16 strategies to boost your Delta SkyMiles, from credit card usage to online shopping

While Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program has experienced some devaluations over the years, it remains a valuable option for domestic awards and partner redemptions.

The airline boasts an extensive route network with major hubs in large U.S. cities, and there are numerous ways to earn Delta miles that can be redeemed for SkyTeam flights. Occasionally, Delta even offers award sales that let you grab affordable flights starting at 5,000 SkyMiles round trip.

Accumulating Delta miles is relatively straightforward — plus, they never expire. We’ll explore ways to increase your SkyMiles balance, including flying with Delta and its partners, using travel rewards credit cards, and transferring miles from other loyalty programs.

Accumulate Delta SkyMiles through flying

While earning Delta SkyMiles through flights may seem straightforward, the number of miles you accumulate varies based on several factors. Miles are earned differently on Delta and its partner airlines. Here’s what you need to know.

Accumulate miles by flying with Delta

When you fly on Delta-marketed and operated flights, your miles are calculated based on the base price of your ticket (excluding government taxes). Passengers without elite status earn 5 miles for every dollar spent on the fare, not including taxes and fees.

For example, a one-way Delta flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) with a base fare of $1,100 (before taxes) would earn 5,500 SkyMiles, assuming the passenger holds no Delta elite status.

Bonuses for Elite Status

Moreover, individuals with Delta Medallion elite status earn miles at a greater rate than those who do not. The higher your status, the more miles you accumulate.

Here’s a breakdown of how many miles Medallion members earn for each dollar spent:

• Silver Medallion: 7 miles
• Gold Medallion: 8 miles
• Platinum Medallion: 9 miles
• Diamond Medallion: 11 miles

For instance, a Diamond Medallion member would earn 12,100 miles on the previously mentioned $1,100 ticket.

Accumulate Delta SkyMiles when flying with partner airlines

Earning miles with Delta's partner airlines can be a bit complex. The way you earn miles on these flights may differ from Delta-operated flights, depending on how you book your ticket.

The easiest scenario involves flights booked on Delta ticket stock, which typically occurs when you reserve your seat through delta.com. Even if the flight is operated by another airline, it's marketed by Delta, allowing you to earn miles just as you would on a standard Delta flight.

But if you book a partner flight via the website of that partner airline and input your Delta SkyMiles number, you'll earn miles based on the distance traveled. However, the exact number of SkyMiles you receive will depend on the partner airline, fare class, and your elite status.

For instance, here's how many SkyMiles you would accumulate on a flight that is both operated and ticketed by Aeromexico (Note: Delta and Aeromexico are expected to end their partnership in October 2024):

Referring to the chart above, you can see that tickets booked in higher fare classes yield more miles. You can determine your fare class by contacting the airline or checking the e-ticket sent to your email after your purchase.

After identifying your booking class, visit Delta's list of partner airlines, find your partner, and locate your fare class. Multiply the figure in the "Total Miles Earned" column by the distance of your flight(s); using Great Circle Mapper is the simplest way to calculate this final number.

For example, a one-way flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX) covers 2,090 miles. An H-fare economy ticket earns 100% of that distance, meaning you'd receive 2,090 SkyMiles for this ticket.

Accumulate Delta SkyMiles with credit cards

One of the most effective methods to rack up Delta SkyMiles is by using cobranded credit cards — which include welcome bonuses and rewards for everyday purchases. Currently, American Express offers four personal Delta cards along with three business options.

Each card comes with its own unique set of benefits and features. Some cater specifically to the frequent Delta traveler, while others are ideal for casual consumers looking to earn the occasional free Delta flight.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the Delta SkyMiles credit cards provided by American Express (terms apply):

Personal Delta credit cards

• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Receive 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Obtain 50,000 bonus miles after making $2,000 in eligible purchases during the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Gain 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Secure 70,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on eligible purchases within your first six months of card membership.
  

Business Delta credit cards

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Receive 70,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
  
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Acquire 80,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases during the first six months of card membership.
  

If you're an occasional Delta traveler, we suggest the Delta SkyMiles Gold card. It allows you to earn SkyMiles on all purchases and offers a 50,000-mile welcome bonus valued at $600 based on our TPG September 2024 valuation.

If you're thinking about applying for one of these cards, remember Amex's once-per-lifetime rule. This guideline restricts you to receiving one welcome bonus per card throughout your lifetime. If you've already claimed a welcome bonus for the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, you won’t qualify for it again if you reapply. That's why waiting for a generous welcome bonus is crucial — you only get it once.

