Methods to earn Delta SkyMiles: From utilizing the fitting bank card to purchasing

The Delta Air Traces’ SkyMiles program could be a beneficial program for home awards and companion redemptions.

Not solely does the airline have an enormous route community with important hubs in massive U.S. cities, however there are a lot of alternative ways to earn Delta miles which you could redeem for SkyTeam flights. Typically, Delta even runs award gross sales that help you snag low cost flights.

Delta miles are pretty simple to accrue, and so they by no means expire. We’ll present you methods so as to add to your SkyMiles steadiness, together with flying on Delta and its companions, spending on journey rewards bank cards and transferring miles from different applications.

Associated: 5 issues you could find out about Delta SkyMiles

Earn Delta SkyMiles by flying

Incomes Delta SkyMiles by flying relies on a number of elements. You may earn miles in another way on Delta and companion flights. Here is the whole lot you could know.

Earn miles when flying with Delta

When flying on Delta-marketed and -operated flights, you earn miles primarily based in your ticket’s base value (which does not embrace government-imposed taxes). Flyers with out elite standing earn 5 miles per greenback spent on Traditional or Refundable airfare, and seven miles per greenback spent on Additional airfare, not together with taxes and costs.

These with Delta Medallion elite standing will earn at a quicker fee — the upper your standing, the extra miles you will earn per greenback spent:

• Silver Medallion: 7 miles
• Gold Medallion: 8 miles
• Platinum Medallion: 9 miles
• Diamond Medallion: 11 miles

Earn Delta SkyMiles when flying with companion airways

In case you e book a partner-operated flight via Delta, you will earn miles the identical as with a normal Delta flight. However what occurs in the event you e book a companion flight on a companion airline’s web site and add your Delta SkyMiles quantity? On this case, you will earn miles primarily based on the gap flown. Nonetheless, the precise variety of SkyMiles you will earn varies primarily based on the companion, fare class and elite standing — so examine the related SkyMiles web page for the right incomes charges.

Earn Delta SkyMiles with bank cards

One of many best methods to earn plenty of Delta SkyMiles is thru cobranded bank cards, together with welcome bonuses and incomes on on a regular basis spending. At the moment, American Specific points 4 private Delta playing cards and three enterprise playing cards.

Here is a take a look at the complete suite of Delta SkyMiles bank cards from American Specific and their present welcome presents (phrases apply):

Private Delta playing cards

Enterprise Delta playing cards

In case you’re contemplating making use of for one in every of these playing cards, preserve Amex’s once-per-lifetime rule in thoughts. This rule limits you to 1 welcome bonus per card per lifetime. In case you’ve acquired a welcome bonus for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Specific Card earlier than, you will not be eligible to obtain it once more in the event you reapply for the cardboard.

That is why holding out for a excessive welcome bonus is so vital — you will solely obtain it as soon as.

Switch factors to Delta SkyMiles

In case you want SkyMiles shortly or do not need to add one other bank card to your pockets, you might be able to switch factors from one other rewards program. Delta companions with American Specific Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making it simple to high off your steadiness when wanted.

Switch Membership Rewards factors to SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles has one bank card switch companion: American Specific Membership Rewards.

You may switch Membership Rewards factors to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. Nonetheless, to offset the federal excise tax, you’ll pay a price of $0.0006 per mile (as much as a most of $99) — so the transaction will probably be dearer.

Usually, placing purchases on a card that earns Membership Rewards factors will yield extra SkyMiles per greenback spent than utilizing one in every of Delta’s cobranded American Specific playing cards. For instance, The Platinum Card® from American Specific earns 5 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent on flights booked immediately with any airline or via American Specific Journey® (as much as $500,000 on these purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback on different purchases); in the meantime, the American Specific® Gold Card earns 4 Membership Rewards factors per greenback spent at eating places worldwide on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, and at U.S. supermarkets on as much as $25,000 in purchases per calendar 12 months, then 1 level per greenback on different purchases.

Switch Marriott Bonvoy factors to SkyMiles

You may as well switch factors from numerous resort loyalty applications to your Delta SkyMiles account, however most of those provide poor switch ratios. In our expertise, the one doubtlessly interesting switch is from Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers to Delta at a 3:1 ratio.

That mentioned, we typically suggest redeeming Marriott factors for resort stays as an alternative, as you will sometimes get higher worth. Chase and American Specific situation a number of Marriott cobranded bank cards in the event you’re brief on Marriott factors.

Switch Delta SkyMiles between accounts

When you can switch SkyMiles between accounts, we do not suggest it. Delta prices $0.01 per mile transferred plus a $30 transaction price. This is not an incredible deal, as you’d lose many of the worth of your miles after paying the relevant charges, and you may solely switch a most of 30,000 miles per transaction.

In case you determine to go this route, each accounts should have been open for not less than 10 days and earned not less than 1 mile. You may obtain a most of 300,000 SkyMiles per 12 months and switch as much as 150,000 SkyMiles per 12 months.

Associated: Your final information to household factors pooling

Earn Delta SkyMiles by purchasing and eating

You may as well earn Delta SkyMiles via a number of on a regular basis Delta companions. These strategies make it simpler than ever to earn miles doing belongings you already do, like consuming out and purchasing on-line.

Earn with the SkyMiles Purchasing portal

Like most airways, Delta has an on-line purchasing portal: SkyMiles Purchasing. This website permits you to earn further SkyMiles while you store on-line, along with rewards earned along with your bank card.

To make use of the portal, join a SkyMiles Purchasing account, discover your service provider on the location and click on via the hyperlink. Every service provider presents a special variety of SkyMiles per greenback spent, and these charges fluctuate, particularly across the holidays. Plus, the portal generally presents bonuses in the event you spend a specific amount. If you are going to make a purchase order anyway, purchasing via Delta’s portal can imply critical bonus miles.

