 bonus miles when you spend $2,000 inside the first six months of card membership. You’ll additionally earn 2X miles at eating places worldwide (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.), 2X miles on Delta and U.S. grocery store purchases and 1X miles on all different purchases.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Specific Card: You possibly can earn a welcome supply of fifty,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in your new card inside six months of account opening. You’ll additionally earn 3X miles on Delta flights, Delta Holidays purchases and direct lodge purchases, 2X miles at eating places and U.S. supermarkets (together with takeout and supply within the U.S.) and 1X miles on all different eligible purchases.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Specific Card: You possibly can earn a welcome supply of 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in your new card inside six months of account opening. Plus, you’ll earn 3X miles on eligible Delta flights and Delta Holidays purchases and 1X miles on all different purchases.

Earn miles through different rewards applications

One other method to earn Delta SkyMiles is by changing rewards from one other loyalty program to Delta SkyMiles. The easiest way to do that is thru the American Specific Membership Rewards program. You possibly can earn Amex Membership Rewards factors with any eligible American Specific bank card and convert them to Delta SkyMiles in increments of 1,000 at a long-standing switch ratio of 1:1. Take into accout, American Specific levies a small excise tax for U.S. card members transferring their factors to Delta.

Along with partnering with different bank card rewards applications, Delta gives a partnership with Starbucks. With this program, whenever you load $25 or extra to your Starbucks account, it’s also possible to earn SkyMiles too. For instance, loading $100 to your Starbucks Rewards account will earn you 200 SkyMiles.

Earn miles with associate airways

Delta Air Traces has many airline companions you’ll be able to earn miles with. Nonetheless, Delta’s main associate airways embrace:

• AeroMexico
• Air France
• China Japanese
• KLM
• Korean Air
• LATAM Airways
• Virgin Atlantic

Every airline has completely different guidelines on rewards and redemptions. For extra data, take a look at Delta’s web site to find out how associate airways work with the Delta SkyMiles program.

Earn miles with different journey companions

Past airline companions, Delta has plenty of cruise, lodge and automobile companions that let you earn SkyMiles. The frequent flyer program additionally gives trip packages the place you’ll be able to decide up further miles.

Delta Holidays

Delta gives all-in-one trip packages that function high resorts and unique experiences all over the world. Along with flight miles, you’ll earn bonus miles on each trip bundle whenever you spend:

• As much as $4,999: Earn 1,000 bonus miles per individual for every reserving
• $5,000 to $9,999: Earn 5,000 bonus miles per individual for every reserving
• $10,000 or extra: Earn 10,000 bonus miles per individual for every reserving

SkyMiles Cruises

With SkyMiles Cruises, you’ll be able to decide up SkyMiles in your subsequent cruise. You’ll earn 2 miles per greenback spent on these bookings, and choose cruises additionally include bonus miles. Moreover, the SkyMiles Cruises web site steadily options limited-time gives and cruise line offers, so you’ll want to examine for present promotions.

Resort companions

Reserving with the next lodge teams will make it easier to earn further miles:

• Airbnb: Earn 1X mile per greenback on qualifying stays
• Marriott Bonvoy: Earn 1X to 2X miles per greenback on eligible prices
• IHG Rewards Membership: Earn 1X to 2X miles per greenback on eligible prices
• Le Membership Accor Accommodations: Earn 2.5X to 12.5X miles for each 10 euros at qualifying resorts
• World of Hyatt: Earn 500 miles per eligible keep
• Langham Hospitality Group: Earn as much as 500 miles per night time (max. 1,500 miles) or as much as 250 miles per night time (max. 750 miles) on eligible lodge stays
• Shangri-La Accommodations and Resorts: Earn 500 miles per eligible keep or switch Shangri-La Golden Circle factors to SkyMiles at a ratio of 1:1

Nonetheless, it ought to be famous that every chain has completely different phrases and situations, so you’ll want to examine every coverage beforehand.

