How Much Are Delta SkyMiles Worth?

Delta SkyMiles are typically valued at around 1.1 cents per mile, but this can vary based on how you use them. You earn SkyMiles when you buy Delta flights, use a Delta co-branded credit card or make purchases with select partners through SkyMiles Shopping. Famously, Delta SkyMiles don't expire. As long as you log into your account occasionally, you can accumulate to your heart's content.

Like many other airlines, Delta uses dynamic pricing for points, so there's no award chart you can easily game for extra value. The benefit is that there are no blackout dates. If you want to stretch your points, look for flights during low-demand periods or when cash fares are discounted, such as mid-week or outside peak travel seasons.

If you're trying to get an above-average redemption, Delta upgrades or long-haul international flights can push the value closer to 2 cents per mile. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card and other high annual fee cards also offer TakeOff 15, a 15% discount on all Delta-operated award flight redemptions. If you fly enough with Delta, this is a worthwhile option to make the card's benefits worth the annual fee.

The value you stand to receive for your Delta SkyMiles is on par with what you can expect through frequent flyer programs run by other popular airlines.

Most frequent flyer programs offer several ways to earn airline miles, and the Delta SkyMiles program is no different. For starters, you earn miles on every eligible ticket you book through Delta or its partner airlines, while vacation packages booked through Delta Vacations earn miles, too. You can also use co-branded Delta Airlines credit cards or shop with the program's partner merchants to boost your earnings.

Getting a travel credit card might be worth it if you know you'll earn enough rewards or use the card's benefits adequately to offset its annual fee. American Express offers four co-branded Delta SkyMiles cards for individuals and three for small business owners.

Earning miles on Delta SkyMiles cards can be straightforward if you know where to focus your spending. Here are some key strategies to help you accumulate and maximize your miles:

When booking Delta tickets, especially exception fares or through partner airlines, the miles earned vary based on the flight's distance and fare class. Partner airline bookings also consider fare class, potentially offering class bonuses and the opportunity to earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) and Dollars (MQDs). Generally, miles earned from partner airlines are primarily determined by the flight distance.

You can accrue SkyMiles through various Delta airline partners:

• AeroMexico (based on flight distance)
• Air France (based on flight distance)
• China Eastern (based on flight distance)
• KLM (based on flight distance)
• Korean Air (based on flight distance)
• LATAM Airlines (based on flight distance)
• Virgin Atlantic (based on flight distance)
• Aerolíneas Argentina (based on flight distance)
• Air Europa (based on flight distance)
• Cape Air (only on select flights, based on the cost of a ticket)
• China Airlines (based on flight distance)
• China Southern (only on select flights, based on flight distance)
• Czech Airlines (based on flight distance)
• Garuda Indonesia (based on flight distance)
• Hawaiian Airlines (based on flight distance)
• ITA (only on Delta-marketed flights, based on the cost of a ticket)
• Kenya Airways (based on flight distance)
• Middle East Airlines (based on flight distance)
• Saudia (based on flight distance)
• TAROM (based on flight distance)
• Vietnam Airlines (based on flight distance)
• WestJet (based on flight distance)
• XiamenAir (based on flight distance)

The Delta frequent flyer program allows members to earn miles through partner merchants spread across multiple categories such as hotels, shopping and car rentals.

• Airbnb and Hotel Accommodations: Delta SkyMiles members have a variety of options for earning miles through stays with partner merchants in the hotel and accommodation sector. Members can earn additional miles by booking through Delta's dedicated hotel portal. The partner merchants include popular names such as Airbnb, Marriott, AccorHotels, Hyatt, Langham, Shangri-La, WorldHotels and others. Each partner offers a different method for earning miles, such as miles per dollar spent, miles per stay or miles per night. Additionally, hotel loyalty points from IHG and Radisson can be converted into SkyMiles, providing another avenue for members to increase their miles balance.

• SkyMiles Shopping and Dining: Delta SkyMiles members can earn miles through a variety of daily activities with partner merchants. Opportunities include earning miles for every purchase made through SkyMiles Shopping and Dining programs. Additionally, members can earn miles on purchases from Instacart, FTD, Vinesse Wine and Ticketmaster.

• Car Rentals: Delta SkyMiles members have the opportunity to earn miles through car rentals with various partner merchants. Participating car rental companies include well-known brands like Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, Enterprise, National and Sixt, each offering a set number of miles per qualifying rental. Additionally, ridesharing services like Lyft provide miles per dollar spent in the U.S., while peer-to-peer car rental service Turo offers miles for each trip, with a bonus for the first trip.

Delta SkyMiles members can earn additional miles by booking through Delta Vacations and SkyMiles Cruises. Booking a vacation package with Delta Vacations allows members to earn bonus miles on top of flight miles. Similarly, each booking with SkyMiles Cruises guarantees a set number of miles, potentially earning more based on the accommodation type. These programs offer rewarding ways for members to accumulate miles while planning vacations and cruises.