Earn when you eat with SkyMiles Eating

The Delta SkyMiles Eating program permits you to earn further miles when eating out. Merely join an account, hyperlink a bank card and dine at a collaborating restaurant, cafe or bar. While you swipe your registered card at these institutions, you will earn further SkyMiles, along with the miles you already earn along with your bank card. Make certain to hyperlink a card that earns bonus factors at eating places, and watch the rewards add up.

The variety of miles you earn via SkyMiles Eating relies on your standing in this system, which is completely separate out of your Medallion standing. There are three tiers: member, choose member and VIP. You may develop into a choose member by signing up for e-mail alerts, and you may get VIP standing after making 11 transactions inside 12 months.

In case you do not give this system a sound e-mail deal with and join e-mail alerts, you will keep a normal member and solely earn 1 mile for each $2 spent. Choose members will earn 3 miles per greenback spent, whereas VIP members will take house 5 miles per greenback.

Earn Delta SkyMiles for your enterprise

Delta’s enterprise program, SkyMiles for Enterprise, is open to all corporations, no matter measurement and annual income. Nonetheless, incomes miles continues to be restricted to corporations that spend not less than $5,000 in eligible flight income each calendar 12 months and have not less than 5 worker vacationers. Here is a more in-depth take a look at the SkyMiles for Enterprise tiers:

• Member: Open to any enterprise, with no minimal traveler or spending necessities
• Plus: Accounts with not less than 5 worker vacationers and $5,000 in annual journey spending
• Elite: Accounts with not less than 5 worker vacationers and $300,000 in annual journey spending

Plus members earn 1 to 10 miles per greenback spent on Delta flights, relying on the cabin. Elite members earn 15% bonus miles.

Associated: Airline loyalty applications for small companies

Earn Delta SkyMiles with journey companions

You may as well earn bonus miles while you e book different sorts of journey, like rental automobiles, Lyft rides and resort stays. Here is a take a look at all of your journey incomes choices.

E book a trip with Lyft

You may earn Delta miles on U.S. Uber rides and Uber Eats orders while you hyperlink your Delta and Uber accounts. You may earn as much as 3 miles per $1 spent (1 mile on UberX rides to the airport, 2 miles on premium rides and three miles on Uber Reserve rides. You may as well earn 1 mile per $1 spent on qualifying Uber Eats order over $40.

Earn with Delta Holidays

Here is what you possibly can earn on journey packages with Delta Holidays:

• 1,000 SkyMiles per particular person on bookings of as much as $4,999
• 5,000 SkyMiles per particular person on bookings of $5,000 to $9,999
• 10,000 SkyMiles per particular person on bookings of $10,000 or extra

You may additionally earn extra miles from the flight portion of your trip packages.

Earn SkyMiles on cruises

By means of Delta Cruises, you possibly can earn 2 miles for each greenback spent in your subsequent crusing. The platform additionally presents limited-time bonuses throughout sure instances of the 12 months, permitting you to take house much more miles.

To earn SkyMiles in your subsequent cruise, e book on cruises.delta.com or name 800-820-3244 along with your SkyMiles quantity.

Earn SkyMiles on Airbnb stays

Like Delta’s partnership with Uber, you possibly can earn SkyMiles on eligible Airbnb stays. Simply head to this web page, enter your SkyMiles quantity and click on via the hyperlink earlier than you make a reserving. You may earn 1 mile per greenback spent on Airbnb purchases (excluding taxes and costs) with no restrict — so dearer journeys can rack up a pleasant haul of SkyMiles.

Earn SkyMiles while you e book inns

Along with Airbnb, you possibly can earn SkyMiles with Delta’s resort reserving portal, Delta Stays. Accomplished stays earn a minimal of two miles per greenback spent on inns, excluding taxes, gratuities and different charges. The costs on this portal ought to match reserving immediately, nevertheless it’s in your finest curiosity to double-check.

One phrase of warning: Reserving via this portal doesn’t earn resort factors or help you use elite standing advantages.

You may as well earn SkyMiles while you e book immediately with Delta’s resort companions: World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Shangri-La Circle and Accor Dwell Limitless. The variety of miles you will earn relies on the resort group you e book with.

Earn SkyMiles while you lease a automotive

You may as well earn SkyMiles while you lease a automotive via Delta Automotive Leases or with one in every of Delta’s companions, together with (incomes rated differ from companion to companion):

• Alamo
• Avis
• Funds
• Greenback
• Enterprise
• Europcar
• Hertz
• Nationwide
• Payless
• Sixt
• Thrifty
• Turo

Purchase Delta SkyMiles

In case you want SkyMiles in a pinch, you should buy them immediately from Delta. The airline prices a whopping 3.5 cents per mile, considerably greater than TPG’s June 2025 valuation of 1.25 cents per mile. It’s essential to purchase miles in increments of two,000, and you should buy a most of 60,000 SkyMiles per account per 12 months.

Delta continuously reductions SkyMiles by providing bonus miles or a bonus on the variety of miles bought. Shopping for SkyMiles is barely value doing in case you have an instantaneous use for them. In any other case, buying miles speculatively is normally a nasty concept, as they are often devalued at any time.

Associated: Purchase bonus factors and miles with these promotions

Backside line

There are many methods to earn Delta SkyMiles, whether or not via flights, bank cards, transferring factors or utilizing one in every of Delta’s many companions.

Even higher? SkyMiles is without doubt one of the few loyalty currencies that by no means expire. And with the myriad incomes alternatives outlined above, you will hopefully haven’t any scarcity of SkyMiles the following time you propose a visit.