If you are Frequent Flyer on Delta Airlines, use your award miles mostly for upgrades, or are looking for last minute award flights domestic and international regardless of miles used, Delta Airlines SkyMiles program might be for you. Since Delta Airlines does not publish award chart, it makes it very hard to plan in advance how many miles you will need for a flight, and searching for a reward travel takes forever. For that reason, Delta Airlines SkyMiles program is my least favored out of 3 major US based Airlines.

 

One of the largest airlines in North America and the world, Delta Air Lines operates hubs at eight U.S. airports: Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Salt Lake City and Seattle-Tacoma. It also has more than 25 international airline partners. If you live in a Delta-dominated city or you just choose to fly the airline regularly, you should check out the airline’s frequent-flyer program, Delta SkyMiles. It costs nothing to join.

If you are new to earning Frequent Flyer Miles, do not get overwhelmed by number of details and ways to earn miles. It’s not that hard. Start with​ signing up for free ​Delta Airlines SkyMiles Program Account ​and then use this article to slowly get comfortable with earning miles. Remember, I am doing this for almost 20 years and I learn something new all the time. Hope you found this article helpful, and if you did spread the word about >​ !!!!! PointsTravels.com !!!!!

 

 

In this article I will go over:

 

● How to earn Delta SkyMiles

● How to redeem Delta SkyMiles

● Delta SkyMiles Medallion status levels

● Delta Air Lines partners

● Credit cards that earn Delta SkyMiles

 

How to earn Delta SkyMiles

Delta’s frequent-flyer program uses a currency called SkyMiles, which industry values at an average of 1.7 cents apiece with widest range of 0.7-2.4 cents apiece. That rate makes them the most valuable rewards on a per-mile basis of any major U.S. carrier. The industry standard is 1 cent per mile. This however is very misleading, since rewards travel availability is poor, and most of the methodology used by major websites calculates value of upgrades. To clarify: it’s worth 1.7 cents if you use it correctly scoring expensive upgrades, otherwise it’s closer to 0.7 cents apiece.

Flying on Delta and its partner airlines is the easiest way to earn miles. But there are ways to rack up miles besides flying, including by using a Delta-branded credit card and spending money with Delta partner companies.

Unlike with some frequent-flyer programs, the miles you earn never expire as long as your account is open.

EARNING DELTA SKYMILES WHEN YOU FLY

Earning on Delta:​ Although they have “miles” in their name, the number of SkyMiles you earn on Delta flights is based on how much you spend, not how far you fly. The base earning rate is 5 miles per $1 spent, but you earn higher rates depending on whether you have elite status, which Delta refers to as “Medallion” status.

NOTE: ​You earn SkyMiles only on the base fare and fees imposed by the airline. You don’t earn any rewards on taxes or government-imposed fees that are rolled into the cost of your ticket. Earning on partner airlines: ​Each partner airline has its own rules for earning SkyMiles. In general, the rewards you earn on partner airlines are based on the distance of the flight — so they really are “miles.” You can earn bonus miles based on the fare class (such as economy, business or first) and your Medallion status. Specific rules for each partner airline are available on Delta’s website​.

EARNING DELTA SKYMILES WITH A CREDIT CARD

Delta offers co-branded credit cards with American Express.

My favorite Delta credit card is the ​Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express​.

The card gives you 2 SkyMiles per dollar spent with Delta and 1 SkyMiles per dollar on all other purchases. When you pay for tickets with the card, you get the first checked bag free for you and up to eight other people traveling on your reservation. There’s a great bonus for new cardholders, too: Earn 30,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after making a Delta purchase in the first 3 months with your new Card. Terms Apply. (While other airline credit cards may offer welcome bonuses with a greater number of miles, this card’s offer is comparable because of the high value of SkyMiles.) The annual fee is $0 for the first year, then $95.

Check the latest offers on AmericanExpress.com, they vary, and it is not unusual to have sign up bonus increased to 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in first 3 months.

