How to Earn Delta SkyMiles

Delta Air Lines offers plenty of opportunities to increase your SkyMiles stash — most of which don’t even involve flying.

With Delta miles in hand, you’re that much closer to a ticket to more than 1,000 destinations around the globe. Consider the following methods for earning Delta SkyMiles for your next trip.

Fly with Delta Air Lines

Flying with Delta is the most straightforward way to earn Delta SkyMiles. However, the number of miles you earn is directly tied to the amount of money you spend on a ticket (excluding taxes and fees) and not the distance you fly.

You’ll earn 5 redeemable miles per dollar spent on Delta-marketed flights as a general SkyMiles loyalty program member, and your earning rates will be higher if you reach higher elite status. So, a $300 flight will net at least 1,500 SkyMiles in your account regardless of the distance you fly. It’s worth noting that basic economy flights aren’t eligible for mileage accrual. Also, Comfort Basic fares earn 3 fewer miles per dollar spent, while Extra fares in any cabin earn 2 additional miles per dollar spent.

To earn miles on Delta flights, simply enter your SkyMiles number when making a flight reservation book while logged into your SkyMiles account so your loyalty number attaches automatically.

Fly with partner airlines

Delta is a member of the SkyTeam alliance, which includes the following global carriers.

Delta also partners with carriers outside of the SkyTeam alliance.

You can earn Delta miles by flying any of these airlines and crediting your flights to the SkyMiles program. However, the number of redeemable miles you’ll earn typically depends on the distance of the flight and the fare class booked, not how much you spend on a ticket.

For exact earning rates in specific fare classes, consult Delta’s partner airlines page. If a fare class isn’t listed, the ticket won’t earn you any Delta miles.

» Learn more: Save miles on Delta flights by booking with SkyTeam partners

Reach Medallion status

Frequent flyers loyal to one airline, in this case Delta, can reach elite levels by flying and spending enough money on tickets. If you reach Medallion elite status with SkyMiles, you’ll generally earn redeemable miles at the following rates:

• General members: 5 miles per dollar spent.

• Silver Medallion: 7 miles per dollar spent.

• Gold Medallion: 8 miles per dollar spent.

• Platinum Medallion: 9 miles per dollar spent.

• Diamond Medallion: 11 miles per dollar spent.

So, the same $300 flight from the previous example will net you anywhere from 1,500 to 3,300 redeemable miles, depending on your Medallion level in the SkyMiles program.

As mentioned above, the fare type you purchase (Basic, Classic or Extra) will affect the actual amount of miles you'll earn.

Apply for a Delta SkyMiles credit card

If you choose to apply for a Delta SkyMiles credit card, you can boost your miles by receiving a welcome bonus offer and then charging purchases to your card.

American Express issues both consumer and business Delta credit cards. Note that AmEx only allows one introductory offer to be given per card, so make sure you qualify for the offer before you apply.

Delta personal cards

Terms apply.

If you refer someone you know for a Delta SkyMiles credit card, and they’re approved for an account via your application link, you’ll receive bonus SkyMiles miles simply for sending them the referral link.

The bonus offers vary and depend on the card your friend or family member opens through your link.

Transfer American Express Membership Rewards

American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to a variety of loyalty programs, including Delta SkyMiles. AmEx points transfer to Delta at a 1:1 rate. However, keep in mind that you have to pay a small fee for each point transferred to the SkyMiles program (capped at $99).

Transfer Marriott Bonvoy points

If you’re short on Delta SkyMiles, Marriott Bonvoy members can convert their hotel points to airline miles at a 3:1 ratio.

However, unlike transfers to some airlines, you won’t get a bonus by transferring at least 60,000 Marriott points to Delta SkyMiles in a single transaction. Because the transfer ratio isn’t the best, it’s not an ideal way of obtaining Delta miles.

Book Airbnb stays, services and experiences

Through Delta and Airbnb's partnership, you can earn Delta miles whenever you book an Airbnb stay, service or experience. SkyMiles members need to connect their accounts via the dedicated Delta and Airbnb partnership page in order to be eligible for mileage earning.

You can earn 1 mile per dollar spent on stays and 3 miles per dollar spent on qualifying services and experiences.

» Learn more: Are Airbnbs more cost-effective than hotels?

Book travel extras

If hotels are more your speed, you can earn some extra miles, too. Start your reservation on Delta's travel extras page (operated by Expedia) and search for accommodation. Include your SkyMiles number with the booking and earn 2 miles per dollar after you complete your stay.

You can also book car rentals through the same link and earn 2 miles per dollar on those bookings.

If you’re a Medallion member and rent a vehicle with Hertz through the link above, you’ll earn bonus SkyMiles at the following rates:

• Silver Medallion: 5 miles per $1 spent.

• Gold Medallion: 6 miles per $1 spent.

• Platinum Medallion: 7 miles per $1 spent.

• Diamond Medallion: 8 miles per $1 spent.

