Delta SkyMiles are valuable loyalty rewards points that can be used with Delta and their partner airlines to book flights. The value of a single SkyMile when redeemed for Delta flights is about 1.2 cents per point. In addition to flights, you can use your points towards hotels, car rentals, cruises, gift cards and more!
How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?
The Point Calculator values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each when redeemed for flights with Delta and their partners. This means that 10,000 SkyMiles is equal to about $120 on average.
SkyMiles can also be redeemed in the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace for gift cards, car rentals, hotels, and much more. These redemptions will give your miles significantly less value when compared to using them for airfare.
Delta SkyMiles value
| Redemption option | Redemption value in cents |
|---|---|
| Delta Flights | 1.2 |
| Pay With Miles | 1.0 |
| Car Rentals | 0.84 |
| Delta Gift Cards | 0.69 |
| Merchandise | 0.55 |
| Cruises | 0.47 |
| Hotels | 0.42 |
| Other Gift Cards | 0.41 |
Calculate Value: Delta Miles To Dollars Calculator
Redeeming miles for Delta flights
Redeeming your SkyMiles for flights directly through Delta Airlines will give you an average value of 1.2 cents per SkyMiles. This is the easiest value you can obtain without doing any kind of research.
Delta Airlines has a handful of sweet spots when it comes to redeeming your SkyMiles for solid value.
Short-haul flights in the U.S.
Short-haul flights in the United States is one of the best uses of Delta SkyMiles. It's easy way to get from point A to point B for a small amount of SkyMiles. You can find round-trip flights ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 Delta SkyMiles on average between many cities.
Long-haul economy flights in the U.S.
You can get some bang out of your Delta SkyMiles when it comes to booking long-haul flights in Economy with Delta. This can typically give you average to high-than-average value on your bookings.
For a round-trip flight from New York (JFK) to San Francisco in October, the cost in SkyMiles start for as low as 26,000 to 27,000 SkyMiles plus $12 in taxes. The lowest cost in cash for most of the flights between these two cities are $357. This gives Delta SkyMiles a cash value of around 1.3 cents each which is great value.
International redemptions
Delta has a handful of redemptions to international destinations that can net you some solid value. This includes:
- Flights to Brazil on LATAM
- Flights to the U.K. on Virgin Atlantic
- Flights with Korean Airlines
- Flights from the U.S. to Canada
- Flights from the U.S. to Middle East
These will mainly be for First, Business, and Delta One flights, but there's some sweet spots for economy as well for these particular flights and destinations.
All partner award bookings can be booked directly though the Delta website by entering your destination, dates, and selecting 'Shop with Miles'. Results for both Delta and airline partners will appear in the results.
I recommend using the 'My dates are flexible' option so that you can find the best value across multiple dates.
Delta flash sales & weekend getaways
Delta has weekend getaway deals to several destinations around the globe for anyone who wants to plan a quick weekend trip. These deals are usually heavily reduced and can save you some serious SkyMiles.
Along with weekend getaways, Delta also has consistent Flash Sales. These are random deals that pop up to excellent destinations for great value.
Both of these add to the reasons why I recommend keeping a stash of SkyMiles handy so you can be ready for that next deal to a place on your bucket list or to a favorite travel destination.
Finding other great redemptions
The Delta SkyMiles program has a handful of sweet spots when it comes to redemptions. If you're looking for flights outside of the sweet spots mentioned, your best bet is to use Advanced Search and select the My Dates Are Flexible option when searching flights.
This allows you to easily toggle between seeing the cost of flights in SkyMiles and the cost of flights in cash. From there, you can easily calculate which flights offer you great value.
Below are a few examples of how to use Advance Search to find some solid redemptions.
Detroit to Orlando
For a round-trip flight from Detroit to Orlando in mid-August, I was able to find several great redemptions starting at 13,000 SkyMiles plus $12 in taxes/fees. Cash prices for the same flights started as low as $197 meaning these redemptions offer a value of 1.42 cents per SkyMile which is great.
