5 things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles

Using Delta Air Lines SkyMiles can be complex and frustrating due to frequent changes and a lack of award charts. However, once you accumulate enough miles and gain the necessary knowledge to navigate the program, you can extract significant value from them.

Historically, Delta has offered flash sales, with round-trip tickets to Mexico and the Caribbean costing as little as 14,400 SkyMiles.

While it requires effort to understand and utilize SkyMiles effectively, many consider Delta’s inflight experience to be the best among domestic carriers — as does the data powering TPG’s annual report on the best U.S. airlines (Delta took the top spot for the sixth straight year in 2024).

Here are five key things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles to maximize their value.

Delta has no published award chart

Delta removed award charts from its website in 2015. To get an idea of the approximate number of miles required for a future award flight, you must search for your desired route on different dates or use Delta’s calendar search function. However, it’s important to note that the numbers can change daily as Delta prices its award flights dynamically.

For example, a domestic flight that costs 7,500 miles one day could be almost twice the price a few days later. Here are the varying prices over one week for a short flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).

The difference can be even more significant on international routes, especially in premium cabins. Within a week, one-way premium economy flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney Airport (SYD) range from 170,000 to 495,000 SkyMiles.

Finding availability with award programs can be challenging. Still, without set prices, these significant variances force you to plan your trip around availability rather than your desired schedule.

Finally, with no fixed prices, last-minute SkyMiles award tickets function like revenue tickets: They tend to be significantly more expensive.

This is a major drawback to collecting SkyMiles compared to other legacy carrier miles.

That said, it’s worth noting that you can reticket most Delta award flights (excluding basic economy awards) when the price drops. Many times, this can be accomplished right in the Delta app.

If you want to change a basic economy award ticket, you will be charged a cancellation fee in miles. This fee — 9,900 miles for domestic travel (within the United States and Canada) and 19,900 miles for international travel — is deducted from the value of your ticket, and the remaining miles will be deposited back into your SkyMiles account.

Adding segments on Delta flights can lower your award ticket price

Surprisingly, longer flights can sometimes result in lower award rates for a Delta award ticket. Delta tends to have limited competition on routes originating from its main hubs.

For example, flying from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in economy class will cost you 37,000 miles.

When you shift your origin to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which is served by more carriers, the prices drop significantly — with many itineraries connecting in Detroit:

Delta partner awards can be a good value

Given the high redemption rates for Delta-operated flights in premium cabins, a good use of SkyMiles might be to redeem them on partner airlines. After all, this holds true for redemptions using American Airlines AAdvantage miles and Air Canada Aeroplan points.

Redeeming SkyMiles for Virgin Atlantic-operated Upper Class flights to the United Kingdom and beyond is a reasonable use of SkyMiles. While redemption rates are much higher than Virgin’s Flying Club charges for the same flights, you won’t be hit with Flying Club’s four-figure carrier-imposed surcharges. So, if you have a large balance of SkyMiles and want very little out-of-pocket cost, this could be a good use.

With no award chart, prices vary, but great deals can be found on partner airlines that don’t touch the United States. This business-class itinerary flying a combination of China Airlines and Air France is only 80,000 miles plus around $28 in taxes and fees, an incredible deal for around 15 hours of flying time in premium cabins.

Delta offers SkyMiles promotions

Delta routinely offers SkyMiles sales where it will reduce the price of certain award seats it operates itself.

For example, you can book round-trip flights to Europe for as low as 54,000 SkyMiles plus minimal taxes and fees. We have also previously seen round-trip offers from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) for just 44,000 miles plus $40 in taxes and fees, a terrific deal for long-haul flights to Asia.

Keep an eye on Delta’s SkyMiles sales page to find these deals, and if you see a great price, book immediately.

You can earn Delta elite status without ever flying

Delta SkyMiles lets you earn Medallion status without flying.

Here are the requirements for SkyMiles elite Medallion status in 2024 (to enjoy through 2025). Here’s how many Medallion Qualification Dollars you’d need to earn:

Silver Medallion: 5,000 MQDs
Gold Medallion: 10,000 MQDs
Platinum Medallion: 15,000 MQDs
Diamond Medallion: 28,000 MQDs

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card accrue 1 MQD for every $10 spent. Meanwhile, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card accrue 1 MQD for every $20 spent.

There is no limit to how many MQDs you can earn from spending on the cards, so you could potentially earn elite status just from swiping your Delta Amex card.

Note that all four of these cards also include a 15% discount on Delta-operated award flights when you redeem your SkyMiles and pay the taxes and fees with the card. This doesn’t apply to partner tickets.

Check out our full guide on Delta elite status to learn the benefits and perks of Medallion status.

Related: The best Delta credit cards

How to earn Delta SkyMiles

One of the easiest ways to earn lots of Delta SkyMiles is through cobranded credit cards — including welcome offers and earning on everyday spending. Currently, American Express issues four personal Delta cards and three business cards.

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership
Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 110,000 bonus miles after spending $12,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

You can transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. However, to offset the federal excise tax, you will pay a fee of $0.0006 per mile (up to a maximum of $99), so the transaction will be more expensive.

Bottom line

Delta SkyMiles remains a solid choice for Delta travelers. We continue to find value in using SkyMiles for domestic flights and in potentially booking partner SkyTeam award flights.

However, SkyMiles aren’t the currency to hold if you’re looking for aspirational or long-haul premium-cabin awards, as you will find much lower redemption rates through other programs.