Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles loyalty program offers travelers an array of opportunities to earn and redeem miles, enhancing their flying experience. To qualify for each tier of Delta Medallion elite status, members must meet the Medallion Qualification Dollar (MQD) requirement. The MQDs are calculated based on the cost of airfare, serving as the sole qualification metric for achieving elite status within the program. Delta provides four elite status tiers, each offering unique benefits to its members.
In addition to earning miles through airfare spending, members can accrue bonus miles through various partnerships. For example, spending $30 or more at participating restaurants earns travelers 1,000 bonus miles. Similarly, collaborations with major rental car companies such as Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, Enterprise, and National provide opportunities to earn 500 bonus miles or more per booking. Furthermore, using Lyft for rides in the US generates 1 mile per dollar spent and 2 miles per dollar on rides to US airports.
Delta's dynamic pricing model for awards makes it challenging to assign a concrete value to SkyMiles. However, members can redeem their miles for Delta gift cards starting at 5,600 miles for a $50 card. This flexibility allows members to use their accrued miles in a manner that best fits their needs, with Membership Rewards boasting 19 other airline and hotel partners.
Additional earning opportunities exist through Ticketmaster and Airbnb. Members earn 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible event tickets in the US and Canada with Ticketmaster. When booking qualifying stays worldwide with Airbnb, travelers can also earn 1 mile per dollar spent. Moreover, Delta's partnership with Hertz allows members to earn more SkyMiles based on their elite status tier when renting cars.
For those looking to explore car-sharing options, Delta offers an enticing bonus of 2,000 miles after completing the first trip with Turo. This collaboration further expands the avenues through which members can accumulate miles.
