11 Best Ways To Redeem 150,000 Delta SkyMiles For Max Value

Updated: January 14, 2024, 7:00am CST

Edited by:

11 Best Ways To Redeem 150,000 Delta SkyMiles For Max Value

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Delta Air Lines‘ loyalty points program, Delta SkyMiles, is often overlooked because it doesn’t have an award chart, which makes the number of miles needed for an award flight ambiguous.

Once you get a handle on the trends in award searches and where to find the best values, you can leverage the program to your advantage.

The unfortunate news is that Delta SkyMiles has been devalued significantly over the years, which means flight awards will be more expensive than you would expect. Nonetheless, there are still incredible ways to get outsized value, which we’ll discuss below.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

Let’s first talk about how you can earn Delta SkyMiles!

Delta provides 3 primary ways to earn SkyMiles:

Co-Branded American Express Delta Cards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

U.P. Rating

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card

This card provides bonus SkyMiles on all purchases, along with a free checked bag, priority boarding, and discounted award flights.

Welcome OfferEarn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 
40,000 miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$480

Annual Fee

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Frequent Delta flyers will love the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card. The card offers great benefits that will help save you money, effectively mimics low-level elite status with Delta SkyMiles, and helps you earn miles even faster, all for a low annual fee. Let’s dive into the benefits to see if the Delta Gold card is a good fit for your needs.

Pros

$100 Delta Stays Credit: You can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
Receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel after you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year.
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.
Bonus earning on Delta purchases and U.S. supermarket and worldwide restaurant purchases
First checked bag free on Delta flights
20% back as a statement credit on in-flight purchases

Cons

Moderate annual fee
Earn rate for Delta flights is relatively low compared to other travel cards

Earn 40,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
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.
$200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at U.S. Supermarkets and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $60 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that’s a potential savings of up to $240 per round-trip flight.
Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
$100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
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.
With Send & Split^®, you can send money and split your Card purchases with any other Venmo or PayPal user, directly from the Amex App. Enroll today.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Frequent Flyer Program

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

U.P. Rating

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. 
50,000 Bonus Miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$600

Annual Fee

$350

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

Pros

3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets
1x SkyMile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
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.
Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. Taxes and fees will apply.
Receive $2,500 MQDs each year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
Complimentary first checked bag
Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
$120 Resy Credit: Earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases.
$120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers upon enrollment.
Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
20% back on inflight purchases
$150 Delta Stays Credit: Earn up to $150 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.

Cons

$350 annual fee (rates & fees)
Does not earn transferable rewards

Earn 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Receive a Companion Certificate on Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum 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.
Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
$120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights; board early, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive $100 back for Global Entry or up to $85 back for TSA PreCheck^® after you apply through any Official Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$350 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

U.P. Rating

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card

Delta loyalists will love the fast track to Delta elite status, lounge access, baggage benefits, and upgrade priority with the Delta Reserve card.

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
60,000 Bonus Miles

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$720

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.99%-29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card is a stellar option for frequent travelers who always fly with Delta thanks to its MQD Headstart towards status boost, lounge access, annual companion certificate, and many other great benefits.

Here is a full look at everything the Delta Reserve card can offer to you to help you decide whether the card deserves a place in your wallet.

Pros

3x SkyMiles per $1 on Delta purchases
1x SkyMile per $1 on all other eligible purchases
Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights.
Receive $2,500 MQM each year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+^®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights to select destinations each year after renewal.
$240 Resy Credit: Earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases upon enrollment.
$120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers upon enrollment.
Application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
$200 Delta Stays Statement Credit: Earn up to $200 back in the form of a statement credit annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
Access to Complimentary Upgrades and Upgrade Priority
Free checked bag
20% back on inflight purchases

Cons

$650 annual fee (rates & fees)
No bonus categories other than Delta purchases

Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Reserve your piece of history with the new limited edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card design.
Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club^® and bring up to two guests or immediate family members at a rate of $50 per person per visit when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
Receive four Delta Sky Club^® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion^® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
Earn $1 Medallion^® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+^®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
$240 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
$120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
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 Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
$650 Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

Delta SkyMiles Airline Loyalty Program

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for more information about these cards, explore our dedicated article on Delta credit cards.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome OfferEarn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros

The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
Access to Amex International Airline Program
No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)

Cons

$695 annual fee (rates and fees)
Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card^®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card^®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
$200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
$300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card^®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
$189 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card^®. Learn more.
$100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
$300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card^®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
$695 annual fee.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Learn More(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome OfferEarn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:
$1,320

Annual Fee

$250

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Good to Excellent (670-850)

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros

4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Access to American Express transfer partners

Cons

$250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
No lounge access

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
$120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
Annual Fee is $250.
Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

APR: See Pay Over Time APR
Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Card Categories

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Our favorite way to earn Delta SkyMiles is by using any of the following American Express cards and transferring those points to Delta. You’ll typically accrue more points this way through large sign-up bonuses combined with generous everyday category bonuses than using a Delta card directly.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards (Personal)

You can also accrue SkyMiles by earning Marriott Bonvoy points and then transferring the points over to your Delta account. See our list of the best Marriott credit cards in our detailed guide.

