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Over the years, we’ve had no shortage of complaints about Delta SkyMiles, and most of them have been well-earned. From blocking AwardWallet users from remotely accessing their account details (don’t worry, we’ve got a workaround below) to constantly shifting the rules for earning elite status, Delta hasn’t exactly made loyalty easy. And that’s before you even factor in the sky-high award prices that leave you wondering why you joined the SkyMiles program to begin with.
But SkyMiles still has plenty to offer frequent flyers, particularly those based around Delta hubs in Atlanta (ATL), Minneapolis (MSP), and Seattle (SEA).
Here's a look at some of the top reasons why it's still worth remaining loyal to Delta.
Page Contents
- A Full Stack of Delta Credit Cards and Top Transfer Partners
- Delta SkyMiles Don't Expire
- Award Flights as Low as 3,000 Miles (or Cheaper)
- Delta SkyMiles Flash Sales
- Best In-Flight Product and Service of the Big 3 U.S. Carriers
- Free Wi-Fi on Delta Flights
- Niche Partner Sweet Spots
- Solid Companion Ticket on Platinum and Reserve Delta Cards
- Delta SkyMiles Members Can Earn Miles on Airbnb Stays
- Final Thoughts
A Full Stack of Delta Credit Cards and Top Transfer Partners
Delta takes first place among the legacy carriers for the number of co-brand cards that earn SkyMiles. From the base Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees) through to Delta’s top-tier Reserve personal and business cards, Delta simply has a lot of cards to offer.
Delta's cards are issued by American Express, and presently, there are four personal cards you can apply for:
(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
(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.
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1X miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases.
And three business credit cards:
(Terms apply)
- 2X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible U.S. purchases for advertising in select media (annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases)
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible U.S. shipping purchases (annual cap of $50,000 in eligible purchases)
- 2X miles per dollar on eligible dining purchases
- 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases
(Terms apply)
- 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta
- 3X miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases with hotels
- 1.5x miles on eligible purchases over $5,000 (up to 50,000 bonus miles annually)
- 1.5X miles on eligible transit and U.S. shipping purchases*
- 1X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
- 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta
- 1.5X miles per dollar on eligible transit, U.S. shipping, and U.S. office supply store purchases, plus all eligible purchases after spending $150K per calendar year
- 1 mile on every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
While you can only earn the welcome bonus once per Delta card, these offers are especially appealing for anyone who’s over Chase's infamous 5/24 threshold. Remember, American Express business cards don’t count toward your 5/24 total — making them a strategic choice for travelers who want to earn bonus miles without locking themselves out of a Chase bonus.
With that said, Amex’s family rules may limit your eligibility for welcome bonuses on multiple Delta cards since your ability to earn them can depend on the order in which you apply.
SkyMiles members can also transfer points from Amex Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio and Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 ratio. That means 1,000 Amex points (or 3,000 Marriott points) would net you 1,000 Delta miles. Note that these transfers are only one-way; you can't transfer SkyMiles to Amex, Marriott, or any other programs.
Related: All Delta Credit Card Options, and How To Choose the Right Card for You
Delta SkyMiles Don't Expire
Each frequent flyer program has different rules around mileage expiry, including Delta. Delta SkyMiles don’t expire as long as your account is in good standing. That means you don't have to worry about losing your Delta SkyMiles due to a lack of activity (or attention).
However, we don’t advocate storing miles in your account for extended periods. Miles might get less valuable over time, as Delta has previously devalued redemptions without warning.
You can use AwardWallet to keep track of your Delta miles — and the expiration of other programs' miles.
Track your points and miles expiration for 630+ loyalty programs and get email alerts before your miles expire by signing up for a free AwardWallet account.
Award Flights as Low as 3,000 Miles (or Cheaper)
Short-haul domestic awards are available for as low as 2,700 miles each way on Delta. For example, you can purchase a flight from Salt Lake City (SLC) to Las Vegas (LAS) for only a few thousand miles.
If you have a Delta credit card that's eligible for the TakeOff 15 benefit, you can save an additional 15% off the top of most Delta-operated awards. That discount is automatically applied when cardmembers search for flights:
Delta SkyMiles Flash Sales
Delta also provides incredible value through its flash sales. These sales typically come unannounced and only last a few days, but often come with great prices for round-trip economy tickets.
One recent example is Delta's sale on award redemptions from Hawaii to Tokyo, with redemptions starting at only 19,000 miles in economy. For cardmembers with the TakeOff 15 benefit, the cost was only 16,100 SkyMiles one-way!
Related: When Does It Make Sense to Buy Delta SkyMiles?