Delta SkyMiles members have the flexibility to convert points from various loyalty programs into SkyMiles, enhancing their ability to earn miles for flights and other rewards. This includes converting points from:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Diners Club Rewards
• Programs like Dolares Premios from Banco de Chile and Oki Doki Points from JCB
• Le Club Accorhotels
• Radisson Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy, with an additional bonus for converting a specific amount of points
• Hilton Honors
• IHG Rewards Club
• Hertz Gold Plus Rewards
• Points.com, which collaborates with various loyalty programs
• Flyertea, specific to the China region

These partnerships allow SkyMiles members to leverage their existing points from various loyalty programs, including credit card rewards, hotel loyalty programs, car rental points and more. This effectively increases your SkyMiles balance and unlocks more travel opportunities.

You may buy Delta SkyMiles in increments of 2,000 miles, and the maximum you may purchase through a single transaction is 60,000 miles. You need to pay 3.5 cents per point. Given that this is two to three times the value you may receive when redeeming your miles, buying them might not be in your best interest. Even if you’re falling short of miles to get an award ticket, you might be better off using the Miles + Cash redemption option if available.

You may redeem the miles you earn through the Delta rewards program in several ways. To redeem your miles, you simply need to log in to your Delta SkyMiles account and choose your desired redemption method.

>> More: Flexible Points vs. Miles: Which Credit Card Reward Is Better?

The Delta SkyMiles rewards program comes with different membership levels, which it refers to as Medallion Status. Each tier comes with different benefits, one of which is the ability to earn miles faster. Moving from one Medallion Status to the next involves a combination of spending and flying with Delta and its airline partners every calendar year.

• Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): You earn MQDs based on how much money you spend on flights with Delta and its partner airlines. With award flights, the amount of MQDs you earn depends on the miles you need for redemption. You qualify for an MQD waiver if you meet the annual spending requirement of your co-branded Amex Delta SkyMiles credit card.
• Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs): Members earn MQMs based on the class fare and the distance their flights cover. However, you don’t earn MQMs on Basic Economy fares. All membership levels allow unlimited rollover of MQMs.
• Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs): You earn MQSs depending on how many flights you take. Basic Economy fares don’t earn MQSs.

Delta is introducing substantial changes to its SkyMiles program in 2025, impacting how members qualify for Medallion Status and access Sky Clubs. The adjustments place a stronger emphasis on spending over mileage accumulation, altering benefits for credit cardholders. Key updates include:

• Increased MQD Requirements for Medallion Status: Delta is raising the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) thresholds, making it trickier to reach Medallion status purely through flying. The focus is now on spending, meaning frequent travelers who fly on lower-cost fares may find it more difficult to qualify.
• End of Status Boost® and MQD Waivers: Beginning 2025, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum and Reserve cardholders will no longer benefit from Status Boost® or the MQD Waiver. Instead, these cardholders will receive a $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion year, plus additional MQDs through the MQD Boost feature from everyday spending, aiding in achieving Medallion status more easily​.
• No More MQM Rollover After 2024: The popular MQM Rollover feature will be discontinued at the end of 2024. Members with excess MQMs will have options to convert them into MQDs or miles or use them to extend their Medallion status through 2025. Every additional 100,000 MQMs can extend status by one year.
• Changes to Sky Club Access: Starting in 2025, stricter access rules will be applied to Sky Club lounges. Platinum cardholders will have limited visits unless they meet higher spending thresholds. This change is part of Delta's effort to reduce overcrowding in Sky Clubs.
• Reduction in Free Sky Club Visits for Amex Cardholders: American Express cardholders will see a reduction in the number of complimentary Sky Club visits, necessitating higher spending on co-branded cards to maintain this perk.

These changes mark a significant shift toward rewarding higher spenders and could frustrate frequent flyers who previously relied on mileage accumulation to reach status. Staying up-to-date with the evolving requirements will be key for maximizing Delta SkyMiles benefits in 2025.

A Delta SkyMiles card can be worth it if you frequently fly with Delta and can take advantage of the card's benefits when and where you can. An entry-level travel card like the Delta SkyMiles Blue is a no-annual-fee airline card but meets you with rewards worth 2X miles on Delta purchases and restaurants with no foreign transaction fees.

However, if free checked baggage is a must-have in your roster of perks, then Delta SkyMiles Gold delivers alongside priority boarding perks. This mid-tier airline card starts you off with no annual fee but charges $150 after the first year.

If you're a frequent traveler after the elite status, a companion certificate and Medallion Qualification Dollar boost that the Delta SkyMiles Platinum provides is a good luxury travel card to consider despite the $350 annual fee.

For more extensive perks like Delta Sky Club access and a companion certificate, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve could be a sound option for luxury travel seekers willing to shell out the $650 annual fee. Evaluate your travel habits and spending to determine which card, if any, aligns with your needs and maximize the worth of Delta Skymiles in 2024 with ease.

Checking our answers to other commonly asked questions about the value of SkyMiles for Delta award travel and other redemption methods can help you maximize your miles.