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 might be redeemed for a number of functions together with buying flights, seat upgrades and extra.

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

How to join Delta SkyMiles

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

When you’ve joined this system, you can begin incomes Delta SkyMiles in two main methods — by means of 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 nicely.

Methods 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 ebook a flight with the airline or its companions. If you happen to log into Delta’s web site earlier than reserving a ticket, your SkyMiles quantity will routinely be utilized to your ticket buy. If you happen to’ve already booked your journey and also you’re questioning the way to add your SkyMiles quantity to an current reservation, observe that you are able to do this after the actual fact by accessing the “My Journeys” tab on Delta’s web site.

Whenever you fly with the airline, you’ll earn a base fee of 5 miles for each greenback you spend on Delta-marketed flight tickets (Most important Cabin and above). For companion flights, you might earn miles at a special fee. It’s also possible to enhance 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 a restrict to the variety of miles you possibly can earn on a ticket.

Earn miles with a Delta SkyMiles credit score or debit card

With Delta Air Traces bank cards, you possibly can 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 packages and bonus miles for brand new cardmembers.

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Specific Card: You’ll be able to earn a welcome supply of 10,000 bonus miles if you happen to 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’ll be able to earn a welcome supply of 40,000 bonus miles if you happen to 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’ll be able to 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 resort 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’ll be able to 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 by way of different rewards packages

One other strategy to earn Delta SkyMiles is by changing rewards from one other loyalty program to Delta SkyMiles. One of the best ways to do that is thru the American Specific Membership Rewards program. You’ll be able to 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. Consider, 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 packages, Delta presents a partnership with Starbucks. With this program, whenever you load $25 or extra to your Starbucks account, you can even earn SkyMiles too. For instance, loading $100 to your Starbucks Rewards account will earn you 200 SkyMiles.

Earn miles with companion airways

Delta Air Traces has many airline companions you possibly can earn miles with. Nonetheless, Delta’s main companion airways embrace:

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

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

Earn miles with different journey companions

Past airline companions, Delta has numerous cruise, resort and automobile companions that let you earn SkyMiles. The frequent flyer program additionally presents trip packages the place you possibly can choose up extra miles.

Delta Holidays

Delta presents all-in-one trip packages that characteristic high motels and unique experiences world wide. 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 particular person for every reserving
• $5,000 to $9,999: Earn 5,000 bonus miles per particular person for every reserving
• $10,000 or extra: Earn 10,000 bonus miles per particular person for every reserving

SkyMiles Cruises

With SkyMiles Cruises, you possibly can choose 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 ceaselessly options limited-time presents and cruise line offers, so make sure you examine for present promotions.

Resort companions

Reserving with the next resort teams will enable you to earn extra miles:

• Airbnb: Earn 1X mile per greenback on qualifying stays
• Marriott Bonvoy: Earn 1X to 2X miles per greenback on eligible costs
• IHG Rewards Membership: Earn 1X to 2X miles per greenback on eligible costs
• Le Membership Accor Lodges: Earn 2.5X to 12.5X miles for each 10 euros at qualifying motels
• 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 resort stays
• Shangri-La Lodges 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 needs to be famous that every chain has totally different phrases and situations, so make sure you examine every coverage beforehand.

Automobile companions

It’s also possible to 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 Automobile Rental: Earn 4X miles per greenback on eligible bookings
• Thrifty Automobile 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 not less than 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 Hire a Automobile: Earn 500 miles for every qualifying rental

Like with Delta resort companions, make sure you examine every automobile rental companion’s particular person coverage for phrases and extra methods to earn.

Different companions

Delta companions with different firms that can assist you earn extra miles by means of qualifying spending, though a few of these companion presents change over time. For instance, you possibly can:

• 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 presents an eShopping portal and a Delta Eating membership that make it doable for members to earn miles on extra varieties of eligible spending

Methods to redeem Delta SkyMiles

Redeem for flights

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles is straightforward whenever you need to purchase a flight ticket. Reserving by means of Delta offers 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 info. Then, choose the choice to “Store with Miles” on Delta.com or “Present Costs in Miles” if you happen to’re utilizing the Delta app. Keep in mind that costs for all flight awards can be 15 p.c decrease when you grow to be a Delta bank card buyer.
2. Seek for a flight. You’ll see the worth in miles. Select your flight(s) and full your buy with miles. If you happen to don’t have sufficient miles to cowl the price of the ticket, you possibly can swap from “Present Value In Miles” to “Present Value In Miles + Money.” If you happen to’re a Delta bank card buyer, you can even 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’ll be able to redeem SkyMiles on companion flights, which supplies you with better flexibility in relation to buying your subsequent flight. Companions you possibly can ebook by means of 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 stay in Japan can redeem miles for choose Skymark Airways flights. Ensure that to learn the phrases and situations and examine Skymark’s flight schedule earlier than reserving.

Redeem throughout Delta Flash Gross sales

Delta routinely presents 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 might 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 utilize SkyMiles for extra than simply flights. SkyMiles will also be used to:

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

How a lot are Delta SkyMiles price?

The worth of Delta SkyMiles might be troublesome to find out as a result of Delta doesn’t have a set 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 elements. In keeping with Bankrate’s factors and miles valuations, SkyMiles are price round 1.2 cents on common.

One of the best ways to get an thought of how a lot your rewards steadiness is price is to mess around with the Delta web site to search for offers. For instance, trying to find a flight with locations and dates which may suit your future journey plans will present you the worth after which the variety of SkyMiles wanted for that flight.

Delta additionally lets members ebook with miles, money or a mixture of the 2. Nonetheless, members are inclined 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 particular person redeeming with miles and money is just getting 1.1 cent per mile in worth.

Additionally observe that Delta bank cards supply a “Pay with Miles” characteristic that permits you to ebook an award with miles and make up the distinction with money if you happen to choose. You’ll get 1 cent per mile you redeem ($50 off with 5,000 miles) with this redemption possibility, and you’ll merely pay the distinction with money if you happen to’re brief on the rewards required for a reserving.

Lastly, remember that Delta bank card holders can get a greater fee with their miles by means of a more recent program known as TakeOff 15. Basically, this promotion lets Delta bank card members get 15 p.c off all award flights.

Delta SkyMiles Medallion program

Medallion Standing opens up extra alternatives for SkyMiles members, though this system perks you’ll obtain depend upon which tier you’ve achieved. There are 4 standing tiers within the Medallion program: Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. Whenever you first be a part of this system, you’ll 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’ll be able to earn $1 MQD per $1 spent on a ticket for a Delta flight operated both by Delta or certainly one of its airline companions.

Greatest bank cards that earn Delta SkyMiles

Regularly requested questions

The underside line

If you happen to’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 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 adjustments the variety of miles required primarily based on provide and demand. This could usually lead to a lot of factors required to ebook a ticket, reminiscent of the instance under 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 might 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 presents 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 a fantastic program to think about. Simply make certain to totally evaluate the Delta SkyMiles program to general-purpose journey bank cards, airline bank cards and different airline loyalty packages with the intention to discover the most effective journey card and program to your wants.

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