Delta SkyMiles: 238 questions answered
Everything members ask about Delta SkyMiles, answered from Delta Air Lines' own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; every answer comes from an official page.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join Delta SkyMiles?
Enrol free at delta.com/joinskymiles, where Delta says it's free to join. As soon as you have joined you can enroll in the SkyMiles Starter Pack challenge to earn up to 5,000 bonus miles while getting started.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program overview
Does it cost anything to join Delta SkyMiles?
No. Delta says plainly that SkyMiles is free to join, and the miles never expire.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program overview
Is there a minimum age to join Delta SkyMiles, and can children have their own account?
The program is open to any individual in any country that does not prohibit frequent flyer participation. Children under 13 may enrol, but a parent or guardian must confirm the relationship, and every member must give their full legal name and hold only one account.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Where do I find my Delta SkyMiles membership number?
Delta's SkyMiles Help page lets you recover a forgotten SkyMiles number with your email address. Delta's program rules add that your membership number is assigned when you enrol and that a digital membership card is available through My Wallet in the Fly Delta app.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
Does Delta SkyMiles issue a physical membership card, and do I need one?
Delta's program rules mention only a digital card and a printable one. You are assigned a membership number when you enrol, can access a digital membership card through My Wallet in the Fly Delta app, and can print a membership card from My SkyMiles if you want a paper copy.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta Air Lines have an app for managing Delta SkyMiles, and what can it do?
Yes. Delta's SkyMiles Help page covers logging in to the Fly Delta app with Face ID and verifying yourself with multi-factor authentication through an app notification. Delta's Choice Benefits and baggage pages add that Choice Benefits can be selected only in the app, as soon as you earn status, and that standard checked bag fees can be paid with miles during check-in in the app on flights from most US airports.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
How do I change the name on my Delta SkyMiles account after marriage or a legal name change?
Delta requires the name on your SkyMiles account to match the legal ID you travel with, such as a driver's license or passport. A legal name change needs court documents such as a court order, marriage certificate or divorce certificate, submitted through SkyMiles Help, while adding a middle name or switching between a middle initial and the full middle name needs no documentation.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
I accidentally created two Delta SkyMiles accounts. Can they be merged?
Yes. Submit a Merge Account Request through SkyMiles Help; Delta says to allow up to seven days, and the merge is non-reversible once you confirm it. The program rules let Delta cancel or merge duplicate accounts at its sole discretion, and say credit toward Medallion Status and Million Miler status will not be transferred.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
How do I close my Delta SkyMiles account, and what happens to my miles?
Account deletion is requested through SkyMiles Help and requires a valid government-issued ID. You permanently lose access to the account and all associated data, and under the program rules any Medallion status, benefits and miles in a closed account are forfeited.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
Can I join Delta SkyMiles if I live outside the airline's home country?
Yes. SkyMiles is open to individuals in any country that has not prohibited participation in frequent flyer programs. If you later change your country of residence, Delta asks for supporting documents such as a government ID, a utility bill from the last 60 days, a lease or an employer letter.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How do I update my email, address or phone number with Delta SkyMiles?
If you can log in to delta.com, go to My Profile and select Basic Info to update your primary email or mailing address. If you cannot log in, Delta asks for identity verification documents before making the change, and the program rules make each member responsible for promptly telling Delta about any name, email, phone number or address change.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
What do I do if I am locked out of my Delta SkyMiles account?
Reset it from the login page; Delta verifies you through multi-factor authentication by app notification, text passcode or email passcode. New passwords must be 8 to 20 characters with at least one number, one uppercase and one lowercase letter, and cannot contain your SkyMiles number, email or username.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
Does Delta Air Lines have a separate program for small businesses, and can I earn in both?
Yes. Delta's program rules describe SkyMiles for Business as its travel rewards program for small- to medium-sized businesses, since corporations and business entities cannot otherwise be enrolled as SkyMiles members. The rules do not say whether a traveller can earn in SkyMiles and SkyMiles for Business at the same time.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Earning on Delta Air Lines flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
How are miles calculated on Delta Air Lines flights: by fare paid, by distance, or by a fixed amount?
By fare paid. Delta-marketed flights earn a set number of miles per US dollar of base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges (government taxes excluded), while flights marketed by partner airlines earn a percentage of distance flown set by fare class.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How many miles do I earn per dollar (or per mile flown) on Delta Air Lines?
Classic and Refundable experiences earn 5 miles per dollar, Extra experiences 7 per dollar and Basic experiences 2 per dollar (Delta Main Basic earns nothing). Medallion members earn 7, 8, 9 or 11 miles per dollar at Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.
Source: Delta: how to earn miles
Do basic economy or light fares on Delta Air Lines earn miles?
Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) tickets earn no miles and no credit toward Medallion status. Basic-experience fares in other cabins earn 2 miles per dollar.
Source: Delta: how to earn miles
What elite bonus do status members earn on Delta Air Lines flights?
Silver Medallions earn 2 extra miles per dollar, Gold 3, Platinum 4 and Diamond 6, on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges of qualifying fares. On Classic and Refundable experiences, which earn 5 base miles per dollar, that makes 7, 8, 9 and 11 miles per dollar; Extra experiences earn 7 base miles per dollar, so they reach 9, 10, 11 and 13. Delta Main Basic tickets earn no miles at all.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How long after a flight do miles post to my Delta SkyMiles account?
Delta says miles are typically credited within eight weeks of the qualifying activity, and you have nine months from the flight date to report anything missing.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do award tickets earn miles or status credit on Delta Air Lines?
Award tickets do not earn redeemable miles, since the program rules class them as free tickets, but they do earn MQDs, which the rules set at the miles redeemed divided by 100 on awards operated by Delta or a Delta Global Airline Partner in Delta Main Classic or above (or Delta Comfort Basic) and booked through a Delta channel. The flown miles also count toward Million Miler, except on Delta Main Basic awards.
Which Delta Air Lines tickets earn no miles at all?
No miles on Delta Main Basic tickets, refunded or unused tickets, non-revenue travel by airline employees or travel agents, infants under two on a free lap-infant fare, award tickets and other free tickets, charter flights, opaque Priceline or Hotwire bookings, or the portion of a fare paid with Pay with Miles.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do taxes, fees and surcharges on a Delta Air Lines ticket earn miles?
No. Miles and MQDs are calculated on the base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges, and government-imposed taxes and fees are excluded.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
If I upgrade a ticket on Delta Air Lines, do I earn miles on the original fare or the upgraded cabin?
On what you pay for. Delta says seat upgrade purchases, whether made before or after ticketing, earn MQDs and applicable mileage accruals when your SkyMiles number is included in the purchase transaction, so a paid upgrade earns on its own price on top of the original ticket. Complimentary upgrades, such as Medallion upgrades, earn no additional MQDs.
Do infant or child tickets on Delta Air Lines earn miles?
An infant under two earns nothing when travelling without paying an applicable fare, or when on an infant fare on an international ticket. An infant travelling on a ticket bought at the applicable fare does earn, with the miles credited to the infant's own account.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do group bookings, tour packages or charter flights on Delta Air Lines earn miles?
Charter flights earn no miles under the program rules, and Delta's Group Travel page says group tickets earn miles under the program's accrual policy for unpublished or opaque fares. Delta Vacations packages do earn: Delta's News Hub said in December 2025 that members get $1 MQD per $1 spent on the whole package, with flight, hotel, rides and activities all counting.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do employee, industry or heavily discounted fares on Delta Air Lines earn miles?
Not on employee or industry travel: airline employees, travel agents, tour conductors and others travelling on a non-revenue basis earn nothing, and free tickets of any kind are excluded. For cheaper fares, the rules exclude Delta Main Basic (Basic Economy) tickets and tickets issued at fares whose rules exclude mileage credit.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How do I add my Delta SkyMiles number to an existing Delta Air Lines booking?
Enter your SkyMiles number when you book, or afterwards by opening the trip in My Trips on delta.com or the Fly Delta app.
Source: Delta: how to earn miles
Does Delta Air Lines have a calculator to estimate miles for a flight?
Delta's how-to-earn page offers no calculator, and you do not need one: on Delta-marketed flights you earn a set rate per dollar of base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges, 5 miles for general members on Classic and Refundable fares, 7 on Extra, 2 on Delta Basic, and 7, 8, 9 or 11 for Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. After you fly, the Account Activity tab in your SkyMiles account shows what each flight earned.
Source: Delta: how to earn miles
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to Delta SkyMiles?
Core partners are Aeromexico, Air France, China Eastern, KLM, Korean Air, LATAM and Virgin Atlantic, plus airBaltic, EL AL, Aerolineas Argentinas, Air Europa, Cape Air, China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Kenya Airways, Middle East Airlines, SAS, Saudia, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, WestJet and Xiamen Airlines. See alliances.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
How are miles calculated on partner airline flights credited to Delta SkyMiles?
Partner-marketed flights earn a percentage of distance flown set by the fare class, ranging from 10% to 300% depending on the airline and cabin. MQDs on most partners are also a percentage of distance, from 5% to 60%.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Which booking classes on partner airlines earn miles in Delta SkyMiles, and which earn nothing?
