What Can You Buy With Delta Skymiles

Another way to redeem your SkyMiles is for upgrades to the next class of service. When you have a confirmed ticket on Delta, you should now have the option to pay cash or use miles to upgrade your flight directly through delta.com.

what can you buy with delta skymiles

Starting Feb. 17, Delta and Amex are debuting a new payment option at checkout that gives customers more control over how they pay for travel. With Plan It on Delta now available on delta.com, eligible American Express Card Members will have more options to pay for flights: through a seamless checkout experience, customers can choose to create monthly payment plans with a fixed fee with Plan It, carry a balance with interest, or pay in full.

If customers want to pay with a combination of miles and cash when using their Delta SkyMiles American Express Card, they can take advantage of the Pay with Miles benefit, which allows all Card Members to take up to $50 off the cost of their flight for every 5,000 miles redeemed on delta.com.

Reserve Card Members enjoy complimentary access to Delta Sky Club locations so they can dine, drink, work or unwind before a Delta flight. They also receive access to more airport retreats around the world with access to Centurion Lounges, travel lounges exclusively for Amex Card Members, when flying Delta.

Delta miles tend to be worth 1.2 cents each, outside of promotions and oddly priced flights. That means if you start with no miles and purchase enough miles to pay for an entire ticket, you'll end up paying more than double the regular cash price.

The caveat to this strategy is that it might not be best for the frequent Delta flyer who may prefer to keep miles for future flights. However, if you aren't a frequent Delta flyer and need to use up your miles, purchasing first class tickets with your miles could be a great way to do it.

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Still, thousands of travelers are upgrading with SkyMiles every day. The airline says it's all about giving flyers more options to use their SkyMiles. The reality is it's about limiting how much Delta is giving you when you cash in your SkyMiles.

The easiest way to pile up SkyMiles is by opening a Delta SkyMiles American Express co-branded credit card. And you're in luck: These cards just rolled out elevated welcome bonuses, with up to 90,000 SkyMiles up for grabs.

One of our absolute favorites is The Platinum Card from American Express. It starts with a standard, 80,000-point welcome bonus after spending $6,000 in six months. But be sure to check and see if you qualify for a 150,000-point bonus for the same spending requirement.

The American Express Gold Card is another strong option. The card is currently offering a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within six months of card membership. But like the Platinum Card, you may qualify for a much higher offer through CardMatch.

Travelers on Delta Air Lines can earn miles that never expire and are redeemable for free flights, seat upgrades and more. If you often travel with Delta frequently, you can earn a myriad of perks through its Medallion status program. This guide will walk you through Delta SkyMiles, highlighting the pros and cons and illustrating the best ways to earn and redeem these valuable miles.

Travelers who fly with Delta and participate in SkyMiles are rewarded with redeemable award miles that can be used for free flights. Delta Air Lines also offers its Medallion elite status program that rewards its frequent flyers with perks like waived baggage fees, seat upgrades and even the option to enjoy a Delta Sky Club lounge membership.

The most common ways to earn Delta SkyMiles are flying with Delta Air Lines or partner airlines, using a co-branded Delta credit card, transferring American Express Membership Rewards to SkyMiles and using Delta's shopping portal. Here is a rundown on earning Delta SkyMiles:

Flying with Delta Air Lines is the most straightforward way to earn SkyMiles. Delta Air Lines offers a revenue-based system for earning SkyMiles on its flights, which means you earn miles based on how much you spend, not how far you fly. General SkyMiles members will earn 5 SkyMiles per $1 of base fare on Delta-issued tickets (excluding taxes and fees) while Delta Medallion members earn more depending on their status level.

Note that there are some "exception fares" within the revenue-based earning structure. Exception fares include cruise fares, bulk fares, consolidator fares, vacation packages (including packages with Delta Vacations) and discount or inclusive tour packages.

Delta's Core Global Airline Partners typically have the highest earning rates. Major partners like Air France and Alitalia award 100% of the base miles flown for economy fares, with business or first class earning up to 200% of the flight distance in miles.

Delta Air Lines offers a number of co-branded credit cards issued by American Express. You can earn at least 1 Delta SkyMile per $1 spent on eligible purchases with any of these cards. The products offered vary from the $0-annual-fee Delta Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card to the Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card, which is loaded with benefits.

Opening a Delta card is a great choice if you fly primarily or exclusively with Delta. For the occasional Delta traveler, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card may make sense, especially if your savings on checked bag fees exceed the annual fee. Or, you might opt for a general rewards card with the option to transfer miles, like the American Express Gold Card.

SkyMiles Shopping offers SkyMiles on purchases with 1,000-plus retailers. Some of the popular stores include Apple, Home Depot, Macy's, Kohl's, Office Depot and Disney. Earning rates vary between 0.5 miles and 20 miles per dollar, depending on the retailer. Some stores offer a one-time bonus for shopping or taking advantage of a specific offer.

