Points
By becoming a SkyMiles member, you'll earn a base rate of 5 frequent flyer miles for every dollar you spend on a flight with Delta, Delta Connection or Delta Shuttle; you will also earn miles for travel on Delta's partner airlines, though the amount you'll earn varies by carrier. These miles can be used to cover the cost of future air travel on Delta or any affiliated carriers.
Earn Points
As a Delta SkyMiles program member, you will earn miles for every Delta-marketed flight; Delta-marketed flights are identified by a "DL" in the flight number. For every dollar spent on a Delta-marketed flight, you will accrue 5 frequent flyer miles with Delta. Additionally, you'll earn MQMs, which help you achieve Medallion status and grant extra benefits like complimentary upgrades and free checked bags. What's more, you'll collect MQSs, which are based on how many flights you take, and MQDs, which are determined by how much you spend with Delta and its partners annually. If you hold Medallion status, you can earn additional miles on flights purchased, depending on your elite status tier.
You can also earn various miles for travel on partner airlines, such as KLM, Air France and Virgin Atlantic, among others. Plus, you can accrue rewards by using your Delta SkyMiles American Express credit card to pay for travel and everyday purchases. And because of Delta's partnerships, you can earn miles for hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, Airbnb home rentals, Ticketmaster events, Lyft rides and more.
Using Points
Delta Air Lines' reach spans across six continents, with Delta or Delta-affiliated carriers servicing more than 1,000 destinations in 50-plus countries. Delta SkyMiles never expire and can be applied to future air travel on Delta or any of its partner airlines, including Air France and Virgin Atlantic. In order to use Delta SkyMiles, you must book your flight through the Delta Air Lines website or with a Delta ticket agent. The number of miles needed depends on the airline, route and availability. Below, you'll find the minimum number of miles needed (as of July 2019) to cover a round-trip flight on six of Delta's most popular domestic routes:
| Route | Lowest calculated round-trip cost (in points) |
| Charlotte, North Carolina - Atlanta | 21,000 |
| Savannah, Georgia - Atlanta | 25,000 |
| Las Vegas - New York | 21,500 |
| Los Angeles - Orlando, Florida | 10,000 |
| Minneapolis - Las Vegas | 10,000 |
| Minneapolis - Phoenix | 10,000 |
The calculated costs shown above are based on booking searches conducted by U.S. News in July 2019. We analyzed 12 of each airline's highly trafficked routes within three round-trip mileage categories: short domestic, medium domestic and long for three different round-trip dates between July and September.
You can also use your miles on upgrades or to purchase more tangible items: Members can use miles to purchase premium drinks at a Delta Sky Club, to book travel on Delta Private Jets and to redeem while shopping online in the SkyMiles Marketplace, which features clothing, electronics, gift cards and travel accessories. You can also book hotels, cruises and car rentals with miles via the SkyMiles Marketplace. Additionally, members can use miles for magazine subscriptions, to purchase a Delta Sky Club membership or to redeem miles for exclusive experiences, such as front-row seats at a sporting event or concert, upscale culinary events and more.
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