Each partner has its own chart of booking classes; Delta states that if a class is not listed, no miles are earned, and no miles are earned on award travel.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Most partners accrue MQDs as a percentage of distance flown by fare class (5% to 60%), and Delta-marketed flights operated by partners earn $1 MQD per $1 spent.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Does it matter whether a partner flight is ticketed by Delta Air Lines or by the partner for Delta SkyMiles earning?
Yes. Flights with a DL flight number, and certain other flights on a Delta-issued ticket (ticket numbers beginning 006), earn miles based on the ticket price, while flights marketed by a partner airline and not issued on 006 ticket stock earn a percentage of distance flown set by the fare class paid.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Which non-alliance airlines partner with Delta SkyMiles for earning?
Outside SkyTeam, the partner chart covers LATAM, WestJet, EL AL, airBaltic and Cape Air, and intra-Alaska carriers without their own programs.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
How long do partner airline flights take to post to Delta SkyMiles?
Delta gives the same guidance as for its own flights: credit typically posts within eight weeks, and you have nine months to request missing partner miles.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Can I credit different flights on the same ticket to different programs, or must the whole ticket go to Delta SkyMiles?
No. Delta flights, partner flights, hotel stays and car rentals are eligible for credit in only one loyalty program per itinerary, and once recorded the credit cannot be moved to another program, so decide on SkyMiles for the whole ticket before you fly.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do Delta SkyMiles elite members earn a bonus on partner airline flights?
Only on partners marked Yes in the chart: Diamond gets +120%, Platinum +80%, Gold +60% and Silver +40% of base miles earned.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Where does Delta Air Lines publish the partner earning charts for Delta SkyMiles?
The per-airline earning tables, showing the percentage of distance for each fare class and the MQD percentage, live on the SkyMiles Airline Partners page.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Can I earn miles on trains, buses or ferries through Delta SkyMiles?
No. Delta has no rail, bus or ferry earning partner, and the Air France chart specifically excludes segments operated by SNCF's TGVAIR trains, YBOAT ferry services and bus services from earning.
Missing miles and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing miles from Delta SkyMiles?
Nine months. Delta's program rules give members until nine months after the flight date, or the date of the qualifying transaction for partner activity, to request missing miles and MQDs, and say all account discrepancies must be reported in writing within nine months. See the guide.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How do I file a missing miles claim with Delta SkyMiles?
Use the mileage credit request forms on the SkyMiles Help page: the Delta Flights form for a Delta flight, where you add your ticket number, Delta and Partner Flights for an eligible flight on an airline partner, and Other SkyMiles Partners for activity with Delta's other partners.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
What information does Delta SkyMiles need for a missing miles claim?
For a Delta flight, the ticket number is required. Airline partner flights and other SkyMiles partners have their own request forms, and Delta's program rules add that all account discrepancies must be reported in writing within nine months of the activity.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
How do I claim missing miles for a partner airline flight in Delta SkyMiles?
Select Delta and Partner Flights from the dropdown on the SkyMiles Help page to request missing miles for an eligible airline partner flight, and do it within nine months of the flight, the deadline Delta's program rules set. See the guide.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
My flight was credited to the wrong program. Can Delta SkyMiles move the miles?
No. Delta and partner flights are eligible for credit in only one loyalty program per itinerary and cannot be transferred from one program to another once recorded; trying to claim SkyMiles for activity already credited elsewhere is expressly prohibited.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Will Delta SkyMiles credit a flight if the name on the ticket does not exactly match my account?
No. Both the name and the date of birth on the reservation must match the SkyMiles account of the member travelling for mileage to be credited, regardless of who paid for the ticket, so fix the account name first and then submit the request.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What can I do if Delta SkyMiles rejects a missing miles claim?
Come back with documents. The rules tell members to keep ticket receipts and boarding passes until credit appears, and for partner flights to request credit through the Comment/Complaint form or by mailing copies of the ticket receipt and boarding passes with name and SkyMiles number; altered or illegible documents are not accepted. Delta states that it is the final authority on qualification for mileage credit. See the guide.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue Delta SkyMiles credit cards, and in which countries?
American Express issues the US cards: Delta SkyMiles Blue, Gold, Platinum and Reserve, plus Gold, Platinum and Reserve Business versions. Outside the US, Delta's International Cards page lists SkyMiles cards only in Japan, in American Express, Diners Club, JCB and TRUST CLUB Visa versions.
How many miles per dollar do Delta SkyMiles credit cards earn?
It depends on the card. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve earn 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases and the Blue and Gold earn 2; restaurants worldwide earn 2 per dollar on the Blue, Gold and Platinum, and all other eligible purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
What sign-up bonus do Delta SkyMiles credit cards typically offer?
Offers change. In the limited-time offers running from 27 August to 4 November 2026, the Gold card offers as high as 80,000 bonus miles, the Platinum as high as 90,000 and the Reserve Business 200,000, while the personal Reserve card offers 50,000 miles plus, for the first time, two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates.
Source: Delta News Hub: two Delta Comfort flights plus 50K bonus miles offer
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve cardholders, personal or business, get a $2,500 MQD Headstart per card type each Medallion Qualification Year, plus MQD Boost of $1 MQD per $20 of eligible purchases (Platinum) or per $10 (Reserve). Buying miles does not count toward MQDs.
Which bank points transfer to Delta SkyMiles, and at what ratio?
American Express Membership Rewards convert at up to 1 mile per point, from as few as 1,000 points, and JCB points and Banco de Chile Dolares Premios can also be converted to miles. Hotel programs also convert: Marriott Bonvoy 3:1 (60,000 points = 20,000 miles), Hilton Honors 10:1, IHG 5:1, World of Hyatt 2.5:1 and Accor ALL. See transfer partners.
Can I transfer miles back out of Delta SkyMiles to a bank program?
No. The rules allow miles to leave an account only through the paid SkyMiles Transfer Miles program between members; there is no conversion back to a bank program.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Must the bank account and Delta SkyMiles account be in the same name for a transfer?
Not always: the SkyMiles account must be your own or an Additional Card Member's. Amex says the partner account you transfer Membership Rewards points into must be held by you or by an Additional Card Member linked to your Membership Rewards account, and the Additional Card must have been issued at least 90 days before you link that person's account. All transfers are final, so check the award price before moving points.
Source: American Express: transferring Membership Rewards points
Do Delta SkyMiles credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
The Blue Amex has no annual fee; Gold is $0 the first year then $150, Platinum $350 and Reserve $650 (as of 2026). Offsetting perks scale up the range: Gold adds a free first checked bag (and a second on domestic Delta flights), TakeOff 15 and a $100 Delta Stays credit; Platinum adds a Main Cabin Companion Certificate, MQD Headstart and Boost and up to $390 of annual credits; Reserve adds 15 Sky Club visits a year, a First-eligible Companion Certificate and up to $560 of credits.
Do any Delta SkyMiles credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
Yes. The Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Amex cards each give a Companion Certificate every year after card renewal.
Is there a business credit card for Delta SkyMiles?
Yes: the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business, Platinum Business and Reserve Business American Express cards. The Platinum Business and Reserve Business each give $2,500 MQDs a year through MQD Headstart, $1 MQD per $20 or $10 spent respectively, and a yearly round-trip Companion Certificate, and the Reserve Business adds 15 Delta Sky Club visits a year.
Can I get a Delta SkyMiles credit card if I live outside the United States?
Yes, if you live in Japan. Delta's International Cards page, for members living outside the US, lists SkyMiles cards for Japan alone: the Delta SkyMiles American Express Card and Gold Card, the Delta SkyMiles Diners Club Card, three Delta SkyMiles JCB cards and two TRUST CLUB Visa cards. No other country is listed.
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying miles.
Does Delta SkyMiles have an online shopping portal, and how does it work?
Yes. SkyMiles Shopping is Delta's online shopping portal: you earn miles when you shop with 1,000+ retailers through it, and it also gives access to exclusive deals, coupon codes and free shipping offers.
Does Delta SkyMiles have a dining rewards program?
Yes. SkyMiles Dining earns up to 5 miles per dollar at participating restaurants once you register a card in the program.
Which hotel chains earn miles in Delta SkyMiles, and can hotel points be converted?
Marriott Bonvoy earns 2 miles per dollar at luxury brands such as Ritz-Carlton and 1 mile per dollar at brands such as Courtyard, Hyatt earns 500 miles per eligible stay (Shangri-La did too until its partnership with Delta ended on 30 September 2026), IHG earns miles at 6,000+ participating hotels once you choose Delta in IHG One Rewards, and Delta Stays bookings earn 2 miles per dollar of base hotel rate. The partners page covers earning on stays only and says nothing about converting hotel points to miles.
Which car rental companies earn miles in Delta SkyMiles?
Hertz earns 4 to 8 miles per dollar depending on your Medallion tier, Dollar and Thrifty 4 per dollar, Avis, Enterprise, National, Alamo, Budget, Payless and Sixt 2 per dollar, and Europcar 60 miles per day.
Can I earn miles by taking surveys with Delta SkyMiles?
No. No survey panel appears among the SkyMiles partners; the Partners & Offers page lists SkyMiles Shopping (1,000+ retailers), SkyMiles Dining (up to 5 miles per dollar) and Starbucks Rewards as its shopping and dining partners, and its featured partners also include Uber and Uber Eats and Airbnb.
