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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Kyle Olsen is the former points and miles reporter at TPG. He specializes in maximizing points and miles, elite status and credit cards so readers travel more comfortably and at a lower cost.
Ben Smithson is a senior writer for TPG and is based in London. Originally from Australia and a qualified lawyer with a financial services background, he has almost a decade of experience writing about a broad range of travel and loyalty topics.
also contributed to this story
February 16, 2025 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
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Quick summary
Delta SkyMiles is a dynamic loyalty program with no published award chart, causing prices to fluctuate frequently.
Award pricing can vary widely, especially for premium cabins and last-minute bookings, making advance planning essential.
Partner airline redemptions and periodic SkyMiles sales can offer strong value, especially for international flights with minimal out-of-pocket costs.
Elite status can be earned through spending, not just flying, and Delta’s inflight experience consistently ranks highly among U.S. carriers.
What to consider
Award prices change daily and can be significantly higher for last-minute or premium-cabin bookings.
Reticketing is possible if award prices drop, but basic economy awards incur a cancellation fee in miles, deducted from your refund.
Transferring points from other programs to SkyMiles incurs a small federal excise tax per mile.
What you'll miss from the article
Detailed strategies for maximizing SkyMiles value, including tips on partner redemptions and navigating dynamic pricing.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Using Delta 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 Air Lines has offered flash sales, with round-trip tickets to Mexico and the Caribbean costing as little as 14,400 SkyMiles, which is a terrific deal.
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
MARK ABRAMSON/BLOOMBERG/GETTY IMAGES
Delta removed award charts from its website in 2015. To know the approximate number of miles required for a future award flight, 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 prices for a short flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) over one week.
DELTA AIR LINES
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 150,000 to 265,000 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.
You will be charged a cancellation fee in miles if you want to change a basic economy award ticket. 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 will be deposited back into your SkyMiles account.
Adding segments on Delta flights can lower your award ticket price
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
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 33,500 miles.
DELTA AIR LINES
When you shift your origin to JFK, which is served by more carriers, the prices drop significantly — with many itineraries connecting in Detroit.
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 U.K. and beyond is a reasonable use of SkyMiles. While redemption rates are much higher than Virgin Atlantic Flying Club charges for Saver rates on transatlantic routes, you won’t be hit with Flying Club’s significant 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.
DELTA AIR LINES
With no award chart, prices vary, but great deals can be found on partner airlines that don’t touch the U.S. This business-class itinerary flying KLM is only 80,000 miles plus around $44 in taxes and fees, an incredible deal for around 15 hours of flying time in premium cabins.
DELTA AIR LINES
Delta offers SkyMiles promotions
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
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
Here are the requirements for SkyMiles Medallion elite status in 2025 (to enjoy through 2026). Here’s how many Medallion Qualification Dollars you’d need to earn:
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 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.
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: Apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 80,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Apply and find out if your welcome offer is as high as 90,000 bonus miles, plus earn a $300 statement credit after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum offer amount.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn two domestic round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates (valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands) and 50,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. A 21+ day advance purchase is required; up to $80 per person in taxes and fees apply. Other restrictions apply.
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), making the transaction 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, Delta SkyMiles generally isn’t the program to turn to if you’re looking for aspirational or long-haul premium-cabin awards, as you will find much lower redemption rates through other programs.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
