Planning to use your hard-earned American Express Membership Rewards points for a Delta flight? That's a fantastic idea! But before you hit that transfer button, it's crucial to understand the costs involved. While the conversion rate is often straightforward, there's a specific fee to be aware of when transferring Amex points to U.S. airline frequent flyer programs like Delta SkyMiles. Let's dive into the details!
The Cost to Transfer American Express Points to Delta
When you transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles, there is an excise tax offset fee. This fee is charged by American Express to cover a federal excise tax they incur when points are transferred to U.S. airline loyalty programs.
The fee is $0.0006 per point, with a maximum fee of $99. For example, if you transfer 50,000 Amex points to Delta, the fee would be:
50,000 points * $0.0006/point = $30
This fee will be charged to your American Express Card account that is linked to your Membership Rewards program. American Express may also offer you the option to use points to cover this fee, but this is generally not recommended as it results in a very poor redemption value for your points.
Important Note: This excise tax offset fee only applies to U.S. airline partners like Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue. Transfers to international airline partners usually do not incur this fee.
Step 1: Understanding American Express Membership Rewards and Delta SkyMiles ✈️
Before we get to the transfer process, let's briefly review what you're working with.
Sub-heading: What are American Express Membership Rewards?
American Express Membership Rewards is a flexible points program where you earn points on eligible purchases made with your Amex credit cards. These points are highly valuable because they offer a variety of redemption options, including:
Travel: Transferring to airline and hotel partners (our focus!), booking travel through Amex Travel, or covering eligible travel charges.
Shopping: Redeeming for gift cards or using points at checkout with select merchants.
Statement Credits: Applying points as a credit to your account (generally the least valuable redemption).
The true power of Membership Rewards lies in its transferability to numerous airline and hotel loyalty programs, often at a 1:1 ratio.
Sub-heading: What is Delta SkyMiles?
Delta SkyMiles is the frequent flyer program of Delta Air Lines. As a SkyMiles member, you earn miles when you fly with Delta or its SkyTeam alliance partners, use Delta co-branded credit cards, or engage with other Delta partners. These miles can then be redeemed for:
Flights: Award travel on Delta or partner airlines.
Upgrades: Upgrading your seat on eligible flights.
Vacation Packages: Booking Delta Vacations.
Other options: Such as Delta Sky Club memberships (for Medallion Members), checked bags, or through SkyMiles Experiences.
Unlike some other airline programs, Delta SkyMiles never expire, which is a great benefit for infrequent flyers!
Step 2: Checking the Transfer Ratio and Minimums
The next crucial step is confirming the exchange rate and any minimum transfer requirements.
Sub-heading: The American Express to Delta SkyMiles Transfer Ratio
American Express Membership Rewards points generally transfer to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio. This means that for every 1,000 American Express Membership Rewards points you transfer, you will receive 1,000 Delta SkyMiles.
Sub-heading: Minimum Transfer Amounts
The minimum transfer amount from American Express to Delta SkyMiles is typically 1,000 points. Transfers must also be made in increments of 100 points. So, you can transfer 1,100, 1,200 points, and so on, but not 1,050 points.
Step 3: Accessing Your American Express Membership Rewards Account
Now, let's get into the practical steps of initiating the transfer.
Log in to Your American Express Account: Go to the official American Express website (americanexpress.com) and log in to your account using your User ID and Password.
Navigate to Membership Rewards: Once logged in, locate the "Membership Rewards" section. This is usually found under a "Rewards" or "Benefits" tab. If you have multiple Amex cards, ensure you've selected the card that earns Membership Rewards points. Your total available points will be displayed here.
Step 4: Initiating the Transfer to Delta SkyMiles ➡️
This is where you make the connection between your Amex points and your Delta SkyMiles account.
Select "Transfer Points": Within the Membership Rewards dashboard, look for an option like "Redeem Rewards" or "Travel and Experiences," and then select "Transfer Points" or "Transfer to Travel Partners."
Choose Delta SkyMiles: You'll see a list of American Express's airline and hotel transfer partners. Find Delta Air Lines SkyMiles on this list and click on it.
Link Your Delta SkyMiles Account: If you haven't linked your Delta SkyMiles account to your American Express Membership Rewards account before, you'll be prompted to do so. You'll need your Delta SkyMiles account number and the name on your Amex account must match the name on your Delta SkyMiles account. American Express will likely require you to enter your card security code (CSC) and possibly a one-time passcode for verification.
If you don't have a Delta SkyMiles account yet, you'll need to create one first on the Delta Air Lines website. It's free and takes just a few minutes.
Step 5: Specifying the Transfer Amount and Paying the Fee
This is the critical step where the excise tax offset fee comes into play.