Can I buy miles from Delta SkyMiles, at what price, and is there a yearly cap?
Yes, at $0.035 per mile plus tax, minimum 2,000 miles per transaction and a cap of 60,000 miles per calendar year; miles post in 24 to 48 hours. Your account must be at least 10 days old with at least one mile earned, and the spend earns no MQDs. If you have more than you need, see selling miles.
Does Delta SkyMiles run bonus promotions on buying miles?
Not at the moment: Delta's buy, gift, transfer and donate page advertises no bonus or discount. The standing price is $0.035 per mile plus tax, capped at 60,000 bought miles per calendar year and posting within 24 to 48 hours, so at $0.035 a mile check the cash fare before buying miles for a specific award.
Can I gift miles to another Delta SkyMiles member?
Yes. Gifted miles cost $0.035 per mile plus tax, up to 60,000 miles per calendar year, to as many as four members in one transaction; the recipient account must be 10 days old with at least one mile earned.
Are there phone, internet, energy or subscription partners that earn miles in Delta SkyMiles?
No. No phone, internet, energy or subscription company earns miles on Delta's current SkyMiles Partners & Offers page; T-Mobile appears only as the presenter of free Delta Sync Wi-Fi. The everyday earning partners are Starbucks Rewards (1 mile per dollar for 12 months from your last flight), Uber and Uber Eats (up to 3 miles per dollar), Airbnb, SkyMiles Shopping and SkyMiles Dining.
Can I earn miles on fuel or groceries with Delta SkyMiles?
Groceries yes, through the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex, which earns 2 miles per dollar at US supermarkets as well as at restaurants worldwide and on Delta purchases. Fuel is not a bonus category on Delta's personal Amex cards, so gas earns the Gold card's standard 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
Can I earn miles on Airbnb, vacation rentals or cruises with Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Airbnb earns 1 mile per dollar on qualifying Homes and 3 per dollar on qualifying Services and Experiences, and booking a cruise through Delta Cruises earns 2X miles plus bonus offers.
Does in-flight Wi-Fi, duty free or onboard purchases earn miles on Delta Air Lines?
Not Wi-Fi or onboard food and drink: the program rules list in-flight Wi-Fi passes and in-flight food and beverage purchases among the purchases that do not earn miles. The rules do not mention duty free.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Where does Delta SkyMiles list its current earning promotions?
Delta's SkyMiles Partners & Offers page lists the current earning partners, starting with a Featured Partners section, along with their offers, such as linking Starbucks Rewards to earn 1 mile per dollar for 12 months from your last flight, up to 3 miles per dollar on Uber, and up to 10,000 bonus miles per person on Delta Vacations.
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in Delta SkyMiles?
Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion, plus Delta 360, an invitation-only layer offered to a very small percentage of Diamond members based on flying and premium purchases.
How do I qualify for elite status in Delta SkyMiles: by spending, segments, distance or points?
Spending only. Status is earned purely with Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) from ticket spend, partner flights, Delta Vacations packages and Delta Amex card spend; there are no segment or distance requirements.
What are the qualification thresholds for each Delta SkyMiles tier?
Silver $5,000 MQDs, Gold $10,000, Platinum $15,000 and Diamond $28,000. Delta lists these for 2026 Medallion Status and has said on its News Hub that the MQD thresholds to qualify for 2027 Medallion Status remain unchanged.
When does the Delta SkyMiles qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
MQDs are counted from 1 January to 31 December and reset to zero on or about 1 January. The status you earn is valid for the following Medallion Year, which Delta's Million Miler terms define as 1 February to 31 January; the 2026 Medallion Year, for example, began on 1 February 2026.
Do partner airline flights count toward Delta SkyMiles status?
Yes. Delta-marketed flights operated by partners earn $1 MQD per $1, and partner-marketed flights earn MQDs as a percentage of distance flown (5% to 60% by fare class) on most partners.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Does Delta SkyMiles offer a status match or status challenge?
Delta's Medallion pages link to a Status Match Challenge, and its Reclaim My Status program lets current and former Medallion members apply for 3 months of complimentary Medallion Status in the tier they previously held, then earn that status back through the following Medallion Year.
Source: Delta: Gold Medallion benefits
Does Delta SkyMiles offer lifetime or million-miler status?
Million Miler: 1 million flown miles gives Gold Medallion, 2 million Platinum, 3 million Diamond, and 5 million and up brings an annual Delta 360 invitation. Flown miles on Delta, partners and award tickets count (Basic Economy excluded); the status is granted each Medallion Year for life and cannot be gifted.
Source: Delta: Million Miler
If I fall short of requalifying, does Delta SkyMiles drop me one tier or all the way?
There is no soft landing: Delta calculates Medallion Status annually from your activity in the Qualification Year, and MQDs reset to zero on or about 1 January without rolling over, so you get whichever tier, if any, that year's MQDs reach. Delta's Medallion overview also links to a Reclaim My Status program for getting status back.
What baggage benefits do Delta SkyMiles elite members get?
All Medallion members check their first standard bag free, Delta's baggage page says, and the Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond pages each add that this applies each way on Delta and select partner flights and extends to up to 8 companions travelling with you. Delta notes that the full free allowance depends on tier, route and cabin booked.
Source: Delta: baggage overview
Which Delta SkyMiles tiers get lounge access, and where?
No tier gets domestic Sky Club access by itself. Gold, Platinum and Diamond members can use Delta Sky Clubs on a same-day international flight in Delta Premium Select or Delta One, or in Delta First to Mexico, Canada and Central America, and their status also opens partner-operated and SkyTeam-branded lounges. Diamond can take a Sky Club Individual (2 Choice Benefit selections) or Executive (3 selections) membership, and only Medallion members may buy a Sky Club membership.
Source: Delta: Sky Club access
Do Delta SkyMiles elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
All tiers get unlimited complimentary upgrades. Delta First clears from 120 hours out for Diamond and Platinum, 72 hours for Gold and 24 hours for Silver; Delta Comfort clears shortly after ticketing for Diamond and Platinum. Priority runs by Medallion tier, then cabin purchased, Million Miler, Extra before Classic fares, Reserve cardholders, corporate travellers, current-year MQDs and request time.
Source: Delta: Medallion upgrades
Do Delta SkyMiles elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
Yes. Every Medallion tier gets complimentary Preferred Seats (not on Delta Basic fares), and Delta Comfort comes via complimentary upgrades: shortly after ticketing for Platinum and Diamond, 72 hours out for Gold and 24 hours for Silver.
Which fees does Delta SkyMiles waive for elite members?
Checked-bag fees, Preferred Seat charges and the $75 Same-Day Confirmed fee, which is waived for Gold and above while Silver pays it unless on an Extra fare. Delta's award rules already charge no award redeposit or reissue fee at any tier, so there is nothing to waive there.
What do Delta SkyMiles tiers map to in the alliance (Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus)?
Silver Medallion is SkyTeam Elite; Gold, Platinum and Diamond are SkyTeam Elite Plus, which adds priority baggage handling and SkyTeam lounge access on international flights.
Can elite benefits in Delta SkyMiles be shared with family or a companion?
Partly. One companion on the same reservation can share your complimentary upgrade if they are a SkyMiles member and both of you are ticketed. Delta's Medallion tier pages add that up to 8 companions travelling with you get their first checked bag free, and its Choice Benefits page lets Platinum and Diamond members choose to gift Medallion Status (Silver from Platinum, Gold from Diamond) to four SkyMiles members.
Source: Delta: Medallion upgrades
Do surplus qualifying points roll over to the next year in Delta SkyMiles?
No. MQDs do not roll over; the balance resets to zero on or about 1 January each year.
Can I gift or nominate someone for status in Delta SkyMiles?
Yes, through Choice Benefits: a Platinum Medallion can use a selection to gift Silver Medallion status to up to 4 members and a Diamond can gift Gold Medallion status to up to 4, provided each recipient has no status or status below the gifted tier. Gifting to fewer than four does not let you gift the rest later.
Source: Delta: Medallion Choice Benefits
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in Delta SkyMiles?
Not directly. Dollars spent buying miles do not count as MQDs, but Platinum and Diamond Medallion members can use one of their Choice Benefits on an MQD Accelerator, worth $1,000 MQDs for Platinum and $2,000 MQDs for Diamond.
Source: Delta: Medallion Choice Benefits
Will Delta SkyMiles elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Yes through SkyTeam: Silver is Elite and Gold-plus is Elite Plus, with priority baggage and lounge access on international partner flights. Medallion status also maps to Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star (Silver and Gold) or President's Circle (Platinum and Diamond).
Does Delta SkyMiles offer selectable benefits or milestone rewards for elites?
Yes. Platinum picks 1 Choice Benefit and Diamond picks 3, from options such as Regional or Global Upgrade Certificates, 35,000 or 40,000 bonus miles, $1,000 or $2,000 MQD Accelerator, gifting Silver or Gold status to 4 people, $350 or $550 travel vouchers, Sky Club membership (Diamond only) and Amex statement credits. Choose by 31 January 2027 for the 2026 Medallion Year.
Source: Delta: Medallion Choice Benefits
Redeeming on Delta Air Lines
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does Delta SkyMiles use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for Delta Air Lines flights?
