Looking to get more out of your SkyMiles? You're not alone – and lucky you, you're in the right place.
From constantly changing award rates to sky-high business class prices, Delta doesn't make it easy. Delta SkyMiles flash sales remain far and away the best way to put your stash of SkyMiles to use: It's well worth hanging onto your SkyMiles until an unreal sale like 25,000 miles to Europe or 19,000 SkyMiles to the Caribbean pops up. Same goes for dirt-cheap domestic redemptions under 10,000 SkyMiles.
But those are old hat to loyal Delta flyers by now. Let's take things to the next level with some of the best, creative ways to redeem SkyMiles today – including a few ways you can fly business class for a fraction of what Delta normally charges.
Focus Outside the US
One of the best ways to use your SkyMiles is to … forget about using them for a trip from your home airport here in the U.S. (or Canada). Instead, focus on redeeming them while you're already abroad.
It sounds silly, right? Let me explain.
Whether you're flying within the U.S. or to or from the states somewhere abroad, Delta award rates are all over the map. But flying within Europe, from Europe to Asia, or from Southeast Asia to Australia, it's different.
While it's not published anywhere, Delta still uses a hidden award chart that dictates far more stable pricing on these worldly routes. And that means you can use SkyMiles to fly some of Delta's SkyTeam partner carriers, getting far more bang for your buck in the process.
Need to get from Europe to Dubai (DXB), for example? Forget the 400,000-plus SkyMiles Delta would charge for a similar, seven-hour flight from the U.S. to Europe. Use your SkyMiles to fly KLM: It'll always cost 25,000 SkyMiles in economy or 42,500 miles in business class.
Or how about flying from Seoul (ICN) over to Tokyo-Narita (NRT)? In Korean Air's brand-new business class suites, no less? Just 15,000 SkyMiles each way – an excellent SkyMiles redemption, considering these flights typically cost close to $500.
Those are just two examples from a practically limitless list. If you're trying to piece together a trip overseas, it's well worth scoping out whether there's a SkyTeam partner that can get you where you need to go.
If so, it could be a solid way to use your SkyMiles.
Use the Mexico Loophole
Delta has slowly but surely stamped out nearly every way to book a business class seat for a reasonable amount of SkyMiles.
- An old sweet spot to fly business class from the U.S. to the Middle East for 85,000 SkyMiles each way is long gone
- A little-known workaround to book business class to Europe, Asia, or even Australia for as low as 75,000 SkyMiles by starting (or ending) your trip in Mexico has been closed off, too…
… mostly. Turns out, there are still some bargains out there. For example, you can still book a business class seat between Santiago (SCL) all the way down in Chile and Mexico City (MEX) for 77,500 SkyMiles each way for a nonstop with LATAM.
Or you can book Delta One business class with a pitstop in Atlanta (ATL) before flying west to your final destination in Mexico: Just 65,800 SkyMiles thanks to the automatic TakeOff 15 discount for Delta cardholders redeeming miles on Delta flights.
Or you can fly from Mexico City (MEX) to Amsterdam (AMS) in KLM business class for as low as 105,000 SkyMiles each way – a fraction of what Delta would charge for nonstops from the U.S. to Europe. Fair warning: Availability at these rates can be incredibly hit or miss.
Is this the most straightforward redemption of all time? Not even close. But isn't it worth thinking outside of the box (and booking a positioning flight down to Mexico) for better deals like these?
It works for the same reason we told you to focus on using SkyMiles when traveling abroad: It might be invisible, but Delta clearly still has an award chart for these redemptions departing from Mexico and other destinations throughout Central and South America, among others.
It goes beyond Mexico, in fact. Check out this one-way business class redemption from Sao Paulo (GRU) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) in Air France business class – again, for just 105,000 SkyMiles each way, plus $10 USD in taxes and fees.
This is Delta we're talking about, though. They've closed loopholes like this before, and they'll likely do it again.
If routes like these fit into your travel plans (or you can force them to fit), don't wait around.
Cash in Your SkyMiles for an Upgrade
OK, so this one is nothing new. Delta has been hawking cabin upgrades for years, whether you pay cold, hard cash or redeem SkyMiles to move up front.
But as business class redemptions have skyrocketed and the list of ways to get outsized value from SkyMiles has shrunk, using your SkyMils. In fact, Delta is one of the few airlines where upgrading with miles is a safe bet.
Here's the biggest reason why you should look into using your SkyMiles for an upgrade, though: They're cheaper than ever.
It's not a slam dunk by any means but we've seen an undeniable trend of cheap upgrades with Delta, routinely dropping below $500 or $600 to bump up to a Delta One business class seat – or 50,000 or 60,000 SkyMiles. Sometimes, it's half the price.
