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Thanks to a collaboration between Delta Air Lines and Starbucks, travelers and coffee drinkers alike can link their loyalty accounts and unlock bonus SkyMiles and Starbucks Stars. Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks Rewards members who connect their accounts can earn rewards whether they’re sipping a latte at the nearest café or heading to the airport for their next trip.
The partnership has undergone a few iterations over the years, and the way you earn SkyMiles changed on August 5, 2026.
Here’s how the partnership works, how travelers can make the most of it, and what's changing.
How to Link Your Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks Accounts
Getting started with the Delta and Starbucks partnership is simple. To unlock the benefits, you’ll need to enroll in each loyalty program — Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks Rewards — both of which are free to join. Once your accounts are set up, you can link them through the official partnership page.
After linking, your accounts automatically work together behind the scenes. That means whenever you complete qualifying activities, like buying a coffee or making an eligible purchase on a travel day, you’ll earn rewards. It's that easy.
The partnership launched in 2022 and was amended in June 2024. Interestingly, the August 2026 update is essentially reverting the program to its original state. Confusing, right?
Related: Starbucks Revamped Its Rewards Program and Launched Elite Status — Here’s How It Works
Earning SkyMiles on Starbucks Purchases
The way you earn SkyMiles on Starbucks purchases is changing. Here's the new model that took effect on August 5, 2026.
Earn 1 SkyMile per $1 spent at Starbucks starting August 5, 2026
As of August 5, you earn 1 Delta SkyMiles per $1 spent at Starbucks, excluding taxes, gratuities, gift cards, and alcoholic beverages. The caveat is that in order to earn miles, you must have taken a Delta flight in the past 12 months. If not, you won't be eligible to earn anything through this partnership.
If you've already linked your accounts, you can get a one-time grace period to continue earning through October 5, 2026. After that, you'll need to fly to keep your earnings active. Newly linked members can earn for the first 12 months of membership but will need to fly to earn beyond that date.
Whether you like this model or the old model better will depend on your Starbucks habits. Under the old model, you could earn 2 miles per $1 spent by reloading $100 or more into your Starbucks account. That's a healthy return. However, you have to remember to reload your account — you can't just show up to Starbucks and earn miles. Plus, you have to spend at least $25 to earn anything at all.
Starting August 5, adding money to your Starbucks card won't earn you any SkyMiles. However, you will earn SkyMiles when you use the funds on your card. This could potentially be a workaround to get a few extra miles — reload a few hundred dollars on your Starbucks card before August 5, then use your Starbucks card for purchases after August 5.
Stack rewards with credit cards
You’ll generally need at least 5,000 miles with Delta to redeem for a free flight, and that's typically for a short one-way domestic trip. But still, this partnership can help you earn miles faster, especially if you’re earning Delta miles in other ways.
The SkyMiles you earn at Starbucks are on top of the rewards you earn by using a dining credit card or a Delta SkyMiles Amex card to make your purchase. Here are a few options that earn bonus points on dining:
- American Express® Gold Card: Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. You can then transfer your points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
$325Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on cruises booked and paid through amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
$350Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar at hotels
- 2X miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 1X miles on all other eligible purchases
You can also leverage the carrier's partnerships with Uber and Hertz.
Related: Your Complete Guide to Delta SkyMiles Partners: Airlines, Credit Cards, and Transfer Options
Earn Double Stars on Delta Travel Days
Another neat perk of the partnership comes into play when you’re flying. On days when you have a scheduled flight with Delta Air Lines, you’ll earn double Stars on qualifying purchases at participating Starbucks locations.
A “Delta travel day” refers to the departure date of a Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. From 12:01 a.m. to midnight on that departure day, Starbucks purchases can earn double the usual Stars when you pay using your Starbucks Rewards account.
In some cases, if your travel day coincides with another Starbucks promotion, like a Double Star Day, you could even earn triple Stars.
For travelers, it’s a convenient way to combine both programs for bigger rewards. Starbucks has locations in 47 of the 50 busiest airports in the U.S., 14 of which are in Chicago O’Hare alone.
Keep in mind that Delta SkyMiles never expire, while Starbucks Stars expire six months after they’re earned, so plan accordingly.
Bottom Line
The Delta and Starbucks partnership highlights a broader trend in travel loyalty programs, rewarding everyday spending — not just flights. By linking their Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks Rewards accounts, travelers can earn miles while fueling up with coffee and rack up extra Stars when they’re heading to the airport, which can be redeemed for future drinks. It's the gift that keeps on giving.
Keep in mind that the earning structure is getting simplified on August 5, 2026. And soon, you'll need to take flights at least once a year to be eligible to earn on your Starbucks purchases.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