No chart: Delta's Travel with Miles page publishes no award chart, and prices vary. The flexible award calendar shows the lowest price options for the dates you select, awards are subject to capacity controls, and Delta says the redemption award level is subject to change without prior notice. There are no blackout dates on any Delta flight. See our award chart notes.
What is the cheapest award ticket in Delta SkyMiles?
There is no fixed lowest price: Delta publishes no award chart and says the redemption award level is subject to change without prior notice, so the cheapest tickets are whatever the SkyMiles Deals page is listing plus the lowest price options the flexible award calendar shows for your dates. On select flights operated by Delta, Delta Connection and Delta Shuttle you can also switch the price display to Miles + Cash to cover part of a seat with cash when your balance is short.
Source: Delta: travel with miles
Can I book one-way awards in Delta SkyMiles, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes, one-way awards exist: Delta's program rules refer to One-Way Award Travel pricing rules, and its award page lets you book different experiences on the outbound and return. Delta does not say a one-way costs half a round trip, and on Skymark in Japan a one-way award requires the same redemption level as a round trip.
How do I search for award seats on Delta Air Lines?
On delta.com select Book and check the box next to Shop with Miles (in the Fly Delta app, set Show Price In Miles), enter your flights, and use the flexible award calendar, which shows the lowest price options for the dates you select.
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in Delta SkyMiles?
Delta doesn't use those labels: its Travel with Miles page describes no saver or standard award tiers. Instead there are no blackout dates on any Delta flight, the flexible award calendar shows the lowest price options for the dates you select, and awards are subject to capacity controls, with the redemption award level subject to change without prior notice.
Does Delta SkyMiles allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
Only as the fare allows. The program rules say any stopovers are governed by the fare rule and that additional mileage will be required for broken fares. Open-jaw itineraries can be booked, and all of them are priced under the One-Way Award Travel pricing rules.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Can I book a mixed-cabin award in Delta SkyMiles, and how is it priced?
Yes. Delta lets you book different experiences on the outbound and return flights, for example Delta Comfort on the way out and Delta One home. Its Travel with Miles page does not spell out how such an itinerary is priced, so compare the mileage totals in the search before booking.
Can I pay part in miles and part in cash with Delta SkyMiles?
Yes, on select flights. Search with Shop with Miles, then switch the price display to Miles + Cash before paying. If you cancel, the miles are redeposited and the cash portion is returned as miles too.
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in Delta SkyMiles?
A lap infant under two needs no miles, limited to one per adult; any child occupying a seat needs the same miles as an adult, and due to system limitations children under 12 cannot book or travel alone on an award. Delta's award page does not say what taxes apply to a lap infant, so check the total before you book.
Does Delta SkyMiles offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
Delta's program rules describe no round-the-world award: Round the World fares appear in them only as unpublished fares that are not eligible for Mileage Upgrade Awards. Open-jaw itineraries can be booked, and all of them are priced under the One-Way Award Travel pricing rules.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do awards in Delta SkyMiles book into basic economy or a regular fare?
Both. Delta sells Basic Economy awards, which are non-refundable and not eligible for voluntary changes; cancelling one brings a cancellation charge in miles under the fare rules, with the remaining miles redeposited. Other awards are more flexible: Delta's program rules let members change or cancel awards for travel originating in the US or Canada without a change or redeposit fee, excluding Delta Basic fares.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles Award Deals
What is the minimum number of miles needed to book an award in Delta SkyMiles?
There is no published floor: Delta's award page states no minimum award price, and the flexible award calendar shows the lowest price options for the dates you select. The Pay with Miles benefit for Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members needs a minimum of 5,000 miles.
What are the best-value redemptions in Delta SkyMiles?
The value is in Delta's own discounts: the SkyMiles Award Flash Sales, the SkyMiles Award Deals page, the lowest dates on the flexible award calendar, and TakeOff 15, which saves 15% of the miles on awards flown entirely on Delta and Delta Connection for Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve Amex cardholders. Flash-sale award availability is limited and may not be available on every flight or in every market, and you still pay taxes, fees and carrier-imposed charges at booking.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles Award Flash Sale
Does flying on an award ticket in Delta SkyMiles earn status or miles?
Award flights earn MQDs, which the program rules set at the miles redeemed divided by 100 for awards operated by Delta or a Delta Global Airline Partner in Delta Main Classic or above (or Delta Comfort Basic) booked through a Delta channel, and their flown miles count toward Million Miler. They earn no redeemable miles, as the rules treat award tickets as free tickets, and Delta Main Basic awards earn neither MQDs nor Million Miler credit.
Can I select seats on an award ticket in Delta SkyMiles, and is there a charge?
Yes. You can view, select or change seats in Delta's seat map when booking, in My Trips and at check-in, though Basic fares get no seat until after check-in. Preferred Seats are a paid extra, but Medallion members can get them as a complimentary upgrade, subject to availability, and Medallion complimentary upgrades also apply to award tickets. On partner flights, the ability to select seats varies by operating airline.
What baggage allowance do I get on an award ticket in Delta SkyMiles?
Delta's baggage page sets allowances by the experience you fly and your status, and makes no separate rule for award tickets: in Delta Main or Delta Comfort on a domestic flight the first checked bag is $45 and the second $55 each way (under 50 lb), with a free carry-on and personal item. Medallion members and eligible Delta SkyMiles Amex cardholders check the first bag free, and eligible cardholders get the second bag free on domestic Delta flights as well.
Source: Delta: baggage policy and fees
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with miles from Delta SkyMiles?
Twenty-plus partners, including Air France, KLM, LATAM, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic and Aeromexico, are bookable at delta.com; Air Europa, Air Tahiti Nui and Kenya Airways awards go through Delta Reservations. See the partner awards guide.
Which partner awards can be booked online with Delta SkyMiles, and which need a phone call?
Most partners, including Air France, KLM, LATAM, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic, can be booked online through delta.com. Air Europa, Air Tahiti Nui and Kenya Airways require a call to Delta Reservations.
How are partner awards priced in Delta SkyMiles?
Partner awards follow separate rules: Delta says award tickets on partner airlines may require higher rates or a Saturday night stay. Unlike Delta flights, partner flights can also carry blackout dates defined by each carrier (Korean Air publishes a calendar of them), and some partners add a surcharge on award redemptions, collected at the time of booking.
Does Delta SkyMiles charge a fee for partner awards?
No Delta redeposit or reissue fee applies at any tier, and Delta's Direct Ticketing Charge applies only to tickets issued in select European countries. You do pay taxes and fees, which can include up to $600 in foreign government taxes and fees, and on some partners a surcharge collected at booking.
Which partner airlines add fuel surcharges to Delta SkyMiles awards?
Delta says some airline partners impose a surcharge on award redemptions for travel on their airline, but it does not name them. When a surcharge applies it is the passenger's responsibility and is collected at the time of booking.
Do partner airlines release the same award seats to Delta SkyMiles as to their own members?
Delta doesn't say. Its Travel with Miles page notes that blackout dates may apply on partner airline-operated flights and are defined by individual carriers, such as Korean Air's published blackout dates on domestic Korea and international routes, and that partner award tickets may require higher rates or a Saturday night stay. Delta's own flights have no blackout dates.
Which non-alliance airlines can be booked with Delta SkyMiles?
LATAM and WestJet, both bookable online at delta.com, are absent from the SkyTeam list on Delta's SkyTeam benefits page. Skymark (Japan) awards are open only to Medallion members and to Japan-issued Delta SkyMiles card members residing in Japan, must be booked at least 14 days out, and cannot be changed or cancelled once confirmed.
Are stopovers allowed on partner awards in Delta SkyMiles?
Only as the underlying fare allows. The program rules say any stopovers on an award are governed by the fare rule and additional mileage will be required for broken fares, and Delta's Travel with Miles page adds that Skymark (Japan) awards do not permit open-jaw travel at all.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Can I use miles to upgrade a partner airline flight through Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Mileage Upgrade Awards are available on Air France (W, S, A, Y, B, M fares), KLM (Y, B, M), Virgin Atlantic (Y, B, M, H, Q, K economy and P, A, G premium economy) and Aeromexico (Y, B, M, H, Q, K, L, U, T), booked through Delta Reservations.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Can partner awards booked through Delta SkyMiles be changed or cancelled online?
Cancelling is a phone job: Delta's cancellations page asks you to call Delta Reservations to cancel a SkyMiles award ticket, partner awards booked with miles included. Delta's Travel with Miles page adds that Skymark (Japan) awards cannot be changed or cancelled at all once confirmed, and their miles are not redeposited.
Source: Delta: cancellations and refunds
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the miles, and which fees can be avoided.
Does Delta SkyMiles add fuel surcharges to award tickets on Delta Air Lines?
They can on international awards. Delta's program rules say international award itineraries may include up to $600 in foreign government taxes and fees and/or carrier-imposed fees, while domestic award itineraries require at least $11.20 in US government taxes and fees.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta SkyMiles charge a booking fee for award tickets?
No, unless the ticket is issued in select European countries: Delta's award fee table shows no redeposit or reissue fee at any tier, and its Direct Ticketing Charge applies only to tickets issued there (waived for Gold, Platinum and Diamond, and on request for others). You still pay taxes and fees, at least $11.20 in US government taxes and fees on domestic itineraries, plus any partner surcharge.
Does Delta SkyMiles charge extra to book an award by phone?
