In the miles & points world, people often joke about the value of Delta SkyMiles, going so far as calling them “SkyPesos.” In Taylor Swift terms (and I’m no Swiftie, but it seems appropriate), you could say that SkyMiles is kind of the anti-hero.
But here’s the thing — not everything about SkyMiles is bad. I wanted to address that in a bit more detail in this post. What does SkyMiles get such a bad rap, and what’s the best way to redeem this currency?
In this post:
Why do people not like Delta SkyMiles?
There are plenty of people who like the Delta SkyMiles program, though savvy people who are into miles & points aren’t necessarily a fan of redeeming this mileage currency. For many of us, the beauty of miles & points is being able to redeem for aspirational first and business class flights that would be unaffordable if paying cash.
From redeeming American AAdvantage miles for Qatar Airways business class, to redeeming United MileagePlus miles for Lufthansa first class, there are all kinds of ways to use miles for tickets that would cost many thousands of dollars. This represents a disproportionately good value, compared to the cost of a ticket if paying cash.
Delta SkyMiles, on the other hand, is a much more strictly revenue based program, meaning there are fewer opportunities to get outsized value:
- You’ll virtually never find a reasonably priced one-way Delta long haul business class award, unlike with American or United
- Even though Delta reimburses partner airlines very little for partner redemptions, the airline still charges an outrageous number of miles; for example, Virgin Atlantic one-way transatlantic awards regularly cost over 300K miles, while Virgin Atlantic would charge under 50K points for the same redemption
What are the best ways to redeem Delta SkyMiles?
How should you go about redeeming Delta SkyMiles, to get as much value as possible? Unlike with other programs, you’ll generally find that you get the best value with SkyMiles on the same flights that would be reasonably priced in cash. You just need to have a different mindset when you redeem Delta SkyMiles vs. other mileage currencies.
Below I’ll share what I consider the best uses of SkyMiles to be. Let me state upfront that you’re almost never going to get a good deal with SkyMiles if you’re booking a partner award originating or terminating in the United States, and/or if you book a one-way Delta long haul business class award.
Conversely, Delta SkyMiles is one of the mileage currencies with the highest floor value. Unlike with other programs, it’s almost impossible to redeem SkyMiles for less than one cent of value per mile.
With that out of the way, let me share what I consider the best uses of Delta SkyMiles to be. As you’ll see, if you want to maximize value, there’s a strong incentive to have a co-branded Delta Amex credit card.
Use the Delta TakeOff 15 benefit
Nowadays I think the single best, easiest way to redeem SkyMiles is using the TakeOff 15 benefit, which is available to those with a co-branded Delta Amex. Essentially if you have a co-branded card and log into your SkyMiles account, you’ll get a 15% discount on award redemptions.
Delta SkyMiles has dynamic award pricing, and you’ll find that the cost in miles is roughly correlated to the cost in cash (though it’s not an exact cent per mile ratio). So start by finding a flight that you think is fairly priced in cash (you can do this through Delta’s website, or through Google Flights).
Let’s use a $409 one-way first class fare from Boston to Seattle as an example.
If you wanted to redeem miles for that ticket, it would ordinarily cost 32,000 SkyMiles. However, if you have a co-branded credit card, you’d pay just 27,200 miles.
You’re saving $403 (after subtracting the $5.60 in taxes you’d pay if redeeming miles) for 27,200 SkyMiles, so that’s nearly 1.5 cents of airfare per mile. That’s pretty solid, and you’ll find similar redemption rates for most types of Delta tickets.
Use the Delta Pay With Miles feature
Delta also has the Pay With Miles feature for those with a co-branded Delta Amex. With this, you can redeem SkyMiles toward the cost of any Delta ticket, in increments of $50 worth of savings for every 5,000 SkyMiles.
In other words, this gets you one cent of value per mile. Is this my favorite use of SkyMiles? No, as I find that you’ll typically get better value with the TakeOff 15 benefit. However, this gives SkyMiles an absolute floor value of being able to redeem them for one cent each toward airfare, even if you don’t have enough miles for the entire ticket. 
Redeem on SkyTeam partners outside the US
Delta’s premium cabin partner award pricing is consistently borderline offensive when traveling to and from the United States. Expect Delta to consistently charge 200,000+ miles for a one-way business class award, even if a partner airline would charge only a fraction as many miles through its own program.
Why does Delta have such high partner award pricing? Well, I think it’s primarily about setting expectations. Delta wants to charge these very high amounts for travel on its own flights, so it wouldn’t look very good if partner awards only cost a fraction as much, so Delta instead jacks up the prices across the board.
The good news is that Delta’s partner award pricing is much more reasonable if you’re not traveling to or from the United States, since these aren’t markets where Delta is competing. So I don’t want to say there are any spectacular redemption values, but you’ll find much fairer redemption options in other markets.
For example, you could fly from Tokyo to Sydney via Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam Airlines business class for 75,000 SkyMiles…
Or you could fly from Johannesburg to Frankfurt via Paris in Air France business class for 85,000 SkyMiles…
Or you could fly from Bangkok to Paris via Jeddah in Saudia business class for 80,000 SkyMiles…
I’m just picking routes at random here, but my point is that Delta SkyMiles is a program worth considering for partner business class awards that don’t touch the United States.
