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You've found the perfect Delta flight you'd love to book but don't quite have enough miles to cover the award… yet. If you are an eligible American Express Delta SkyMiles cardholder, you're in luck! American Express and Delta will allow you to get an advance on the miles you need, thanks to Miles Headstart. This can be a convenient way to book travel now when the deal is available and earn the miles later.
Here's what you need to know about Delta Miles Headstart.
Page Contents
What Is Miles Headstart?
Through Miles Headstart, Amex and Delta let you book travel now with miles you haven't earned yet. Essentially, you can get a loan for up to 60,000 miles, and you have up to six months to earn back those miles through spending on your Delta credit card. If you earn back the miles within six months, there's no fee for using Delta's Miles Headstart.
There are some eligibility requirements, however:
- You must be an American Express Delta SkyMiles cardholder in good standing.
- You can't have another Miles Headstart balance outstanding.
- Your Headstart eligible amount is determined by card membership and spending history.
How Do You Request Advanced Miles?
If you are short on miles and want to request a miles advance, head to the Miles Headstart program page and click on the “Request Miles Headstart” button. After logging in, you'll see how many miles you can borrow. It may be a small amount or up to 60,000 miles, depending on your card history.
You don't have to borrow the full amount; you can borrow any amount of miles up to your allowed maximum. If you're eligible to receive 20,000 miles but only need 16,000, select 16,000 and submit your request. The miles will be deposited into your SkyMiles account.
Credit Cards That Are Eligible for Miles Headstart
Only American Express co-branded Delta cards offer this benefit. Current Delta Amex SkyMiles cards include:
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
The cards have different benefits and earning rates for Delta SkyMiles. This will affect how much you will need to spend to “pay off” the borrowed miles.
How Do You Pay Your Miles Back?
You must earn the miles needed to cover your Miles Headstart within six months. Accumulate miles by making eligible purchases with your Amex Delta SkyMiles card. Note that miles earned by flying with Delta won't count. Also, only spending on the specific card used for the Miles Headstart request will apply.
American Express provides a chart showing some spending examples for paying back your advanced miles. Of course, this would vary based on your spending categories and the card's earning rates. The rates in this table are based on earning 1 mile per $1 spent, so you can likely repay the balance with less spending.
Importantly, any miles not repaid at the end of the six-month period will incur a charge of 2.5 cents per mile. This is a hefty price to pay, so only request miles you're confident you can earn through your regular spending.
Related: When Does It Make Sense to Buy Delta SkyMiles?
Our Take
Miles Headstart can be a useful tool for Amex Delta cardholders. However, focusing on repaying the miles may mean spending on your Delta credit card instead of using a card with a higher earning rate for purchases in the next six months. Additionally, if you aren't positive you can earn the miles back in six months, you definitely should NOT request a Miles Headstart, as the fee would likely outweigh the benefits.
Remember that you can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards to Delta at a rate of 1:1, which could be a better option if you are short on miles for your next redemption.
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