Enter Transfer Amount: Once your accounts are linked, you'll be asked to enter the number of American Express points you wish to transfer. Remember the 1:1 ratio and the 1,000-point minimum, with increments of 100 points.
Review the Excise Tax Offset Fee: Crucially, at this stage, American Express will display the excise tax offset fee. It will clearly show you the dollar amount based on the number of points you're transferring. For instance, if you transfer 100,000 points, the fee will be $60 (100,000 * $0.0006).
Choose Payment Method for the Fee: You'll usually be given two options to cover this fee:
Pay with your linked American Express Card (recommended): This is the best option. The fee will simply be charged to your Amex credit card.
Pay with Membership Rewards points (not recommended): While this seems convenient, using points to cover the fee often results in a very poor redemption value (e.g., 0.5 cents per point), far less than what your points are typically worth for travel. It's almost always better to pay the fee with cash.
Confirm and Submit: Review all the details, including the number of points, the estimated Delta SkyMiles you'll receive, and the excise tax offset fee. Once everything looks correct, confirm and submit your transfer request.
Step 6: Confirmation and Waiting Period ⏳
After submitting your transfer, you'll receive confirmation.
Confirmation Page/Email: American Express will provide a confirmation that your transfer request has been submitted. You may also receive a confirmation email.
Transfer Time: Transfers from American Express to Delta SkyMiles are generally instant or very quick, often appearing in your Delta SkyMiles account within minutes. However, Amex sometimes states a transfer time of "up to 30 minutes" or similar, so it's good to keep that in mind.
Verify in Delta SkyMiles Account: It's always a good practice to log in to your Delta SkyMiles account after a few minutes to confirm that the transferred miles have appeared.
Step 7: Redeeming Your Delta SkyMiles for Flights ✈️
Once your miles are in your Delta SkyMiles account, you're ready to book!
Search for Award Travel: Go to Delta.com and log in to your SkyMiles account. When searching for flights, make sure to select the "Shop with Miles" option or indicate that you want to view prices in miles.
Find the Best Value: Delta uses dynamic pricing for award tickets, meaning the number of miles required can fluctuate based on demand, route, time of year, and other factors. Look for "saver" level awards for the best value. Flexibility with your travel dates and destinations can significantly impact how many miles you need.
Book Your Flight: Select your desired flight, proceed through the booking process, and use your SkyMiles to cover the cost. You'll still be responsible for any taxes and government-imposed fees on the award ticket, which typically start at $5.60 for domestic flights.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to calculate the excise tax offset fee for an Amex to Delta transfer?
The excise tax offset fee is calculated as $0.0006 per point transferred, with a maximum fee of $99. For example, transferring 10,000 points incurs a $6 fee ($10,000 * $0.0006).
How to avoid the excise tax offset fee when transferring Amex points?
Unfortunately, you cannot avoid the excise tax offset fee when transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to U.S. airline frequent flyer programs like Delta SkyMiles. It's a federal tax offset.
How to tell if an Amex transfer partner is a U.S. airline?
U.S. airline transfer partners for American Express Membership Rewards typically include Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue. Most other major airline partners are international carriers.
How to link my Delta SkyMiles account to American Express?
You link your Delta SkyMiles account during the transfer process on the American Express Membership Rewards website. You'll need your Delta SkyMiles account number and ensure the names on both accounts match.
How to know the minimum points to transfer to Delta?
The minimum transfer amount from American Express to Delta SkyMiles is 1,000 points, and transfers must be in increments of 100 points.
How to get the best value when transferring Amex points to Delta?
To get the best value, transfer points only when you have a specific redemption in mind that offers good value for your SkyMiles (e.g., 1.2 cents per mile or more), and always pay the excise tax offset fee with cash instead of points. Look for "saver" award flights on Delta.
How to confirm if my points transferred to Delta successfully?
You can confirm the transfer by logging into your Delta SkyMiles account. The miles should appear in your balance. You'll also receive a confirmation from American Express.
How to transfer Amex points to another person's Delta account?
Generally, you can only transfer American Express points to a loyalty program account that is in your name or in the name of an authorized user on your Amex card who has been on the account for at least 90 days.
How to earn more American Express Membership Rewards points?
You can earn more American Express Membership Rewards points by using your eligible Amex credit cards for everyday spending, taking advantage of bonus categories, and maximizing welcome offers on new cards.
How to use Delta SkyMiles once transferred?
Once transferred, Delta SkyMiles can be used for award flights on Delta and its SkyTeam partners, seat upgrades, Delta Vacations packages, and other specific redemptions listed on the Delta SkyMiles website.