11 Best Ways To Redeem 150,000 Delta SkyMiles

Delta does not publish an award chart, which can make it challenging to determine the value of the SkyMiles you want to redeem.

Even though there’s no award chart, the Delta search engine is useful. The ability to search for most SkyTeam and Delta partners and the 5-week flexible search function are reasons we recommend using Delta to search for SkyTeam availability.

Delta bases its pricing on the revenue cost of each flight, so the number of miles required may change when you are running your award search.

For even more ways to use your Delta SkyMiles, see our other “best use” redemption article for SkyMiles.

1. Delta One to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Business Class, One-Way

Delta One Suites A350-900. Image Credit: Stephen Au

Delta transatlantic business-class flights from the U.S. to Europe can provide significant value, particularly when the equivalent cash price of those flights is high.

With 120,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business class flight on Delta. You could also book 3 one-way economy flights on Delta for 105,000 SkyMiles (35,000 miles each way).

Examples of transatlantic flights on Delta include:

Atlanta (ATL) to Rome (FCO)
Detroit (DTW) to Frankfurt (FRA)
Minneapolis (MSP) to London (LHR)
New York (JFK) to Brussels (BRU)
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Paris (CDG)
Seattle (SEA) to Amsterdam (AMS)

Taxes and fees for one-way business class and economy flights will be $5.60.

Need help booking an award flight? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Delta One.

2. Virgin Atlantic From the U.S. to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Upper Class, One-Way

Another transatlantic flight to use your Delta SkyMiles on is Virgin Atlantic. The airline flies into multiple U.S. cities, giving you options when it comes to booking an award flight.

With 120,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way Upper Class flight on Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic flies the following routes from the U.S. to London (LHR):

Atlanta (ATL)
Boston (BOS)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Miami (MIA)
New York (JFK)
Orlando (MCO)
San Francisco (SFO)
Seattle (SEA)
Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Taxes and fees for one-way Upper Class flights from the U.S. to the U.K. will be just $6!

Virgin Atlantic flight Delta SkyMiles — An Upper Class flight from New York is one of the cheapest award flight options for flying to London, as the taxes and fees are usually incredibly high! Image Credit: Delta

Need help booking an award flight? Here’s our guide to booking Virgin Atlantic Upper Class.

3. Air France From the U.S. to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Business Class, One-Way

If the first 2 transatlantic options didn’t catch your attention, here’s another to check out. Air France, like Virgin Atlantic, is another airline where you can use your Delta SkyMiles.

With 120,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business-class flight on Air France.

Air France flight Delta SkyMiles — An Air France business class flight from Los Angeles to Paris can be booked for just $6 in taxes and fees! Image Credit: Delta

Air France flies the following routes from the U.S. to Paris (CDG):

Atlanta (ATL)
Boston (BOS)
Chicago (ORD)
Denver (DEN)
Detroit (DTW)
Houston (IAH)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Miami (MIA)
Minneapolis (MSP)
New York (JFK)
San Francisco (SFO)
Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Taxes and fees for one-way business class flights from the U.S. to Paris will be $6.

4. LATAM Business Class From the U.S. to South America: 95,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way

LATAM New Business Class — LATAM’s brand-new business class seats feature Thompson XL Vantage seats in a 1-2-1 configuration and can be found on retrofitted 777-300ER and 767-300 aircraft. Image Credit: LATAM

LATAM isn’t a member of any airline alliance, but it maintains a strong partnership with Delta.

In this case, LATAM offers nonstop service with a lie-flat business class seat between the U.S. and South America, offering a convenient and comfortable redemption option.

With 95,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business-class flight on LATAM. Here are a few superb routes you can book:

Los Angeles (LAX) – Lima (LIM)
Los Angeles (LAX) – Santiago (SCL)
Miami (MIA) – Santiago (SCL)
New York (JFK) – Santiago (SCL)
Orlando (MCO) – Lima (LIM)

Taxes and fees for a one-way business class flight from the U.S. to South America will be about $21.