Only in select European countries. Award tickets issued by phone or in person at a ticket office or airport counter may carry a direct ticketing charge there, which may be waived on request; Delta waives the charge at all other points of sale, including the US.
Source: Delta: about award travel
Does Delta SkyMiles charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No close-in fee. The only timing rule is a 72-hour advance purchase for awards within or originating in China, Russia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brazil and any African country.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Which award fees does Delta SkyMiles waive for elite members?
Award redeposit and reissue fees are zero for everyone, so the elite waivers are on same-day changes and ticketing: Same-Day Confirmed and Same-Day Standby cost $75 per ticket for General and Silver members (domestic flights only, not Delta Basic) and are waived for Gold, Platinum and Diamond, who also have the Direct Ticketing Charge on tickets issued in select European countries waived outright rather than on request.
How much are the typical taxes and fees on a Delta SkyMiles award ticket?
A domestic award carries the $5.60 September 11th Security Fee per one-way and at least $11.20 in US taxes and fees. International awards can add up to $40 in US fees plus up to $400 to $600 in foreign taxes and carrier-imposed charges.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How does Delta SkyMiles handle UK Air Passenger Duty and other high departure taxes on awards?
They are charged on top of the miles. Delta's taxes and fees page lists foreign taxes, inspection fees and security charges of up to $349 and says select countries such as the UK, France and Ghana may require additional taxes based on cabin of service, and that some countries also collect a departure tax at the airport. Delta's Travel with Miles page adds that international award redemptions may include up to $600 in foreign government taxes and fees and/or carrier-imposed fees.
Can I pay the taxes and fees on a Delta SkyMiles award with miles?
No. Delta's program rules say award redemption requires payment of the taxes and fees, and the Pay with Miles benefit for Delta SkyMiles Amex cardholders cannot be combined with award tickets. Even on a cash ticket, Pay with Miles is applied to the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges before it is applied to taxes and fees.
Source: Delta: Pay with Miles
How can I reduce the cash cost of a Delta SkyMiles award?
TakeOff 15 will not cut the cash: its discount of at least 15% for Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum and Reserve Amex cardholders applies only to the mileage portion of awards, not to taxes and fees. The cash charge you can avoid is the direct ticketing charge on awards issued by phone or in person in select European countries, which Delta may waive on request.
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does Delta SkyMiles charge to change an award ticket?
None for award travel originating in the US or Canada: origin, destination, routing, date and time can all be changed without a change fee, paying only any mileage difference and taxes. Delta Basic awards are the exception and can carry a fee where changes are allowed at all. See the guide.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What does Delta SkyMiles charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the miles?
No redeposit fee for awards on travel originating in the US or Canada, at every tier. Delta Basic fares are the exception: Delta's award deals page says a Basic Economy award cancellation brings a cancellation charge in miles under the fare rules, with the remaining miles redeposited. For some travel originating elsewhere, awards may be non-cancellable or changeable only for a fee.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How close to departure can I cancel a Delta SkyMiles award?
Up to departure for most awards. Delta's cancellations page asks you to cancel before departure and to call Delta Reservations to cancel a SkyMiles award ticket, and the program rules let members cancel awards for travel originating in the US or Canada without a redeposit fee, excluding Delta Basic fares. For some travel originating elsewhere, awards may be non-cancellable, and once travel has started the award counts as used.
Source: Delta: cancellations and refunds
What happens to my miles if I no-show a Delta SkyMiles award?
Delta's cancellations page is blunt: a customer who does not show up without changing or cancelling before departure loses the value of the ticket, and all remaining flights on the itinerary are cancelled. Cancel before departure instead (Delta asks you to call Reservations for award tickets); the program rules allow that without a redeposit fee for travel originating in the US or Canada, except on Delta Basic fares.
Source: Delta: cancellations and refunds
Can I change or cancel a Delta SkyMiles award online, or must I call?
Cancelling needs a call: Delta's cancellations page directs SkyMiles award ticket cancellations to Delta Reservations, even though other tickets can be cancelled online through My Trips (Need to Cancel?, then Start Flight Cancellation). Delta's Travel with Miles page permits award changes to origin, destination, routing, date and time except on Delta Basic experiences, with any mileage difference, taxes and fees to pay, but neither page says whether those changes can be made online.
Source: Delta: cancel a flight
What are my rights if Delta Air Lines changes the schedule of my award flight?
Where possible, Delta rebooks you automatically and notifies you by email, My Trips and the Fly Delta app. A shift of 3 hours or more on a domestic itinerary, or 6 hours or more internationally, counts as significant, as do added connections or a new airport: if you are satisfied no action is needed, or you can pick alternative flights in My Trips or the app, or cancel for a refund or an eCredit. Since Delta's award rules already let you change or cancel awards from the US and Canada without a fee, the practical benefit is being able to reroute on your own terms.
Source: Delta: schedule changes
Can I cancel just the return of a round-trip Delta SkyMiles award?
Not once you have flown the outbound: Delta treats an award as used once travel has commenced and does not credit miles back for the unused portion. Before travel, awards for trips originating in the US or Canada can be cancelled without a redeposit fee, except Delta Basic experience fares, while some awards for travel originating elsewhere may be non-cancellable or changeable only for a fee.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Can I change the passenger name on a Delta SkyMiles award?
No. Name changes are not permitted once an award ticket has been issued, and award tickets are non-transferable.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Are change and cancellation fees waived for Delta SkyMiles elite members?
There is nothing to waive on award changes because redeposit and reissue fees are zero for all members; Gold, Platinum and Diamond additionally get the $75 Same-Day Confirmed fee waived.
Does Delta SkyMiles offer a 24-hour free cancellation on awards?
Yes. Bookings made on delta.com or the Fly Delta app, awards included, can be cancelled under Risk-Free Cancellation until midnight of the day after purchase or midnight of the first departure date, whichever is first; for award tickets, Delta asks you to call Delta Reservations to cancel. Basic Economy tickets cannot be changed or refunded once that window passes.
Source: Delta: cancel a flight
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in Delta SkyMiles?
Largely no: for travel originating in the United States and Canada, including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners, Delta lets members change or cancel award tickets without a redeposit or change fee, paying only any mileage difference, taxes and fees. The exceptions are Delta Basic experiences and Skymark (Japan) awards, which cannot be changed or cancelled once confirmed.
If I cancel a Delta SkyMiles award booked with miles that have since expired, do I get them back?
Not an issue with Delta: SkyMiles never expire, so redeposited miles simply return to your balance.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What does Delta Air Lines do if my award flight is cancelled on the day, and can I be rebooked on partners?
Delta's Customer Service Plan, which covers its flights to, from or within the US, says that after a cancellation, significant delay or misconnection Delta rebooks you on its next available flight at no additional cost, and if no Delta flight is available it arranges one on another airline with which it has a ticketing agreement, also at no additional cost. When the disruption is within Delta's control it also provides a meal or meal voucher after a wait of 3 or more hours, plus a Delta-contracted hotel and ground transportation if you are stuck overnight away from home.
Source: Delta: Customer Service Plan
Award availability
When seats are released, holds, waitlists and how to find space.
When does Delta Air Lines release award seats, and are more added closer to departure?
Delta doesn't describe award seats being released on its own flights: it says there are no blackout dates for Award Travel on Delta flights, which means every seat available for purchase can be booked with miles, though its award rules note that awards are subject to capacity controls. Partner flights are the exception, as Delta's Travel with Miles page says blackout dates may apply on partner airline-operated flights. See how award availability works.
Source: Delta News Hub: Fall in love with SkyMiles, how to get the most from your Membership today
Do Delta SkyMiles elite members get extra award availability?
Yes on Skymark in Japan: award travel on Skymark is open only to Medallion members or Japan-issued Delta SkyMiles card members residing in Japan, booked at least 14 days before departure, with no waitlist and no changes or cancellations once confirmed. Delta-operated flights have no blackout dates for any member, while partner airlines may impose their own.
Can I redeem miles for any seat on Delta Air Lines, or only for designated award seats?
Any seat on sale on a Delta flight: Delta says there are no blackout dates for Award Travel on Delta flights, which means every seat available for purchase can be booked with miles. Its Travel with Miles page adds that awards are subject to capacity controls and may require higher prices, and that blackout dates may apply on partner airline-operated flights, as defined by each carrier.
Source: Delta News Hub: Fall in love with SkyMiles, how to get the most from your Membership today
What tools show Delta SkyMiles award availability across dates?
Delta's own flexible award calendar, shown when you search with Shop with Miles, displays the lowest price across nearby dates; the SkyMiles Award Deals page lists discounted routes.
When is the best time to book a Delta SkyMiles award?
Delta publishes no release schedule or award chart, so there is no set sweet spot on the calendar. Book when the flexible award calendar shows a low price for your dates, watch the SkyMiles Deals page and Delta's SkyMiles Award Flash Sales, and remember that fee-free changes and cancellations on awards from the US and Canada (except Delta Basic) let you rebook if the price later falls.
Source: Delta: travel with miles
How do I find award seats for a family of four in Delta SkyMiles?
On Delta flights, Delta says every seat available for purchase can be booked with miles and there are no blackout dates, so four seats still on sale can all be booked as awards. Budget the same miles for children aged 3 to 11, since Delta's award rules put them on the same mileage requirements as adults, while an infant up to 2 years old on a lap needs no miles, one per adult.
