The trick you need to know to claim your missing Delta SkyMiles

Have you taken a flight recently but noticed that no miles posted to your account? Maybe you forgot to include your frequent flyer number in your reservation.

Fortunately, most airlines allow you to retroactively credit flights to your mileage account after you’ve flown them. However, some airlines give you less time to do so than others. Among them: Delta Air Lines.

Unlike its competitors, which typically give you up to 12 months, Delta only gives you nine months to request missing miles. So if you’ve taken any flights in the last few months, now is a great time to go back through your tickets and confirm that everything has been properly credited.

Today we’re going to take a step-by-step look at how you could request missing Delta SkyMiles. Additionally, we’ll review the rules for requesting credit in the business-oriented Delta SkyBonus program.

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How far back can you claim Delta miles?

You can request missing Delta SkyMiles up to nine months from the date of your flight. This is slightly less generous than airlines like American Airlines and United as they typically give you up to 12 months. On the flip side, you get the same nine-month cut-off even if you weren’t enrolled in the SkyMiles program at the time of your flight, which is better than some of its competitors.

Delta says to wait at least seven days after flying before requesting missing miles. Normally, if you include your SkyMiles number on your reservation, most Delta flights post to your account within 24 hours of travel, while partner flights can take up to seven days.

Related: Your complete guide to the Delta SkyMiles program

How to request missing miles for Delta flights

Delta makes it easy to request mileage credit for past flights using an online form. All you need is your SkyMiles account number, ticket number and flight information.

To access the form, log into your Delta SkyMiles account, go to your profile, click “My SkyMiles,” and then click “Request Mileage Credit.”

You’ll then be presented with two forms. Use the top form to request credit for Delta flights.

You can find your ticket number from the flight on your receipt or boarding pass. If you can’t find it, contact Delta via this page to request it. You’ll need to provide additional details regarding your flight, but the trouble is worth it, so you can later request mileage credit.

How to request missing miles from partners

Delta will also accept requests for mileage credit for partner flights and other SkyMiles partner activities.

The process for requesting missing miles for partners is very similar to requesting them for Delta flights. Follow all of the same steps discussed above to get to the “Request Mileage Credit” page. Then, fill out the form at the bottom of the page. For some non-flight activities, such as Airbnb stays, you may need to provide a receipt or other documentation for verification.

Related: The ultimate guide to Delta partners

How to request missing SkyBonus points

Separate from SkyMiles, Delta runs a loyalty program for business customers, called Delta SkyBonus.

If your business is eligible for an account, you can double-dip on every one of your Delta flights by crediting to both SkyMiles and SkyBonus. Requirements to be eligible include a minimum spend of $5,000 in tickets each year and have at least 5 unique employee travelers.

Related: Airline loyalty programs for small businesses

Once you’re a SkyBonus member, you can request credit on already-flown tickets via the “Add Ticket” page in your SkyBonus account. Tickets are processed and will appear on your statement within 6-8 weeks after travel.

Delta is slightly more generous with SkyBonus than it is with SkyMiles when it comes to retroactive credit. Instead of a 9-month window, Delta allows you to request SkyBonus credit up to a full 12 months back for completed flights. However, it doesn’t allow any retroactive credit for flights your business has purchased or flown before enrollment, so if you’re eligible to join SkyBonus, make sure you do it before booking your next Delta trip.

Boosting your SkyMiles balance

There are a variety of ways to earn Delta miles aside from flying. For instance, if you have an American Express Membership Rewards-earning card, such as The Platinum Card® from American Express, you could transfer points to Delta SkyMiles. These transfers process immediately. Several Delta-branded credit cards are offering the following welcome offers:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $50 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants within the first three months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first three months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to $100 back in statement credits for eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants in the first three months of card membership.
  Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles, and a $50 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles, 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and $100 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles, 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs), and $100 statement credit after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership.

Bottom line

It’s easy to claim missing Delta miles retroactively for flights and other qualifying activity. Plus, you can still request credit even if you enrolled in the SkyMiles program after your flight. However, Delta doesn’t give you as much time to claim miles as some other airlines, so you’ll want to request your missing credit as soon as possible.

Julian Kheel contributed to this story.

Screenshots courtesy of Delta.

Featured image by Benji Stawski/The Points Guy.