Delta Skymiles Frequent Flyer Program

The Delta Skymiles Program was lasted reviewed on 8th August 2006

Earning Miles - Delta Skymiles members earn one mile for every mile flown on Delta Airlines, Delta Shuttle and Delta Connection. You will earn a minimum of 500 miles even if you fly less than then 500 miles. Business class or first class flyers earn 150% extra miles.

Airline Partners - Delta Skymiles airline partners include Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Air Jamaica, Alaska Airlines, Alitalia, Advianca, China Airlines, China Southern, Continental Airlines, Czech Airlines, El AL Israel Airlines, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Hotel Partners - Hotel partners include AmeriHost Suites, Amerisuites, Best Western International, Boscolo Hotels, Candlewood Suites, Clarion, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Conrad Hotels, Coral by Hilton, Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Crown Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Days Inn, Doubletree, Econo Lodge, Embassy Suites, Four Points by Sheraton, Hampton Inn and Suites, Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hyatt, Howard Johnson, Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts, Novetel, Omni Hotels, Radisson Hotels, Ramada, Red Roof Inns, Scandic, Sheraton, Sofitel, Swisshotels, Westin Hotels, Wyndham Hotels.

Car Rental Partners - Delta Skymiles members can also earn miles with car rentals. Partners include Advantage Rent a Car, Avis, Budget, Alamo, Dollar Rent a Car, Hertz, National Car Rental, Sixt and Thrifty Car Rental.

Vacation and Cruise Partners - Delta Skymiles members can earn miles from the following vacation and cruise partners - Hilton Grand Vacation Club, Marriott Vacation Clun International, Scenic Airlines, Skymiles Cruises.

Dining Partners - Delta Skymiles Dining and Hotel Rewards has over 10,000 participating restaurants in US and Canada. You can earn up to 10 miles for every dollar you spend at partner restaurants.

Financial Partners - Members of OnePass program can also earn extra miles when using partner financial services firm. For example, if you work directly with your choice of one of the nation's four leading mortgage lenders, including Chase Home Finance, CitiMortgage, Wachovia, and Washington Mutual Home Loans, you can potentially earn up to 225,000 miles. Other financial partners include TD Ameritrade, Chase, LendingTree, sharebuilder, realestate.com, gmac real estate, collegiate funding services.

Other Partners - You can also earn miles with the following retailers. They include 1800-Flowers.com, e-rewards, ftd.com, biscoff, java city, netflix, samsonite, skymall, skymilesshopping.com, scana energy, delta skymiles clothing care, the wall street journal.

Redeem Miles - Delta Skymiles has two types of awards - the SkySaver and SkyChoice. SkySaver awards are subject to blackout dates and capacity controls. SkyChoice has none of these restrictions but requires double the number of miles. The awards are very much standard among the industry - 25,000 miles for example is required for a domestic roundtrip flight.

You can donate your miles to various charities as well, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, CARE, The United Way, and the Charity of the Quarter. You can also choose to use 70,000 miles for an annual membership with the Crown Room Club.

Other Rules - Delta Skymiles does not expire as long as the accont is active once in three years. Having said that Skymiles has a clause that says they reserve the right to delete an account if it is inactive for 12 months after enrollment.

Elite Membership - There are three level of elite membership levels in the Delta Skymiles program - the Silver, Gold and Platinum levels.

Silver Level - The silver elite level requires flying 25,000 miles. Silver members get 25% bonus mileage points for every mile they fly. Silver members get benefits like unlimited complimentary domestic and companion upgrades, upgrade confirmation at booking, priority boarding, preferred seating, priority waitlist, special member services desk, special check-in privileges, discounted Crown Room Club membership, Elite SkyTeam benefits.

Gold Elite Level - You become a gold member when you chalk up 50,000 miles. As a gold member, you earn 100% bonus mileage. In addition to all the benefits that silver members get, gold members get additional benefits likek frequent traveler security line access, same-day confirmed fee waiver, same-day airport standby option.

Platinum Elite Level - Flying 75,000 miles in a calender year earns you platinum status. Like gold members, you get 100% bonus mileage. You get all the benefits that gold members get. In addition, you get benefits like award ticket fee waiver, platinum systemwide upgrade certificates, medallion marketplace, access to international lounges, priority baggage handling.