Delta SkyMiles Changes Earning Rates for 3 Partners, and It’s Good News

Updated: September 11, 2026, 9:17am CDT

Edited by:

Jump to Section

Table of Contents

Delta Changes Some SkyMiles Earning Rates
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened 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.

In a world full of devaluations, we’re getting a … what’s the word for it, “upvaluation”?

While earning rates from flights and uses of miles seem to get worse and worse each year, Delta Air Lines has made positive improvements to how many SkyMiles passengers earn on flights with 3 airline partners: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, and LATAM.

Let’s take a look at the changes to see how many SkyMiles you’ll earn on these flights going forward.

Delta Changes Some SkyMiles Earning Rates

For context, these changes don’t apply to Delta‘s own flights. Neither do they apply broadly to all partners across the SkyTeam alliance.

Instead, these changes apply to how many SkyMiles you earn with 3 carriers in Latin America: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, and LATAM. Changes apply as of September 10, 2026, though there’s a combination of tickets from that date and flights from that date, depending on the carrier.

Let’s check each in turn.

New Earning Rates on Aerolíneas Argentinas

Based in Argentina, Aerolíneas Argentinas is a SkyTeam member. There are several changes to earning SkyMiles on flights with this partner, taking effect for flights on or after September 10:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Cabin	Fare Class	Old Earning Rate*	New Earning Rate*
Business	J, C, D, I	100%	125%
Premium economy	W, S	50% to 100%	125%
Economy	Y, M, B	50% to 75%	100%
Economy	K, U, H, L, Q	25% to 75%	75%
Economy	T, E, A, V, N, R	0% to 50%	25%

*Percentage of distance flown.

New Earning Rates on Aeromexico

Flights on SkyTeam member Aeromexico now earn miles as a percentage of distance flown, based on fare class. Previously, crediting these flights to Delta SkyMiles earned based on the fare price you paid.

Tickets issued on Delta stock (starting with “006”) before September 10, 2026, earn SkyMiles as if they were flown by Delta.

For tickets issued on or after September 10, the following mileage and Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) earnings apply:

SCROLL FOR MORE

Fare Class	Miles Earned*	MQDs*	Medallion Mileage Bonus
Business: J	200%	40%	Yes
Discounted business: C, D, I	200%	30%	Yes
Full economy: W, Y	125%	20%	Yes
Economy: B, M, U	100%	15%	Yes
Discounted economy: H, K	100%	10%	Yes
Deeply discounted economy: Q, L, T	100%	5%	Yes
Deeply discounted economy: E, N, R	50%	5%	Yes
Deeply discounted economy: V	25%	5%	Yes

*Percentage of distance flown.

New Earning Rates on LATAM

Delta owns a 10% stake in LATAM, the biggest airline in South America, and the airlines have a joint venture. LATAM isn’t in any major alliance.

LATAM B767 300 at gate — Slight bump up for LATAM. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

There were only small changes for LATAM flights credited to SkyMiles: Fare classes D, I, and Z were reclassified from discounted business to business, meaning the earning rates bumped up from 150% to 200% of distance flown.

These flights also earn 30% MQDs and Medallion mileage bonuses toward elite status with Delta.

Hot Tip:

Here are the best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles after you’ve earned them.

Final Thoughts

For passengers taking paid flights on Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, and LATAM, the number of miles you earn by crediting those flights to Delta SkyMiles has improved in several cases. Some fare classes provide higher earnings than they did previously.

Meanwhile, flights on Aeromexico earn based on distance, rather than the price you paid. That’s good news for people who aren’t interested in spending extra money just to get higher earnings.