Delta SkyMiles is one of the most well-known frequent flyer programs, operated by Delta Air Lines. According to Flying Frugal’s February 2025 assessments, the value of Delta SkyMiles is approximately 1.2 cents each. These miles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and more. The highest value from these miles is typically achieved during Delta’s frequent flash sales, which provide discounted award tickets for both domestic and international destinations.
Earning SkyMiles is simple, whether you’re flying or shopping online. Delta offers a variety of cobranded credit cards, many of which currently have attractive welcome bonuses that can boost your SkyMiles balance. Continue reading to discover more about the Delta SkyMiles program.
Related: Top Delta credit cards
Overview of the Delta SkyMiles Program
With around 120 million members, Delta SkyMiles is the largest airline loyalty program globally. Joining is free, and miles do not expire.
There are multiple ways to earn Delta SkyMiles. Some popular methods include flying with Delta and its partners, spending on cobranded credit cards, transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards, shopping through the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal, dining out via the SkyMiles Dining program, and participating in various promotions offered by the airline.
You can also earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) to achieve one of Delta’s four elite status tiers, which provide benefits like seat upgrades, priority boarding, and access to airport lounges.
Related: Tips for preventing points and miles from expiring
Delta SkyMiles Program Partners
As a member of the SkyTeam alliance, Delta partners with over a dozen airlines worldwide. You can earn and redeem SkyMiles when flying any SkyTeam airline, which collectively serves 1,000 destinations across six continents.
The SkyTeam members include:
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Aeromexico
- Air Europa
- Air France
- China Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- SAS
- Saudia
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- XiamenAir
Related: Delta expands 2025 plans in Europe and Asia with two new international routes
Other Partners
Beyond SkyTeam members, Delta has several other partnerships, allowing you to earn miles even when not flying with Delta or its alliance partners. Supplementary partners include:
- AirBaltic
- Cape Air
- China Southern Airlines
- El Al
- Hawaiian Airlines
- LATAM
- WestJet
Keep in mind that each partnership comes with specific restrictions and requirements.
Related: The best websites for searching SkyTeam award availability
Delta SkyMiles Elite Status
The SkyMiles program has four elite status tiers available for frequent Delta travelers: Silver Medallion, Gold Medallion, Platinum Medallion, and Diamond Medallion.
Earning Delta Medallion Status
Starting January 1, 2024, Delta has updated its criteria for Medallion status qualification, exclusively using Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) — the requirements for which have risen significantly. Notably, the MQD waiver benefit from some eligible cards has been removed.
You can earn MQDs in various ways:
Given the increased difficulty in obtaining Medallion status, many are left wondering if it is still worthwhile. Here’s a summary of the benefits associated with each status tier.
Related: Is Delta Air Lines status worth chasing? Insights from a soon-to-be-Diamond member
SkyMiles Silver Medallion
Silver Medallion is the basic elite tier within Delta’s SkyMiles program. As a Silver Medallion, you benefit from:
- Complimentary upgrades to first-class on domestic and short-haul international flights, available from 24 hours before departure
- Upgrades to Comfort+ starting 24 hours before departure
- Priority boarding (Zone 5) and check-in
- One complimentary checked bag on Delta flights and those of select partner airlines, plus an additional free checked bag for up to eight companions traveling on the same Delta flight
SkyMiles Gold Medallion
Gold Medallion status provides you with:
- Complimentary first-class upgrades on domestic and short-haul international flights available from three days before departure
- Complimentary upgrades to Comfort+ starting three days before departure
- Access to SkyPriority status
- Waived fees for same-day confirmed changes
SkyMiles Platinum Medallion
The third tier, Platinum Medallion, includes the following perks on top of those offered by Silver and Gold Medallion statuses:
- Complimentary first-class upgrades on domestic and short-haul international flights from five days prior to departure
- Upgrades to Comfort+ at the time of booking
- The option to select a Choice Benefit
SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
The highest tier, Diamond Medallion, includes all aforementioned benefits and additional perks:
There is also an exclusive invitation-only status called Delta 360; however, details about this tier are limited as Delta maintains confidentiality regarding its benefits and eligibility.
Related: Understanding Delta 360 status: What it means and how to attain invite-only elite status
Ways to Earn SkyMiles
There are multiple ways to accumulate Delta SkyMiles. The most straightforward methods include flying Delta-operated flights, traveling with a SkyTeam partner, and opening a Delta cobranded credit card. You can also earn miles through everyday purchases like shopping and dining.
Flying to Earn SkyMiles
When you fly Delta on a Delta-issued ticket in the main cabin or higher (note that basic economy fares do not earn miles), you will earn SkyMiles based on the ticket’s base price. Higher status levels accelerate the rate at which you accumulate miles.
- General member: 5 miles for every dollar spent
- Silver Medallion: 7 miles for every dollar spent
- Gold Medallion: 8 miles for every dollar spent
- Platinum Medallion: 9 miles for every dollar spent
- Diamond Medallion: 11 miles for every dollar spent
For example, if you purchase a one-way flight from New York’s JFK to Los Angeles as a general member for $250, you would earn 1,250 SkyMiles. A Silver Medallion would earn 1,750 miles, while a Diamond Medallion would acquire 2,750 miles.
You can also earn miles by flying Delta’s partner airlines; however, the number of miles you earn depends on how you booked the ticket. For flights booked on Delta’s website, you will earn miles similar to those on Delta-operated flights. If you reserve with a partner airline directly (like Air France) and input your SkyMiles number, your earnings will be calculated as a percentage of the distance flown, with variations based on the partner, booking class, and your elite status.
