If you are looking for easy ways to increase your Delta SkyMiles, then you’ve come to the right spot. In this article, we’ll do a comprehensive deep dive into all of the easiest ways to earn Delta SkyMiles so you can start accumulating points quickly and easily. Read on to find out how you can start building up your SkyMiles today!
Apply for a Delta Co-Branded Amex Card and Earn the Welcome Offer
One of the quickest ways to earn Delta SkyMiles is by applying for a Delta Co-Branded American Express Card and earning the welcome bonuses. With these welcome bonuses, you can earn considerable amounts of SkyMiles to apply towards your next trip.
Here are some of our favorite Delta SkyMiles Credit Cards!
Refer your Spouse or Travel Partner to a Delta Co-Branded Amex and Earn the Referral Bonus
Referral bonuses are a fantastic way to boost your SkyMiles balance. Refer your spouse, family member, or friend to a Delta Co-Branded American Express Card, and when they are approved, you receive bonus SkyMiles too!
To refer someone, all you need to do is log into your online Amex account, select your Delta Amex card, and then select the “refer” option.
Check for the retention offers on your Delta co-branded card every year!
The adage of “keeping a customer is easier than getting a new one” rings true for this tip! American Express is GREAT at offering retention offers to good-standing credit card holders. This means that every year when your annual fee is about to post, you should reach out to Amex on behalf of your Delta Amex credit card and ask them if there are any retention offers available. Doing this could easily get you anywhere from 15k to 30k points just for keeping your card open!
Fly Delta
It may seem obvious, but the simplest way to earn SkyMiles is to fly with Delta and make sure your SkyMiles account is linked each time. Each time you fly, you earn miles based on your ticket price and your Medallion Status.
A note about Basic Economy: At present, if you choose to book Delta’s Basic Economy class you won’t earn SkyMiles or get credits toward your Delta Medallion Status.
Use your Delta Credit Card on Your Everyday Purchases
Your Delta Co-Branded American Express Card isn't just for travel-related expenses. Earn SkyMiles on everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and dining out. Check your card for the individual category multipliers and make the most of them!
Transfer your Amex Points to Delta
If you have a non co-branded American Express card, like the American Express® Gold Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can transfer your earned points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio. It's an excellent way to supplement your SkyMiles balance
A note about transferring to Delta: Delta is one of the few airlines that does this, so it is highly annoying but they do charge a small “transfer” fee. It isn’t usually anything substantial but it is something to be aware of.
Build a Combined Delta & American Express Strategy
By combining your Delta co-branded cards and some of the standard American Express Cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards, you can earn SkyMiles more quickly because you can earn multiple bonuses and take advantage of the different category multipliers that each program offers! For example, if you have the American Express® Gold card you can earn 4x the points on your groceries. So use that card on your grocery spend and then transfer those points earned to Delta!
Use the American Express Personal Platinum to Book Flights at 5x the Points
This is one of my FAVORITE uses of my American Express Platinum Card®. If you use the American Express Platinum card to book flights directly from any airline, you earn 5 times the points. This counts even if you are buying flights from another airline, just make sure you book directly through the airline. You can then convert your Amex points to SkyMiles for more Delta flights.
Fly on Delta Partner Airlines
Delta's partnership with a host of other airlines means you can earn SkyMiles on a wider range of flights with carriers like Virgin Atlantic, KLM, AirFrance, AeroMexico, Korean Air, etc… Just double check and your SkyMiles number is attached to your booking.
Use the Delta “Bags On Time” Guarantee
Delta's 'Bags On Time' guarantee means that if your checked bag on domestic flights doesn't arrive at the baggage claim carousel within 20 minutes of your plane's gate arrival, you'll earn 2,500 bonus SkyMiles! To take part in this program, you fill out the form here and then request your points!
Use the Delta and Lyft Partnership
Link your Lyft and SkyMiles accounts here, and earn miles for every ride you take. It's a simple way to earn SkyMiles while commuting, traveling, or even heading out for the night.
Use the Delta and Airbnb Partnership
The SkyMiles and Airbnb partnership lets you earn miles when you book accommodations through Airbnb. It doesn’t cost anything extra and everything will work just like normal. But you’ll need to go through this site here, Delta & Airbnb. Whether you're looking for a cozy place to stay or an exciting adventure, you can make your SkyMiles balance grow.
Sign Up for the Delta Dining Program
If you're looking for even more ways to earn Delta SkyMiles, consider signing up for the Delta SkyMiles Dining program. The program allows frequent flyers to earn bonus miles when they eat at participating restaurants, as well as get access to exclusive discounts. It's an easy way to get more out of your next meal! You just need to link whatever debit or credit card you use when you eat out. Click this link here to get started - SkyMiles Dining!
Use the Delta Shopping Portal
One of the easiest ways to earn Delta SkyMiles is by shopping through the Delta Shopping Portal. By shopping through this portal, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, as well as miles bonuses for every purchase.
The Delta Shopping Portal makes it easy to save money while also earning rewards. You can shop through the portal from anywhere, anytime, and get access to the same discounts and bonuses you'd get if you were in an airport store. All you need to do is sign into your SkyMiles account before making a purchase, and the miles will automatically be credited to your account.
Use Rakuten and Transfer Your Amex Points Earned to Delta
If you use Rakuten, our favorite shopping portal site and you have it connected to your American Express Membership Rewards account, you can transfer the points earned from shopping there directly into Delta SkyMiles. All it takes is a few clicks and you'll have more SkyMiles in your account and it’s totally free to use!
Use Delta Vacations
Booking a vacation package through Delta Vacations can be an easy way to earn bonus SkyMiles. Packages include flights, hotels, cars, and more; all with the promise of great savings on miles earned! Be sure to compare the prices of your trip between Delta Vacations and other travel sites to ensure you're getting the best value.
Book a Cruise Through SkyMiles Cruises
Booking a cruise through the Delta Cruises program is another great way to earn bonus miles on top of what you would normally get from your credit card. Be sure to compare prices between SkyMiles Cruises and other cruise booking sites to make sure you're getting the best deal.
Use the Turo & Delta Site
The Turo & Delta site is an innovative way to earn bonus miles on rentals you book through them. Whether traveling for business or pleasure, you can save money and rack up those SkyMiles at the same time. Plus, you can enjoy the convenience of being able to pick up your car from their partners.
Link Your SkyMiles Account to Starbucks and Earn on Your Favorite Drinks!
For all those coffee lovers out there, linking your SkyMiles account to your Starbucks account is one of the easiest ways to earn Delta SkyMiles. Every time you buy a drink or treat, you'll earn bonus miles. It's a great way to get rewarded for something that you're already doing! You can link your accounts here!
Link Your SkyMiles Account to Ticketmaster and Earn on Your Next Concert!
Love concerts and sporting events? Linking your SkyMiles account to your Ticketmaster account will earn you bonus miles every time you buy tickets. It's an easy way to make sure that you're earning more on the money you are spending anyway! You can link your accounts here!
Take Advantage of the Delta Take15 Program!
This isn't exactly a way to earn more Delta SkyMiles but rather a way to SAVE Delta SkyMiles. If you have any of the cards listed here, you will get an automatic 15% off of your redemption tickets when you link your credit card to your account!
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
To learn more about the Delta TakeOff 15 Program, click here!
And… One Tip WE DON’T Suggest Technically you CAN transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Delta. We do not recommend doing this because it devalues your Marriott points DRASTICALLY and the return on SkyMiles is sooooo bad. If you have billions of Marriott Bonvoy Points, then sure - go for it - but for the average family, we wouldn’t suggest it!