Source: Delta News Hub: Fall in love with SkyMiles, how to get the most from your Membership today
Upgrades
Using miles to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade a Delta Air Lines flight with miles?
On Delta and Delta Connection flights with a reservation in the US 50, you can upgrade with miles while booking on delta.com, or afterwards on your own on delta.com or the Fly Delta app as long as you have not yet checked in. Certain flights that cannot be upgraded online can be upgraded with miles by calling a Delta Reservations specialist. Delta One, Delta First, Delta Premium Select and Delta Comfort are all available, but not from Delta Basic experiences.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Which fares are eligible for a miles upgrade on Delta Air Lines?
Miles upgrades work on nearly all Delta flights except Delta Basic experiences, but Mileage Upgrade Awards do not apply on all fares. On Delta-marketed and operated flights departing from France, Ghana and the United Kingdom they are limited to paid fare classes P, A, G, Y, B, M, H, Q and K, and the program rules exclude unpublished fares such as bulk, companion, group and Round the World fares.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
How many miles does an upgrade cost in Delta SkyMiles, and is there a cash copay?
Delta's upgrades page gives no chart: it says upgrade prices vary by market and are subject to change without notice. Upgrades are subject to availability, and Delta notes that additional taxes and fees may apply to Mileage Upgrade Awards.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Can I use miles to upgrade partner airline flights through Delta SkyMiles?
Yes on Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic and Aeromexico in eligible fare classes, arranged through a Delta Reservations specialist rather than online. Delta's Medallion upgrades page adds that Platinum and Diamond Upgrade Certificates also work on select partner-operated flights with KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, Aeromexico and LATAM.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Can I waitlist for a miles upgrade in Delta SkyMiles?
Not for Mileage Upgrade Awards: they are booked through a Reservations Specialist from limited inventory up to 24 hours before departure, and Delta's upgrades page describes no waitlist for them. Delta's Medallion upgrades page adds that complimentary upgrade requests not confirmed by check-in move to the airport standby list automatically, and that Upgrade Certificates can be waitlisted at checkout on Delta-operated flights, but not on partners, counting as used once they clear.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Can I upgrade with miles at check-in or at the gate on Delta Air Lines?
Not on your own: Delta's upgrades page says upgrades with miles are no longer available on delta.com or the Fly Delta app once you have checked in, and upgrades booked through a Reservations Specialist can be completed up to 24 hours before departure. The airport standby list is for Medallion complimentary upgrades: Delta's Medallion upgrades page says a request not confirmed by check-in is added automatically, and if you have boarded but are next on the list when a seat opens, Delta will do its best to upgrade you before takeoff.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Does Delta SkyMiles give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
Yes, as a Choice Benefit for Platinum and Diamond Medallions: Platinum can select four Regional Upgrade Certificates, and Diamond four Global, eight Regional, or two Global plus four Regional. They can be used on award tickets and on select partner flights with Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, Aeromexico and LATAM (applied and confirmed more than 24 hours out, no waitlist), and expire at the end of the Medallion Year tied to that Choice Benefit selection.
Source: Delta: Medallion upgrades
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more miles in Delta SkyMiles?
Not with miles: award tickets are not eligible for Mileage Upgrade Awards. Medallion members can apply Global or Regional Upgrade Certificates to award tickets (not Delta Basic) and get complimentary upgrades on them.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Are upgrade miles refunded if the upgrade does not clear in Delta SkyMiles?
Delta sells miles upgrades subject to availability, and its upgrades page describes no waitlist and no refund for an upgrade that fails to clear. Miles used to buy an upgrade on delta.com after booking may be redeposited if you change the booking before the check-in window opens, while miles used on Preferred Seats, change fees, Same-Day Confirmed fees and the other listed services are nonrefundable.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Does Delta Air Lines sell cash upgrades or run upgrade auctions, and do they earn miles?
Delta sells cash upgrades, and its seats help page mentions no auction or bidding: any time after a ticket is issued until 90 minutes before departure (or until check-in closes) you can buy an upgrade to Delta Comfort, Premium Select, Delta First or Delta One from the upgrade offers banner in My Trips, if that cabin is on your flight. Everyone on the reservation must upgrade, only itineraries wholly operated by Delta or Delta Connection qualify, and Delta Basic customers cannot buy one. Paid upgrades earn miles and MQDs when your SkyMiles number is on the purchase.
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend miles.
Can I redeem miles for hotels through Delta SkyMiles, and what is the value?
Yes, through Delta Stays: at certain pay-now hotel properties you can pay for all or part of the booking with miles and split the rest on a credit or debit card. Delta's page states no fixed value per mile, and stays paid even partly with miles earn no miles.
Can I redeem miles for car rentals through Delta SkyMiles?
Yes, on pay-now bookings through Delta Car Rentals, with the same miles-plus-card split as hotels; cancel at least 24 hours before pick-up, and rentals paid with miles earn no miles.
Can I redeem miles for merchandise or gift cards in Delta SkyMiles?
Yes, through the SkyMiles Marketplace: Delta Gift Cards are open to every member, while merchandise and other gift cards are limited to residents of the US and Puerto Rico, with Medallion members and Delta SkyMiles credit card members offered a wider range. Magazine subscriptions are available to residents of the 50 US states only, and select members living in Japan can redeem up to 30,000 miles per calendar year, in 10,000-mile increments, for JTB Japan package tour vouchers.
Can I pay for seat selection with miles on Delta Air Lines?
Yes, by calling Delta Reservations: miles can pay for Preferred Seats on all but Delta Basic experiences, and Medallion members have Preferred Seats waived as a Medallion benefit.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Can I pay for checked bags with miles on Delta Air Lines?
Yes, on flights departing from most US domestic airports. Standard checked bag fees can be paid with miles instead of cash during check-in on delta.com, the Fly Delta app or an airport kiosk; excess and overweight bag charges cannot be paid with miles.
Source: Delta: baggage overview
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with miles on Delta Air Lines?
Delta's list of what miles can pay for beyond flights and upgrades includes no Wi-Fi or meals. Miles do cover premium drinks in Delta Sky Clubs and, when you call Delta Reservations, Preferred Seats, ticket change fees and Same-Day Confirmed fees.
Source: Delta: miles upgrades and more
Can I redeem miles for lounge access or a lounge membership in Delta SkyMiles?
Yes for Medallion members: Delta's Ways to Redeem Miles page says Medallion Members can use miles to get a Delta Sky Club membership, and members' guests can be paid for at $50 or 5,000 miles per guest per visit. Non-Medallion members cannot buy a membership, and single-visit passes are no longer sold.
Source: Delta: Sky Club access
Can I donate miles to charity through Delta SkyMiles?
Yes, through SkyWish, Delta's mileage donation program, which groups charities into four cause categories on the buy, gift, transfer or donate page.
Does Delta SkyMiles offer experiences, events or auctions for miles?
Yes. Through SkyMiles Experiences you bid your miles on exclusive access and events, from culinary experiences to luxury destination getaways, as listed on Delta's Ways to Redeem Miles page.
Source: Delta: ways to redeem miles
Can I convert miles to cash or statement credit in Delta SkyMiles?
Not as cash: Delta lists no cash-out or statement-credit option for miles. The closest thing is Pay with Miles for Delta SkyMiles Amex cardholders, where 5,000 miles generally provides $50 off a Delta or Delta Connection flight, and those miles cannot be redeposited even on fully refundable fares.
Source: Delta: Pay with Miles
Which non-flight redemptions in Delta SkyMiles give the best value per miles?
Pay with Miles gives the clearest yardstick: Delta says 5,000 miles generally provides $50 of value toward a Delta or Delta Connection ticket for Delta SkyMiles Amex cardholders, about 1 cent per mile, and the part of the fare paid in cash still earns miles and MQDs. See value.
Source: Delta: Pay with Miles
Can I use miles to extend status or buy tier credit in Delta SkyMiles?
No. Delta says dollars spent buying miles, fees for gifting miles and transferred miles do not count toward Medallion qualification. The MQD top-up among Delta's Choice Benefits is the MQD Accelerator, worth $1,000 MQDs for Platinum and $2,000 for Diamond Medallion members.
Expiry and reactivation
Whether miles expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do Delta SkyMiles expire?
No. Under the SkyMiles Mileage Expiration policy miles do not expire. They can still be lost if the account is closed, for example for fraud, at your request or after death, or deducted by Delta if you break the program rules. See the guide.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What counts as activity to keep Delta SkyMiles from expiring?
Nothing is required; SkyMiles do not expire regardless of activity.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Can expired Delta SkyMiles be reinstated, and at what cost?
There is nothing to reinstate because miles never expire. Miles forfeited when an account is closed for rule violations are gone, and terminated members may not open a new account.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Are Delta SkyMiles elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
Everyone is exempt: no SkyMiles member's miles expire, whatever their status or card.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How do I check when my Delta SkyMiles expire?
You do not need to; SkyMiles have no expiry date.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What is the cheapest way to keep Delta SkyMiles active?
Free: SkyMiles do not expire, so no activity is needed to keep them.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta SkyMiles close inactive accounts?