Related: Can I earn miles if I purchase a ticket for someone else?
SkyMiles Through Credit Cards
Delta offers a credit card suitable for every type of traveler—loyalists, business travelers, and casual fliers alike. All but the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card come with a range of benefits:
Each card has additional travel benefits. Here are some of the most notable Delta SkyMiles credit cards offered by American Express. (Terms apply.)
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Flying Frugal’s Valuation (February 2025) | Notable Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees) | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. | $960 |
|
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | $350 (see rates and fees) | Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership. | $1,080 |
Enrollment is required for certain benefits. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | $650 (see rates and fees) | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. | $1,200 |
Enrollment is required for certain benefits. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card | $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees) |
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on your new card within the first six months of card membership. |
$1,080 |
|
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card | $350 (see rates and fees) | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 in the first six months of your card membership. | $1,200 |
Enrollment is required for certain benefits. |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card | $650 (see rates and fees) |
Earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 in purchases during your first six months of card membership. |
$1,320 |
Enrollment is required for certain benefits. |
Related: Five key facts about Delta SkyMiles
SkyMiles from Shopping Portals
A convenient way to earn SkyMiles is through Delta’s online shopping portal, Delta SkyMiles Shopping. This platform allows you to accumulate miles for purchases made at over a thousand online retailers.
If you don’t have an account yet, you’ll need to register using your SkyMiles number. You can then use the search feature to locate products or stores and compare prices and mileage rates among various merchants. You can also favorite certain stores to receive notifications for bonus miles offers.
After selecting a retailer, click through to their website to shop and finalize your purchase. The merchant will notify the portal of your transaction, and the miles earned will automatically be credited to your SkyMiles account, usually confirmed via email within three to five days, although it can take up to 15 days in some cases.
Almost all major airlines operate a shopping portal, so use an aggregator to help maximize your returns when shopping online.
Related: Maximizing your online purchases through shopping portals
Transferring Amex Points to Delta
You may transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to your Delta SkyMiles account at a 1:1 ratio. However, this is generally not recommended as Amex points are valued higher (approximately 2 cents each) compared to SkyMiles (valued at 1.2 cents each, according to Flying Frugal’s February 2025 valuations).
Getting better value from Delta can also be challenging due to dynamic pricing. Additionally, transferring Amex points to Delta involves an excise tax offset fee, applicable to transfers to Delta and other domestic frequent flyer programs.
Related: How to maximize transfers from American Express Membership Rewards
Redeeming SkyMiles
In 2015, Delta discontinued published award charts, becoming the first major U.S. airline to implement dynamic pricing for award tickets. Therefore, it’s necessary to check the Delta website or app to find out the SkyMiles needed for an award ticket. Delta’s interface is user-friendly and features a helpful calendar that shows the lowest prices available for redemptions.
Generally, the best value in redemptions can be found on domestic flights. By using a Delta cobranded card, which offers a 15% discount on award tickets, you can sometimes book short-haul flights for under 4,000 SkyMiles one-way. Keep in mind that pricing can fluctuate based on the date, route, and class of service.
Remember that Delta’s award tickets are fully refundable, applicable to flights originating in the U.S. and Canada (excluding basic economy fares). This means if you need to change your plans, you can redeposit your miles and receive a refund for any taxes and fees paid. This also allows you to rebook award tickets if the mileage requirement decreases, enabling you to secure a refund of the mileage difference.
Additionally, you can use your SkyMiles to book flights with many of Delta’s SkyTeam and non-allied partners. However, prices for these awards have generally aligned more closely with Delta’s own flight prices, which reduces the chances of achieving better value from international partner awards, particularly in higher class cabins.
Related: Strategies for maximizing your Delta SkyMiles redemptions
Optimal Redemption Opportunities
Due to Delta implementing full dynamic pricing for its routes, there are few opportunities to pinpoint exactly where you’ll get the best value from your SkyMiles. However, some favorable options do exist.
Delta Flash Sales
Delta frequently hosts flash sales for SkyMiles, offering significant discounts for short- and long-haul U.S. routes, as well as flights to Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. Past promotions included round-trip tickets to Europe for as low as 33,000 miles and fares to Tahiti starting around 60,000 miles.
These great deals may not always be widely advertised, so it’s wise to check availability regularly. Delta regularly prices short- and medium-haul award tickets considerably lower than competitors. The best deals can usually be found when booked in advance and traveled on off-peak days.
Delta and LATAM Flights to South America
Regardless of the travel class, cash fares to South America, particularly to Brazil, tend to be expensive. However, Delta SkyMiles members can book LATAM award tickets at more reasonable rates, providing a highly effective way to use SkyMiles. Typically, you can redeem around 66,000 SkyMiles for a round-trip flight from JFK to São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), many of which are non-stop.
Related: How to maximize value from 5,000 or fewer Delta SkyMiles
Conclusion
With an impressive operational record, extensive route network, and a multitude of partner airlines, Delta is often regarded as the premier domestic airline. It has consistently ranked first in Flying Frugal’s assessments of the best U.S. airlines for the past five years. Despite recent changes to award pricing and elite status requirements disappointing many loyal travelers, the Delta SkyMiles program still offers valuable features.
Whether you fly with Delta frequently or just occasionally, focusing on a blend of flying, utilizing shopping portals, and making purchases with Delta credit cards can significantly boost your SkyMiles balance for upcoming redemptions.
For rates and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, click here.
For rates and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees associated with the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, click here.
