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Redeem Delta SkyMiles for best value
Several redemption options — from economy to Delta One fares.
You’ve got a bunch of SkyMiles, and you’re itching to use them. At the same time, you want to get the most value.
SkyMiles are worth an average of 1.4 cents each according to our February 2019 valuation. However, you can find flights with values of 2 cents per mile and above.
What's in this guide?
Delta’s airline partners
Your Delta SkyMiles can easily take you around the world, as Delta partners with many international carriers through its membership in SkyTeam.
SkyTeam carriers include:
- Aeroflot
- Aerolíneas Argentinas
- Aeroméxico
- AirEuropa
- Air France
- Alitalia
- China Airlines
- China Eastern
- Czech Airlines
- Delta
- Garuda Indonesia
- Kenya Airways
- KLM
- Korean Air
- MEA
- Saudia
- TAROM
- Vietnam Airlines
- Xiamen Air
Delta also partners with non-SkyTeam carriers such as Virgin Atlantic and Hawaiian Airlines.
You can earn Delta SkyMiles on flights with partner carriers. You can also redeem SkyMiles for eligible flights with these carriers.
Back to topPrices to expect when redeeming for award flights
Here’s a sample of round-trip award flights you might find on the Delta website. The prices aren’t necessarily the best; you may find better deals with diligent searching.
Main cabin
| Origin/Destination | Cost in dollars, rounded | Cost in miles | Value per mile, excluding fees | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Calgary (YYC) | $313 | 16,000 | 2 cents | $61.23 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to New York City (JFK) | $326 | 23,000 | 1.4 cents | $11.20 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) | $670 | 40,000 | 1.7 cents | $188.53 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Hong Kong (HKG) | $826 | 77,500 | 1.1 cents | $111.43 |
Data obtained February 2019. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
Comfort+
You may have trouble finding Comfort+ award fares for Los Angeles-to-Hong Kong flights. As of February 2019, we didn’t find a readily available Comfort+ award flight. However, you can find dollar-based seats in the fare class.
| Origin/Destination | Cost in dollars, rounded | Cost in miles | Value per mile, excluding fees | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Calgary (YYC) | $440 | 25,000 | 1.8 cents | $61.23 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to New York City (JFK) | $518 | 37,000 | 1.4 cents | $11.20 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR) | $1,018 | 84,000 | 1.2 cents | $188.53 |
Data obtained February 2019. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
First Class/Delta One
Using your miles for Delta One international flights can yield high value. In particular, look at the Los Angeles–London and Los Angeles–Hong Kong flights below. Each offers a value of 2.5 cents per mile.
| Origin/Destination | Cost in dollars, rounded | Cost in miles | Value per mile, excluding fees | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Calgary (YYC) | $724 | 49,000 | 1.5 cents | $61.23 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to New York City (JFK) | $1,279 | 130,000 | 1 cent | $11.20 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to London (LHR)* | $4,243 | 172,000 | 2.5 cents | $310.33 |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Hong Kong (HKG)* | $5,268 | 215,000 | 2.5 cents | $120.13 |
Data obtained February 2019. Values are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
*Delta One flight
How to find award flights for less
Search for a flight on the Delta website. Click the Advanced search dropdown, then select Miles from the Show price in section.
On the results page, you’ll see a calendar with available fares.
- Find the Calendar view section.
- Select 5 weeks. This will give you more flight availability so you can search for the lowest-cost fares.
- You can also use the Show best fares dropdown to select your desired fare class.
- Click Update results to refresh your search.
Award flights with great redemption values
Here are a few excellent fares that help you get maximum value from your miles. You can search for all of them on the Delta website.
Flights within the continental US: Round-trip for 10,000 miles
Delta offers some 10,000-mile fares for domestic round-trip flights. You’ll find many qualifying routes for western cities such as Los Angeles and Seattle. You can also pick destinations such as Nashville, Chicago and Boston.
Flights under 750 miles in distance seem to bring a particularly large volume of 10,000-SkyMile fares.
Virgin Atlantic to London in Upper Class: 86,000 miles each way
Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class gets rave reviews from travelers, so consider it for your next trip to London. You can take a one-way flight from an eligible city for 86,000 miles with $5.60 in fees. From London, you can easily connect to another European city.
If you want to fly Virgin Atlantic from Europe, consider doing so as a round-trip. If your flight starts in Europe, you could face steep surcharges.
Fly Delta One from the continental US to Asia: 148,000 miles round-trip
Travelers also have great things to say about Delta’s exclusive cabins with lie-flat seats. You can find deals for Delta One.
You can book the round-trip Los Angeles-to-Beijing fare below for as little as 148,000 miles, for example. That’s including $41.13 in fees.
Fly Korean Air to South Korea in economy: 50,000 miles round-trip
If you’d like to visit Asia, flying Korean Air to South Korea can be a good option. For fees of around $50, you can take a flight for 50,000 miles. This may yield a value of around 2.5 cents per mile.
From South Korea, you can easily take a flight to another destination in Asia. As a bonus, you can enjoy Incheon International Airport, which is consistently ranked as one of the best airports in the world.
Fly from the continental US to the South Pacific: Under 80,000 miles round-trip
You’ll find solid deals to places like Australia when flying Main Cabin. Check the five-week calendar to find fares under 80,000 miles for a round-trip with fees typically around $115.
The example fares below cost well under that amount: 70,000 and 64,000 miles, respectively. Your miles will be worth around 2 cents a mile.
How to earn Delta SkyMiles from credit cards
Award flights can cost tens of thousands — even hundreds of thousands — of miles. If you wanted to earn all those points with flights alone, you’d have to fly quite a lot.
For most travelers, there’s a better way to earn SkyMiles: credit cards. Through travel and everyday spending, you can rack up miles that’ll take you on your next vacation for less.
If you want to learn more about all of the ways you can quickly earn Delta SkyMiles, check out our full Delta SkyMiles earning guide.
Our pick for earning Delta SkyMiles
Compare cards for earning Delta SkyMiles
These are Delta’s cobranded credit cards. If a card offers elevated rewards, they’ll typically only be for Delta purchases. That said, these cobranded products are typically better for frequent Delta flyers.
For most travelers, the cards’ main draw is the Delta perks. With the higher-priced cards, you’ll find benefits like free checked baggage and priority boarding.
You can also convert points from select travel credit cards to Delta miles. Amex cards are particularly strong options for this.
For hotel cards, consider products from programs such as Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards Club and Hilton Honors. The transfer ratios aren’t as strong as what you’ll find with Amex cards, but they can be useful if you like to stay at specific properties.
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Bottom line
SkyMiles are worth around 1.4 cents each on average, but getting a higher value is always welcome.
Use Delta’s five-week view for flight searches to find fares for fewer miles. It could mean getting a fare for tens of thousands of points less. Along the way, keep an eye out for award fees.
If you’d like to learn about the ins and outs, check out our guide on Delta SkyMiles frequent-flyer program.
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