Best In-Flight Product and Service of the Big 3 U.S. Carriers
Delta’s mileage program might frustrate points and miles enthusiasts, but the airline has clearly invested in maintaining a competitive edge domestically. In recent years, Delta has rolled out roomier overhead bins, upgraded its seats, refreshed its onboard menu, and introduced sleek new Delta One Suites on international routes.
Of the major U.S. airlines, Delta is also the most reliable. Delta consistently boasts one of the highest on-time arrival rates of any U.S. airline, according to federal data. Aviation analytics company Cirium also ranked Delta the most on-time airline in the U.S. in 2024 — and third in the world. It’s clear the airline is putting more emphasis on the in-flight experience than on the rewards we earn for choosing it.
Related: How To Fly Lay-Flat Delta One Business Class Seats Within the U.S.
Free Wi-Fi on Delta Flights
There's one major benefit to flying with Delta these days: Free Wi-Fi on Delta flights.
In January 2023, Delta announced its plans to offer free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members. These days, you can expect to connect for free on many Delta flights, especially if you're flying within the U.S. Delta's entire domestic mainline fleet is now Wi-Fi-equipped, as are most of its transatlantic jets. The airline is expanding its fast, free Wi-Fi service to routes flying to South America and continuing to outfit its regional jets, according to the latest update.
While you still won't get free Wi-Fi on every single Delta flight, compared to its competitors, Delta is way ahead of the game.
Niche Partner Sweet Spots
You can certainly find outsized value for your SkyMiles flying Delta itself. But there are also some valuable sweet spots redeeming SkyMiles on its partner airlines.
While Delta usually prices partner awards dynamically, WestJet redemptions follow a more consistent pattern with solid value. Many routes between the U.S. and Canada price at 12,500 SkyMiles or less each way, like this flight from Nashville (BNA) to Toronto (YYZ), for example.
The Canadian low-cost carrier has a surprisingly extensive network of routes throughout North America and beyond. These flights can offer some great value to Delta loyalists looking to redeem their SkyMiles.
There are also some worthwhile SkyMiles redemptions flying SkyTeam partner airlines like Korean Air. Award flights between South Korea and Japan can be incredibly cheap. You can book flights between South Korea and Japan are just between Seoul (ICH) and Tokyo-Narita (NRT) or even down to Okinawa (OKA) for 7,500 SkyMiles each way.
You may even be able to find a deal flying Korean Air business class down to southeast Asia for 40,000 SkyMiles and about $19 in taxes and fees each way. Not bad for a six-hour flight.
These are just a few examples of the value you can find redeeming SkyMiles on Delta's partner airlines outside the U.S.
Related: The Best Ways To Redeem Delta SkyMiles for Great Value
Solid Companion Ticket on Platinum and Reserve Delta Cards
SkyMiles members with the Platinum Delta Amex, Delta Business Platinum Amex, Delta Reserve, or Business Delta Reserve receive a Delta Companion Certificate each year that you renew your card.
The certificate includes round-trip flights to the continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. You'll pay just the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments).
Related: How To Earn and Use a Delta Companion Certificate
Delta SkyMiles Members Can Earn Miles on Airbnb Stays
Earning Delta miles on Airbnb stays may not be a big deal for most folks, but it can provide a quick way to rack up a considerable number of Delta miles. On most bookings, you'll earn a standard 1 SkyMile per dollar, though promotions occasionally boost the rate to 3X SkyMiles per dollar spent. See the program's terms and conditions for details.
If you're partial to Airbnb stays instead of hotels, earning SkyMiles is an easy way to reward your travels since Airbnb doesn't have its own loyalty program.
Final Thoughts
Although points and miles enthusiasts may look past Delta SkyMiles because of its previous devaluations and inflated award costs for premium cabins, there is still value in the program. In addition, Delta offers a top in-flight experience for both domestic and international travel.
Delta’s current Amex welcome offers are an easy way to boost your SkyMiles balance with a generous number of miles and a relatively low spending requirement. These cards also come with valuable perks like an annual Companion Certificate, discounts on award tickets, and free checked bags. And if you need to top off your balance, you can transfer Amex Membership Rewards points directly to Delta.
Looking for more Delta SkyMiles content? Check out the following:
- The Unofficial Delta SkyMiles Award Chart for Flights from the U.S.
- The Complete Guide to Delta Air Lines’ Partners
- Delta Gold Medallion: Bonus SkyMiles, Complimentary Upgrades, and Free Checked Bags
- What Is a Delta Medallion Qualification Dollar and How Do You Earn It?
- Delta Bags Delayed? Get 2,500 Bonus SkyMiles Each Time It Takes More Than 20 Minutes
- Delta SkyMiles Members Receive Discounted CLEAR Membership
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees)
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