How to transfer Delta SkyMiles

What is the SkyMiles Transfer Miles Program?

Delta's program rules start from a strict position: miles may not be sold, attached, seized, levied upon, pledged or transferred under any circumstances, including by operation of law, on death, or in connection with a domestic relations dispute or legal proceeding, except as specifically authorized in the Membership Guide and Program Rules or otherwise in writing by an officer of Delta. [1]

The same rules then carve out one member-facing route. SkyMiles Members may participate in mileage transfer transactions within the SkyMiles Transfer Miles Program, and all such transactions are subject to that program's terms and conditions, with mileage transfer fees and terms applying. [1] Delta directs members to delta.com/transfermiles to review those rules. [1]

So a transfer is not an informal swap between friends. It is a defined transaction type with its own rulebook, and the general program rules sit behind it: anything that falls outside the Transfer Miles Program remains prohibited. [1]

Who can transfer SkyMiles, and to whom?

SkyMiles membership is open to any individual person in any country that has not prohibited participation in frequent flyer programs and where participation is not otherwise prohibited by law, and only one person may be enrolled per SkyMiles account. [1] Members may not maintain more than one SkyMiles account. [1] Membership numbers themselves are nontransferable, so the account is never what changes hands. [1]

Transfers also cannot be arranged by handing over account access. A member may not divulge their password to anyone, including for the purpose of sharing a SkyMiles account, and may not use SkyMiles log-in credentials on any third-party website or app, including a mileage management, tracking or aggregation service. [1] Each member is responsible for actions taken with their password, including transactions in their account. [1]

One transfer route runs the other way, without a member request. If more than one account number is assigned to the same individual, Delta may cancel or merge the duplicate account at its sole discretion and may transfer the applicable mileage balance, excluding any enrollment bonus, to the remaining account. [1] Credit toward Medallion Status and Million Miler status is not transferred in that process. [1]

What does a transfer cost, and what can move?

Transfers carry mileage transfer fees and are governed by the terms and conditions of the SkyMiles Transfer Miles Program, which Delta keeps at delta.com/transfermiles. [1] The fee is a one-way cost in the sense that it buys nothing back: mileage purchases and mileage transfer fees are both listed among the charges that do not count toward earning miles or MQDs. [1]

Exceptions and limits

• Sale and barter are prohibited. Members may not sell or barter miles, vouchers, Award Tickets, upgrade certificates, Medallion Status or other benefits, and Delta will terminate or deduct mileage from the account of any member who attempts to transfer or receive, or actually transfers, facilitates or receives such benefits. [1] Benefits obtained through prohibited sale or barter are void and will be confiscated, and Delta reserves the right to assess the fair market value of the ticket or benefit from the member who initiated or facilitated the transaction. [1]
• No transfers by operation of law. Miles cannot be moved by death, divorce, legal proceeding, attachment or levy, which is why the Transfer Miles Program is the only member-initiated path the rules describe. [1]
• Booking for someone else is not a transfer. Miles may be redeemed for Award Tickets in the name of passengers other than the SkyMiles Member, but those tickets are nontransferable once issued and name changes are not allowed. [1]
• Account closure removes miles. Although miles do not expire under the Mileage Expiration policy, Delta reserves the right to deactivate or close an account, and accordingly remove all miles in it, in listed cases such as fraudulent activity, a member's own closure request, death, repeated non-response, creating additional accounts, relocating to a country where membership is prohibited, or breaching the rules. [1] [2] Medallion Status, benefits and miles in the account are forfeited when an account is closed. [1]
• Transfers can be reviewed after the fact. Delta reserves the right to audit members' accounts at any time without notice, and during an investigation it may inhibit account access, refuse to award or cancel miles and status credit, and cancel outstanding award travel or upgrade certificates. [1] Termination of membership results in the loss of all accumulated mileage credit and the loss of other SkyMiles benefits, and terminated members may not open new accounts. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer SkyMiles to another person?

Yes, through the SkyMiles Transfer Miles Program, which Delta's program rules allow for mileage transfer transactions between members. [1] Every transfer is subject to that program's own terms and to mileage transfer fees. [1]

Can I move miles by giving someone my account password?

No. Members may not share their password with anyone, including to share a SkyMiles account, and may not use their SkyMiles credentials on third-party sites or apps. [1]

Do transfer fees earn miles or MQDs?

No. Mileage purchases and mileage transfer fees are among the charges that do not count toward earning miles or MQDs. [1]

Can someone else fly on my miles?

Yes. Miles may be redeemed for Award Tickets in the name of passengers other than the member, but the ticket is nontransferable once issued and cannot be renamed. [1]

Does Medallion status move with miles?

No. When Delta merges duplicate accounts, credit toward Medallion Status and Million Miler status is not transferred, and Million Miler status cannot be gifted or transferred to another member. [1] [4]

Related pages

Start with Start here: Delta SkyMiles if you are new to the program, then compare buying SkyMiles with a member-to-member transfer. For the spending side, see how to book Delta SkyMiles awards and the Delta Global Upgrade Certificate guide. A program comparison sits at American AAdvantage vs Delta SkyMiles, and definitions are in the frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. This page reports no account test. It covers Delta SkyMiles only; other programs, including American Airlines AAdvantage, are not covered here.

1. Delta SkyMiles Membership Guide and Program Rules, checked 18 October 2026
2. Delta SkyMiles loyalty program overview, checked 18 October 2026
3. Delta Million Miler status page, checked 18 October 2026