Airline

SkyMiles

America's premium airline rewards program

Point Value1.2 cpp
Range1–1.2 cpp

At a Glance

Delta SkyMiles is the loyalty program of Delta Air Lines, serving over 100 million members worldwide. As a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, SkyMiles miles can be earned and redeemed across 19 partner airlines including Air France, KLM, Korean Air, and Virgin Atlantic. The program offers revenue-based earning on Delta flights and status qualification through Medallion tiers. Delta operates the largest airline network in the United States with major hubs in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Detroit, Seattle, Los Angeles, and New York. SkyMiles members earn miles based on ticket price rather than distance, with Medallion elite members earning bonus miles on every flight. The program is known for strong premium cabin availability on domestic routes and competitive pricing for SkyTeam partner awards. SkyMiles partners with American Express for co-branded credit cards that offer accelerated earning, free checked bags, and priority boarding. Higher-tier cards grant automatic Medallion status and companion certificates worth up to $1,000 in travel value annually.

Type
Airline
Avg Value
1.2 cpp
Value Range
1–1.2 cpp
Parent Company
delta_air_lines
Valuation Source
The Points Guy

Sweet Spots — Best Redemptions

Route / PropertyPoints
US to South America in Economy10,000
US to Canada in Economy10,300
US to Hawaii in Economy10,900
Domestic US in First Class12,500
US to Europe in Economy23,000
Intra-European Economy on Partners10,000
Intra-European Business on Partners25,000
Middle East to Europe Business Class42,500
Within Asia Business on Korean Air15,000
Asia to Oceania Business Class65,000
LATAM Short-Haul Economy in South America6,400
Delta Flash Sales to Europe34,000
Hawaiian Inter-Island Economy7,500

Transfer Partners

Earn via 1 bank points program

Source ProgramRatio
1:1

Cards That Earn SkyMiles (7)

SkyMiles Dining · by Delta (Rewards Network)

Earn up to 5x SkyMiles when you dine out

Join SkyMiles Dining, link a credit card and pay as usual at participating restaurants. New members earn 0.5x, up to 5x at the VIP tier, on top of what the card earns.

Explore SkyMiles Dining

Program Ratings

PointsNav
7.8/10#11
Broad Coverage
8/10
Everyday Usefulness
7/10
Earn/Redeem Efficiency
7/10
Policy Fairness
8/10
Ease Of Holding
10/10
Product/Transfer Quality
7/10
Thepointsguy

FAQs

How many SkyMiles are needed for a free flight?

You can find Delta awards for as little as 4,200 miles. If you have a Delta co-branded credit card, you get a 15% discount, bringing some flights down to 3,570 miles. Taxes are usually low as well, often just $5.60 for a one-way domestic ticket.

How to earn Delta SkyMiles fast?

The [Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business](https://pointsnav.com/credit-cards/delta-skymiles-reserve-business) card has the highest regular signup bonus. You can earn 80,000 SkyMiles after spending $10,000 in the first six months. You’ll also earn at least 10,000 miles from that spend. Delta has offered elevated 100,000-mile bonuses in the past.

How do I get into a Delta lounge?

You can access Sky Clubs with Diamond Medallion status or by flying in a premium cabin when you hold Gold or Platinum status. Certain cards also provide access, including the Delta Reserve (personal and business) and the Amex Platinum ( [personal](https://pointsnav.com/credit-cards/american-express-platinum-personal) and [business](https://pointsnav.com/credit-cards/american-express-platinum-business)).

How do I know if I have Delta SkyMiles?

Log in to your Delta SkyMiles account to see your mileage balance. On the website, your name and miles appear at the top right. In the app, tap “Account” to view your balance. If you don’t have a SkyMiles account, you won’t have any Delta miles yet.

Can I claim miles from past flights in Delta?

Yes. You can request mileage credit after you've flown, even if you didn't have a SkyMiles account at the time. Log in and visit the [Request Mileage Credit page](https://www.delta.com/myskymiles/request-mileage-credit). As long as your flight was at least 7 days ago and within the last 9 months, you can receive credit.

Editorial disclosure: CardRewards.ai is an independent comparison service. Card data comes from issuers' published terms; catalog last published November 13, 2026, and each card page shows when its terms were last checked. Card issuers do not influence our rankings or content.