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.
Table of contents
- Earning Delta SkyMiles
- 11 Best Ways To Redeem 150,000 Delta SkyMiles
- Delta One to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Business Class, One-Way
- Virgin Atlantic From the U.S. to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Upper Class, One-Way
- Air France From the U.S. to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Business Class, One-Way
- LATAM Business Class From the U.S. to South America: 95,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- Saudia Business Class From the U.S. to the Middle East: 85,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- China Airlines From the U.S. to Asia: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- Aerolíneas Argentinas From the U.S. to South America: 80,000 Miles Economy, Round-Trip
- Korean Air From South Korea to Australia or New Zealand: 75,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- China Eastern From the U.S. to Asia: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- Partner Airlines From the U.S. to India: 120,000 Miles Business, One-Way
- Korean Air From the U.S. to South Korea: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- List of SkyTeam Partners
- List of Non-Alliance Delta Airline Partners
- Final Thoughts
Table of Contents
- Earning Delta SkyMiles
- 11 Best Ways To Redeem 150,000 Delta SkyMiles
- 1. Delta One to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Business Class, One-Way
- 2. Virgin Atlantic From the U.S. to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Upper Class, One-Way
- 3. Air France From the U.S. to Europe: 120,000 Miles in Business Class, One-Way
- 4. LATAM Business Class From the U.S. to South America: 95,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- 5. Saudia Business Class From the U.S. to the Middle East: 85,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- 6. China Airlines From the U.S. to Asia: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- 7. Aerolíneas Argentinas From the U.S. to South America: 80,000 Miles Economy, Round-Trip
- 8. Korean Air From South Korea to Australia or New Zealand: 75,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- 9. China Eastern From the U.S. to Asia: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- 10. Partner Airlines From the U.S. to India: 120,000 Miles Business, One-Way
- 11. Korean Air From the U.S. to South Korea: 120,000 Miles Business Class, One-Way
- List of SkyTeam Partners
- List of Non-Alliance Delta Airline Partners
- Final Thoughts
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
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)
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.
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 AuDelta 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
Virgin Atlantic’s new Upper Class product is impressive and comfortable! Image Credit: Virgin AtlanticAnother 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!
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: DeltaNeed 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
Use your Delta SkyMiles to access Air France business class award space! Image Credit: Air FranceIf 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.
An Air France business class flight from Los Angeles to Paris can be booked for just $6 in taxes and fees! Image Credit: DeltaAir 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’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: LATAMLATAM 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’s business class reclines fully lie-flat for utmost comfort. Image Credit: SaudiaWhen 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
Try business class to Asia on China Airlines by redeeming SkyMiles. Image Credit: China AirlinesOne 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
Enjoy modern LED mood lighting to help reduce the effects of jet lag. Image Credit: Aerolíneas ArgentinasIn 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
With direct aisle access and a lie-flat bed, you can rest peacefully when flying business class on Korean Air. Image Credit: Korean AirSkyTeam 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
Fly to Shanghai in China Eastern business class. Image Credit: China EasternA 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’s newest business class consists of reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Image Credit: KLMSince 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
Fly to Seoul via Korean Air business class Prestige Suites. Image Credit: Korean AirA 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
| Aeroflot (temporarily suspended) | ITA Airways |
| Aerolineas Argentinas | Kenya 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 | Xiamen Airlines |
| Garuda Indonesia | |
List of Non-Alliance Delta Airline Partners
| GOL | Virgin Atlantic |
| Great Lakes Airlines | Virgin Australia |
| Hawaiian Airlines | WestJet |
| |
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.
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 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 Brilliant™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, click here.
