The Delta Skymiles program has become more unpredictable and sometimes very expensive as Delta Air Lines deleted its award rankings a decade ago. Since business-grade flights on long-haul routes usually cost over 450,000, it is understandable to feel that your Skymiles Balance is worth little.
But if you have Delta Miles stock, it’s far from worthless. Excellent redemptions are still available, especially during the operator’s reward sales.
Let’s explore some strategies to maximize the value of Skymiles in the Delta.
Related: Delta Medal Status: What It Is And How to Make Money
Redemption of skiers on Delta flights
You can book Delta, Delta Connect and Delta Shuttle using Delta Skymiles. Since the Delta uses dynamic pricing, the reward rate can vary greatly. For example, the one-way basic economic reward rate from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) ranges between 17,800 and 19,800 miles in October and November.
On Delta Tickets, taxes and fees are usually reasonable. However, taxes and fees are expected to be paid to most domestic and international tickets in the U.S. at $6 per person, but Delta adds carrier surcharges to many awards outside the U.S., most notably awarded in Europe.
Please note the Skymiles transaction
A good option to redeem delta mileage is to take advantage of Skymiles deals. These transactions are usually applicable to specific city pairs, so it may be necessary to book a targeted flight to completely maximize these promotions.
For example, Delta previously offered Flash sales that offer only 5,000 round trip flights on Skymiles. The airline also recently offered flights from Atlanta to the Caribbean and Mexico, with round trips from 14,400 Skymiles.
If you are not using Skymiles right away, it is better to save them as the next large Skymiles deal. Just make sure to follow Delta’s Skymiles Award Deals page.
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Save 15% with a select Delta credit card festival
If you have a qualified Delta credit card, you can save 15% on reward flights when using mileage and paying taxes and fees with that card. This may be a good option to lower the price you pay in your Delta reward ticket and is also a major reason to open (and retain) a Delta card.
Related: Best Delta Credit Cards
Rebooking prices drop
For flights booked with Delta Skymiles, you can fly again as long as your flight is disqualified. Miles will be relocated to your account without any charges.
You can cancel the reward flight for basic economic bookings, but the associated mileage fee must be paid. For these flights, Delta will deduct 9,900 miles of domestic travel in the U.S. and Canada, while international travel is 19,900 miles. This fee is deducted from the value of your ticket and the remaining miles will be re-deposited in your Skymiles account.
Related: If airlines drop in air ticket prices, you can provide credit to the airline
Redemption of Skymiles in Delta on partner flights
Delta is a member of the Skyrim Alliance and has several non-condo airline partners. This gives you more flexibility to redeem Skymiles on a variety of airlines and routes around the world. Here is the full list of Delta airline partners:
Antenna Partners
- Aerolineas Argentinas
- Air Mexico
- Europa Airlines
- Air France
- Chinese Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- Garuda, Indonesia
- Kenya Airlines
- KLM
- Korean Air
- Middle East Airlines
- Saudi
- Scandinavian Airlines
- Tarom
- Vietnam Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic Ocean
- Xiamen Airlines
Non-legal partner
- Great Tahiti River
- Cloak in the air
- China Southern Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Latan
- Mandarin Airlines
- Shanghai Airlines
- Westjet
There is no online reward chart, so you have to search for prices by route – you can get some nice deals on partner-run flights that don’t particularly touch the United States.
For example, in September and October, flights from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) are available for 40,000 Skymiles in Business Class on most days. These are operated by Hanoi at the Vietnam City, Vietnam’s tan NHAT International Airport (SGN) or Vietnam’s NOI BAI International Airport (HAN) and are only payable for $27 in fees and taxes, and they are a great dangerous option for your Skymiles.
Additionally, flying from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Air France’s business class Paris-Charles de Gowler Airport (CDG) usually costs about 42,500 miles, plus about $34 in taxes and fees.
Increments can increase these rates at any time and be used multiple times. To get the current reward price, you will need to contact Delta directly or search the website. You can also try to start a search in your seat.
Although Delta tries to improve its website to display Partner Awards, it may still have limitations, especially when booking a mixed cake itinerary. This site usually prioritizes flights running in the Delta, which may not be ideal if you have specific flight requirements. We recommend searching for flights through the segment and being ready to call Delta when the website provides the travel options you want.
Related: Search the best websites for Skyteam rewards
Redemption of Delta Skymiles for upgrade
You can also use Skymiles to upgrade to higher services. If you have confirmed Delta marketing and operational flights, you can pay cash or use your mileage to upgrade your flight directly on the Delta website.
If you use this method to redeem miles for upgrades, you’re usually worth about 1 cent per mile, down from our September 2025 valuation of 1.15 cents per mile. If you have leftover Skymiles and don’t have plans to use them right away, this may be a viable option. However, we generally recommend prioritizing reward flight redemption to maximize your value.
Alternatively, you can redeem Delta miles to upgrade specific flights operated by France, the Netherlands, Virgin Atlantic or Air Mexico. This option should be price-level and is only available on selected routes running by each partner. Please refer to Delta’s website for more details.
You also need to make sure that upgraded inventory is available.
Related: The Final Guide to Your Delta Choice Benefit Plan
Redeem Skymiles for Delta holidays
When you use the mileage coverage Delta Vacations package, you usually get a value of 1.1 cents per mile.
For example, you can book a five-day stay at Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort in Hawaii for $1,631.76, or you can redeem 148,342 Skymiles, which are worth exactly 1.1 cents per mile. This is slightly lower than our September 2025 valuation, but it is not a bad redemption.
Related: These are the best hotels in Honolulu
How to Earn Delta Skymiles
Of course, you need to let Skymiles take advantage of the above redemption. Fortunately, there are several ways to improve your balance.
One of the easiest ways to earn a Delta mile is to use Delta’s Coprand American Express card. Here are the current welcome offers for these cards:
- DeltaSkymiles® Gold American Express Card: Spend $3,000 in the first six months of card membership and $3,000 in qualified purchases, earning 80,000 miles.
- Delta Skymiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn 90,000 miles after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership and earning 90,000 miles after spending $4,000 on qualified purchases.
- DeltaSkymiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn 125,000 miles after spending $6,000 on qualified purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- DeltaSkymiles® Gold Commercial American Express Card: Earn 90,000 miles after spending $6,000 on qualified purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- DeltaSkymiles®PlatinumBusiness American Express Card: Spend $8,000 in the first six months of card membership to earn 100,000 miles on qualified purchases.
- DeltaSkymiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Spend $15,000 in the first six months of card membership and $15,000 in qualified purchases, earning 125,000 miles.
Remember that all these cards include access to takeoff 15 benefits, which will save you 15% on Delta operating reward flights.
Another way to earn Skymiles is to transfer American Express membership reward points to the Delta at a 1:1 ratio. You can American Express® Gold Card and American Express Platinum Card®. However, your transfer will be subject to consumption tax.
In addition, the Marriott Hotel’s points were transferred to Delta Skymiles at a 3:1 ratio.
Bottom line
Although the value of Delta Skymiles has declined in recent years, there are still excellent deals.
While the program has been moving towards a redemption value of 1 cent per mile, you can still surpass that number, especially with Skymiles deals and partner-run flights outside the United States
