The Best Ways To Redeem Delta Air Lines SkyMiles For Award Flights

If you regularly fly with Delta Airlines, you should consider being a part of their loyalty program, Skymiles. With Delta SkyMiles, you can earn miles faster with every trip and purchases! Redeem your earned mile on travel with any Delta Airline flight or towards vacation packages that Delta offers.

The value of Delta SkyMiles has gone down in recent years, and with the elimination of its award chart in 2015, flyers have been less interested in the carrier’s loyalty program. Nonetheless, the vast number of airline partners and easy-to-use booking tool keeps this program relevant to travelers nationwide.

You can also check out the latest Delta Airlines Promotions  and our Delta SkyMiles Guide for more information and ways to save money!

Delta SkyMiles Redemption Quick Facts

Delta SkyMiles Important Rules & Fees

Before going over how to earn and redeem miles, it’s important to note SkyMile redemption rules and fees. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• You can’t book First Class awards, on Delta or its partners.
• Stopovers and open jaws are not allowed.
• There are no surcharges when the flight takes off within the United States. But if you fly Delta or its partners from outside the U.S., you’ll have to pay surcharges.
• There are no last-minute booking fees.
• Delta does not charge a fee for booking flights by phone.

Click here for their Membership Guide & Program Rules.

Delta Flights

One of the best ways to utilize your SkyMiles is by redeeming award flights with Delta. As previously mentioned, Delta’s award chart is cost-based. This means that there are no set mileage for routes and travel between regions. Pricing is instead dependent on factors such as the cost of fare, date, and number of people booking.

In order to get an accurate mileage cost, you’ll need to search for your own award on the Delta website or contact customer service.

Best Ways To Redeem With Delta

Partner Flights

There are various SkyTeam and non-alliance partners, meaning that your SkyMiles will be useful on a variety of carriers and routes all over the world.

SkyTeam partners include:

Other airline partners include:

Despite not publishing official award charts for partner flights, tickets are still priced the same for travel with the same origin and destination – regardless of date. For example, a flight from New York to Shanghai will cost 85,000 miles, whether you’re looking to travel on March 10th or Dec 24th.

With that said, the lack of  published charts, means that Delta can raise their rates at any time. To get exact pricing on an award ticket, you’ll need to do the search on Delta’s website or call them directly.

Delta displays their partner awards and most can be booked from the site. However, they’re not great at putting together mixed cabin itineraries and will often direct you to book Delta-operated flights. In order to find this, you’ll need to search one segment at a time.

Best Ways To Redeem With Delta Partners

Below are some of our favorite Delta partner routes in Economy:

However, if you want to get more value out of your SkyMiles then you’ll want to rack them up for a partner award flight in Business Class. Some notable partner awards include:

Earning SkyMiles: Co-Branded Personal Credit Cards

Delta SkyMiles can be earned in a handful of ways, the easiest way is by using a co-branded Delta SkyMiles card. American Express offers cards that have generous welcome bonuses that will give you a nice start to earning SkyMiles. Here are the 3 consumer credit cards to consider:

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express CardDelta SkyMiles Platinum American Express CardDelta Reserve American Express Card

Read our full review on this card here.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card offers 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Gold 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. You'll earn: • 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. • 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. • $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. There is a $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150) and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees). Now, you'll get get more savings with your first checked bag for free on Delta flights. Terms Apply. Click here to learn how to apply

Read our full review on this card here.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Platinum 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. You'll earn: • 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. • 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. • 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. • $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required. Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost. $150 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card Members can earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. This card comes with a $350 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee. You'll also get fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre?®. (See Rates & Fees). Terms Apply. Click here to learn how to apply

Read our full review on this card here.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card offers 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club when you fly Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Once all 15 Visits have been used, Eligible Card Members may purchase additional Delta Sky Club Visits at a per-Visit rate of $50 per person using the Card. Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card. Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight within the U.S. and to Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central America each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for round-trip domestic flights and no more than $250 for round-trip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. You'll earn: • Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. • Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. • $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. • $200 Delta Stays Statement Credit: Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card Members can earn up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com. • Receive four Delta Sky Club One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location. • 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. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. This card does come with a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. (See Rates & Fees) Terms Apply. Click here to learn how to apply

Earning SkyMiles: Co-Branded Business Credit Cards

You can easily turn your everyday business purchases into SkyMiles! If you’re a business owner or an associate then these cards offer amazing earning rates, alongside a generous welcome bonus!

Delta SkyMiles Gold Business CardDelta SkyMiles Platinum Business Credit CardDelta Reserve for Business Credit Card

Read our full review on this card here.

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers 60,000 Bonus Miles after spending $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You'll earn: • 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases at U.S. Shipping providers and at U.S. providers for Advertising in select media on up to $50,000 of purchases per category, per year. • 2 Miles on every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on every eligible dollar spent at restaurants. • 1 Mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $150 after using your Delta Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. Additionally, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year. This card carries a $150 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150) (See Rates & Fees). However, there are no foreign transaction fees and you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year. Terms and limitations apply. Click here to learn how to apply

Read our full review on this card here.

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card offers 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $6,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card Members save 15% 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. You'll earn: • 3X miles At Delta Per every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and hotels. • 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases, plus single eligible purchases of $5,000 or more on up to a total of $100,000 purchase categories per calendar year per Card Account. Terms and miles cap apply. *If your purchase qualifies for a category that has a higher mileage accelerator, only the higher accelerator will apply. • 1X mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enjoy a Companion Certificate each year after renewal of your Delta SkyMiles(R) Platinum Business American Express Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. Receive a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck) by using your Card. If approved for Global Entry, you will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional charge. Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $200 after using your Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. This card does carry a $350 annual fee. (See Rates & Fees). Terms and limitations apply. Click here to learn how to apply

Read our full review on this card here.

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card offers 80,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Save 15% when booking Award Travel on Delta flights. Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. You'll earn: • 3X miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases • 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping & office supply store purchases • 1.5X miles on all eligible purchases after you spend $150,000 in purchases on your card in a year. • Earn up to $10 back each month after using your enrolled Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. • Elevate your travel experience with an annual statement credit of up to $250 after using your Delta Reserve Business American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com. As a benefit of Card Membership, you can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight. When you purchase a Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business Card, you will receive complimentary access to The Centurion Lounge or Escape Lounge - The Centurion Studio Partner. Enter Delta Sky Club at no cost. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter. Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner. This card does carry an annual fee of $650 (See Rates & Fees). Pay no foreign transaction fees when you travel overseas. Terms and limitations apply. Click here to learn how to apply

Bottom Line

The SkyMiles program is a good option for loyal flyers to Delta Airlines! Even though the value of SkyMiles has gone down over the years, the program still offers great deals and opportunities to save money. Join today and start taking advantage of exclusive perks! You can get closer to your next adventure by earning miles with the everyday products and services you enjoy!

While you’re here on HMB, you can check out out our Best Travel Credit cards! Plus learn how earn even more bonus points and miles that you can use towards your future travels!

Chase Bank Business Checking Bonus: $300 Offer Coupon – Ends 1/16/25

Chase Total Checking $300 Bonus – Ends 1/22/25

Rakuten Promotions: $40 Sign-Up Bonus & Referrals

• 1
• 2
• 3
• …
• 9
• ›