How Do SkyMiles Program At Delta Air Lines work?

If you're a frequent Delta Air Lines flyer or have a Delta credit card, here's everything you need to know about earning and redeeming SkyMiles, the airline's loyalty rewards miles.

What Is the SkyMiles Program at Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines' frequent flyer program is called SkyMiles. Members of the SkyMiles program earn miles for every airline purchase they make, which they can then redeem for flights, seat upgrades, and other benefits. In 1981, Delta introduced the SkyMiles program. Delta Air Lines (ATL) is the world's largest airline hub, with flights to 300 destinations in over 50 countries. Huff Daland Dusters, an aerial crop dusting company, was the forerunner of Delta Air Lines, which began operations in 1925. Delta Air Service was the name of an early form of the commercial airline we know today, which was founded in 1928 and served the Mississippi Delta region.

How Do You Sign Up for Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles Program

Online, using the Fly Delta mobile app, or by acquiring a Delta-branded credit card, you can sign up for a free SkyMiles membership. Delta will offer you a membership number (also known as your SkyMiles number), which you must use to earn miles on all Delta reservations and purchases.

Delta Air Lines Hubs: What Are They

Atlanta, Georgia is home to Delta Air Lines' corporate headquarters. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) is one of the world's busiest airline hubs. 31. Eight more U.S. airports, as well as six international airports, are designated Delta hubs. Pros

When utilized for overseas travel, SkyMiles are more valuable.
If your vacation dates are flexible, pricing calendars might help you uncover award flight offers.
SkyMiles have no expiration date.
Delta award flights have no blackout periods.

Cons

There are a few domestic airline partners.

To get Medallion Member status, you must fly and spend a lot of money.
How to Earn Delta SkyMiles
Once you've joined the SkyMiles program, you can earn points in a variety of ways.

Delta Air Lines is your best option

When you book a Delta-marketed flight and include your SkyMiles number in the reservation, you'll earn 5 miles for every $1 spent on the base fare plus any additional airline fees. Government taxes and fees do not accrue miles, as is customary in the airline sector. Once you're a Medallion member, you can earn up to 11 miles for every $1 spent, but we'll go through Delta's elite level benefits in more detail below. Miles can only be earned by the individual whose name and SkyMiles number appear on the ticket. That implies that unless you pay for a trip for someone else with a Delta credit card, you won't receive miles. In that instance, you'd just earn miles by using your credit card. When you book an "exception fare," earning SkyMiles on Delta flights becomes a little more complicated. Tickets purchased through a travel agent, vacation package, or other third party are considered exceptional fares. You'll earn SkyMiles based on a proportion of the distance travelled and the ticket class if you purchase a Delta flight this way (e.g., first or main cabin). On an Exception Fare flight, the better the fare class of your ticket, the more miles you'll earn. Visit Delta's Exception Fare FAQs for additional details on how to earn SkyMiles this way.

Fly with Virgin Atlantic or Air France as a partner airline

Flying one of Delta's 25 partner airlines will also earn you SkyMiles. The SkyTeam Airline Alliance includes the majority of Delta's partners. If you fly with a Delta-marketed partner, you'll earn SkyMiles at the regular rate of 5 miles for every $1 paid on the base fare (unless you have Medallion Member status). Flights with "DL" in front of the flight number are Delta-marketed. Delta-marketed flights are those offered directly by Delta online and through the Fly Delta app. You can still earn Delta SkyMiles on partner flights that aren't sold directly by Delta, but the earning rates differ. Miles are awarded by Delta's partner airlines depending on a proportion of the distance flown and the ticket fare class. Earning rates may also differ depending on the partner airline route. Air France, for example, awards SkyMiles differently for trips within France (and Europe) versus other international flights, and you can only earn SkyMiles on Hawaiian Airlines flights within Hawaii. Fortunately, Delta Air Lines has published earning tables for each of its partner airlines to give you an idea of how much you'll earn if you purchase flights through a website other than Delta's. If feasible, book all partner airline tickets directly via Delta (on delta.com or through the Fly Delta app) to streamline the SkyMiles earning process.