Redemption types
You can use your Delta SkyMiles to pay for a portion of your flight using either Miles + Cash or using Pay with Miles.
Miles + Cash redemptions
Along with booking award flights with all miles, you can also book using Miles + Cash. This allows you to flexibility to pay for a flight using a combination of miles and dollars.
While that's a nice benefit to have, do note that you will not receive Medallion Qualification Segments (MQSs), Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) or Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) for Miles + Cash redemptions. They are treated just like normal award tickets.
If you want to use your miles and still earn progress towards Delta Medallion status, you can consider the Pay with Miles option explained below.
Pay with miles
Pay with Miles allows Delta Airlines cardholders to use their miles at checkout to reduce the cost of the ticket price.
Redemptions start at 5,000 SkyMiles for $50 off and goes up in increments of 5,000 SkyMiles. This will give your SkyMiles a value of 1 cent each. This isn't the best redemption option, but it is a great choice if you want to shave a few dollars off airfare while still earning MQSs, MQMs, and MQDs towards Delta Medallion Status.
Seat upgrades
Delta SkyMiles can be used to upgrade your seat. This can be done at checkout while booking your trip or you can use your SkyMiles to a upgrade your seat on a trip you've already booked.
If you're reservation is eligible and you have enough Skymiles, you will see the options you have for upgrading your trip in the Trip Summary section when booking your trip and in the 'Select Seats' for money or miles section when in My Trips for a trip you have already booked.
Hotel stays
Skymiles can be used to book Hotels through the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace. These redemptions hover around an average of around 0.42 cents each.
You must have at least half of the miles required to reserve the room. You can pay cash for the remainder of the balance if you do not have enough SkyMiles.
Learn more: Best Hotel Credit Cards (+ Rewards Calculator)
Car rentals
Skymiles can be used for car rentals through the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace. Car rentals will give you SkyMiles an average value of about 0.8 cents, but can be higher or lower depending on how far out you making your booking (along with other factors).
Bookings can be made with top car rental agencies such as Alamo, Dollar, Enterprise, and Hertz.
Cruises
Skymiles can be used to book cruises through the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace. The value of redemptions ranged from 0.4 cents to 0.55 cents per mile. While the value isn't the best, being able to book a full cruise starting at 78,000 SkyMiles isn't too shabby for anyone who loves cruising.
Standard interior rooms ranged between 78,000 to 227,000 depending on the brand and length of cruise. The value of your SkyMiles will heavily depend on the brand.
Gift cards
Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed for a large variety of gift card options. This includes the categories of dining, entertainment, gas, retail, and travel.
The value of these gift card vary depending on the retailer and the denomination. Most of these options will give you value between 0.39 and 0.42 cents per SkyMiles which is only a third of their average value.
Merchandise
You can purchase merchandise with your SkyMiles through the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace. This include suitcases, electronics, kitchen appliances, Apple electronics, and much more.
The prices of these will vary, but I found that most of these redemptions range between 0.5 cents to 0.6 cents per mile. There could be some hidden gems mixed in, so it may be worth scanning through if you're thinking about making a purchases.
Experiences
Delta SkyMiles can be used to bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Skymiles Experiences includes experiences such as VIP tickets to the Grammy's, Wine and Food tasting with well-known chefs, suite tickets to sporting events, and more. The value of these experience will depend solely on how much you value the event itself.
Convert Delta miles to dollars
Use the Delta SkyMiles Point Value Calculator to determine the cash value of Delta SkyMiles for flights, gift cards, and more. This will help give you an idea of how much your miles are worth when redeemed.
| Redemption option | Average cash value |
|---|---|
| Award Flights | $0 |
| Pay with Miles | $0 |
| Car Rentals | $0 |
| Hotels | $0 |
| Cruises | $0 - $0 |
| Delta Gift Cards | $0 |
| Merchandise Purchases | $0 - $0 |
| Other Gift Cards Amounts | $0 - $0 |
How To To Earn SkyMiles
The best way to earn Delta SkyMiles is through intro bonuses and everyday spending across co-branded Delta Credit Cards and credit cards offered by transfer partners.
