5 Things You Need to Know About Delta SkyMiles

Use Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Program can be complicated and frustrating due to frequent changes and a lack of rewards charts. However, once you accumulate enough mileage and gain the knowledge necessary to navigate the program, you can extract significant value from them.

Delta has traditionally offered flash sales, with round-trip fares to Mexico and the Caribbean being just 14,400 SkyMiles.

While it takes effort to understand and use SkyMiles effectively, many consider Delta’s in-flight experience to be the best among domestic airlines — as the data that powered TPG’s annual report on America’s best airlines (Delta took the top spot) for the sixth consecutive year in 2024).

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

Delta does not have a published award chart.

Delta removed the award chart from its website in 2015. To get an approximate number of miles you’ll need for future award flights, you’ll need to search for your desired route on different dates or use Delta’s calendar search feature. 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 a day can cost nearly double after a few days. Here are the different prices over a week for a short-haul 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 first class. On a weekday, one-way premium economy flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney Airport (SYD) range from 170,000 to 495,000 SkyMiles.

Related: Is Delta Air Lines Premium Economy Class Worth Flying From New York to London?

Finding space with rewards programs can be a challenge, but without fixed prices, these significant differences force you to plan your trip based on availability rather than your desired itinerary.

Finally, because there’s no set price, last-minute SkyMiles award tickets function much like revenue tickets: They tend to be significantly more expensive.

This is a major drawback when accumulating SkyMiles miles compared to other traditional airlines.

It’s worth noting, however, that you can redeem most Delta award flights (except basic economy award flights) when prices drop. Many times, this can be done right in the Delta app.

If you want to redeem a basic economy award ticket, you’ll be charged a cancellation fee in miles. This fee—9,900 miles for domestic travel (within the U.S. and Canada) and 19,900 miles for international travel—is deducted from the value of your ticket and the remaining miles are credited back to your SkyMiles account.

Related: Complete guide to changing and canceling award tickets

Adding more flights on a Delta flight can reduce the price of your award ticket

Surprisingly, longer flights can sometimes result in lower award prices on Delta award tickets. Delta tends to limit competition on routes originating from its main hubs.

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

When you move your departure point to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), where there are more airlines, prices drop significantly — with many connecting flights in Detroit:

Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value

Delta Partner Awards Can Be a Good Value

With high redemption rates for Delta-operated flights in premium class, a sensible use of SkyMiles might be to redeem them on partner airlines. After all, this is true for redemptions with American Airlines AAdvantage Miles And Air Canada Aeroplan Points.

Redeeming SkyMiles for Virgin Atlantic business class flights to the UK and beyond is a sensible use of SkyMiles. While the redemption rate is much higher than Virgin Flying Club For the same flight, you won’t be hit with the four-digit airline surcharges imposed by Flying Club. So if you have a large SkyMiles balance and want to save very little, this could be a good way to use it.

There’s no award chart, prices vary, but there are plenty of great deals to be found on non-US partner airlines. This business class itinerary flying China Airlines and Air France combined is just 80,000 miles plus about $28 in taxes and fees, an incredible deal for about 15 hours of flying in premium class.

Delta offers SkyMiles promotion

Delta regularly runs SkyMiles promotions, which discount some of its own award seats.

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

Keep an eye out Delta SkyMiles Sales Page to find these deals and if you find a good price, book it now.

You Can Achieve Delta Elite Status Without Flying

Delta SkyMiles allows you to Achieve Medal Status Without Flying.

Here are the requirements to achieve SkyMiles elite Medallion membership in 2024 (to enjoy through 2025). Here are the Medallion Qualifying Dollars you need to earn:

• Silver Medal: 5,000 MQD
• Gold Medal: 10,000 MQD
• Platinum Medal: 15,000 MQD
• Diamond Medal: 28,000 MQD

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

There’s no limit to how many MQDs you can earn on card spending, so you can achieve elite status just by swiping your Delta Amex card.

Note that all four of these cards also include a 15% off Delta-operated award flights when you redeem SkyMiles and pay taxes and fees with your card. This does not apply to partner tickets.

Check out our The Complete Guide to Delta Elite Status to learn about the benefits and privileges of Medal status.

Related: Best Delta Credit Cards

How to earn Delta SkyMiles

One of the easiest ways to earn more Delta SkyMiles is through a co-branded credit card—which includes welcome offers and earns you money on everyday spending. Currently, American Express offers four personal Delta cards and three business cards.

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Get 80,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card: Get 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 member reward points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. However, to offset federal excise taxes, you’ll pay a fee of $0.0006 per mile (up to $99), so the transaction will be more expensive.

The last line

Delta SkyMiles remains a solid option for Delta passengers. We continue to see value in using SkyMiles for domestic flights and the ability to book SkyTeam partner awards.

However, SkyMiles isn’t the currency to hold if you’re looking for ambitious premium class or long-haul awards, as you’ll find conversion rates are much lower. through other programs.