Credit cards from Delta Air Lines are accepted

Open and use an American Express Delta-branded credit card to earn additional miles on flights and, depending on the card, a few extra miles on non-travel purchases. For many people, credit cards are the most convenient way to earn Delta miles in their daily lives. Even if you fly Delta frequently, using a Delta card to pay for those flights and other transactions can considerably increase your earnings. There are a number of Delta cards to pick from, including

With the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card, you'll earn 2X miles for every dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, as well as takeout and delivery in the United States. Earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on Delta purchases and 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other qualified purchases.
Earn 2X miles on Delta purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the United States, and at supermarkets in the United States with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card. All other qualified purchases will earn you 1 mile.
With the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, you can earn 3X miles on Delta transactions and purchases made directly with hotels. hotels.Earn 2X Miles at restaurants around the world, as well as takeaway and delivery in the United States and supermarkets in the United States, and 1X Miles on all other qualified purchases.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards (R) Points at US restaurants, plus takeaway and delivery, and 1X Membership Rewards (R) Points at US supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1X).When you book flights directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, you'll earn 3X Membership Rewards (R) points.
Earn 2 miles for every $1 spent at restaurants worldwide, as well as on U.S. shipping and select media advertising expenditures, with the Delta SkyMiles Business Gold Card.
With the Delta SkyMiles Business Platinum Card, you can earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on Delta purchases and directly at hotels, and 1.5 miles for every $1 spent on qualified expenditures of $5,000 or more.
Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on Delta purchases and 1.5 miles per $1 spent after spending $150,000 in a calendar year with the Delta SkyMiles Business Reserve Card.

These earnings are in addition to the SkyMiles you earn as a member. If you book a flight with a Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, for example, you'll earn 5 miles per $1 spent on the base cost of your flight as a basic SkyMiles member and 3 miles per $1 spent on the overall purchase because you paid with that credit card. Delta has extended certain benefits to Delta credit card holders through this year in anticipation of lower air travel in 2020. Customers who received a $100 flight credit, Platinum and Reserve Card customers who received companion certificates, and Reserve Card customers who received one-time Sky Club guest passes between January 1 and November 30, 2020, have until January 31, 2023 to redeem their credits, certificates, and passes. These Delta American Express cards, like most airline credit cards, offer bonus SkyMiles to customers who spend a particular amount within a certain length of time after opening a new account. With a Delta credit card, you can earn an unlimited number of SkyMiles. Many Delta credit cards also come with privileges (like free checked luggage and discounts on in-flight purchases) that you'd only obtain if you had Delta Medallion status. Instead of spending the time (and money) to achieve elite status, use one of these airline cards to enjoy those types of travel benefits right now.

Stay at a Marriott, Sheraton, or one of our other partners' hotels.
When reserving a stay at a partner hotel on Delta.com or directly with participating hotels within these eight hotel brands, provide your SkyMiles number.
AccorHotels
Hyatt
IHG
Langham Hospitality Group is a hospitality company based in New York City.
Marriott
Radisson
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is a chain of luxury hotels and resorts in China.
WorldHotels

You can earn 2 SkyMiles for every $1 spent on hotel stays or a certain number of SkyMiles (excluding taxes and fees) when you book through hotels-delta.com, depending on the hotel chain. When you search for a hotel on the Delta website, the search results will show you how much each stay will earn based on the number of nights you choose and the hotel's pricing. See the terms on the Delta website for more information on earning rates at partner hotels. Transfer American Express Hotel, Hertz, or Membership Rewards Points If you have unused points in a loyalty program account with Hertz, Radisson, Marriott, Hilton, IHG, or AccorHotels, you can convert them to SkyMiles. Conversion rates vary by program, but Delta has provided a list of transfer rates on its website. One of the most valuable ways to use American Express Membership Rewards points is to convert them to SkyMiles. According to The Balance's research of Amex and Delta rewards values, Membership Rewards points can be transferred to the Delta SkyMiles program at a 1:1 ratio, increasing their worth from 1 cent per point when used to book travel through American Express to 1.44 cents per point on average.

