ErrorOne of the most popular airlines, Delta Airlines is known for the quality experience that it provides to its customers […]
Delta Skymiles: Earn And Redeem
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One of the most popular airlines, Delta Airlines is known for the quality experience that it provides to its customers at good prices. The excellent services of Delta Airlines speak for themselves, and are the reason behind the good reputation that the airline has earned overtime.
Delta Airlines has operating hubs at eight airports: Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Salt Lake City and Seattle-Tacoma. Furthermore, the airline is also a member of the SkyTeam alliance, and has 25 plus international airline partners.
To keep up with the changing requirements of the customers, the airline keeps launching different deals which are for the benefit of the customers.
The airline’s frequent flyer programme, Delta SkyMiles is worth checking out for those who fly frequently with Delta Airlines. This is a programme to reward the frequent flyers of Delta Airlines.
Travellers can join this programme without having to pay anything. Delta SkyMiles allows you to achieve elite status, earn Delta Miles and do a lot more.
If you are enthusiastic to become a member of Delta SkyMiles, then this article is a must-read for you as we have discussed everything that you need to know about the Delta SkyMiles.
Create account for Delta SkyMiles
To be able to earn miles under the Delta SkyMiles programme, you first need to sign up, and create an account. You can find the link to register, and create an account on the website. There are no charges for doing this. You can create an account for free.
Start earning miles on Delta SkyMiles
After you are done signing up and creating an account, you can start with your journey on Delta SkyMiles.
Delta SkyMiles is not just a loyalty programme. SkyMiles act as a currency which the members can earn and redeem later on and use for various purposes like to save while flying on Delta Airlines or while flying with partner airlines, for hotel stays or for other such purposes.
There are various ways through which you can earn miles. You can earn miles by flying through Delta Airlines or by partner airlines, you can earn miles by spending on credit cards and you also earn miles by dining and shopping through designated programmes.
The good thing about these miles is that they do not expire. So, the travellers don’t have to worry about using them at the earliest and they can use their miles as and when required without having to worry about the miles going wasted.
Monetary value of Delta SkyMiles
Those who are hearing about the Delta SkyMiles programme for the first time, must be having this question in mind that how much are the Delta SkyMiles worth. So, on the basis of the latest analysis, the Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.5 cents apiece.
So when you start earning miles, you can calculate their estimated monetary value.
Methods to earn Delta SkyMiles
There are several ways through which the travellers can earn Delta SkyMiles to use them later on for availing benefits. As long as your account is open and active, Delta SkyMiles do not expire and can be used as and when you require. Remember that you earn miles only on base fare and not on taxes or government imposed fees.
Here are the ways through which you can earn
Delta SkyMiles:
Flying through Delta Airlines: How many miles you can earn by flying through Delta Airlines depends on how much you are spending, and is not dependent on how far you are flying. As per the base earning rate, you earn 5 miles for every dollar you spend. You can earn even higher if you have elite status. You earn no miles on basic economy tickets.
Flying through partner airlines: You can also earn miles by flying through partner airlines. Every partner airline has its own set of rules for earning miles. Speaking in general terms, the miles you earn on partner airlines are dependent on the distance you travel. Based on your fare class, you might also be eligible to earn bonus miles.
Spending on Credit Cards: Delta provides co-branded Credit Cards with American Express. We recommend using Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, which allows you to earn 2 Delta SkyMiles for every dollar you spend with Delta. When you pay for your flight tickets through the card, you become eligible to have your first bag checked for free. Also, up to eight people are permitted to travel on your reservation.
The card has an amazing welcoming offer as well! Customers get to earn 40,000 bonus miles in the initial six months after spending $2000 on purchases. There is no annual fee in the first year and for the subsequent years, the fee is $99.
Hotels and Airbnb: You also have the opportunity to earn Delta SkyMiles through hotels and Airbnb. Customers can earn miles through the various properties available in most of the major hotel chains. The mechanism of earning differs in each case. In some situations, the number of miles are allotted depending on the number of days you stay while in other situations you earn miles based on how much you spend. You also have the option to earn miles through Airbnb.
Auto rentals and Lyft: Delta SkyMiles can be earned through several major rental agencies. Customers can earn miles through rental car alternatives. For instance, the members who link their SkyMiles number to their Turo profile will be eligible for earning 2,000 miles on their first Turo trip and 500 miles on every subsequent trip that they take. Customers can also earn miles through the Lyft ride-hailing service. For more detailed information, you can visit the website and check out the section which has information about earning Delta SkyMiles through auto rentals and Lyft.
Shopping: You can earn Delta SkyMiles while you shop through the airline’s shopping portal which is SkyMiles Shopping. You are eligible for earning miles through hundreds of online merchants which are available on the airline’s shopping portal.
Dining: Yes you can earn Delta SkyMiles by dining as well. All that you are needed to do is register your credit card with SkyMiles Dining. As you do this, you will be eligible for earning up to 5 miles per dollar when you use that card. You can use any credit card. The credit is eligible for using and earning miles on several participating restaurants.
Transfer from other programs: You get to earn Delta SkyMiles through transfer from other programs as well. This is because Delta Airlines is a transfer partner for both American Express Membership Rewards as well as Marriott Bonvoy.
Purchase miles: This is the very last option which you can use if you are falling short of some miles to become eligible to avail a certain facility. You can purchase miles through the Delta Airlines official site. This is not a very well recommended option though because you will have to spend money only to earn some miles which is costly. When bought like this, the miles cost 3.5 cents apiece. This clearly means that you will be spending more than three times than what the miles are worth on an average. So, unless absolutely necessary, it is not a good option to purchase miles.
Miles earned depending on Reward status
How much of Delta SkyMiles you can earn depends to a significant extent on what your reward status is. Here are the details of how much of Delta SkyMiles you earn on the basis of your reward status:
If you have Basic SkyMiles membership, then you earn 5 SkyMiles per $1 spent.