Transfer points and miles to Delta SkyMiles

If you need to quickly boost your SkyMiles balance or prefer not to add another credit card, you might be able to transfer points or miles from another rewards program. Delta collaborates with American Express Membership Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, making it convenient to enhance your balance when necessary.

Transfer Membership Rewards points to SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles has one partner for credit card transfers: American Express Membership Rewards.

You can transfer Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. However, there is a fee of $0.0006 per mile (capped at $99) to cover the federal excise tax, meaning there will be an extra charge for the transaction.

Using a card that earns Membership Rewards points often provides more SkyMiles per dollar than using one of Delta's cobranded American Express cards. For instance, The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5 Membership Rewards points for every dollar spent on flights booked directly with any airline or via American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases each calendar year).

Here are some popular ways to earn Amex points, which can then be transferred straight to your SkyMiles account:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months. Some cardholders may qualify for a higher welcome offer using the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change). Terms apply.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months. Plus, get 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) during that period. Some may also find a higher welcome offer with the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change). Terms apply.
• American Express® Green Card: Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 in the first six months. Terms apply.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months. Terms apply.

The details for the American Express Green Card have been gathered independently by Dinogo. The information provided on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to SkyMiles

You can transfer hotel points from various programs into your Delta SkyMiles account. In my experience, the only worthwhile transfer option is from Marriott Bonvoy, where points transfer to Delta at a 3:1 ratio.

However, we usually recommend utilizing Marriott points for hotel bookings, as they typically offer better value that way.

Chase and American Express offer several Marriott cobranded credit cards if you need to boost your Marriott points balance.

Transfer Delta SkyMiles between accounts

Although it is possible to transfer SkyMiles between accounts, it's not advisable. Delta imposes a fee of $0.01 per mile transferred, along with a $30 transaction charge. This setup reduces the value of your miles significantly due to the fees, and you can only transfer a maximum of 30,000 miles in a single transaction.

Should you choose to proceed with a transfer, both accounts must be active for at least 10 days and have accumulated at least 1 mile. Note that miles obtained through the Delta SkyMiles Shopping portal do not count towards this requirement. You can transfer a total of up to 150,000 SkyMiles per year and receive a maximum of 300,000 SkyMiles annually.

Earn Delta SkyMiles by shopping and dining

You can also accumulate Delta SkyMiles through various everyday partners. These options allow you to earn miles effortlessly from activities you already engage in, like dining out and online shopping.

Earn through the SkyMiles Shopping portal

Similar to many airlines, Delta features an online shopping portal known as SkyMiles Shopping. This platform enables you to earn additional SkyMiles when you shop online, in addition to the rewards from your credit card. To take advantage of this, create a SkyMiles Shopping account, locate your preferred merchant on the site, and click through their link. Each merchant has different SkyMiles earnings per dollar spent, and these rates can vary, particularly during the holiday season.

Regularly check the portal for spending and merchant bonuses. In the past, we've observed promotions from brands like Nike, Under Armour, AT&T, and others. If you're planning to make a purchase anyway, shopping through Delta's portal can lead to significant bonus miles.

Earn while dining with SkyMiles Dining

The miles you accumulate through SkyMiles Dining vary based on your program status, which is distinct from your Medallion status. There are three levels: member, select member, and VIP. You can achieve select member status by signing up for email notifications, and VIP status can be obtained after completing 11 transactions within a year.

If you don’t provide a valid email address to the program and sign up for alerts, you will be a standard member, earning 1 mile for every $2 spent. Select members earn 3 miles per dollar spent, while VIP members earn 5 miles per dollar spent.

Earn Delta SkyMiles for your business

SkyMiles for Business is available to all companies, regardless of their size or revenue. However, to earn miles, businesses must spend at least $5,000 on eligible flight revenue each calendar year and have a minimum of five employee travelers. Here’s a breakdown of the tiers within SkyMiles for Business:

• Member: Accessible to any business, with no requirements for minimum spending or travelers
• Plus: Requires at least five employee travelers and $5,000 in annual travel expenditure
• Elite: Requires at least five employee travelers and $300,000 in annual travel expenditure

Earn Delta SkyMiles with travel partners

You can also accumulate bonus miles when booking various travel services, such as rental cars, Lyft rides, and hotel accommodations. Here’s a summary of your travel earning opportunities.