Book with Delta Vacations

Delta Vacations allows you to bundle multiple travel components — such as flights and hotel or flights and rental car — into one package, saving you money in the process.

With a vacation package, you’ll earn miles on the flight portion, plus bonus miles, depending on the total cost of the package. Here’s how many extra SkyMiles you’ll earn:

• Bookings up to $4,999: Earn 1,000 miles per person.

• Bookings between $5,000 and $9,999: Earn 5,000 miles per person.

• Bookings $10,000 or more: Earn 10,000 miles per person.

» Learn more: How to book a Delta Vacation package

Book a cruise

Delta SkyMiles members can earn 2 miles per dollar by booking a sea voyage through Delta Cruises plus bonus miles on select itineraries. More than 10,000 cruise itineraries are available, leaving you with plenty of sailing options.

Use the Bags on Time guarantee

Waiting for checked bags can delay the start of your vacation — but it can also earn you more miles for the next one. With Delta’s Bags on Time guarantee, you should be able to pick up your bag at a carousel within 20 minutes of landing.

If it takes any longer than that, cha-ching, you'll get 2,500 miles, courtesy of Delta. To claim your miles, fill out the baggage service guarantee form within two hours of your flight's arrival.

» Learn more: What to do if an airline loses your luggage

Enroll in SkyMiles Dining

SkyMiles Dining is a free program that lets you earn Delta miles for dine-in and takeout at U.S. restaurants that participate in the Rewards Network. To earn bonus miles, you must link a credit card with SkyMiles Dining and use the same card to pay your tab.

You’ll earn SkyMiles at the following rates:

• 1 mile per $2 spent if you choose not to receive SkyMiles Dining emails.

• 3 miles per $1 spent if you choose to receive SkyMiles Dining emails.

• 5 miles per $1 spent if you choose to receive SkyMiles Dining emails and have completed at least 11 dines in the last year.

Depending on when you enroll, you could earn a welcome bonus after signing up and completing a dine within 30 days.

Shop through Delta

Shop at more than 1,000 online retailers and earn miles on your purchases. To earn Delta miles, you must sign up for an account and start your shopping experience on the SkyMiles Shopping page.

Browse through the available stores and note the earning rates per dollar spent on a purchase. They can be as low as 0.5 miles per dollar spent or up to multiple miles per dollar.

Click through to a specific store from the portal and complete a purchase as you usually would using any credit card. You’ll then earn miles on the amount spent at the rate indicated.

Ride with Uber

You can earn Delta miles on Uber. However, not all purchases will qualify. Here's the breakdown:

• Airport rides: Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on UberX rides to and from airports.

• Premium rides: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on premium rides, such as Uber Comfort or Uber Black.

• Uber Reserve: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent via Uber Reserve, which is a scheduled ride service that allows you to request trips in advance.

• Uber Eats Orders: Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on $40+ restaurant and grocery orders via Uber Eats.

To get started on earning miles, you'll have to link your Uber and Delta accounts.

Order from Starbucks

Members of Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks' rewards program must link their accounts in order to earn Delta miles when they make purchases at Starbucks. You'll earn 1 mile for every eligible $1 spent at participating Starbucks coffeehouses.

In addition to linking accounts, SkyMiles members must have flown on a Delta-marketed flight (meaning the flight number on your itinerary starts with "DL") in the past 12 months. Newly linked members get 12 months of earning ability before the requirement kicks in.

Buy tickets through Ticketmaster

Sports, music and live theater enthusiasts in the U.S. and Canada can earn 1 mile per dollar spent with Ticketmaster, a marketplace for event tickets.

To earn Delta miles on ticket purchases, click this special partnership link before buying event tickets. Again, earning through Ticketmaster won’t make you miles-rich, but might as well add your SkyMiles number if you’re going to attend events anyway.

Combine miles with another SkyMiles member

It’s possible to transfer Delta SkyMiles from one member to another. However, we don’t recommend it for the following reason: It’ll cost you $10 for every 1,000 miles transferred, or 1 cent per mile, plus a $30 processing fee. NerdWallet values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents per mile, so you’d be erasing the majority of their value by sending them to another person’s account. You’re better off booking an award flight for a friend or family member from your own account.

Purchase miles

If you need some additional Delta miles, the sure way to get them as quickly as possible is to buy them. However, it’ll cost you. Delta charges 3.5 cents per mile, which is nearly triple their worth as estimated by NerdWallet.

If you’re looking to purchase just a few thousand miles for a high-value business class redemption, you might consider it, but if you’re in need of tens of thousands of miles, forget about it.

» Learn more: 4 times it makes sense to buy airline miles

How to earn Delta SkyMiles recapped

The more miles you earn, the faster you’ll be on the way to your next destination.

This list is a good starting point for earning a good chunk of Delta miles. With so many easy and free options, you can grow your Delta SkyMiles balance without too much effort.