5 Uses for Delta SkyMiles

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5 Other uses for Delta SkyMiles Besides Award Travel

Delta SkyMiles are great because they never expire, but finding “low-level” (aka cheap) award seats can be incredibly frustrating.  If you have more than 25,000 Delta SkyMiles and are looking to redeem your miles for a free trip, check out my award booking service and I will do all the research for you.  If you are trying to get more Delta SkyMiles, read my post Should you get the 30,000 or the 45,000 Delta SkyMiles Credit Card?

If you have Delta SkyMiles, here are the options available to you:

  • Redeem Delta SkyMiles for award seats (25,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  • Shop with Delta SkyMiles (no minimum number of Delta SkyMiles)
  • Donate to charities with Delta SkyMiles (1,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  • 1 Year Delta Sky Club Membership (30,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  • Upgrade flights with Delta SkyMiles (5,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  • Pay for flights with Delta SkyMiles (10,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

I would put those options in this order (best to worst choice):

  1. Redeem Delta SkyMiles for award seats (25,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  2. Pay for flights with Delta SkyMiles (10,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  3. Upgrade flights with Delta SkyMiles (5,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  4. Shop with Delta SkyMiles (no minimum number of Delta SkyMiles)
  5. Donate to charities with Delta SkyMiles (1,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)
  6. 1 Year Delta Sky Club Membership (30,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

To use your Delta SkyMiles, go to www.Delta.com, click the SkyMiles tab, and click Use Miles.

Where are SkyMiles

Here are all the options to use Delta SkyMiles.

Use Delta SkyMiles

 

Option 1: Redeem Delta SkyMiles for Award Seats (25,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

Good luck trying to find award seats on the flights and dates you want.  If you need some help, go to my award booking service and I will do all the research for you.

 

Option 2: Pay for Flights with Delta SkyMiles (10,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

This is the next best thing to redeeming your Delta SkyMiles for award seats.  You get 1 cent per Delta SkyMile and this option is easy to use.  Just purchase your ticket on Delta.com and select Pay with Delta SkyMiles at checkout.

Pay with Delta SkyMiles

The number of Delta SkyMiles required corresponds to the total price of your ticket(s).  Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed in increments of 5,000 and 10,000 Delta SkyMiles.

Pay Rules

 

Option 3: Upgrade Flights with Delta SkyMiles (5,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

This option is only available for seats purchased in select fare classes (usually more expensive classes).  The number of Delta SkyMiles required to upgrade your seats will depend on your departure and arrival cities.

Delta Upgrades

 

Option 4: Shop with Delta SkyMiles (no minimum number of Delta SkyMiles)

Use your Delta SkyMiles to go on a shopping spree!

Shop SkyMiles

 

Option 4A: Delta SkyMiles Marketplace

Use your Delta SkyMiles to shop Delta’s online marketplace.  They have products in the following categories: electronics, fashion & beauty, food & wine, home goods, children’s toys, luggage, office, sports & recreation, and the ability to book a hotel or rental car.

Marketplace

One option is to buy a $100 American Express Gift Card for 21,500 Delta SkyMiles.  That is not a good deal because you are only getting 0.46 cents per Delta SkyMile.  However, there is a sliding scale were you can use between 1,000 and 21,500 Delta SkyMiles and pay the rest with a credit card.  This is a great way to liquidate your Delta SkyMiles balance.

100-GC-Delta

 

Option 4B: Use Delta SkyMiles in Online Auctions

Bid on exciting auctions with your Delta SkyMiles.  Check back frequently for new auctions.

Auctions

 

Option 4C: Use Delta SkyMiles to go to Broadway

Use Delta SkyMiles to buy Broadway tickets.

Broadway

 

Option 4D: Buy Magazines with Delta SkyMiles

I used Delta SkyMiles to purchase magazine subscriptions.  These are actually pretty good deals if you like reading any of the magazine that they offer.

Magazines

I recently purchased 26 issues of People Magazine for 1,900 Delta SkyMiles.

People 1900

26 issues of People Magazine can be purchased online for $56.94.  That equates to $2.19 per issue.  1,900 divided by 26 equals 73 Delta SkyMiles per issue, or 3 cents per SkyMile.

People Mag

 

Option 4E: Buy Newspapers with Delta SkyMiles

Enter your Delta SyMiles account information and zip code to determine which newspapers are available for your home address.

Points.com Newspaper

For me, only the Wall Street Journal was available.  39 weeks of Monday-Saturday delivery was available for 2,417 Delta SkyMiles, which is equal to 2,417 / 234 days = 10 Delta SkyMiles per day. That is a great deal!

Newspapers

 

Option 5: Donate to Charities with Delta SkyMiles (1,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

Donate your Delta SkyMiles to your favorite charity in 1,000 Delta SkyMile increments.

Donate SkyMiles

 

Option 6: 1 Year Delta Sky Club Membership (30,000 Delta SkyMiles minimum)

If you like airlines lounges, you can buy a 1 year membership to the Delta Sky Club for 30,000 Delta SkyMiles.

SkyClub Membership

If you have any questions, please leave a comment below.


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