Delta Skymiles

Delta SkyMiles® Rewards Program Overview

Delta SkyMiles is the frequent flyer program of Delta Air Lines, one of the major U.S. carriers and a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. SkyMiles never expire and can be used for award travel, upgrades, and more. The program is designed to reward both casual and frequent Delta travelers — especially those who spend more.

How to Earn SkyMiles

1. Flying on Delta or Partner Airlines

• Miles are earned based on the ticket price, not distance flown.

• Base earning:

• General Members: 5 miles per $1 spent on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges.

• Silver Medallion: 7x

• Gold Medallion: 8x

• Platinum Medallion: 9x

• Diamond Medallion: 11x

• Partner airlines (e.g., Air France, KLM, Korean Air) may award miles based on distance and fare class.

2. Delta Credit Cards (American Express)

• Cards include:

• Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Reserve (Personal & Business)

• Earn 1–3 miles per dollar depending on category.

• Some offer MQD Headstarts or Status Boosts (e.g., $2,500 MQD credit with Reserve or Platinum).

3. Shopping & Dining Partners

• SkyMiles Shopping portal: Earn miles for online purchases from thousands of retailers.

• SkyMiles Dining: Link your credit card and earn miles when dining at participating restaurants.

4. Hotel & Car Rental Partners

• Earn SkyMiles with major brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hertz, Lyft, Turo, and more.

Redeeming SkyMiles

1. Award Flights

• Redeem miles for flights on Delta and SkyTeam partners.

• Delta uses dynamic pricing, so there is no fixed award chart.

• Example redemptions:

• Domestic flights: often range from 7,500 – 25,000 miles one-way in Main Cabin.

• International Business Class: can range from 85,000 to 350,000+ miles depending on demand and route.

2. Upgrades

• Use miles to upgrade eligible tickets to Comfort+, First Class, or Delta One.

3. Delta Vacations

• Miles can be used toward vacation packages (flights + hotels), but redemption value is often lower than flights alone.

4. Pay with Miles

• Available to Delta Amex cardholders.

• Use miles to pay down the cash price of a ticket (1 mile = 1 cent).

• You still earn MQDs, MQMs, and redeemable miles on the paid portion.

5. Other Redemptions

• Sky Club memberships, seat selection fees, in-flight purchases, magazine subscriptions, and charitable donations.

Medallion Status (Elite Tiers)

Delta Partners & SkyTeam Alliance

Delta is a SkyTeam member, offering global reach through partnerships:

• Major partners: Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, Aeromexico, LATAM, and others.

• Earn and redeem SkyMiles across the alliance.

• Elite members enjoy reciprocal benefits like lounge access, priority check-in, and boarding.

Maximizing Value

• Use SkyMiles for flights, not merchandise or upgrades, to get the best value.

• Monitor for SkyMiles Deals: limited-time award sales on select routes.

• Pair a Delta Amex card to fast-track status and earn more miles on everyday spend.

• Combine with SkyMiles Shopping & Dining to stack more miles without flying.

• Use Pay With Miles for cash tickets when award pricing is high.