Quick Points: Short on Delta SkyMiles? Try Miles Headstart
Attention, Delta American Express cardholders: If you're short on Delta SkyMiles, you can now receive advanced miles. Known as Miles Headstart, this program from American Express could be just what you need to get your next redemption booked if you don't have enough SkyMiles in your account.
Not to be confused with Medallion MQD Headstart, Amex's Miles Headstart program is open to all eligible Delta Amex cardholders, such as those with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.
Related: Best Delta credit cards
What is Amex's Miles Headstart?
Miles Headstart allows cardholders to receive an advance of SkyMiles to book their trip now. In essence, it is a short-term loan from Delta SkyMiles. Therefore, you will have to pay it back. You will have six months to spend the required amount on your card to not pay for the miles. If you don't spend the required amount, the remaining amount of SkyMiles will be charged at a rate of 2.5 cents per mile, much higher than Delta sells its miles.
There are some eligibility factors, and not everyone may be approved. According to Amex, if you are eligible for Miles Headstart, the maximum number of miles you can get in advance is based on several factors.
Per Amex's eligibility terms:
"You may have only one (1) Miles Headstart Balance outstanding at any time. The Miles Headstart Start Date is defined as the date that advanced miles are posted to your Delta SkyMiles account. The Miles Headstart End Date is defined as the last day of the sixth full billing period following the Start Date. If, on the End Date, there are miles remaining in your Miles Headstart Balance, then your Card account will be charged for those remaining miles at a rate of 2.5 cents per mile. The APR for this charge will be the standard purchase APR on your account, which varies with the Prime Rate. If you do not see the advanced miles posted to your Delta SkyMiles account immediately, please allow up to 72 hours. Any miles advanced cannot be returned or transferred and are subject to Delta SkyMiles terms and conditions."
Things to note
You have six months to earn the miles back by spending on your Delta American Express card. If you do not spend the amount required to earn the miles back, you will be charged 2.5 cents per mile.
If you know you can spend the money required, this can be a great option, as you won't have to spend any extra money out of pocket and can lock in an award redemption before the rate changes.
As you can see, you will need to spend a very high amount on average every month to not owe anything. To "borrow" just 5,000 miles, you must spend over $5,000 to receive no additional charges. This average spending can be less if you spend more on categories like Delta purchases, as every card in the SkyMiles family earns at least 2 miles per dollar spent on all Delta purchases.
If you don't think you can spend this amount back in the six-month time frame, you might want to consider buying SkyMiles directly from Delta, as you'll be charged 3.5 cents per mile. For example, buying 6,000 SkyMiles costs just $210 compared to the over $5,000 you must spend on your card, bringing the Miles Headstart option's purchasing rate to roughly $1 per mile.
If you hold an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points, you could always transfer those points to Delta since the airline is one of Amex's many transfer partners. Using transferable points is one of our favorite ways to add miles to your SkyMiles account.
Bottom line
Miles Headstart can be a great way to quickly get some extra Delta SkyMiles that you need to book your trip.
However, this option will require spending a lot on your card every month to earn the loaned miles back. If you don't think you can meet these spending requirements, you will be charged 2.5 cents per mile, much more than it would cost to buy SkyMiles directly from Delta or transfer Membership Rewards points from Amex.
If you don't think you can meet the spending requirement to earn the miles back within six months, consider purchasing the miles directly from Delta instead.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
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