MORE ON CREDIT CARDS LATER

EARNING DELTA SKYMILES THROUGH PARTNERS

● Hotels and Airbnb: ​You can earn SkyMiles at thousands of properties in most major hotel chains. In some cases, you earn a flat number of points per stay; in others, you earn points based on how much you spend. You can also earn miles at Airbnb. ​If you are a member of hotel rewards program, you are better offering points from hotel stays towards you hotel rewards program. But if you are not, definitely take advantage of earning extra miles.

Exception: Starwood hotels. Partner program from SPG allowed earning BOTH SkyMiles and SPG points for same stay, unfortunately, Marriott will not continue this partnership after August 1st 2018 merger. (Marriott partners with United Airlines)

● Auto rentals and Lyft:​ Several major rental agencies have an option to earn SkyMiles. You can also earn miles using the Lyft ride-hailing service.

● Dining:​ Register your credit card with ​SkyMiles Dining​ and earn up to 5 miles per dollar when you use that card at thousands of participating restaurants. (You can use any credit card; it doesn’t have to be a Delta-branded card.)​This is easy and fast way to multiply your miles. To join and for tutorial>​ ​CLICK HERE.

● Shopping:​ Earn miles at hundreds of online merchants through the airline’s shopping portal, ​SkyMiles Shopping​. ​This is easy and fast way to multiply your miles. To join and for tutorial>​ ​CLICK HERE.

BUYING ADDITIONAL SKYMILES

 

You can buy additional SkyMiles through the Delta website, but this generally isn’t a good value. SkyMiles cost 3.5 cents apiece when purchased like this, which means you’re paying about twice what the miles are worth on average.

How to redeem Delta SkyMiles

SkyMiles are redeemable for flights through Delta Air Lines and its partners.

In most cases, you redeem by booking through Delta’s website or calling customer support (easier if this is new for you). Go to the booking tool and choose the option for seeing the price in miles. Then enter information about when and where you want to travel, and choose your fare class: Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, First Class, Delta Premium Select or Delta One.

Delta Fare Classes:

 

● Basic Economy:​ This is a no-frills fare. You sit in a standard seat and get free drinks and snacks, but you don’t get to pick your seat, you’re the last to board the plane, you can’t get upgraded even with Medallion status, and there are sharp restrictions on ticket changes or refunds. ​NOTE:​You cannot book Basic Economy fares with miles.

● Main Cabin:​ This is a standard economy seat. Free nonalcoholic drinks and basic snacks. Seat-back entertainment when available.

● Delta Comfort+:​ Essentially “economy plus.” You get 4 inches of extra legroom and dedicated overhead carry-on storage.

● First Class:​ Bigger seat with more legroom; free alcoholic drinks, snacks and meals on longer flights; dedicated storage and flight attendant service; priority boarding.

● Delta Premium Select:​ First class with extra-comfortable seating and amenities on select international flights.

● Delta One:​ First class with lie-flat seating available only on select long-haul flights. Also known as Delta suite.

Unlike some other airlines, Delta doesn’t publish an award chart showing you exactly how many miles you need for a given flight. You have to figure it out the hard way — by entering your flight information and seeing what it costs in terms of miles.​Since Delta Airlines does not publish award chart, it makes it very hard to plan in advance how many miles you will need for a flight, and searching for a reward travel takes forever. For that reason, Delta Airlines SkyMiles program is my least favored out of 3 major US Based Airlines.

 

Delta advertises that there are no blackout dates for award travel. Again, this is also misleading, as you don’t have an award chart to reference. There are no blackout dates in other frequent flier programs if you are willing to use more miles!!! See, my articles on United Airlines and American Airlines.

 

You can also use miles to purchase seat upgrades.

This is my favorite and easiest use of SkyMiles. Once you book your ticket on Delta.com as long as you are signed in into your Delta SkyMiles account, automatic offer of upgrade and cost in miles will pop up, assuming you have enough miles. I love this feature of Delta SkyMiles and wish other Airline Frequent Flier programs would duplicate it.