Book a ride with Lyft

By linking your Delta and Lyft accounts, you can earn Delta miles for your rides. For every dollar spent on regular rides, you'll earn 1 mile, while airport rides earn you 2 miles per dollar. This is a great opportunity for business travelers to accumulate significant points.

The best part is that once your accounts are connected, you don't have to click any links to earn SkyMiles for your Lyft rides; the miles will be automatically added to your account.

Additionally, if you have the Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Delta SkyMiles Reserve cards—whether personal or business—you can enjoy up to $120 in ride-hailing credits each year with select U.S. providers, allocated as up to $10 in statement credits each month.

Keep in mind that Lyft collaborates with other programs, such as Alaska Airlines MileagePlan and Bilt Rewards. Since only one program can be designated as your active loyalty rewards partner in Lyft, choose the one that best fits your preferences.

Earn with Delta Vacations

In 2023, Delta Vacations implemented several improvements to enhance customer experience. Here’s a breakdown of the miles you can earn with Delta Vacations travel packages:

• 1,000 SkyMiles for bookings up to $4,999 per person
• 5,000 SkyMiles for bookings between $5,000 and $9,999 per person
• 10,000 SkyMiles for bookings of $10,000 or more per person

Additionally, you'll now earn extra miles based on the flight portion of your vacation packages.

Earn SkyMiles on cruises

With Delta Cruises, you can accumulate 2 miles for every dollar spent on your upcoming cruise. The platform also features seasonal bonuses at various times of the year, providing opportunities to earn even more miles.

To start earning SkyMiles on your next cruise, make your reservation at cruises.delta.com or call 800-820-3244 while providing your SkyMiles number.

Earn SkyMiles on Airbnb stays

Similar to Delta's collaboration with Lyft, you can earn SkyMiles for eligible Airbnb stays. Simply visit Airbnb's Delta page, enter your SkyMiles number, and follow the link before booking. You'll earn 1 mile for every dollar spent on Airbnb purchases, with no cap, so pricier trips can significantly boost your SkyMiles balance.

Earn SkyMiles when you book hotels

Beyond Airbnb, you can earn SkyMiles through Delta's hotel booking portal, Delta Stays. You’ll earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on hotel stays booked through this site. Prices should be comparable to booking directly, but it’s wise to verify this yourself.

A word of caution: Booking through this portal means you won’t earn hotel points or be able to utilize elite status benefits, which are typically available only when booking directly with the hotel chain. It's worth doing some research to determine whether earning Delta miles or hotel points is more advantageous for your stay.

If you have any of the following Delta cobranded credit cards, you’ll enjoy an annual credit on Delta Stays:

• Delta SkyMiles Gold: Up to $100 annual statement credit
• Delta SkyMiles Gold Business: Up to $150 annual statement credit
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum: Up to $150 annual statement credit
• Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business: Up to $200 annual statement credit
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve: Up to $200 annual statement credit
• Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business: Up to $250 annual statement credit

You can also accumulate SkyMiles when booking directly through Delta's hotel partners. The amount of miles you earn varies by hotel group. Here’s a breakdown of potential earnings:

Earn SkyMiles when you rent a car with these partners

SkyMiles can also be earned when you rent a car from Delta's partner companies. Just like with hotels, opting for SkyMiles means you won’t earn rental car points. Here’s a glimpse of how many SkyMiles you could earn:

Delta elite members can take advantage of a complimentary status match with Hertz Gold Plus Rewards. Gold Medallion members are upgraded to Hertz Five Star status, while Platinum and Diamond Medallions qualify for President's Circle status. Enrollment for this status match is available on Delta's website.

Purchase Delta SkyMiles

If you find yourself in need of SkyMiles quickly, you can purchase them directly from Delta. The airline sets the price at an impressive cents per mile, significantly higher than TPG's September 2024 valuation of 1.2 cents per mile. Miles can be bought in increments of 2,000, with a cap of 60,000 SkyMiles allowed per account each year.

Delta often provides discounts on SkyMiles through bonus offers or additional miles for purchases. Buying SkyMiles is advisable only if you plan to use them right away. Otherwise, acquiring miles speculatively is typically unwise, as their value can fluctuate at any time.

In summary

There are numerous ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, including flying, using credit cards, transferring points, or engaging with one of Delta's various partners.

Even better news? SkyMiles is among the rare loyalty currencies that don’t expire. With all the earning possibilities mentioned above, you should have plenty of SkyMiles when planning your next adventure.

For information on how to redeem your miles, refer to our guide on redeeming miles with the Delta SkyMiles program.