Automotive companions

You can too earn SkyMiles whereas utilizing the next journey and automobile rental firms:

• Hertz: Earn 4X to 8X miles per eligible reserving and relying on Medallion standing
• Greenback Automotive Rental: Earn 4X miles per greenback on eligible bookings
• Thrifty Automotive Rental: Earn 4X miles per greenback on eligible bookings
• Alamo: Earn 2 MPD with every qualifying rental
• Enterprise: Earn 2 MPD with every qualifying rental
• Nationwide: Earn 2 MPD with every qualifying rental
• Lyft: Earn a minimum of 1X mile per greenback
• Turo: Earn 2,000 miles after you full your first journey and 500 miles for every journey after
• Europcar: Earn 60 miles per day
• Carmel: Earn 2X miles per greenback, plus 100 bonus miles, on on-line reservations over $100 and 1X mile per greenback on on-line reservations lower than $100
• Sixt Lease a Automotive: Earn 500 miles for every qualifying rental

Like with Delta lodge companions, you’ll want to examine every automobile rental associate’s particular person coverage for phrases and extra methods to earn.

Different companions

Delta companions with different firms that will help you earn extra miles via qualifying spending, though a few of these associate gives change over time. For instance, you’ll be able to:

• Earn miles on reloads of $25+ in your Starbucks Rewards account whenever you hyperlink your Starbucks and Delta SkyMiles accounts
• Earn 5,000 miles after your first two shipments of Vinesse Wines, plus 5X miles per greenback spent with each cargo thereafter
• Delta additionally gives an eShopping portal and a Delta Eating membership that make it attainable for members to earn miles on further forms of eligible spending

Find out how to redeem Delta SkyMiles

Redeem for flights

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles is easy whenever you need to purchase a flight ticket. Reserving via Delta gives you the choice to pay with SkyMiles, money or each.

1. Choose “E-book” on Delta.com or within the Fly Delta cellular app. Enter your journey data. Then, choose the choice to “Store with Miles” on Delta.com or “Present Costs in Miles” when you’re utilizing the Delta app. Do not forget that costs for all flight awards can be 15 % decrease when you grow to be a Delta bank card buyer.
2. Seek for a flight. You’ll see the value in miles. Select your flight(s) and full your buy with miles. In case you don’t have sufficient miles to cowl the price of the ticket, you’ll be able to change from “Present Value In Miles” to “Present Value In Miles + Money.” In case you’re a Delta bank card buyer, it’s also possible to redeem rewards beginning at 5,000 miles for $50 off your flight on the checkout web page.

Redeem with Delta Air Traces switch companions

You possibly can redeem SkyMiles on associate flights, which supplies you with better flexibility in terms of buying your subsequent flight. Companions you’ll be able to e-book via Delta.com embrace Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic. For award journey with Air Europa, Air Tahiti Nui, Czech Airways and Kenya Airways, contact Delta Reservations.

Lastly, Medallion members or Delta SkyMiles bank card members who reside in Japan can redeem miles for choose Skymark Airways flights. Make sure that to learn the phrases and situations and examine Skymark’s flight schedule earlier than reserving.

Redeem throughout Delta Flash Gross sales

Delta routinely gives SkyMiles gross sales, permitting members to redeem miles for flights at a set low cost if the member travels between the present providing of metropolis pairs on sale for a particular time interval. The record of routes on sale will be discovered on the SkyMiles Offers web site.

For instance, one of many latest sale choices is a roundtrip award ticket between New York and Amsterdam for 50,000 SkyMiles.

Redeem in different methods

You should use SkyMiles for extra than simply flights. SkyMiles can be used to:

• Improve your seat
• Buy premium drinks
• Redeem miles for checked baggage charges
• Buy a Sky Membership membership
• Donate miles via Delta’s SkyWish program
• Reward miles
• Purchase present playing cards
• Purchase magazines
• Store for merchandise within the SkyMiles Market
• Bid on unique alternatives, like VIP passes, courses and backstage entry at occasions via SkyMiles Experiences

How a lot are Delta SkyMiles value?

