How Much Are Delta SkyMiles Worth? (And How to Maximize Their Value)

Delta Air Lines is one of the biggest airlines in the world and happens to be my favorite domestic airline. I have Silver Medallion status with Delta and almost exclusively fly the airline whenever I’m in the U.S.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer as to how much Delta SkyMiles are worth. As Delta uses a dynamic pricing model, the number of SkyMiles you’ll need to book a flight will vary substantially based on your route, fare class, and time of year, among others. Even so, there are ways to maximize the value of your points. Here’s everything you need to know.

Delta SkyMiles program overview

Delta SkyMiles is the airline loyalty program for Delta Air Lines. It's free to join Delta SkyMiles, and it costs nothing to stay a member. Program members earn SkyMiles, Delta’s point currency, by flying Delta and other SkyTeam Alliance members and spending on a co-branded credit card or with various program partners.

SkyMiles can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, vacation packages, experiences, and even premium drinks at the Sky Club. Unlike some other airline miles, Delta SkyMiles won’t expire even if you haven't flown recently.

What are Delta SkyMiles worth?

Delta eliminated its award chart in 2015 and moved to dynamic pricing on award tickets. Because of this change, the valuation of SkyMiles varies. According to our calculations, your Delta SkyMiles are worth 1.2 cents each. Keep this number in mind when booking flights—if you’re getting less than 1.2 cents per mile, you aren’t getting the best use of your SkyMiles. In that case, you should probably keep searching for better flight options.

How to calculate the value of SkyMiles

You can easily calculate the redemption value of your SkyMiles by dividing a flight’s dollar cost by the number of miles you would have to redeem for the same flight. That will tell you the number of cents each SkyMile is worth. For example, if a $400 flight would cost 20,000 SkyMiles, that means those SkyMiles are worth two cents each. You should aim for a redemption above the standard value of 1.2 cents.

How do Delta SkyMiles compare to other airlines?

According to our calculations, Delta SkyMiles are on the lower end of the value scale when compared against other major domestic airlines. However, these fluctuations between airlines are a fraction of a cent and are largely tied to the cash price of the ticket. Don’t let these numbers discourage you from joining and earning Delta SkyMiles, but do keep it in the back of your mind when searching for redemptions.

The best credit cards for earning Delta SkyMiles

If you want to earn SkyMiles outside of booking flights, you can utilize credit cards. Whether you’re better off with a co-branded Delta card or a general travel rewards card that lists Delta as a transfer partner will depend on your spending habits.

Although there are four Delta co-branded credit cards, only three are worth their weight in plastic. The Delta SkyMiles Blue card leaves out some basic cardholder benefits, so it’s hard to justify applying for the card, even if it doesn’t have an annual fee.

Co-branded cards

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

If you plan on flying at least once this year, the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card is a great starter credit card. You'll receive your first checked bag free and earn 2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1X miles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases. You can earn a $200 Delta statement credit after spending $10,000 on your card each year. You can also take advantage of up to a $100 statement credit on Delta Stays purchases each year, which helps offset the moderate $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter annual fee.

I’m a SkyMiles Gold cardholder, and I find it to be the perfect option for someone who flies with Delta a couple of times per year. My favorite feature is the 15% discount on award redemptions, allowing me to stretch my miles further.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card is ideal for travelers looking to earn or maintain status with Delta while earning 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and at hotels; 2X miles per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets; and 1X miles for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. In addition to getting your first checked bag free and Zone 5 priority boarding, you can receive $2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart. You’ll also earn 1 MQD for every $20 you spend on your card.

Cardholders also receive an Annual Companion Certificate each year, which is valid for a Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flight. All you need to pay is taxes and fees for the second ticket. Cardholders receive a variety of statement credits to help offset the $350 annual fee, including up to a $150 Delta Stays credit, up to a $120 rideshare credit, and up to a $120 Resy credit. Note that these credits are mostly doled out monthly, so if you miss a month, you leave that money on the table.

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

If you’re a frequent Delta traveler, the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is probably the best airline credit card for you. You can enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club and American Express Centurion Lounges, a variety of statement credits, and the opportunity to earn 3X miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta and 1X miles for all other eligible purchases.

Cardholders also enjoy the same perks as the other Delta credit cards, such as your first checked bag free and Zone 5 priority boarding. The Annual Companion Certificate differs slightly from the SkyMiles Platinum, as it allows you to redeem for a first-class ticket. If you frequently rent cars while you travel, you’ll enjoy having Hertz President’s Circle status.

General travel rewards cards

You can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to build up your Delta SkyMiles balance. Points transfer at a 1:1 ratio from Membership Rewards to SkyMiles. 

Just keep in mind that there's an excise tax offset fee when transferring Amex points to a frequent flyer program of a U.S. airline. The fee is $0.0006 per point you transfer, with a maximum fee of $99. Still, if you get substantially higher value out of your points, the fee is worth it.

The following cards allow you to earn Membership Rewards to transfer to Delta and have some of the best earning potential. The Amex Platinum can still transfer to Delta but will earn fewer points per dollar on purchases, so it isn’t necessarily a great alternative to a co-branded card.

• American Express^® Green Card ($150 annual fee): Earn 3X points on eligible travel and transit purchases, and at eligible restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; and 1X points on all other eligible purchases. You can also benefit from a $199 CLEAR Plus statement credit.
• American Express^® Gold Card ($325 annual fee): Earn 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com, 2X on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases. You’ll also be able to take advantage of several dining-related statement credits to help offset the annual fee. Select benefits require enrollment.

How to get more value out of your Delta SkyMiles

There are several ways you can get outsized value from your miles. To start, you can check out the available SkyMiles Deals. Simply enter your airport of origin, and you can see available deals for destinations around the globe. If you have a Delta credit card, you’ll save even more with the 15% discount on award redemptions. Combining a deal with a discount is an effective way to substantially bump up your miles' value.

Delta automatically shows you a date grid when searching for an award redemption, so be sure to compare prices with different days to save miles. Adjusting your departure and return by a day can often save you thousands of miles, if not more. Some flights only happen a couple of days a week, so you might get a nonstop flight for fewer miles than a connecting flight just a day later.

If you book a flight, your search isn’t over. Keep an eye on the same flight, and if you notice a cheaper redemption, you can cancel and rebook. I’ve done this several times to get a miles refund, and it’s also worked when paying cash. If you can’t cancel, you can always contact a Delta agent, who is typically happy to help you get a refund of your miles.

FAQs

Bottom line

Delta SkyMiles can be very valuable as long as you know the best ways to redeem them. Whether you hold a co-branded Delta card or an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards, you can quickly accumulate miles to use on your next flight. Delta is my favorite U.S. airline, and I’ve gotten tons of free flights over the years by using my miles, typically at a much greater value than just 1.2 cents per mile. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll be on your way to high-value redemptions.

Great Welcome Offer and Continuing Rewards

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

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Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

Learn How to Apply

See rates and fees | Terms Apply

Current Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter

Rewards Rate

2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1X miles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Up to $300 in potential annual statement credits
• Eligible for 15% off reward redemptions
• First checked bag free and priority boarding

Drawbacks

• Has an annual fee after the first year
• Lack of flexibility with rewards
• No path to elite status

Card Details

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months
• 2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1X miles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• Terms apply