Delta SkyMiles Can Be Earned in a Variety of Ways

When you book an Airbnb stay through delta.com/Airbnb, you'll earn 1 mile for every $1 you spend (excluding taxes and fees). You must submit your SkyMiles number before (not after) booking, and the person who owns the account used to book the stay must be the same person who owns the SkyMiles account. Connect your SkyMiles account to your Lyft account to earn one mile for every $1 spent on domestic rides and two miles for every $1 spent on airport rides. Hire a car from Hertz, Enterprise, or one of our other partners: With most brands, you may earn 500 miles per qualified rental. Ticketmaster sells tickets to athletic events and concerts: Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on events booked through delta.com/ticketmaster in the United States and Canada, up to 2,500 miles per month. Use the SkyMiles Shopping platform to shop online: Sign in to your SkyMiles account to earn extra miles (usually 2-3 miles for every $1 spent) when you shop at the SkyMiles shopping portal's 1,000+ stores, including Apple, Kohl's, and CVS. Dine at participating restaurants: To earn up to 5 miles for every $1 spent, enrol a debit or credit card in SkyMiles Dining and use that card to pay at participating restaurants, clubs, and bars. Purchase SkyMiles: You can purchase additional SkyMiles in 2,000-mile increments up to 60,000 miles to enhance your account balance, but this isn't a good idea. Purchasing additional miles costs more than twice as much as using them for flights.

Do Delta SkyMiles have an expiration date

No, as long as your Delta SkyMiles account is active, they will not expire. 17 miles earned with a Delta-branded credit card are worth the same.

How to Use Delta SkyMiles

SkyMiles can be earned in a variety of ways, and they can also be used in a variety of ways. When you use your Delta rewards to book flights, though, you'll get more bang for your buck

Delta flights are available for purchase

When used to purchase award flights, SkyMiles are worth around 1.44 cents each, according to The Balance. That's a fairly average value for airline rewards, but it's significantly less than the value of miles earned on American Airlines (2.04 cents each) and United Airlines (2.04 cents each) (1.98 cents each). When you use SkyMiles to buy overseas tickets, though, their value skyrockets. If you have a stash of miles, splurge on a premium overseas ticket to get the most bang for your buck, as our valuation analysis shows SkyMiles to be worth more than 2 cents each when utilized that way. Fly coach to save miles while still getting good value from your points if you're going within the United States. The cost of a Delta award flight varies depending on a variety of parameters, including ticket availability, departure city, destination, and seat type: Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, First Class, Delta Premium Select, or Delta One are the several types of flights available. The Delta website doesn't have any static award charts, but you can look at a flexible cost calendar for your chosen trip dates to see how costs change day to day and when the lowest flight is. Delta Air Lines' cost-per-flight chart

The Precarious Situation

Please keep in mind that award flights are not free. Each ticket is still subject to government taxes and levies, and you can't use SkyMiles to pay for them. Delta award flights can be booked online or via the Fly Delta mobile app, which is available for free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. If your travel plans are flexible and you want to maximize your SkyMiles, keep an eye out for weekly bargains on round-trip main cabin award tickets on the SkyMiles Deals page.

Partner Airlines Offer Flights

Delta Air Lines has 21 SkyMiles partner airlines with whom you can buy award flights on delta.com and five more with whom you can book by phone. If you live in Japan and are a SkyMiles Medallion member or have a Delta credit card, you can book award travel on some Skymark flights. See the Delta Travel with Miles website for more information and rules about that partner award flight option. Blackout dates for Delta partner award flights may apply, and they vary according to the airline, price class, and even the year of travel. For information on partner airline ban dates through 2022, see the Delta program regulations. Travel booked with partner airlines using SkyMiles is subject to taxes and other costs that cannot be paid with miles, much like Delta award flights.