 

Other redemption options

You may also use your miles to purchase membership to Delta Sky Clubs airport lounges; vacation packages; exclusive experiences; for merchandise, gift cards, hotel stays and car rental in the SkyMiles Marketplace; or donate them to charity through Delta Sky Wish.

If you happen to have at least 2.5 million SkyMiles in your account — and who doesn’t? — you can redeem for private jet travel. ​According to Delta​, those 2.5 million points are “enough to take up to four passengers round-trip from Atlanta to South Florida.”

GOOD REDEMPTION OPTIONS

When you redeem your miles for upgrades as well as some air travel on Delta, in most cases you will get value in excess of the industry standard of 1 cent per mile. That’s because of the high value of SkyMiles in general. The highest-value options on Delta include:

Domestic travel:​ Industry values SkyMiles at 1.2 cents apiece for domestic economy fares and 1.3 cents for domestic business class. Compare price of the ticket you are about to book with miles, to normal fare on Delta.com and do your own diligence.

Business class on international flights: ​When it comes to international flights, industry values miles redeemed for business class at 2.4 cents each and miles redeemed for economy at 0.8 cents each. Again, if used correctly. You’ll spend more miles on a business flight than you would in economy, but you’ll also get the most value out of your miles that way. Compare price of the ticket you are about to book with miles, to normal fare on Delta.com and do your own diligence.

BAD REDEMPTION OPTIONS

As I mentioned above, miles redeemed for economy international flights have an average value of 0.8 cents each. Keep in mind that 0.8 cents per mile is not a horrible redemption option — it’s just not the most valuable option available. If you have your heart set on flying coach internationally, it still may be a decent use of miles.

 

Delta SkyMiles Medallion status levels

 

Anyone can join the Delta SkyMiles program for free. But to move up from basic membership to elite status, where the real perks are, you need to fly the airline regularly. The SkyMiles Medallion program has four levels. Let’s start by looking at what you get at each level, then how to get there.

 

SKYMILES MEDALLION PROGRAM LEVELS AND BENEFITS

 

All Medallion members get priority check-in and priority boarding. All levels above Silver get priority security lane access and priority baggage service at select airports. This was an automatic perk for Starwood Hotels Preferred Platinum Guests (which I am), however, as stated earlier, Marriott Hotels will not continue this program. Too bad.

For Platinum and Diamond statuses only: Choice benefits

Medallion members at the Platinum and Diamond levels are eligible for “Delta Choice Benefits”, in which they choose the premium benefits they want from a list.

Delta Choice benefit options

● Platinum members can choose one of the following: ○ Package of four regional upgrade certificates ○ Single voucher for ​Global Entry​ application fee (worth $100) ○ 20,000 bonus miles ○ $200 Delta travel voucher ○ $200 Tiffany & Co. gift card ○ Gift of Silver Medallion status to a friend.

● Diamond members can choose three of the following: ○ Individual membership to Delta Sky Clubs (unlimited access for self; guests pay a fee) ○ Executive membership to Delta Sky Clubs (unlimited access for self and two guests) ​— ​this option counts as two choices) ○ Package of as many as eight upgrade certificates (eight regional, four global, or two global and four regional) ○ Two vouchers for ​Global Entry​ application fee (worth $100 apiece) ○ 25,000 bonus miles ○ $200 Delta travel voucher ○ $200 Tiffany & Co. gift card ○ Gift of Gold Medallion status to a friend.

HOW TO EARN SKYMILES MEDALLION STATUS

To earn Medallion status, you’ll need to understand the terms MQD, MQM and MQS:

● MQDs are Medallion Qualifying Dollars.​ You earn 1 MQD for every dollar you spend on Delta flights. This includes the fare and airline fees, but not taxes and government fees.

● MQMs are Medallion Qualifying Miles.​ You earn these based on how far you fly ​and
the fare class of your ticket. With regular economy class tickets, you earn 1 MQM per mile flown. For higher classes, it may be 1.5 or 2 MQMs per mile flown.