If your reward status is Silver Medallion, then you earn 7 SkyMiles per $1 spent.
If your reward status is Gold Medallion, then you earn 8 SkyMiles per $1 spent.
If your reward status is Platinum Medallion, then you earn 9 SkyMiles per $1 spent.
If your reward status is Diamond Medallion, then you earn 11 SkyMiles per $1 spent.
Methods to redeem Delta SkyMiles
Now that you have learned all about how to earn Delta SkyMiles, the next thing which you must know is how to redeem them. SkyMiles can be redeemed to be used while flying through Delta Airlines or while flying through partner airlines. You can redeem Delta SkyMiles while booking through the website. To redeem points, you have to visit the website. You then have to go to the booking tool and select the option to view the price in miles. You are then required to enter when you are going to travel and select the class in which you want to travel.
The number of miles which are required per flight depend on different factors like your travel class, destination etc. Some airlines publish an award chart which shows exactly how many miles you need for a given flight. Delta Airlines does not do so. To know exactly how many miles you need for a given flight, you will have to enter your flight information and see how much it costs in terms of miles.
Miles can also be used for other purposes like upgrading of seats, vacation packages, gaining access to the membership of Delta Sky Clubs airport lounges, exclusive services, hotel stays, gift cards, merchandise, merchandise, car rentals, or making donations through Delta SkyWish. To have more detailed information, you can visit the website.
In case, you happen to have at least 2.5 million SkyMiles in your account, then you can also use them for private jet travel.
Partners of Delta Airlines
If you are curious to know which airlines Delta Airlines has partnered with, then you can check out below the list of the partners of Delta Airlines.
Delta Airlines is one of the 19 airlines in the international SkyTeam alliance, which enables the travellers to earn and use SkyMiles on flights except Delta.
The other SkyTeam airlines are:
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Korean Air.
LATAM Airlines.
MEA.
Saudia.
TAROM.
Vietnam Airlines.
Xiamen Airlines.
Aerolíneas Argentinas.
AeroMexico.
Air Europa.
Air France.
China Airlines.
China Eastern.
Czech Airlines.
Garuda Indonesia.
ITA Airways.
Kenya Airways.
These are the non SkyTeam airlines Delta has partnership with:
Hawaiian Airlines.
Virgin Atlantic.WestJet.
Cape Air.
China Southern.
Delta SkyMiles credit cards
Delta has its credit cards which are issued by American Express. Each card has different benefits. The name of the cards along with their benefits are listed below:
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Annual fee is $0.
Travellers get 2 miles for every dollar spent on purchases directly from Delta.
For every dollar spent at eligible restaurants, travellers get 2 miles.
Travellers receive 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible spending.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
For the first year, there is no annual fee. The annual fee for all the subsequent years is $99.
Travellers get 2 miles for every dollar spent on purchases directly from Delta.
For every dollar spent at eligible restaurants and U.S. Supermarkets, travellers get 2 miles.
Travellers receive 1 mile for every dollar spent on all other eligible spending.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Annual Fee is $250
For every dollar spent on direct purchases from Delta, 3 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on eligible hotel purchases, 3 miles are rewarded.
For every dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, 2 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases, one mile is given.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Annual fee is $550, which includes access to Delta Sky Clubs airport lounges.
For every dollar spent on direct purchases from Delta, 3 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases, one mile is given.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
For the first year, there is no annual fee. The annual fee for all the subsequent years is $99.
For every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta, 2 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on other eligible purchases, one mile is given.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Annual Fee is $250
For every dollar spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta as well as on purchases made directly with hotels, 3 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more 1.5 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on other eligible purchases, 1 mile is given.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Annual fee is $550.
For every dollar spent on Delta purchases, 3 miles are given.
For every dollar spent on other eligible purchases, 1 mile is given.
This card is inclusive of benefits like free checked bags and complimentary access into Delta Sky Clubs and AmEx Centurion Lounges or Escape Lounges while flying with Delta.
So, you can use Delta SkyMiles credit card. You can choose whichever Delta SkyMiles credit card suits your preferences the best.
We explained everything in detail about the Delta SkyMiles. If you are still not able to decide whether this programme is beneficial for you or not, then you can visit the website to read the beginner’s guide to frequent flyer programs or you can also contact the Delta customer service team and talk to the live person to have some advice. Even if you want to know about something else like Delta reservations, Delta flight cancellation or Delta change flight, then also you can contact the customer support team for assistance.
Changes to the SkyMiles programme in 2023
Delta Airlines always keeps doing something or the other to make the flying experience even better for its customers. To keep its loyalty programme among the best ones which delivers the most value to the customers, Delta Airlines has introduced some changes to its SkyMiles Programme which have been applied starting from January 1, 2023. These changes introduce expanded and improvised Choice benefits. These changes include:
Changes in Medallion Qualification Dollars
New Medallion Qualification Dollars have been introduced to attain 2024 Medallion Status for Diamond, Platinum and Gold Members.
New Choice Benefit Selections
Better and more valuable Choice Benefit Selections will be available for Diamond
and Platinum Medallion Members for the 2024 Medallion Year.
Simpler Upgrade service capability
Medallion Members who have Global & Regional Upgrade Certificates will now be able to request upgrades with their certificates at the time of checking out on delta.com beginning in early 2023.
Changes in Medallion Qualification Dollars
First time since 2015, starting from January 1, 2023 onwards, the thresholds to achieve 2024 Medallion Status for Diamond, Platinum and Gold Members have been increased. The requirements for Silver Medallion Status are the same. The rules for MQD Waiver have not changed members can still qualify for it when they reach the needed spend amounts with their eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Cards.