Upgrades to tickets can be purchased

Most Delta and Delta connecting flights inside the United States can also be upgraded with SkyMiles. You'll notice an option to "Upgrade with Miles" before checking out if your trip is qualified if you want to upgrade your seat while booking a flight. Existing journeys can also be upgraded online or using the Fly Delta app.

Other Ways to Use Your Delta SkyMiles

There are a few other ways to use Delta SkyMiles, but we don't recommend doing so unless the per-mile value is higher than what you'd get by purchasing a flight.

In Delta Sky Club lounges, you may buy premium cocktails.
Some flight reservation costs, such as ticket change fees, should be covered.
Book a Delta Vacations package that includes a hotel, a rental vehicle, and airline tickets.
Invest in a Delta Private Jet flight.
Purchase Delta gift cards here.

Use the SkyMiles Marketplace to shop online.
Subscriptions to magazines can be purchased.

Through SkyMiles Experiences, you can bid on event tickets.
Donate to charity.

Delta SkyMiles Medallion Membership

Delta Air Lines' most devoted SkyMiles members have access to enhanced travel privileges like complimentary flight upgrades, reduced checked bag costs, and increased SkyMiles earning rates. Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond are the four levels of medallion member status. In response to declining travel in 2020, Delta altered its Medallion membership. Medallion memberships for 2021 will be extended until January 31, 2023, and members will be able to roll over MQMs earned in 2021 to 2022.

How to Become a Medallion Member

Your status is determined by the amount of money you've spent and the number of times you've traveled with Delta and most of its partner airlines in the previous calendar year. On most journeys, you'll earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs), Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) in addition to SkyMiles earned on flights. Fortunately, Delta keeps track of all those miles (and you can check your progress in your online SkyMiles account), but if you're curious, here's what your Medallion earnings are based on: MQMs: the number of miles you've flown and the ticket type you used to get there. How many flights from takeoff to landing have you completed? The total cost of your flights, excluding government taxes and fees, is MQD. If you're serious about achieving SkyMiles Medallion status, book premium tickets on Delta flights to earn extra MQMs There are two primary paths to becoming a medallion member: Accumulate the necessary number of MQMs and MQDs. Obtain the necessary number of MQS and MQDs. If you have a qualified Delta credit card and spend enough on it in a calendar year, you can receive an "MQD waiver" from Delta, which waives the regular MQD criteria.

(Please note that the Blue Delta SkyMiles Credit Card and the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card cannot be used to earn an MQD waiver unless you have another Delta card that can.)

Each year, between January 1 and December 31, you accumulate medallion status qualifications that define your status for the following year. While SkyMiles do not expire, MQMs will if you do not earn enough to gain status. Except for everything achieved over and beyond your current Medallion rank, your MQM tally resets each calendar year. Every calendar year, all of your MQS and MQDs will expire.

Medallion Membership Has Its Advantages.

Your Delta loyalty is recognized when you reach Medallion Member status in the SkyMiles program, which grants you access to travel privileges like priority check-in and boarding, free checked baggage, complimentary upgrades, and more, depending on your status tier. The number of SkyMiles you earn on flights (excluding taxes and fees) is determined by your Medallion member tier status:

7 kilometers per $1 for a silver medallion.
8 kilometers per $1 for a gold medallion.
9 miles per $1 for the Platinum Medallion.
11 miles per $1 for a Diamond Medallion.

See Delta's tier perks page for additional information on all of the benefits Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members receive.

Conclusion

Overall, the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program provides regular travelers with a variety of options to earn rewards for their journeys. International passengers, in particular, benefit from Delta's partner airlines' flexibility in earning and redeeming SkyMiles, according to The Balance. also provide the best value when utilized for international travel. Delta-branded credit cards now provide a variety of methods to earn miles on non-flight purchases as well as quick access to additional airline benefits. Members of American Express Membership Rewards can also convert their points to SkyMiles to get a little more bang for their buck. Delta Air Lines' Medallion Member status is awarded by Delta Air Lines to its most loyal customers, but like other airline elite status programs, you'll have to fly and spend a lot to get it.