Oh, fantastic! You're looking to redeem those hard-earned Delta SkyMiles from your American Express card. That's an excellent way to turn your everyday spending into incredible travel experiences. Whether you're dreaming of a luxurious international getaway or a quick domestic hop, your SkyMiles can make it happen.
Let's dive right into how you can make the most of your Delta SkyMiles, step by step!
Step 1: Confirm Your Delta SkyMiles Account is Linked and Active
Before you can redeem anything, you need to ensure your Delta SkyMiles account is in good standing and, if applicable, correctly linked to your American Express card.
Where are your miles? It's important to differentiate between American Express Membership Rewards points (which are a flexible currency that can be transferred to various airline and hotel partners, including Delta SkyMiles) and actual Delta SkyMiles that you earn directly from a Delta SkyMiles co-branded American Express card.
If you have a Delta SkyMiles American Express card (like the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Card), the miles you earn directly post to your SkyMiles account.
If you have an American Express card that earns Membership Rewards points (like the Amex Platinum, Gold, or Green Card), you'll need to transfer those points to your Delta SkyMiles account. We'll cover that in a moment!
Engage with your miles! The first thing you should do is log in to your Delta SkyMiles account at Delta.com. Familiarize yourself with your current mileage balance and explore the "How to Use Miles" section. This will give you a real-time view of your current SkyMiles stash and what's possible.
Step 2: Understand Your Redemption Options (and Choose Wisely!)
Delta SkyMiles offer a variety of redemption options, but not all provide the same value. To maximize your rewards, it's crucial to understand the best ways to use them.
Sub-heading: A. Award Travel (Flights are King!)
This is typically the best way to redeem your Delta SkyMiles for maximum value. You're using your miles to book flights directly, either on Delta or its partner airlines.
How it works: Instead of paying cash for a ticket, you'll pay with miles (plus applicable taxes and fees). Delta no longer publishes a fixed award chart, meaning the number of miles required for a flight can vary significantly based on demand, route, and time of year. This is often referred to as dynamic pricing.
The Sweet Spot: Look for "SkyMiles Deals" on Delta.com, or be flexible with your travel dates and destinations to find lower mileage requirements. Often, economy flights on off-peak dates or less popular routes will offer better value. Sometimes, finding good value for premium cabins (Delta One, First Class) can be more challenging due to dynamic pricing, but it's not impossible, especially with strategic planning.
The TakeOff 15 Benefit: If you hold certain Delta SkyMiles American Express cards (Platinum or Reserve), you get a 15% discount on award travel booked on Delta flights. This is a significant perk that can make your miles stretch further! Make sure you're logged into your Delta SkyMiles account when searching for flights to see this discount applied.
Sub-heading: B. Pay with Miles (A Convenient Option for Delta Amex Cardholders)
This is an exclusive benefit for Basic Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Members. It offers a fixed redemption value for your miles, which can be convenient but often provides less value than Award Travel.
How it works: You can use your miles to reduce the cost of a Delta flight. Generally, 5,000 miles will provide a $50 discount. This means your miles are valued at 1 cent per mile.
When to use it: Pay with Miles is useful when:
You don't have enough miles for a full Award Travel ticket.
The cash price of a ticket is very low, and using miles for Award Travel would result in a poor redemption value.
You want to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) and miles on the portion of the ticket paid with cash.
Important Note: Pay with Miles is only available on Delta-operated and ticketed flights booked on Delta.com or through the Fly Delta app.
Sub-heading: C. Other Redemption Options (Use with Caution!)
While convenient, these options generally provide a lower value for your SkyMiles and should usually be avoided if your goal is to maximize travel.
Upgrades: You can use miles to upgrade your seat, but the value can be inconsistent.
Delta Vacations: Redeem miles for vacation packages (flight + hotel, or flight + hotel + car).
Delta Stays (Hotels & Car Rentals): Book hotels or car rentals through Delta's platform using miles. The value here is often quite low.
SkyMiles Experiences: Bid on unique experiences, from culinary events to sports packages. This can be fun, but the mileage value is highly variable.
Gift Cards & Merchandise: You can redeem miles for gift cards or items from the SkyMiles marketplace. Avoid this unless absolutely necessary, as the value is typically very poor.
Donate Miles: You can donate your miles to charity through SkyWish.
Step 3: Transferring American Express Membership Rewards to Delta SkyMiles (If Applicable)
If your American Express card earns Membership Rewards points, you'll need to transfer them to your Delta SkyMiles account before you can redeem them for flights.
Sub-heading: A. Logging into Your American Express Account
Go to the American Express website and log in to your account.
Navigate to the "Membership Rewards" section.
Sub-heading: B. Initiating the Transfer
Look for an option like "Transfer Points" or "Travel Partners."
Select Delta SkyMiles from the list of airline partners.
Key detail: Note the transfer ratio. Historically, it has been 1,000 Membership Rewards points = 1,000 Delta SkyMiles. Always confirm the current transfer ratio on the Amex website, as these can change.
You'll need to enter your Delta SkyMiles account number. Ensure it's correct!
Specify the number of Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer. There's typically a minimum transfer amount (e.g., 1,000 points) and transfers must be in specific increments (e.g., 100 points).
Review and confirm the transfer.
Sub-heading: C. Waiting for the Transfer
Good news! Transfers from American Express Membership Rewards to Delta SkyMiles are generally instantaneous or take up to 30 minutes. However, it's always a good idea to allow a little buffer time, especially if you're trying to book a popular award flight.
Once transferred, your Membership Rewards points become irreversible Delta SkyMiles. Be certain of your plans before you transfer!
Step 4: Searching for and Booking Your Award Travel
This is where the excitement truly begins!