The worth of Delta SkyMiles will be tough to find out as a result of Delta doesn’t have a hard and fast award chart. As an alternative, this system makes use of a dynamic pricing system for award tickets that’s primarily based on a number of components. In accordance with Bankrate’s factors and miles valuations, SkyMiles are value round 1.2 cents on common.

The easiest way to get an concept of how a lot your rewards steadiness is value is to mess around with the Delta web site to search for offers. For instance, looking for a flight with locations and dates that may suit your future journey plans will present you the value after which the variety of SkyMiles wanted for that flight.

Delta additionally lets members e-book with miles, money or a mix of the 2. Nonetheless, members are likely to get much less worth for his or her miles this fashion. For instance, the identical flight may cost 43,500 miles plus $12 in airline taxes and charges, 33,500 miles plus $192 with a money and miles possibility or $577 if paying with money solely. Whereas the one that redeems solely miles for his or her flight is getting about 1.2 cents per mile for his or her redemption, the individual redeeming with miles and money is simply getting 1.1 cent per mile in worth.

Additionally observe that Delta bank cards supply a “Pay with Miles” function that permits you to e-book an award with miles and make up the distinction with money when you favor. You’ll get 1 cent per mile you redeem ($50 off with 5,000 miles) with this redemption possibility, and you may merely pay the distinction with money when you’re quick on the rewards required for a reserving.

Lastly, remember that Delta bank card holders can get a greater price with their miles via a more moderen program known as TakeOff 15. Basically, this promotion lets Delta bank card members get 15 % off all award flights.

Delta SkyMiles Medallion program

Medallion Standing opens up extra alternatives for SkyMiles members, though this system perks you’ll obtain rely upon which tier you’ve achieved. There are 4 standing tiers within the Medallion program: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. If you first be a part of this system, you can be a SkyMiles Member. All SkyMiles members obtain free entry to Wi-Fi on planes, a brand new profit rolling out to all Delta planes by the tip of 2025.

For the Medallion standing tiers, reaching them is predicated on Medallion Qualification {Dollars} (MQDs). You possibly can earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on a ticket for a Delta flight operated both by Delta or one among its airline companions.

Finest bank cards that earn Delta SkyMiles

Often requested questions

The underside line

In case you’re a loyal Delta traveler, you’ll discover loads of alternatives to earn frequent flyer miles with the Delta SkyMiles program, an eligible Amex Delta bank card or each. That mentioned, this program’s true potential is unlocked when you attain an elite Medallion standing tier that features luxurious journey advantages and boosted reward charges. Beginning in 2025, Delta’s Medallion standing tiers are unlocked solely primarily based on Medallion Qualifying {Dollars} (MQDs) which you’ll be able to earn at $1 MQD per $1 spent on Delta-marketed tickets.

When reserving reward flights with SkyMiles, Delta makes use of a dynamic pricing system that modifications the variety of miles required primarily based on provide and demand. This could typically end in a lot of factors required to e-book a ticket, reminiscent of the instance beneath for a reward flight between Chicago and Accra charging a whopping 410,000 miles for a 1-way ticket in Delta One.

Whereas the variety of factors required will be steep, Delta’s program has no blackout dates, providing flexibility of reward house in alternate for extra miles required.

In the end, the Delta SkyMiles program gives some ways to accrue factors from flying Delta that may be redeemed for a number of choices. Regardless of its excessive costs on some award routings, it may be an incredible program to think about. Simply be sure that to completely evaluate the Delta SkyMiles program to general-purpose journey bank cards, airline bank cards and different airline loyalty applications so that you could discover one of the best journey card and program to your wants.

For extra journey ideas and methods, take a look at Bankrate’s journey toolkit.