Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program is one of the major US airline loyalty programs and a member of the SkyTeam alliance. A frequent question from members concerns the expiration of their miles.

Delta SkyMiles Expiration Policy

Delta offers one of the most straightforward and member-friendly policies when it comes to mileage expiration: Delta SkyMiles do not expire.

That's right! As long as your SkyMiles account remains open and in good standing, your miles will remain in your account indefinitely, regardless of how often you earn or redeem them. There is no requirement for periodic account activity to keep your miles valid.

This policy provides significant peace of mind for SkyMiles members, allowing them to accumulate miles over the long term without the pressure of needing to make transactions solely to prevent expiration.

How to Earn More Delta SkyMiles

Earning SkyMiles is simple thanks to Delta’s network of airline, hotel, rental car, and retail partners. Signing up for one of Delta’s co-branded credit cards can also accelerate your balance.

Flights with Delta and partners

Miles are earned on Delta flights and with its SkyTeam alliance partners:

Aeroflot (suspended), Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeromexico, Air Europa, Air France, China Airlines, China Eastern, Czech Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, ITA Airways, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia, SAS, TAROM, Vietnam Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and XiamenAir.

In addition, Delta has special partnerships with LATAM, airBaltic, Cape Air, China Southern (select flights), Hawaiian Airlines (inter-island), and WestJet.

Mileage earning depends on fare class and status:

  • General members: 5 miles per dollar spent
  • Silver Medallion: 7 miles per dollar
  • Gold Medallion: 8 miles per dollar
  • Platinum Medallion: 9 miles per dollar
  • Diamond Medallion: 11 miles per dollar

Hotels, vacations, and rentals

  • Earn by booking with Delta Stays, Delta Cruises, Airbnb, or hotel partners such as Marriott, Hyatt, IHG, Accor, and Shangri-La.
  • Bundle flights, hotels, and cars through Delta Vacations and earn on the full package.
  • Car rental partners include Hertz, Enterprise, Thrifty, Dollar, Alamo, National, Avis, Budget, Payless, Sixt, and Europcar.
  • Link your account to Lyft or Turo to earn on rideshares and carshares.

Retail partners

SkyMiles can be earned with Starbucks, Ticketmaster, or Energy Plus (for eligible states).

Redeeming Delta SkyMiles

With a large balance, the challenge is deciding how to use them.

  • Award flights: Redeem SkyMiles on Delta and all partner airlines. Watch for SkyMiles Award Deals for discounted fares.
  • Pay With Miles: Available to Delta Amex cardholders, allowing partial payments with miles (5,000 miles = $50).
  • Flight extras: Use miles for upgrades, checked bags, change fees, Preferred Seats, and drinks at Delta Sky Clubs.
  • Sky Club membership: Medallion members can purchase individual or executive memberships with miles.
  • Vacations and stays: Apply miles toward Delta Vacations packages and Delta Stays.
  • SkyMiles Experiences: Bid for entry to events and experiences.
  • Other redemptions: Less valuable options include magazines through MagsForMiles.

Delta Co-Branded Credit Cards

Delta and American Express offer several co-branded cards that earn SkyMiles.

Personal cards:

Business cards:

  • Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles Platinum Business American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve Business American Express Card

Each card varies in annual fee and perks. Higher-fee cards may provide lounge access or annual companion certificates, while the Blue card has no annual fee. Closing a co-branded card does not erase your miles, since they remain tied to your SkyMiles account.

Shopping and Dining Programs

Delta makes it easy to earn miles outside of travel:

  • SkyMiles Shopping: Shop online at 1,000+ retailers.
  • SkyMiles Dining: Link a credit or debit card and earn miles at participating restaurants.

Buying, Gifting, Donating, and Transferring Miles

  • Buying/Gifting: 3.5 cents per mile, sold in 2,000-mile increments, up to 60,000 miles per year.
  • Donating: Through SkyWish, miles can be given to charities such as UNICEF, St. Jude, Habitat for Humanity, and Make-A-Wish.
  • Transferring: One cent per mile plus a $30 fee per transaction, with limits of 1,000 to 30,000 miles per transfer. Award flights booked for others are a free alternative.
  • Partner transfers: Transfer points from Amex Membership Rewards (1:1) or Marriott Bonvoy (3:1). Limited transfers are possible from IHG, Hilton, Radisson, Accor, or Hertz, but ratios vary and are generally less favorable.

Reasons You Might Lose Your Delta Miles

While miles never expire, accounts can be closed in certain situations:

  • Death of the account holder
  • Lack of response to communications regarding account status
  • Fraudulent or prohibited activity
  • Multiple accounts under the same name
  • Moving to a country that does not permit SkyMiles membership
  • Voluntarily closing your account without redeeming your balance

Official Policy

For confirmation and the official wording, you can refer to the Delta SkyMiles program rules:

Summary

Delta SkyMiles provide long-term flexibility since they never expire. Members can earn through Delta flights, partners, credit cards, shopping, dining, and more. Redemption options range from award flights and upgrades to vacation packages and special events.

As long as you keep your account in good standing and avoid prohibited activity, your SkyMiles will remain available whenever you are ready to book your next trip.

Disclaimer: Program terms and conditions can change, although Delta's policy of non-expiring miles has been long-standing. This guide is for informational purposes only.