● MQSs are Medallion Qualifying Segments. ​You earn these based on how many takeoff-to-landing flights you fly. A nonstop flight from Seattle to New York, for example, would earn 1 MQS. But if you changed planes in, say, Minneapolis, then you would earn 2 MQSs.
You earn status by spending a certain amount of money (that is, earning MQDs) and earning ​either​ a minimum number of MQMs ​or​ a minimum number of MQSs.

 

 

Medallion status for a given year is earned based on activity in the previous calendar year. Your status is generally good until Jan. 31 of the following year. For example, your Medallion status for 2019 is based on your activity in 2018 and will last until Jan. 31, 2020.

Two other important considerations for earning Medallion status:

● MQMs roll over from one year to the next.​ Say you earned 65,000 MQMs in 2018. That’s enough for Gold status (which requires 50,000 MQMs) but not for Platinum (75,000). The “unused” 15,000 extra MQMs roll over to 2019 to give you a head start on your next year’s earning.
● You can earn an MQD waiver with a Delta credit card.​ If you spend enough money with a Delta co-branded credit card in a year, you can get a waiver for that year’s MQD requirement, although you still have to meet the MQS/MQM requirement. Starting in 2018, the amount of spending needed for the waiver is $25,000 for Silver, Gold and Platinum status and $250,000 for Diamond status.

STATUS MATCHING

Delta also offers to match your status in another airline loyalty program. This is a great benefit!!!!! You must have current elite status with a qualifying airline, and you cannot have used the match in the previous three years. Once you’re accepted in the match program, you get complimentary Medallion status for three months. To keep it for the rest of the year, you need to earn it during those three months:

● Silver:​ 6,250 MQMs / 8 MQSs ​and​ $750 MQDs / MQD waiver

● Gold:​ 12,500 MQMs / 15 MQSs ​and​ $1,500 MQDs / MQD waiver

● Platinum:​ 18,750 MQMs / 25 MQSs ​and​ $2,250 MQDs / MQD waiver

Delta Airlines partners

Delta is one of 20 airlines in the international SkyTeam alliance, which allows you to earn and use SkyMiles on flights aboard carriers other than Delta. The other SkyTeam airlines are:
● Aeroflot (Russia) ● Aerolíneas Argentinas ● AeroMexico ● Air Europa ● Air France ● Alitalia (Italy) ● China Airlines (Taiwan) ● China Eastern (China) ● China Southern (China) ● Czech Airlines ● Garuda Indonesia ● Kenya Airways ● KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Netherlands) ● Korean Air ● MEA (Lebanon)
● Saudia ● TAROM (Romania) ● Vietnam Airlines ● Xiamen Airlines (China)

As of February 2018, Delta also had partnerships with these non-SkyTeam airlines:
● GOL (Brazil) ● Great Lakes Airlines ● Hawaiian Airlines ● Jet Airways (India) ● Virgin Atlantic (Britain) ● Virgin Australia ● WestJet (Canada)
See Delta’s website for details on earning and redeeming SkyMiles with ​partner airlines​.

Credit cards that earn Delta SkyMiles

Delta’s credit cards are issued by American Express. All of the cards offer fairly similar spending rewards, but the higher the annual fee, the better the perks.

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express
● 2 miles per dollar on purchases directly from Delta ● 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases ● Annual fee: $0 for the first year, then $95
Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card
● 2 miles per dollar on purchases directly from Delta ● 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases
● Annual fee: $195
Delta Reserve Credit Card
● 2 miles per dollar on purchases directly from Delta ● 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases ● Annual fee: $450 — includes access to Delta Sky Clubs airport lounges

 

Again, if you are new to earning Frequent Flyer Miles, do not get overwhelmed by number of details and ways to earn miles. It’s not that hard. Start with​ signing up for free ​Delta Airlines SkyMiles Program Account ​and then use this article to slowly get comfortable with earning miles. Remember, I am doing this for almost 20 years and I learn something new all the time. Hope you found this article helpful, and if you did spread the word about >​ !!!!! PointsTravels.com !!!!!