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There are plenty of ways to redeem your Delta SkyMiles — vacation packages, checked bags, upgrades, experiences and more. But most of these redemption options provide a subpar value of less than 1 cent per point. To get the most from your SkyMiles, you'll want to use them for award flights with a Delta card.
Now is a great time to apply because six co-branded Delta cards have limited-time increased welcome bonuses (offers end Nov. 4, 2026). Here's how to use one of these cards to maximize your miles.
Senior reporter Jason Stauffer can answer your questions about how to make the most of your credit cards in his weekly Points Pro column. Submit yours here.
How to maximize Delta miles
Delta credit card perks
All Delta cards unlock the option to use Delta's Pay with Miles feature, which lets you redeem Delta miles for 1 cent each when you book a flight.
Compared to your other redemption options, this gives you a good baseline of value for your miles, but it gets even better when you use a Delta card with the TakeOff 15 benefit (not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees). This feature, found on the following Delta cards, grants you an automatic 15% discount when booking Award Travel on Delta flights, giving your SkyMiles a big boost in value:
- 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
These cards also save you money with other travel benefits, such as a free checked bag on worldwide Delta flights for the primary cardholder and up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation. Delta cardholders also receive a rebate on eligible in-flight purchases and a second bag free when flying domestically.
The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has the right mix of benefits if you occasionally fly with Delta, such as free checked bags, priority boarding and discounts.
- Earn up to $300 in travel credit every year
- First checked bag free for you and up to eight companions on eligible flights
- Discounts on eligible in-flight purchases and on Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees).
- Annual fee after the first year
- Delta flight credit benefit has a high spending requirement to earn
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer: As High As 80,000 Bonus Miles + Earn a $250 Statement Credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. You may not be eligible for the maximum welcome offer amount. Offer ends 11/04/2026.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after your first Card renewal when you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
- When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, you can earn: 2X miles on Delta Purchases, 2X miles at restaurants, 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. Every mile you earn brings you closer to the places you want to go. Turn them into your next trip, use them for seat upgrades, and more.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get your second bag free when flying domestically.
- $100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back per year as a statement credit after using your Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card to book prepaid hotels or vacation rentals through Delta Stays on delta.com.
- Receive Zone 5 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
- Want even more flexibility? Take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com.
- Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases after using your Card.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Send money, split purchases, and focus on the moments that matter – with Send & Split®. Powered by Venmo and PayPal. Enrollment Required. Terms apply.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees.
With a premium card like the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Card, you're also eligible for a complimentary upgrade even if you lack Delta Medallion elite status. For Delta Medallion members, having either version of Delta's Reserve card prioritizes your upgrade request over members with the same status level.
The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card's array of premium benefits make it a perfect fit for the most loyal Delta flyers, including elite status boosts, rideshare credits (enrollment required) and airport lounge access.
- Access to airport lounges, including Amex Centurion lounges
- Up to $560 in annual statement credits (Enrollment may be required)
- 15% discount for eligible Delta award flights (Not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.)
- High annual fee
- No bonus spending categories outside of Delta purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn two round‑trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/4/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits each Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card during a calendar year. Reserve Card Members can also enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge and Escape Lounges when you book your Delta flight with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main domestic, Caribbean, or Central American round-trip flight each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases.
- Global Dining Access by Resy gives you special access to sought-after U.S. Resy restaurants when you add your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to your Resy profile. Access to exclusive reservations, premium dining experiences, Priority Notify, and more, all from Resy.com or the Resy app.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: With your $120 Rideshare Credit, earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment Required.
- Check your first bag for free on Delta flights worldwide and get a second bag free when flying domestically.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Delta award sales
Delta has ongoing award sales where you can find flights that make the most of your SkyMiles. These sales regularly feature round-trip domestic flights for 10,000 miles and discounts on premium cabin seats. You may even be able to find one-way domestic flights that cost as little as 2,000 miles for shorter and cheaper routes. And international travelers aren't left in the cold — in the past, there have been award flights to Europe for 34,000 miles round-trip and Asia or Oceania for 44,000 miles round-trip.
Check out Delta's flight deals page to search for SkyMiles deals by origin, destination or region.
You can also search the premium cabin flights page for premium economy and business-class awards. While these aren't always amazing offers, occasionally you'll find a diamond in the rough.
Be flexible
Delta has dynamic award prices, so on days when demand (and cash prices) are higher, you'll also pay more in miles. If you have flexible travel plans, you can save on Delta flights and stretch your miles further by traveling during the off-season or on less popular days. Search on Delta to see what you'll pay for different departure and arrival dates. In this example, I was looking at flights from New York City to Los Angeles about two months in advance. Depending on the day you want to travel, prices range from 33,000 to 44,700 miles. If your schedule is flexible, you could save over 11,000 points just by moving flights a few days.
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Read more
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.