Learn more: Best Delta Credit Cards (+ SkyMiles Calculator)
Delta credit cards
Delta offers a total of seven co-branded American Express credit cards. These cards earn SkyMiles on everyday purchases and comes with a bunch of benefits ranging from in-flight savings to annual First Class companion passes.
Here's the credit cards you can use to earn Delta SkyMiles:
| Credit Card | Highlights | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
Best For No Annual Fee
|
$0 | |
Best For Free Checked Bags
|
|
$0 introductory annual fee fee, then $99 |
Best Overall For Delta Travelers
|
|
$250 |
Best For Benefits & Medallion Status Chasers
|
|
$550 |
Best Business Card For Free Checked Bags
|
|
$0 introductory annual fee fee, then $99 |
Best Overall For Delta Business Travelers
|
|
$250 |
Best Business Card For Benefits & Medallion Status Chasers
|
|
$550 |
| View Best Delta Credit Card Offers | ||
American Express Membership Rewards
If you're really looking to maximize your earnings in the Delta SkyMiles program, you can pick up American Express Membership Rewards credit cards. Membership Rewards Points can be transferred to Delta SkyMiles at a rate of 1:1 meaning that every 1,000 AMEX points you transfer to Delta will give you 1,000 SkyMiles.
American Express offers a good amount of Membership Rewards credit cards, but here the best offers for earning with Delta:
FAQ
How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?
The Point Calculator values Delta SkyMiles at an average of 1.2 cents each.
How do you calculate Delta Skymiles?
Delta SkyMiles are earned per $1 spent and are based on the base fare of the Delta flight, the fare class you're flying in, and your Delta Medallion status.
How many miles do you need for a free flight on Delta?
One way tickets can start as low as 10,000 SkyMiles.
How much is 60,000 Delta SkyMiles worth?
At our valuation of 1.2 cents per point, 60,000 Delta SkyMiles is worth $720.
How much is 70,000 SkyMiles worth?
At our valuation of 1.2 cents per point, 70,000 Delta SkyMiles is worth $840.
How much is 75,000 SkyMiles worth?
At our valuation of 1.2 cents per point, 75,000 Delta SkyMiles is worth $900.
How much is 90,000 SkyMiles worth?
At our valuation of 1.2 cents per point, 90,000 Delta SkyMiles is worth $1,080.
How much is 100,000 SkyMiles worth?
At our valuation of 1.2 cents per point, 100,000 Delta SkyMiles is worth $1,200.
How much is 110,000 SkyMiles worth?
At our valuation of 1.2 cents per point, 110,000 Delta SkyMiles is worth $1,320.
Delta SkyMiles calculators
Check out all of our Delta SkyMiles calculators and calculate everything from how many miles you can earn with credit cards to the cash value of your miles based on redemption!
These calculators and guides are all about maximizing your spending and earning the most SkyMiles per dollar spent.
Use our Delta credit card calculators to estimate how many SkyMiles you can earn and the cash value of the card based on the spend amounts you enter, how much you value benefits, and annual fees.
Our calculators allow you to compare up to two additional credit cards side by side based on same or different spend. Plus, all spend amounts you enter in the Primary card's column rolls over to all credit card rewards calculators on the site!
Reminder: Don't forget that you can also transfer credit card points from partners to Delta SkyMiles!
In need of more SkyMiles? You can transfer rewards from several partner programs directly to your SkyMiles account!
Want to know what you can redeem your SkyMiles for and how much they are worth? Check out our Delta miles value calculators.
Maximize your airline miles
Looking for the best Delta credit cards? Check out a few of our top picks below and use our calculators to find out how much you can earn!
- Best for earning on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases: American Express® Gold Card.
- Best for lounge access and 5X on airfare: The Platinum Card® from American Express.
- Best for frequent Delta travelers: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card.
- Best for frequent Delta business travelers: Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card.
