Your Guide to Earning Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Founded in 1928, Delta Air Lines is the world’s second largest airline. There are enough ways to earn Delta SkyMiles that it's tough to remember them all. Here's a breakdown of where and how you can earn miles.
» Learn more: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program: The complete guide
Fly with Delta
The original, and potentially easiest, way to earn miles is by flying on Delta-operated flights. You no longer earn SkyMiles based on the amount of your flight's flown miles. Instead, you earn SkyMiles based on the fare you purchased. The exact amount that you earn is also based on your status level with Delta.
Status | Rewards earned |
|---|---|
Basic SkyMiles membership | 5 SkyMiles per $1 spent |
Silver Medallion | 7 SkyMiles per $1 spent |
Gold Medallion | 8 SkyMiles per $1 spent |
Platinum Medallion | 9 SkyMiles per $1 spent |
Diamond Medallion | 11 SkyMiles per $1 spent |
One important note is that you only earn SkyMiles based on the base fare and any carrier-imposed surcharges. You don’t earn SkyMiles on government-imposed taxes and fees. You can earn extra SkyMiles on your Delta flights if you pay for your flight with one of Delta’s co-branded cards (more details on that below).
Fly with Delta’s partner airlines
Delta is a part of the SkyTeam alliance, and flights on the other 18 SkyTeam partners can be credited to Delta by providing your SkyMiles number during booking. In addition to its SkyTeam partners, Delta also partners with Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and WestJet, to name a few.
Earning rates vary by partner and fare class. Visit Delta’s list of airline partners, choose your partner and look up the earned miles based on your fare class.
Here’s an example showing the earning rates for Delta SkyMiles on Virgin Atlantic:
Spend on the various Delta Airlines credit cards
Another good way to earn Delta Air Lines miles is through spending on Delta’s co-branded credit cards. There are four Delta personal cards and three business cards. They have the following earning rates.
2x miles at restaurants.
2x miles on direct Delta purchases.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
2x miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
2x miles on direct Delta purchases.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
3x miles on Delta flights and Delta Vacations.
2x miles at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
3x miles on Delta flights and Delta vacations.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
There are also business versions of the Gold, Platinum and Reserve card:
2x miles on purchases made directly with Delta.
2x miles on U.S. purchases for advertising in select media.
2x miles on U.S. shipping purchases.
2x miles on dining at restaurants.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta.
3x miles on purchases made directly with hotels.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
3x miles on purchases made directly with Delta.
1.5x miles per $1 spent on purchases after the first $150,000.
1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Terms apply.
Transfer from other rewards programs
Delta is also a transfer partner of a couple of other reward programs. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points 1:1 to Delta.
Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to Delta at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus if you transfer in increments of 60,000 Bonvoy points.
Make purchases through Delta’s partners
Delta has a variety of partners that can help you earn SkyMiles. Here are a few of the most common and/or lucrative:
The Delta SkyMiles shopping portal pays out SkyMiles at a variety of online merchants. Be on the lookout for periodic bonus promotions.
You can earn 3,000 bonus SkyMiles for signing up for the SkyMiles dining program and completing certain spending requirements. Members earn additional miles based on spending at participating restaurants by linking a credit card.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent by making your Airbnb reservation through DeltaAirbnb.com.
Earn 1 mile per $1 spent with Lyft by linking your Delta SkyMiles and Lyft accounts.
How to Maximize Your Rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2020, including those best for:
Airline miles and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card
Flat-rate rewards with no annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Premium travel rewards: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Planning a trip? Check out these articles for more inspiration and advice: The revamped Delta Cards: Worth the headache of redeeming SkyMiles? Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get? Find the best travel credit card for you
