How to Earn Delta SkyMiles
SkyMiles are very easy to earn, especially if you're an American Express cardholder. Between flying, credit cards, and everyday partners, your balance can grow quickly.
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Credit Card Transfers | American Express Membership Rewards is the main transfer partner. Keep an eye out for Amex's occasional transfer bonuses to get even more value. |
| Delta Co-branded Cards | This is a very popular way to earn. The Amex co-branded Delta cards (Gold, Platinum, Reserve) not only earn SkyMiles but also provide great perks like free checked bags. |
| Flying Delta & Partners | You'll earn miles based on how much you spend on your ticket when flying Delta. For partner airlines, it's usually based on distance and fare class. |
| Everyday Partners | Link your accounts to earn miles with partners like Lyft, Starbucks, and Instacart, or through the SkyMiles Dining and Shopping portals. |
How to Use Delta SkyMiles
Delta famously has no public award chart. This means the price in miles can change at any time, just like cash fares. The key to getting good value is to be flexible with your travel dates.
- Award Flights: Always use the "Shop with Miles" option on Delta.com. The "Price Calendar" is your best friend for spotting the cheapest days to fly.
- Upgrades: You can use your miles to upgrade a cash ticket to Comfort+, First Class, or Delta One on many routes.
- Avoid Other Redemptions: You can use miles for things like premium drinks in the Sky Club or for merchandise, but this is a very poor use of your points and should be avoided.
Cardholder Perks: Take Five & Pay with Miles
The Best Deals (Sweet Spots)
Even with dynamic pricing, you can find some fantastic deals:
This is where you find the best value. Delta frequently runs unannounced sales on award tickets to domestic and international destinations. If your plans are flexible, you can score incredible deals.
Booking flights on partners like Virgin Atlantic, Air France, or KLM can sometimes be cheaper in miles and have lower fees than flying on Delta's own planes.
Using miles to upgrade a cash ticket to a premium cabin can be a fantastic deal, especially on long-haul international flights.
You can sometimes find quick, domestic flights for as few as 5,000-10,000 SkyMiles one-way, which is often a better deal than paying cash.
Partners & Rules
As a key member of the SkyTeam alliance, Delta gives you access to a huge network of global airlines.
- Key SkyTeam Partners: Air France, KLM, Korean Air, China Airlines.
- Key Non-Alliance Partners: Virgin Atlantic, LATAM, WestJet.
- Simple Rules: The program is simple. One-way awards are allowed, but you can't add stopovers for free. You're essentially booking a series of one-way flights.