To earn miles with SkyMiles Shopping, visit the portal page, browse the retailers and click through to be taken to the website of your selected retailer. Alternatively, you can install a browser extension that will let you activate SkyMiles Shopping to earn miles without even visiting the portal page.

Hotel rewards programs are an excellent resource for increasing your earning potential, especially since Delta has partnerships with many major hotel brands. During stays at partner hotels and Airbnbs, you can earn SkyMiles in place of the hotel's membership points. Alternatively, you can transfer your hotel points to SkyMiles directly.

With Delta vacation packages, you can save money on travel and earn up to 5,000 bonus SkyMiles. You can book packages with a select set of Delta partners, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Aeromexico, Air France and Alitalia. If you use a co-branded Delta American Express card to pay for your vacation package, you'll also earn 2x miles per $1 you spend.

With each rental service, an eligible rental within the U.S and Canada will post 500 SkyMiles to your account. In the case of Hertz, Platinum and Diamond status members get as many as 1,250 miles. You must visit Delta's site and book your car rental through their portal in order to get the miles.

If you often fly with Delta and don't currently own an American Express Membership Rewards card, you should consider signing up for one, as some cards offer special benefits with Delta in addition to points.

Note, however, that without an award chart to compare prices, it's hard to tell how great of a deal you're getting. It's a good idea to compare award prices to cash fares to determine the redemption value in each case.

Delta also gives SkyMiles members the ability to use its miles for cabin upgrades. You can upgrade with miles either at time of booking or after you purchase your ticket. Tickets eligible to upgrade with miles at time of booking will show it as an option on the Trip Summary page. This is the easiest and most seamless way to upgrade with miles.

After booking, you may be presented with the option to upgrade with miles at Delta.com or through the Fly Delta app. You can check your reservation at any time to see if this is an option. Alternatively, you can contact a Delta representative to upgrade with miles.

Delta rewards its most loyal members with special airline perks through its Medallion status program. Benefits include free checked bags, waived fees, bonus SkyMiles, complimentary upgrades and more. The perks get better as your Medallion status level increases.

The program is also excellent for the frequent work traveler, offering an excellent array of elite benefits, including Delta Sky Club lounge membership and upgrade certificates (as a Choice Benefit) for Platinum and Diamond Medallion members. Global upgrade certificates can even be used for long-haul international flights with some of Delta's best partners.

Here is all the information you need about using SkyMiles with partner airlines, ways to earn miles through credit cards, and the best redemptions currently available to book award travel with the Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer program.

You can search for SkyTeam award tickets and can easily redeem SkyMiles on flights with Delta Air Lines and partner carriers. Many airline partners (but not all) are available to search online. For some, you have to call Delta to confirm availability and book.

With the following cards, you can earn Delta SkyMiles without needing to transfer your miles to SkyMiles. They also include great welcome bonus offers to help you quickly earn your first Delta award ticket.

Frequent Delta flyers will love the Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Gold American Express Card. The card offers great benefits that will help save you money, effectively mimics low-level elite status with Delta SkyMiles, and helps you earn miles even faster, all for a low annual fee. Let's dive into the benefits to see if the Delta Gold card is a good fit for your needs.\n \n"},"title":"Pros & Cons","pros":"\r\n \tNew: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.\r\n \tBonus earning on Delta purchases and U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant purchases\r\n \tFirst checked bag free on Delta flights\r\n \t20% back on inflight purchases\r\n\r\n ","cons":"\r\n \tModerate annual fee\r\n \tEarn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards\r\n\r\n ","title":"Card Highlights","welcomeBonus":" Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel. Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your ticket for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card. No Foreign Transaction Fees. With Send & Split\u00ae, you can send money and split purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today. 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Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. \n Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner. \n New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. \n Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. \n Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. \n Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. \n Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight. \n Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck\u00ae after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck. \n Earn up to 20,000 Medallion\u00ae Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost\u00ae per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion\u00ae Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion\u00ae Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights. \n No Foreign Transaction Fees. \n $250 Annual Fee. \n Terms Apply.\n\n","bonusValuation":" UP's Bonus Valuation*: $1,080\n \n\n ","disableCardArtLink":false,"accordions":["title":"Why We Like This Card","html":"The Delta SkyMiles\u00ae Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status --- or to maintain their current status --- with the airline.\nA key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning free flights and other valuable rewards.\n","title":"Pros & Cons","pros":"\r\n \tNew: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.\r\n \t3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases\r\n \t3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels\r\n \t2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets\r\n \t1x SkyMile per $1 spent on all other purchases\r\n \tAnnual companion certificate\r\n \tComplimentary checked bags\r\n \tGlobal Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit\r\n \t20% back on inflight purchases\r\n \tDelta Status Boost\r\n \tDiscount on Delta Sky Club visits\r\n","cons":"\r\n \t$250 annual fee (rates & fees)\r\n \tDoes not earn transferable rewards\r\n","title":"Card Highlights","welcomeBonus":" Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details. Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner. New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. 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