Not for inactivity. Delta closes accounts for fraud, at the member's request, on death, when repeated attempts to contact the member fail, for duplicate accounts, for residence in a prohibited country or for rule violations, and miles in a closed account are forfeited.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of miles reset the Delta SkyMiles expiry clock?
Irrelevant for Delta: there is no expiry clock to reset because SkyMiles never expire.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
What is the standard checked baggage allowance on Delta Air Lines, and how does status change it?
On domestic flights in Delta Main or Delta Comfort, checked bags cost $45 for the first and $55 for the second (under 50 lb, each way). All Medallion members check their first bag free, with up to 8 companions included according to Delta's Medallion pages, and Delta's card page says Delta Gold, Platinum and Reserve Amex cardholders get the first bag free on domestic and international Delta flights and the second free on domestic Delta flights (see the Delta cards guide).
Source: Delta: baggage overview
Which lounges can Delta SkyMiles members access, and how?
Delta Sky Clubs admit Delta One passengers; Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion members on a same-day international flight in Delta Premium Select or Delta One (or in Delta First to Mexico, Canada and Central America); Reserve Amex cardholders (15 visits each Medallion Year) and holders of The Platinum Card from American Express (10 visits), both unlimited after $75,000 of eligible purchases in a calendar year; and paid members, all within 3 hours of departure. Delta Main Basic passengers are excluded.
Source: Delta: Sky Club access
Can I buy lounge access on Delta Air Lines without status?
Not as a walk-up: single-visit pass sales have been discontinued and annual memberships are sold only to Medallion members. Without status, the route in is a Delta SkyMiles Reserve card or The Platinum Card from American Express, a Delta One ticket, or as a guest of a member at $50 or 5,000 miles.
Source: Delta: Sky Club access
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on Delta Air Lines?
All Medallion tiers get priority check-in, and Gold, Platinum and Diamond also get the Sky Priority check-in lanes, frequent traveler security lines at select US airports and expedited baggage service. Boarding is Zone 2 for Diamond, Zone 4 for Platinum and Gold, and Zone 5 for Silver, alongside SkyTeam Elite customers.
Does Delta Air Lines offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
Yes. If you bought Delta Main or Delta Comfort (not Delta Basic), Same-Day Confirmed lets you switch to a confirmed seat on a new flight if a seat is available in your originally purchased fare class. Silver members pay $75 unless on an Extra fare, Gold, Platinum and Diamond have the fee waived, and Delta says you may be eligible for free Same-Day Standby if Same-Day Confirmed is not available.
Does Delta Air Lines offer free Wi-Fi to Delta SkyMiles members?
Yes. Fast, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile comes with a SkyMiles membership on most domestic US flights and the majority of Delta's international flights, although Delta lists no Wi-Fi coverage for Asia: choose the DeltaWiFi.com network and log in with your SkyMiles account, on as many devices as you like. Flights that have it show a Free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles Members badge in search results, non-members can join SkyMiles free on board, and on aircraft with the older Wi-Fi Onboard (formerly Gogo) system you buy a flight pass instead.
Source: Delta: onboard Wi-Fi
Do Delta SkyMiles elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
One companion on the same reservation can be upgraded with you on Delta and Delta Connection flights if they are a SkyMiles member, both of you are ticketed and the request is made at least three hours before departure. Delta's Medallion tier pages add that up to 8 companions travelling with you also get their first checked bag free.
Source: Delta: Medallion upgrades
Can Delta SkyMiles elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Yes for Gold, Platinum and Diamond: as SkyTeam Elite Plus members they get SkyTeam lounge access with a same-day boarding pass for international travel. Silver, as SkyTeam Elite, gets no lounge access, and Delta Sky Clubs themselves admit Gold and above when flying internationally in Delta One or Delta Premium Select.
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Complimentary Medallion upgrades are available on Award Tickets, Miles + Cash and Pay with Miles tickets as well as paid tickets. Delta's program rules add that award tickets earn MQDs, at the miles redeemed divided by 100, when booked through a direct Delta channel in Delta Main Classic or above, or Delta Comfort Basic, on flights operated by Delta or its Delta Global Airline Partners.
Source: Delta: Medallion upgrades
Does Delta SkyMiles status come with hotel, car rental or other partner status?
Medallion status gives Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star (Silver and Gold) or President's Circle (Platinum and Diamond) status, a 15% discount on Delta Stays VIP Access properties (20% for Platinum and Diamond), and $40 off a CLEAR+ membership ($90 for Diamond). Delta also announced on 9 September 2026 a new loyalty relationship between SkyMiles and World of Hyatt, launching in the coming months.
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which alliance is Delta Air Lines in, and since when?
Delta is in SkyTeam: its Medallion tiers carry SkyTeam status, with Silver Medallion as SkyTeam Elite and Gold, Platinum and Diamond as SkyTeam Elite Plus. Delta's own benefits pages do not say when it joined the alliance. See SkyTeam.
Which airlines are Delta Air Lines's partners outside its alliance?
Outside SkyTeam, Delta's earning partners are LATAM, WestJet, EL AL, airBaltic and Cape Air, plus carriers without their own frequent flyer program on Delta-ticketed flights within Alaska.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles airline partners
Which joint ventures is Delta Air Lines part of, and what do they mean for Delta SkyMiles members?
Delta's joint ventures include a transatlantic one that covers Air France-operated flights and one with Aeromexico, where a US appeals court has vacated the DOT order to unwind it. For SkyMiles members, a Delta-marketed flight operated by a partner earns like a Delta flight: $1 MQD per $1 of ticket price and, for general members on Classic fares, 5 miles per dollar.
Source: Delta News Hub
Which partners has Delta SkyMiles added or lost recently?
Added: a strategic relationship with World of Hyatt, announced in September 2026 and launching in the coming months with benefits for elite members first. Lost: Delta's partnerships with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and Flyertea ended on 30 September 2026, the last day to earn miles for Shangri-La stays or convert Shangri-La or Flyertea points to miles.
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with Delta SkyMiles?
Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt and Accor Live Limitless all convert points to SkyMiles. Shangri-La was a partner until 30 September 2026, the last day to earn miles for its stays or convert its points, and Delta has announced a new World of Hyatt relationship launching in the coming months.
Does Delta SkyMiles partner with any low-cost carriers?
Not by Delta's own description: its airline partners page labels no partner as low-cost or budget. The earning partners are the SkyTeam airlines plus LATAM, WestJet, EL AL, airBaltic, Cape Air and intra-Alaska carriers without their own frequent flyer program.
Does Delta SkyMiles have rail partners?
None. Delta's partner earning page lists only airlines, and even the rail segments Air France sells as TGVAIR flights, provided by the French rail company SNCF, are excluded from earning on Delta's Air France chart, along with YBOAT ferry and bus segments.
Do Delta Air Lines's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in Delta SkyMiles the same way?
Largely, though not on every flight. Delta's Medallion upgrades page offers complimentary upgrades on Delta and certain Delta Connection flights, its Pay with Miles page covers Delta and Delta Connection carrier-operated and ticketed flights, and its program rules warn that award seats may be limited and not available on all Delta Connection flights.
Source: Delta: Medallion upgrades
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns miles, selling, brokers and enforcement.
Who owns Delta SkyMiles: the member or the airline?
Not the member. The rules state that miles are not the property of any member and, except as the rules authorize or a Delta officer approves in writing, may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged or transferred; members who want to move miles can use the paid SkyMiles Transfer Miles program.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Do the Delta SkyMiles terms prohibit selling or bartering miles?
Yes. The rules prohibit the sale or barter of miles, vouchers, award tickets, upgrade certificates, Medallion status and Medallion benefits, and miles may not be transferred to anyone except as the rules authorize, such as through the paid SkyMiles Transfer Miles program.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What can Delta SkyMiles do if it finds miles were sold or awards were bought?
Delta may terminate the membership with loss of all accumulated miles, Medallion and Million Miler status, or at its discretion deduct miles and let the member continue. Awards obtained improperly are void, invalid for travel and confiscated, and terminated members may not open a new account.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta SkyMiles audit accounts, and what triggers a review?
Yes. Delta reserves the right to audit any account at any time without notice, including for address accuracy, and can lock the account during an investigation, during which miles can accrue but not be redeemed and outstanding awards are cancelled.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Is it against the Delta SkyMiles rules to book an award for someone who pays me for it?
Yes. Booking for others is allowed, but accepting payment turns it into a sale or barter of an award, which the rules prohibit; such awards are void and confiscated and the account can be terminated.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Can Delta SkyMiles change its rules or devalue miles without notice?
Yes. Delta and its partners may change rules, benefits, award travel and Medallion requirements at any time without notice, even retroactively affecting accumulated miles, and may end the program with six months' notice.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Where are the full Delta SkyMiles terms and conditions?
The SkyMiles Membership Guide and Program Rules are at delta.com under SkyMiles, Program Resources, Program Rules; the current version is dated 1 January 2026.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How does selling Delta SkyMiles through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys Delta SkyMiles in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 0.93¢ to 1.10¢ per mile depending on the balance. You get a quote on the Delta SkyMiles page, our team confirms the details, the miles are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are Delta SkyMiles worth?
Published valuations put Delta SkyMiles at 1.10¢ to 1.20¢ each, about 1.16¢ on average, as of 2026-09-22. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and merchandise or cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page lists each source and the redemptions behind the range.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact Delta SkyMiles customer service?