Book roundtrip Delta One business class awards
If you want to redeem for a long haul Delta One (business class) award, is there ever a deal to be had? Yes and no. You’ll almost never find a good deal for a long haul one-way award on Delta. The reason is because Delta uses similar logic for award pricing and revenue pricing, and when paying cash, a one-way long haul ticket is almost never half the cost of a roundtrip.
You will sometimes find decent deals on point-to-point Delta One flights, but only if booking roundtrip. For example, doing a quick search, I see a roundtrip business class award from Boston to London for 230,000 miles, which is less than the cost of a one-way on that same outbound flight.
Redeem for premium alcohol in the Sky Club
One of the benefits of Delta making SkyMiles a revenue based currency is that you can redeem miles toward the cost of just about anything Delta related… including alcohol in the Delta Sky Club. So while Delta ordinarily seems to make SkyMiles worth around a cent each, you can redeem SkyMiles for 1.5 cents each toward premium alcohol in the Sky Club.
If you appreciate good alcohol, don’t feel guilty about redeeming SkyMiles this way.
How much are Delta SkyMiles worth?
Personally I value Delta SkyMiles at 1.1 cents each. I’m not claiming that should be your valuation, but that’s the number I feel good about, while trying to be conservative with my valuations of rewards currencies.
While you can consistently redeem SkyMiles for one cent each with the Pay With Miles feature, it shouldn’t be hard to get a bit more value than that through the TakeOff 15 benefit, or even when redeeming on partner airlines outside of the United States.
Bottom line
While Delta SkyMiles is far from my favorite mileage currency, the miles also aren’t worthless. Delta’s program is much more revenue based than that of American and United, and that’s both good or bad, depending on how much effort you’re willing to put into redemptions.
On the plus side, SkyMiles has a high floor value. If you have a co-branded Delta Amex card, you’ll almost always get more than one cent of value thanks to the TakeOff 15 benefit.
The best ways to get significantly outsized value through SkyMiles is for partner redemptions not to or from the United States, and for roundtrip Delta One awards.
What’s your take on the best use of Delta SkyMiles?
The writer omits the takeoff 15 is a self service booking. Don't call reservations and expect the discount
How do you find the partner airlines route like, NRT to Sydney via SGN on Fly Delta? I always get a message like No results were found. For example, if I want to fly from PVG to IST via ICN, which Korean Air operates, Delta won’t show me route . Do I have to call them to find out?
I'm definitely a loyal delta flyer..
That being said, I paid cash for a premium economy round trip from SDF to HND via DTW on the outbound and ATL coming back..I paid 2800 for that..
And then delta offered me delta one from DTW to HND, for 100k miles or 1000 cash. no brainer for me! I used the miles
We caught a window on Delta which I’ve never seen since. Initial RT search for 2 of Jfk to Sydney- 750k each in Delta One. Opened up to RT flexible dates and multiple stops which resulted in JFK, Seattle, LAX, Sydney 250K each in Delta One-Booked! A bit of work and we were def tired but happy with our savings.
Mileageplus >> MileagePengos
Nobody's going to mention using miles with Delta vacations? You can get hotel and airport transfer with your miles.
I think that it may be reasonable for some domestic routes especially if you pay points and then cash (because of airline incidental credit card credits) for an upgrade. If the route you want is several hundred dollars but they only want 15k it could make sense.
There was a flash sale recently from any US point to AKL for 50k miles roundtrip even in peak dec/jan travel. I was able to book sju-akl and upgrade all legs with global upgrade to business (since there is no prem economy on that flight). It's also nice that I earn 20k MQMs on that itinerary. Probably the best Skypeso redemption I've ever made.
Yeah - the ability to upgrade award flights with a GUC is probably the best "hack" in terms of SkyMiles redemptions right now. A solid reason to reach Diamond...
I use them to purchase a Sky Club membership each year. I more than get my money's (miles) worth each year. For the cost of one or two First Class upgrades, I get decent food and drink all year long.
Interesting, albeit limited opportunity to use Skypesoes for international premium awards outside the America's. Based on that alone, I'd consider a revised rating to Skyliras.
Can we please stop referring to them as sky pesos? It's offensive.
I don't know about offensive, but certainly childish. Anyone using that tired old diss comes across as a 14 year old on 4chan.
Good example of the cost difference if US is not destination. Sydney to Lax Delta One was 396,000 pts. But, same flight going on to Mexico City was only 96,000 pts. 75% less and with an extra leg in aeromexico first class.
Delta flights to Europe originating in Panama City are also much cheaper. So, maybe a weekend in Panama prior to heading to Paris?
Those of you talking about flash sales. Lately? I used to see those but haven't seen any in a long time. At least not business class.
"Outside the US" does have its perks. Currently, Delta waives minimum spend/MQD requirements for international (non-US) residents (and requires proof of this). Thus you can earn status the old fashioned way, with MQM's.