Sub-heading: A. Logging into Delta.com and Starting Your Search
Go to Delta.com (or open the Fly Delta app) and log in to your SkyMiles account. This is crucial, as it will display your available miles and unlock any cardmember benefits like the TakeOff 15 discount.
On the flight search page, select the option to "Shop with Miles" or "Show Price in Miles" (the wording might vary slightly).
Sub-heading: B. Finding Your Ideal Flight
Enter your desired origin, destination, and travel dates.
Flexibility is your friend: If your dates are flexible, use the "Flexible Dates" or "Price Calendar" option. This will show you a calendar view of mileage prices for different days, allowing you to spot the best deals. Lower numbers mean better value!
Consider different cabin classes: Explore Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, First Class, Delta Premium Select, or Delta One. The mileage cost will vary significantly.
Look for "Pay with Miles" eligible flights: If you intend to use the Pay with Miles benefit, ensure the flight you select is marked as "Pay with Miles eligible."
Sub-heading: C. Reviewing and Confirming Your Booking
Once you've found a suitable flight, select it.
The system will display the total mileage cost plus any required taxes and fees. Remember, even award tickets have taxes and government-imposed fees.
Review all the details carefully: flight times, layovers, passenger information, and the total miles/cash required.
Proceed to payment for the taxes and fees using your American Express card (or another preferred payment method).
Confirm your booking! You'll receive a confirmation email with your itinerary.
Step 5: Leveraging Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Benefits
Your American Express Delta SkyMiles credit card isn't just for earning miles; it comes with valuable benefits that can enhance your travel experience and potentially save you money when redeeming miles.
Sub-heading: A. Free Checked Bag
Most Delta SkyMiles American Express cards offer a first checked bag free for the cardmember and up to eight companions on the same reservation. This can add up to significant savings, especially for families. Always check the specific terms of your card.
Sub-heading: B. Priority Boarding
Enjoy Main Cabin 1 priority boarding, allowing you to get on the plane earlier and find space for your carry-on luggage.
Sub-heading: C. In-flight Savings
Some cards offer a 20% statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages. This is a nice little perk for those snacks and drinks on board.
Sub-heading: D. Annual Companion Certificate (Platinum and Reserve Cards)
If you have the Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card, you may receive an annual Companion Certificate upon card renewal. This allows you to bring a companion on a qualifying roundtrip flight for just the cost of taxes and fees. This is an incredibly valuable benefit that can provide outsized value, often exceeding the card's annual fee. The type of cabin (Main Cabin, First Class, Delta Comfort+) depends on your specific card.
Sub-heading: E. Delta Sky Club Access (Reserve Card)
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card offers complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs (with certain limitations or spending thresholds). This can be a fantastic perk for a more comfortable airport experience.
Final Thoughts on Maximizing Value
Be Flexible: The more flexible you are with your travel dates and destinations, the better chance you have of finding low-mileage award flights.
Book Early: For popular routes and peak travel times, award space can be limited, so booking well in advance is often key.
Consider Partner Airlines: Sometimes, booking award travel on Delta's SkyTeam partners (like Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, etc.) can offer better value or availability. You can search for these on Delta.com as well.
Don't Hoard: While Delta SkyMiles generally don't expire, their value can fluctuate. It's often better to redeem them for travel sooner rather than later, especially if you have a travel goal in mind.
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to find the best value for Delta SkyMiles redemptions?
The best value is typically found when booking Award Travel (flights) on Delta or its partner airlines, especially by being flexible with dates and looking for "SkyMiles Deals." Aim for redemptions where you get at least 1.2 cents per mile or more.
How to transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles?
Log in to your American Express Membership Rewards account online, navigate to the "Transfer Points" section, select Delta SkyMiles as the partner, enter your SkyMiles number and the desired amount (typically 1,000 MR points = 1,000 SkyMiles, with a minimum of 1,000 points and increments of 100), and confirm the transfer.
How to use the "Pay with Miles" option on Delta.com?
Log in to your Delta SkyMiles account on Delta.com, search for flights and select "Shop with Miles." If you are an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Card Member and the flight is marked as "Pay with Miles eligible," you will see the option to apply miles in 5,000-mile increments (for a $50 discount per 5,000 miles).
How to check my Delta SkyMiles balance?
Log in to your Delta SkyMiles account on Delta.com. Your current mileage balance will be prominently displayed on your account dashboard.
How to book a flight using Delta SkyMiles?
Go to Delta.com, log in to your SkyMiles account, select "Shop with Miles" on the flight search page, enter your travel details, choose your desired flight from the results, and complete the booking by paying any applicable taxes and fees.
How to use my Delta SkyMiles for upgrades?
While generally not the best value, you can typically use miles for upgrades during the booking process or sometimes closer to departure, depending on availability. Look for the "Upgrade with Miles" option when managing your booking on Delta.com or in the Fly Delta app.
How to determine if my American Express card earns Delta SkyMiles or Membership Rewards?
Check the name of your American Express card. If it has "Delta SkyMiles" in its name (e.g., Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card), it earns SkyMiles directly. If it's a card like the Platinum Card, Gold Card, or Green Card, it earns Membership Rewards points.
How to use the TakeOff 15 benefit with my Delta SkyMiles American Express Card?
Simply log in to your Delta SkyMiles account on Delta.com or the Fly Delta app when searching for Award Travel on Delta flights. The 15% discount will automatically be applied to the mileage cost for eligible Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card Members.
How to find Delta SkyMiles deals for award travel?
Visit the "SkyMiles Deals" section on Delta.com, or use the flexible date calendar tool when searching for flights with miles to identify dates with lower mileage requirements.
How to ensure my Delta SkyMiles don't expire?
Delta SkyMiles do not expire. As long as your SkyMiles account remains open and active, your miles will not expire. However, Delta reserves the right to deactivate or close an account due to fraudulent activity.