Call 800-323-2323 for SkyMiles or 800-221-1212 for general sales and reservations; Delta says Reservation Sales can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medallion members find their dedicated line in the Contact Us section of the Fly Delta app.
Source: Delta Help Center: contact us
What are the Delta SkyMiles service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
Delta's Help Center gives no separate hours for the SkyMiles line, 800-323-2323, but says Reservation Sales on 800-221-1212 can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Medallion members do get a dedicated phone line, listed in the Contact Us section of the Fly Delta app.
Source: Delta Help Center: contact us
Does Delta SkyMiles offer online chat or messaging support?
Yes. The Message Us link in Delta's Help Center on delta.com lets you message Delta directly about your travel, in English only, and Delta Vacations runs its own Chat with Us service, with messaging from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central Time.
Source: Delta Help Center: contact us
What do I do if my Delta SkyMiles account is hacked or miles are stolen?
Change your password straight away, since Delta representatives cannot view or change it for you, and call Delta on 800-323-2323: the rules make each member solely responsible for actions taken with their password and say Delta has no liability for losses from unauthorised access to it. Delta can also close an account where fraudulent activity occurs, and miles in a closed account are forfeited.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
How do I see my Delta SkyMiles activity statement and past redemptions?
Balance, account activity and redemptions are in My SkyMiles on delta.com, in the Fly Delta app, or via the automated line on 800-323-2323 around the clock. Delta also emails an online statement reminder periodically, monthly, quarterly or after recent activity.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta SkyMiles support two-factor authentication?
Yes. Delta uses multi-factor authentication with a choice of Fly Delta app notification, text passcode or email passcode, and it is also how password resets are verified.
Source: Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help
How do I escalate a complaint about Delta SkyMiles?
Use the Comment/Complaint form on the Need Help page, or write to Delta Air Lines Customer Care, P.O. Box 20980, Department 980, Atlanta, GA 30320-2980.
Source: Delta Help Center: contact us
Which languages does Delta SkyMiles customer service support?
English on the main lines, Spanish on 800-511-9629, and Japanese and Chinese on 800-327-2850; messaging support is English only.
Source: Delta Help Center: contact us
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on a Delta SkyMiles award ticket?
A lap infant under two needs no miles, limited to one per adult, though Delta's award page does not say what taxes or fees apply to the infant. A child in their own seat pays the full adult mileage price, as children aged 3 to 11 are subject to the same mileage requirements as adults.
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on a Delta SkyMiles award ticket?
No. Delta says that due to system limitations children under 12 cannot book or travel alone on award tickets.
Can I pay pet fees with miles on Delta Air Lines, and do pet fees earn miles?
They do not earn miles, and the SkyMiles rules describe no way to pay them with miles. Pet travel fees are on the rules' list of ancillary purchases that do not count toward earning miles or MQDs, alongside checked baggage fees and same-day confirmed fees.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta SkyMiles offer military, veteran or government member benefits?
Yes, for deployed Medallion members: US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard members who could not use or requalify for Medallion status because of a deployment can get a one-time extension of one additional Medallion year by providing a copy of their deployment orders.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
Does Delta SkyMiles offer student or youth benefits?
No. Delta's fares and discounts page lists only bereavement fares, military and government fares and senior discounts in certain markets, all of which you check with Delta Reservations rather than on delta.com, and it lists no student or youth fare.
Source: Delta: fares and discounts
Are there special award rules for medical or bereavement travel in Delta SkyMiles?
There are no special award prices, but Delta does sell Bereavement Fares to SkyMiles members (non-members can enrol to qualify) after the death or imminent death of an immediate family member: call 800-221-1212 or use Message Us, travel must begin within seven days, documentation is required and they cannot be bought on delta.com. Miles still play a part, since Mileage Upgrade Awards and Upgrade Certificates can upgrade domestic bereavement fares and Medallion complimentary upgrades work on domestic and international ones.
Source: Delta: bereavement fares
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on a Delta SkyMiles award booking?
Request it in My Trips, which covers wheelchairs and mobility devices, ideally when you book on delta.com, in the Fly Delta app or with a representative. If you are more than 7 days from travel you can also use the Accessible Service Request form, and for services beyond the My Trips options call 404-209-3434 (dial 711 for relay). At the airport, customer service staff can help or direct you to a Complaint Resolution Official, and wheelchair service can be prearranged to take you to connecting flights.
Can I book group awards for more than nine people in Delta SkyMiles?
Delta's Group Travel page describes no award option for groups. Its Group Travel desk (800-532-4777) handles 10 or more passengers travelling together on at least one common flight segment, booking up to 240 days out for domestic flights and 331 days for Europe, North, Southern and West Africa and the Middle East. Group tickets are not eligible for SkyMiles upgrades and earn miles under the program's accrual policy for unpublished or opaque fares.
Source: Delta: group travel
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
What are the most recent major changes to Delta SkyMiles?
Delta and World of Hyatt announced a new strategic relationship in September 2026, launching in the coming months with elite benefits first; limited-time Amex offers from August 2026 include, for the first time, two round-trip Delta Comfort flights plus 50,000 bonus miles on the Reserve card; and the Shangri-La and Flyertea partnerships ended on 30 September 2026.
Source: Delta News Hub
Has Delta SkyMiles changed its name or currency recently?
Not recently. The program has been called SkyMiles since 1995, when Delta renamed the Frequent Flyer Program it launched in 1981, and members still earn and redeem miles. Delta's history timeline also marks 2009, when Northwest's WorldPerks program was integrated into SkyMiles.
Source: Delta News Hub: Delta's history
What changes has Delta SkyMiles announced for the coming year?
In December 2025 Delta said the MQD thresholds to qualify for 2027 Medallion Status are staying the same, which keeps them at $5,000 for Silver, $10,000 for Gold, $15,000 for Platinum and $28,000 for Diamond on Delta's Medallion overview. Delta's Choice Benefits page adds that benefits for the 2027 Medallion Year can be selected as soon as you earn status and must be chosen by 31 January 2028.
Source: Delta News Hub: 2026 Medallion Status, what to know before year end
How does Delta SkyMiles notify members of changes?
The rules let Delta change the program at any time without notice, so watch the dated program rules (currently 1 January 2026) and the SkyMiles category on the Delta News Hub; only termination of the whole program carries six months' notice.
Source: Delta: SkyMiles program rules
What changed most recently in how Delta SkyMiles elite status is earned?
Status is earned through MQDs, at $5,000 for Silver, $10,000 for Gold, $15,000 for Platinum and $28,000 for Diamond on Delta's Medallion overview, and in December 2025 Delta confirmed that these thresholds stay the same for 2027 status. Delta SkyMiles Platinum and Reserve Amex cardholders, business cards included, get an MQD Headstart of $2,500 per card type each Medallion Qualification Year.
Source: Delta News Hub: 2026 Medallion Status, what to know before year end
When was Delta SkyMiles founded?
Delta launched its Frequent Flyer Program in 1981 and renamed it SkyMiles in 1995. Delta's own history timeline also marks 2009, when Northwest's WorldPerks was folded into SkyMiles to create what was then the world's largest loyalty program with more than 74 million members.
Source: Delta News Hub: Delta's history
Pages these answers were read from
- Delta: SkyMiles program overview · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles program rules · official page
- Delta Help Center: SkyMiles help · official page
- Delta: how to earn miles · official page
- Delta: travel with miles (award travel) · official page
- Delta Help Center: seats and upgrades · official page
- Delta: Medallion program overview · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles airline partners · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles American Express cards · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles American Express personal cards · official page
- Delta News Hub: two Delta Comfort flights plus 50K bonus miles offer · official page
- Delta: convert partner points to miles · official page
- American Express: transferring Membership Rewards points · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles American Express business cards · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles international credit cards · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles partners and offers · official page
- Delta: buy, gift, transfer or donate miles · official page
- Delta: Diamond Medallion benefits · official page
- Delta: Gold Medallion benefits · official page
- Delta: Million Miler · official page
- Delta: baggage overview · official page
- Delta: Sky Club access · official page
- Delta: Medallion upgrades · official page
- Delta: Medallion benefits at each tier · official page
- Delta: Medallion Choice Benefits · official page
- Delta: Delta Premium Select · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles Award Deals · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles Award Flash Sale · official page
- Delta: miles upgrades and more · official page
- Delta: cancellations and refunds · official page
- Delta: about award travel · official page
- Delta: taxes and carrier-imposed fees · official page
- Delta: Pay with Miles · official page
- Delta: schedule changes · official page
- Delta: Customer Service Plan · official page
- Delta News Hub: Fall in love with SkyMiles, how to get the most from your Membership today · official page
- Delta: SkyMiles Marketplace and magazines · official page
- Delta: ways to redeem miles · official page
- Delta: onboard Wi-Fi · official page
- Delta: International Partner and SkyTeam benefits · official page
- Delta News Hub · official page
- Delta Help Center: contact us · official page
- Delta: fares and discounts · official page
- Delta: bereavement fares · official page
- Delta: accessible travel services · official page
- Delta: group travel · official page
- Delta News Hub: Delta's history · official page
- Delta News Hub: 2026 Medallion Status, what to know before year end · official page