Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to earn Delta SkyMiles
Delta SkyMiles is the loyalty programme of Delta Air Lines, and joining it is free. [1] Members earn miles on Delta flights booked in Main Classic or above, on eligible spending with Delta SkyMiles American Express cards, and through airline and everyday partners, and the miles themselves do not expire. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Delta SkyMiles is free to join, and Delta says the miles do not expire. [1]
- On Delta, the fare family decides whether a flight earns at all: Main Classic and above earn miles, while Main Basic tickets do not. [1]
- There are three main earning routes: flying Delta, spending on a Delta SkyMiles American Express Card, and collecting through partners, which include 20+ airlines as well as hotel, accommodation, car, ridesharing, shopping and dining partners. [1]
- Miles can be used for flights to more than 1,000 destinations, Delta Vacations packages, and day-of-travel extras such as seat upgrades and checked bags. [1]
How do you earn SkyMiles on Delta flights?
Delta pays SkyMiles on the price of the ticket rather than on the distance flown. For a Delta flight, the part of the ticket price that is eligible to earn miles is the base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges; government-imposed taxes and fees are excluded. [1] Delta also states that mileage accrual depends on the experience purchased, so the cabin and fare product shown on the booking is what determines earning. [1]
| What you buy | What Delta publishes |
|---|---|
| Delta flight in Main Classic or above | Eligible to earn miles; a SkyMiles Member earns up to 5 miles per dollar on qualifying flights [1] |
| Delta flight in Main Basic | Main Basic tickets do not earn miles [1] |
| Eligible Delta purchases on a Delta SkyMiles American Express Card | Up to 8 miles per dollar [1] |
| Delta purchases on a Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card | An additional 3 miles per dollar on Delta purchases [1] |
The per-dollar figures are ceilings rather than a flat rate, and Delta describes the member rate as "up to" 5 miles per dollar on qualifying flights. [1] Members also earn more miles at each Medallion tier; how tiers are earned and what each one includes is covered in the Delta SkyMiles elite status guide. [1]
Which partner airlines and everyday partners earn SkyMiles?
Flying is only one of the ways to collect. Delta lists more than 20 partner airlines, naming Virgin Atlantic, Air France, KLM, LATAM and Aeromexico among them. [1] Miles can also be earned on the ground with hotel, accommodation, car, ridesharing, shopping and dining partners, and Delta names Hertz and Starbucks as examples of that ground network. [1] Because each partnership is set up by its own agreement, the conditions for crediting a partner flight or purchase are specific to that partner; the Delta SkyMiles partner airlines guide and the entry on partner earning set out how that works. [1]
How do you earn SkyMiles with Delta SkyMiles American Express cards?
Delta SkyMiles American Express cards earn miles on eligible purchases made with the card, and the programme overview says there is no cap on the miles a cardholder can earn that way. [1] On Delta spending the card stacks with the flight rate: the member rate of up to 5 miles per dollar on qualifying flights can be lifted by an additional 3 miles per dollar when a Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card is used for Delta purchases, giving up to 8 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases. [1]
Card benefits also touch redemption. Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Platinum and Gold American Express Card Members save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta-operated flights; that saving does not apply to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees. [1] Card terms and individual benefit terms apply to each of these features. [1]
How do you join SkyMiles and what do new members get?
Enrolment is free. [1] On joining, a member can sign up for the SkyMiles Starter Pack challenge, which Delta describes as a way to earn up to 5,000 bonus miles while getting started. [1] Membership also brings fast, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile, available on most domestic flights subject to the terms of use, and preferred pricing on a CLEAR+ membership. [1] Miles can be combined with cash on a booking through Miles + Cash, which lets a member use a mix of miles and dollars. [1]
Exceptions and limits
- Fare family. Main Basic tickets do not earn miles, so a cheaper Delta fare can mean no miles at all for that trip. [1]
- Ticket price. Mileage earning is calculated on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges only; government-imposed taxes and fees are excluded from the eligible ticket price. [1]
- Accrual depends on the experience purchased, so the same route can earn differently depending on which product is booked. [1]
- Card rates are ceilings. The up-to-5 and up-to-8 miles per dollar figures describe maximum earning on qualifying purchases, and each card's benefit terms apply. [1]
- 15% Award Travel saving. Available to Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Platinum and Gold American Express Card Members on Delta-operated flights only, and it does not cover partner-operated flights, taxes or fees. [1]
- Medallion bonuses sit elsewhere. Extra miles at each Medallion tier are a status benefit; the qualification thresholds themselves are covered in the elite status guide rather than here. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Do Delta SkyMiles miles expire?
Delta presents SkyMiles as miles that do not expire, a point repeated in the programme overview. [1]
Do Delta Main Basic tickets earn SkyMiles?
No. Delta states that Main Basic tickets do not earn miles, while Main Classic and above are eligible to earn. [1]
How many SkyMiles do you earn per dollar on Delta flights?
A SkyMiles Member earns up to 5 miles per dollar on qualifying flights, and an additional 3 miles per dollar when a Delta SkyMiles Platinum or Reserve American Express Card is used for Delta purchases, for up to 8 miles per dollar on eligible Delta purchases. [1]
Can you earn Delta SkyMiles without flying?
Yes. Miles can be earned with Delta SkyMiles American Express cards and through partners, including 20+ airlines plus hotel, accommodation, car, ridesharing, shopping and dining partners such as Hertz and Starbucks. [1]
Is it free to join Delta SkyMiles?
Yes. Membership is free to join, and new members can join the SkyMiles Starter Pack challenge to earn up to 5,000 bonus miles. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers earning in Delta SkyMiles only; the earning rules of other airlines' frequent flyer programmes are not covered here.
- Delta SkyMiles loyalty programme overview, checked 18 October 2026