Need to earn more SkyMiles? Here are our best ways to earn lots of Delta SkyMiles.

5. Saudia Business Class From the U.S. to the Middle East: 85,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way

Saudia Airlines business class window seat — Saudia’s business class reclines fully lie-flat for utmost comfort. Image Credit: Carissa Rawson

When it comes to flying to the Middle East using Delta SkyMiles nonstop, you can basically only book 2 airlines:

Delta (via Tel Aviv)
Saudia (via Jeddah or Riyadh)

Delta One flights to Tel Aviv are in very high demand, which means they’ll be hard to locate award space on and is incredibly expensive. Luckily, Saudia has exceptional award availability for a great mileage price, which could get you on a nonstop flight to the Middle East.

With 85,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business-class flight on Delta. You could also book a round-trip economy flight for 75,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Examples of flights on Saudia include:

New York (JFK) – Jeddah (JED)
New York (JFK) – Riyadh (RUH)
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Jeddah (JED)
Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Riyadh (RUH)

Remember, you don’t need to end your trip in Saudi Arabia — you can visit Dubai, Oman, and Jordan for the same mileage price.

Taxes and fees for one-way business-class and round-trip economy flights from the U.S. to the Middle East on Saudia will be $277 and about $177, respectively.

Need more ways to redeem SkyMiles? Here are our best ways to redeem SkyMiles for maximum value.

6. China Airlines From the U.S. to Asia: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way

China Airlines A350 Business Class Cabin View — Try business class to Asia on China Airlines by redeeming SkyMiles. Image Credit: Nick Ellis

One of the best airlines to fly on transpacific itineraries is with SkyTeam partner China Airlines. The airline is based in Taipei and has a few non-stop routes from the U.S.

With 120,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business-class flight on China Airlines. Or, you could book a round-trip economy flight for 70,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Examples of transpacific flights on China Airlines include:

Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK), or San Francisco (SFO) to Taipei (TPE)

Taxes and fees for one-way business class and round-trip economy flights from the U.S. to Asia will be $5.60 and about $46, respectively.

Need another business class option in Taipei? Here are our best ways to book EVA Air business class.

7. Aerolíneas Argentinas From the U.S. to South America: 80,000 Miles Economy, Round-Trip

Aerolineas Argentinas economy — Enjoy modern LED mood lighting to help reduce the effects of jet lag. Image Credit: Aerolíneas Argentinas

In South America, you have a couple of non-stop flights on SkyTeam partner Aerolíneas Argentinas. With Delta SkyMiles, you can book a round-trip economy flight on Aerolíneas Argentinas.

The only 2 flights that you can book are from Miami (MIA) or New York (JFK) to Buenos Aires (EZE).

Taxes and fees for a round-trip economy flight from the U.S. to South America will be about $98.

Hot Tip: If you’re in South America and have SkyMiles to use, consider intra-South American flights on Delta partners Aerolíneas Argentinas, GOL, and LATAM.

8. Korean Air From South Korea to Australia or New Zealand: 75,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way

Korean Air business class — With direct aisle access and a lie-flat bed, you can rest peacefully when flying business class on Korean Air. Image Credit: Korean Air

SkyTeam partner Korean Air can provide value if you want to fly from Asia to Australia. With 75,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business-class flight on Korean Air. You could also book a round-trip economy flight for 80,000 SkyMiles.

Korean Air flies from Seoul (ICN) to Sydney (SYD), Brisbane (BNE), and Auckland (AKL).

Taxes and fees for one-way business class and round-trip economy flights will be about $70 and $162, respectively.

Need help booking an award flight? Here’s our step-by-step guide to booking Korean Air business class.

9. China Eastern From the U.S. to Asia: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way

china eastern business — Fly to Shanghai in China Eastern business class. Image Credit: China Eastern

A third transpacific flight to check out is with SkyTeam partner China Eastern. The airline flies from a handful of U.S. cities to Shanghai, giving you a few award flight options.

With 120,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business flight from the U.S. to Asia. You could also book a round-trip economy flight for 100,000 SkyMiles (50,000 miles one-way).

China Eastern flies the following routes from the U.S. to Shanghai (PVG):

Chicago (ORD)
Los Angeles (LAX)
New York (JFK)
San Francisco (SFO)

Taxes and fees for one-way business class and round-trip economy flights from the U.S. to Shanghai will be about $258 and $36 to $451, respectively.

Hot Tip: SkyTeam has a significant presence in Asia with many airlines based there including China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.

