Summary
The Delta SkyMiles program can be pretty perplexing. Our SkyMiles guide dives into the details of earning and redeeming miles to help you decide if SkyMiles is right for you.
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If you’re looking for a frequent flyer program that offers flexibility and a lot of travel options, or you simply love flying Delta Air Lines, the Delta SkyMiles program should be near the top of your list.
Delta Air Lines is one of the world’s largest carriers and ranks high in quality against most of its U.S. competitors, according to the Airline Quality Rating. However, the SkyMiles program itself leaves something to be desired.
What is Delta SkyMiles?
Delta SkyMiles is the loyalty program of Delta Air Lines, rewarding its members with miles that can be redeemed for flights on Delta and its airline partners as well on a few other options, such as car rentals, merchandise and gift cards.
The SkyMiles program comes with a lot of pros and cons buried under a tangle of terms and conditions that can make it difficult to determine if the program is the right choice. On the plus side, the program offers a large airline network, a fairly good value on its miles and flexible redemption options with no blackout dates or capacity controls on its own rewards seats.
On the downside, the SkyMiles program is prone to frequent updates that can drastically alter the value of points – for the better or for the worse – making it difficult to determine what your points are going to be worth in the long run. And, the program is difficult to decipher, with lots of surprises lurking in the fine print.
In the following pages, we take a dive into the SkyMiles program – showing you how to earn and redeem SkyMiles and what your miles are worth – to help you figure out if SkyMiles are the best option for you.
Delta SkyMiles program overview
| Type of currency | Miles |
| Average point value | 1.61 cents |
| Credit cards | Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card |
| Redemption options | Flights, flight upgrades, Miles + Cash, Pay with Miles, vacations, car rentals, Sky Club membership, merchandise, gift cards, magazines, experiences, donations |
| Minimum required to redeem | 5,000 for Pay with Miles awards |
| Do rewards expire? | No |
| Airline partners | 31 airline partners – 19 SkyTeam partners and 12 additional partners |
| Flight coverage | 14,500+ daily flights, 800+ destinations, 170+ countries |
| Booking restrictions |
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| Best for |
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The Basics
- What are Delta SkyMiles worth?
- Which Delta SkyMiles card is best for you?
- Ways to earn Delta SkyMiles quickly
- Best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles
- Delta SkyMiles partners
- Delta Sky Club lounges
- Delta SkyMiles Shopping guide
Latest offers from Delta
Other news and advice
- SkyMiles Select membership from Delta offers priority boarding, other perks
- Delta SkyMiles Dining program guide
- Save on your next trip with SkyMiles Deals from Delta Air Lines
- American Express launches benefits on Delta SkyMiles cards
Editorial Disclaimer
The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.
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