SkyMiles is the name of the loyalty program operated by Delta Air Lines. By signing up for Delta SkyMiles, you may earn miles to be used for Delta flights, you’re entitled to complimentary onboard WiFi, and your miles never expire. However, the SkyMiles program also has many more benefits that greatly enhance the ground and onboard experience when flying with Delta. Of course, you’ll need to spend significant sums of money with Delta to earn these benefits, and there are a few different ways to best maximize the value of the program.

Delta SkyMiles is a spend-based program, like most airline loyalty programs today. Essentially, miles and status are not based on how much you fly with Delta Air Lines, but rather, the amount that you spend. This determines how many miles you earn from your flights, while the amount you spend also determines eligibility for Delta Medallion status. The four Medallion Tiers come with a variety of benefits and more ways to earn miles, while also increasing the eligibility requirements. Here’s how you get the most out of the Delta SkyMiles program in 2026.

Earning And Using Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

The most basic benefit of SkyMiles is earning miles. These are the program’s main currencies, which can be used for a wide variety of purposes. Primarily, miles can be used to purchase flights, either in full or as a part miles/part cash fare. In addition, miles can be used to purchase cabin upgrades, along with selecting preferred seats in the economy cabin, paying flight change fees, and buying premium drinks. Furthermore, passengers can use miles to pay other fees, such as those for checked bags, and to book vacation packages, hotels, or car rentals.

Generally, you earn miles whenever you book a flight with Delta Air Lines. The basic earn-rate is five miles for every dollar spent on standard or refundable economy tickets, and seven miles per dollar for Extra fares. This applies to all Delta-marketed flights, meaning that this includes Delta Connection flights as well as services operated by joint venture partners. This rate also increases if you are a Delta Medallion status holder: seven miles for Silver Medallion, eight miles for Gold Medallion, nine miles for Platinum Medallion, and 11 miles for Diamond Medallion.

In addition to flights, you can also earn miles with other Delta travel services. This includes Delta Vacations, Delta Stays, Delta Car Rentals, and Delta Cruises. In addition, Delta partners with a wide range of companies so that SkyMiles members can earn miles on other purchases. You can link your SkyMiles account with Starbucks and Uber to earn miles with these companies, while Delta provides a dedicated portal with a full range of dining and shopping partners.

Looking At Delta Air Lines’ Credit Cards

If you want to truly begin earning miles with Delta, you’ll want to sign up for a Delta co-branded credit card. These are issued by American Express, and there are a total of four credit cards available. Each one comes with a variety of benefits and includes a sign-on bonus, which can vary depending on whether the carrier is offering a promotion. The main benefit of the SkyMiles Amex cards is that you earn two or three miles for every dollar spent with Delta Air Lines and in select categories, along with one mile per dollar on all other purchases.

The Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex Card is the entry-level SkyMiles card. It has no annual fee, but it also features the fewest benefits. Cardholders earn two miles for every dollar spent on Delta and restaurants, while all SkyMiles Amex cardholders receive a statement credit for 20% of all in-flight purchases. The SkyMiles Gold Amex Card adds the two miles benefit to US supermarket purchases, while also adding a free checked bag. In addition, you receive priority boarding and at least 50,000 miles as a sign-up bonus, whereas the Blue Card typically only offers 10,000 miles.

The Delta SkyMiles Platinum Amex Card has an annual fee of $350. However, cardholders earn three miles for every dollar spent with Delta and on hotels, along with two miles on restaurants and US supermarkets. You also receive a free checked bag, priority boarding (also offered with the Gold card), and a sign-up bonus of at least 60,000 miles. The Reserve Amex Card has an annual fee of $650, and it includes a sign-up bonus of at least 70,000 miles, along with Delta Sky Club access and additional credits with Delta partners.

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Looking At Delta Air Lines Medallion Status

While holding a Delta SkyMiles Amex card provides you with immense benefits, you’ll also want to earn Medallion Status to truly make the most out of your SkyMiles account. The SkyMiles program contains four Medallion tiers: Medallion Silver, Medallion Gold, Medallion Platinum, and Medallion Diamond. Each tier comes with more benefits, an increased earning rate, but also has higher requirements to qualify. If you qualify for a Medallion tier, you hold the status for the rest of the year and until the end of the following calendar year.

Eligibility for Medallion status is dependent on how many Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD) you earn in a given calendar year. Delta SkyMiles is a spending-based program, and rather curiously, there is no minimum flight requirement. In practice, however, MQD is primarily earned by spending on Delta Air Lines flights or on Delta Vacations, at a rate of one MQD for every dollar spent. In addition, the Platinum Amex card earns you one MQD for every $20 spent, whereas the Reserve Amex card earns you one MQD for every $10 spent.

All Medallion members receive priority boarding and are placed on a complimentary upgrade list. The higher your status, the earlier you’ll be placed on the upgrade list. Medallion members earn miles at higher rates and receive priority waitlist access, waived baggage fees, a dedicated phone line, and equivalent SkyTeam status. In addition, Platinum and Diamond members receive Choice Benefits, including flight credits, additional miles, upgrade certificates, and more. Platinum members can choose one benefit, while Diamond members can choose three.

Additional Benefits of Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Although upgrades are less common today than in the past, it’s still an appealing benefit. In addition, Medallion members are eligible to purchase a Sky Club membership, which requires holding Medallion status, while the carrier’s Reserve credit card grants 15 visits to the Sky Club annually. Platinum and Diamond Medallion members receive a statement credit for TSA Precheck and Global Entry every four and a half years, along with elite status with rental car company Hertz.

The Choice Benefits for Platinum and Diamond members are a unique offering in the airline industry, and the options are diverse. You can select additional miles, gift Medallion status to two members, make a contribution towards Sustainable Aviation Fuel, receive credit towards a Delta Vacations package, credit for a Wheels Up private flight, receive an MQD accelerator for the next qualification year, receive a statement credit on your Delta Amex card, or even receive 6,000 Starbucks Reward Stars.

Uber and Starbucks are the two most popular companies in their industries, and the ability to earn more Delta miles by linking your SkyMiles account with these companies is highly valuable. SkyMiles members also receive access to the carrier’s SkyMiles Experiences portal. These can include exclusive access to desirable sports event seating, a seasonal holiday getaway trip, scenic cruises, and more. These are typically sold via an online auction, with winning bids often exceeding 100,000 miles.

Looking At Delta Air Lines’ Invitation-Only Tier

Delta 360° is the carrier’s invitation-only status for frequent flyers. It provides the most amount of benefits out of any of Delta’s elite tiers, while being the most restrictive tier. Passengers who fly five million miles or more with Delta will receive a Delta 360° invitation for life, but there are virtually no other guidelines on how to receive an invitation for Delta 360°. Delta 360° is comparable to American ConciergeKey and United Global Services, which are the invitation-only statuses for American Airlines and United Airlines.

Unlike at American Airlines and United Airlines, Delta 360° is not a separate tier in the SkyMiles program. Delta 360° members have to qualify separately for Delta Diamond Medallion status. It is believed to be more exclusive than American ConciergeKey and United Global Services, and it’s also believed that there are fewer members of Delta 360° compared to the other two programs.

Delta 360° members receive access to a dedicated phone line, a complimentary Sky Club membership, access to the DeltaOne lounges when flying in Delta First, complimentary bag tags, as well as all of the benefits granted to Diamond Medallion members, such as apron transfers and Group Two boarding. In addition, Delta 360° status holders can expect the best service that the carrier has to offer.