10. Partner Airlines From the U.S. to India: 120,000 Miles Business, One-Way

KLM business class — KLM’s newest business class consists of reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Image Credit: KLM

Since India is a faraway destination, there are often a lot of different ways you can fly between the U.S. and India on a variety of airlines.

In the case of Delta and its partners, you can redeem 120,000 Delta SkyMiles on a one-way business class flight aboard partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic, KLM, and more.

If you booked a round-trip economy flight, you’d spend 90,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Taxes and fees for a one-way business class flight and a round-trip economy flight ultimately vary depending on the airline, but will ultimately be about $24 to $50 and $100 to $150, respectively.

For complex itineraries to South Asia, you may not see all the available options by searching online; you can also call Delta at 800-221-1212 to look for award space.

Need more ways to fly to India? Check out our best ways to fly to India with points and miles.

11. Korean Air From the U.S. to South Korea: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way

Korean Air Prestige Class — Fly to Seoul via Korean Air business class Prestige Suites. Image Credit: Stella Shon

A fourth transpacific flight option for Delta SkyMiles is with Korean Air. The airline flies into numerous U.S. cities and 2 Canadian cities, opening up a ton of award options.

With 120,000 Delta SkyMiles, you can book a one-way business-class flight on Korean Air. You could also book a round-trip economy flight for 100,000 SkyMiles.

Korean Air flies the following routes from the U.S. to Seoul (ICN):

Atlanta (ATL)
Chicago (ORD)
Dallas (DFW)
Honolulu (HNL)
Las Vegas (LAS)
Los Angeles (LAX)
New York (JFK)
San Francisco (SFO)
Seattle (SEA)
Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Taxes and fees for one-way business class and round-trip economy flights will be about $26 and $88 respectively.

Have Korean Air miles? Check our best ways to redeem Korean Air SkyPass miles.

List of SkyTeam Partners

SCROLL FOR MORE

SkyTeam Airline Partners
Aeroflot (temporarily suspended)	ITA Airways
Aeromexico	KLM
Air Europa	Korean Air
Air France	Middle East Airlines
Delta Air Lines	Saudia Airlines
China Airlines	Tarom
China Eastern	Vietnam Airlines
Czech Airlines	Virgin Atlantic
Garuda Indonesia	Xiamen Airlines

List of Non-Alliance Delta Airline Partners

SCROLL FOR MORE

Aeroflot (temporarily suspended)	ITA Airways
Aerolineas Argentinas	Kenya Airways
Aeromexico	KLM
Air Europa	Korean Air
Air France	Middle East Airlines
China Airlines	Saudia Airlines
China Eastern	Tarom
Czech Airlines	Vietnam Airlines
Delta Air Lines	Virgin Atlantic
Garuda Indonesia	Xiamen Airlines

Final Thoughts

Delta’s revenue-based program makes it challenging to determine the value you’re receiving with your SkyMiles. It’s important that you spend time using the Delta search engine to understand the value of your miles.

Delta SkyMiles can provide value if you know where to look. With a number of Delta flights and SkyTeam partner flights to Asia, that’s likely the area of the world where you’ll find the most value for your SkyMiles.

Read our article to find out how you can discover some of the best Delta SkyMiles deals.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express^® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Delta

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Delta miles?

The Delta frequent flyer program calls its airline miles SkyMiles. The points you earn from flying on Delta or a Delta partner or from credit card spend and the points you redeem for award flights are called SkyMiles.

What credit cards offer Delta Air Lines miles?

Delta provides 3 ways to earn SkyMiles from credit cards. Delta co-branded American Express credit cards earn Delta Air Lines SkyMiles while American Express Membership Rewards points and Marriott Bonvoy points can be transferred to Delta.

What are MQM Delta miles?

MQMs are Medallion Qualifying Miles. MQMs are used to earn elite status within the Delta program. Delta has Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond elite status levels.

Are Delta SkyMiles refundable?

Currently, there are no fees for canceling a reservation booked with Delta SkyMiles and getting a refund of your miles, as well as any taxes and fees paid.

When do Delta SkyMiles expire?

Delta SkyMiles do not expire.

Was this page helpful?

About Michael McHugh

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Michael took his first international trip in 2013 with friends to the Bahamas. Although he didn’t travel much in his younger years, on that trip, he caught the travel bug and has been hooked ever since.

Michael first caught wind of the points and miles game in 2014 while at a bar in Washington, DC where the conversation amongst friends was quickly derailed because of an alert on a friend’s phone about a mistake fare. That’s where the love affair with points and miles began.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE^™