Have had some decent value partner awards within Europe (ex KLM) while intra-European cash fares are exorbitantly expensive.
One can occasionally decent value on using miles for upgrades on transatlantic flights (example from Premium to Upper Class on Virgin), and...
"Outside the US" does have its perks. Currently, Delta waives minimum spend/MQD requirements for international (non-US) residents (and requires proof of this). Thus you can earn status the old fashioned way, with MQM's.
Have had some decent value partner awards within Europe (ex KLM) while intra-European cash fares are exorbitantly expensive.
One can occasionally decent value on using miles for upgrades on transatlantic flights (example from Premium to Upper Class on Virgin), and often they have decent sale prices on premium economy fares. BUT that requires an eligible fare class AND one has to check what inventory the upgrade is booked into (as sometimes the "new" fare class isn't eligible for any mileage accrual, not even what one would earn for what they purchases in economy, and it takes a while to sort that out with Delta.
I get at least 2 cents per mile going USA to TLV! but you have to book the flights as soon as they show up, about 11 months out. After that, they charge way too many miles for the trips. The secret is doing it 11 months out.
I use my sky pesos for international business class flights.
I was able to get 2 business class seats on KLM from Buenos Aires, to Delhi via Frankfurt for 90K sky miles a seat
I was able to get 2 business class seats on Korean from Seoul to Narita for 15K miles a seat
I was able to get 2 business class seats on Vietnam airlines from Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi for 20K miles a seat
How do you do that? On Fly Delta app or Korean Air App
A million mile for ATL-JNB.
Even chatGPTim can't fluff it's way out.
Is the Mexico trick dead, or do we just not talk about it?
I was able to do this a month ago from Mexico City to Auckland, NZ (via LAX), for 95,000 miles each way in Delta One plus ~$100 in tax, and same for return flight (both in November). Getting to MEX from US east coast in first class added about 43,000 miles each way, so let's say the full RT is about 280,000 with the stopover in MEX (one of them overnight). Longish flight with some...
I was able to do this a month ago from Mexico City to Auckland, NZ (via LAX), for 95,000 miles each way in Delta One plus ~$100 in tax, and same for return flight (both in November). Getting to MEX from US east coast in first class added about 43,000 miles each way, so let's say the full RT is about 280,000 with the stopover in MEX (one of them overnight). Longish flight with some extra hotel charges, but less than a third in miles for a more direct itinerary (or > $8,000 cash!!)
its the second part.
I use to see MEX to LHR and MEX to SYD on Delta One at reasonable rates about three weeks or so ago. Those fares have all been massively devalued recently. I worry that sweet spot is now dead.
Funny, I see YVR TPE economy flights needing 300,000 Skymiles but 1/3 of that is leaving Seattle (SEA-LAX or SFO-TPE) despite what the article says.
I find Skymiles might be best for winter domestic economy tickets.
The best way was business class "flash sales" to Europe. Last year I redeemed for two round trip tickets, JFK to BCN, 148K each. There used to be such sales maybe once or twice a year. However none have really occurred in 2023. There have been "stealth" sales though, similar to the BOS to LHR ticket you posted.
My view:
1) Flash Sales (when they occur)
2) Regular flights, upgraded with instruments like RUC...
The best way was business class "flash sales" to Europe. Last year I redeemed for two round trip tickets, JFK to BCN, 148K each. There used to be such sales maybe once or twice a year. However none have really occurred in 2023. There have been "stealth" sales though, similar to the BOS to LHR ticket you posted.
My view:
1) Flash Sales (when they occur)
2) Regular flights, upgraded with instruments like RUC or GUC when available
3) Normal flights at 1.2 to 1.5 cents per points (economy or first)
4) SkyClub purchases
5) Pay With Miles (this open makes less sense now with Take 15)
Came here to say this. Delta has quite a lot of "flash" sales for award bookings and they're pretty good. Have booked numerous east coast - Caribbean and Europe flights this way and gotten great value out of them.
This is the reason I remain on the AA hamster wheel as an EXP out of DCA. There is some decent value to be had in the AAdvantage program - especially with OW partners.
I've got about 100K in orphan miles with Delta. It's been good finding some transcon first class award space (out of BWI) for personal travel.
When you book using TakeOff 15 (flights on Delta metal), you also earn elite status points, so that adds some additional value to (mostly) domestic awards.
Didn't realize the RT Delta One discount.
A stick of gum?
You'd have to be crazy to collect sky lira .
Can be very handy for hopping around Asia. 7,500 miles one-way Y between GMP and HND on KE. 45,000 miles one-way J between CGK and HND on GA.
For a while, even after SkyMiles had started to devalue fairly aggressively, their occasional promotions could still offer great value. (The 2cpm redemption against Delta Vacations packages in 2019 offered some really exceptional opportunities, when combined with unpublished fares. And there were occasional promotions for Delta One internationally that at least put the pricing back a devaluation or two.) But those promotions seem to have been a victim of COVID.
If you're looking to book business class, you're going to have a bad time. But there are multiple sales per year that you can find Australia, New Zealand, South America, or Europe RT in coach for <45K skymiles which is over 4 cents per mile typically.