Read more: Upgrades to Delta One are Cheaper than Ever
When using SkyMiles to upgrade, it's tied directly to the cash cost – and you'll almost always get a flat 1 cent for each mile. That means a $500 upgrade costs you 50,000 SkyMiles while a $449 upgrade will be 44,900 SkyMiles each.
Is that the best way to redeem SkyMiles for top dollar? Hardly. You can get much more bang for your buck (or SkyMiles) by waiting for a great flash sale or using other methods on this list.
But personally, I wouldn't hesitate to cash in some SkyMiles for an upgrade at the right pice. It might just be the best way to book Delta One right now, period.
Book WestJet to Canada & Back from 25K
The pain with SkyMiles is that, thanks to their dynamic award pricing, award rates are all over the place. A flight one day might cost 8,000 SkyMiles … and 38,000 SkyMiles the next. Same goes for booking many partner airlines like Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, and more.
But not when using SkyMiles to book WestJet, Delta's partner from across the northern border. No matter the cash price or the route, it'll always be 25,000 or 30,000 SkyMiles to book roundtrip WestJet flights from the U.S. to Canada – at least when you can find the award availability to book it.
So why not fly WestJet for a weeklong trip to Calgary (YYC) to hit up Banff, Lake Louise, and other sights … especially when it costs you a fraction of flying Delta instead?
Or you can fly all the way from Atlanta (ATL) to Vancouver (YVR) and back for just 30,000 SkyMiles roundtrip. Not bad for a five-plus-hour flight that normally costs $700 or more, right?
Even a coast-to-coast flight from New York City (JFK) all the way to Victoria (YYJ) on Vancouver Island with a connection will still cost you just 25,000 Delta SkyMiles.
The list goes on and on and on. If you can fly WestJet across the border and back, it's often a phenomenal deal to use SkyMiles.
Fly Aeromexico within Mexico
If you're looking to hop around from city to city within Mexico, some SkyMiles can seriously come in handy.
Just like WestJet, award rates when using SkyMiles to fly Aeromexico are far more stable … at least when flying within Mexico. Whether you fly Aeromexico nonstop or need to make a connection, it'll cost you just 10,000 SkyMiles and about $30 in taxes and fees each way.
For a first class seat, it's just 20,000 SkyMiles and $60 or so.
San Diego residents can even walk across the border and hop on a one-stop flight from Tijuana (TIJ) to Cozumel (CZM), still for just 10,000 SkyMiles.
For comparison, here's what it'd cost to fly Delta from San Diego (SAN) to Cozumel … for a 12-hour flight … with a stop in Atlanta (ATL) instead. Ouch.
One sneaky good benefit to booking these Aeromexico fares with your SkyMiles? It's a main cabin economy ticket – not Delta's pesky basic economy award fares. You'll still need to pay separately for seat assignments with Aeromexico, but that means you can at least cancel these award tickets for free and get your SkyMiles right back, if necessary.
Buy Some Champagne in the Delta Sky Club
We saved the best for last – or the tastiest, anyway. And while this won't be for everyone, it's a fun and a great way to use your SkyMiles.
You can buy expensive (and delicious) bottles of champagne in many Delta Sky Clubs for as low as 2,400 SkyMiles. After a devaluation a few years back, SkyMiles won't get you as far when buying champagne (or other premium drinks): They're worth 1.5 cents apiece toward these beverages now, as compared to 2 cents each before.
Still, it's a great way to start any vacation with a bottle of champagne, starting at 1,400 SkyMiles. After a recent menu overhaul, here's a taste of what champagne you can currently snag at the Sky Club:
- Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs Rose (375ml half bottle): 1,400 SkyMiles or $21
- Banshee ‘Ten of Cups' Sparkling Brut (750ml bottle): 2,000 SkyMiles or $30
- Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut (375ml half bottle): 2,400 SkyMiles or $36
- Nino Franco ‘Rustico' Prosecco (750ml bottle): 3,000 SkyMiles or $45
- Champagne Jeeper Grand Rose Brut (375ml half bottle): 3,800 SkyMiles or $57
- Argyle Sparkling Vintage Brut (750ml bottle): 3,800 SkyMiles or $57
- Taittinger La Francaise Brut (750ml bottle): 7,600 SkyMiles or $114
- Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé (750ml bottle): 8,000 SkyMiles or $120
- Bollinger Special Cuvee (750ml bottle): 9,200 SkyMiles or $138
This deal has been around for a few years, and our team never hesitates to take advantage. Sky Club bartenders will even give you a bucket of ice if you'd like to drink it away from the bar. You can even add on a tip with your SkyMiles.
If you've got a few thousand SkyMiles to burn, this is a great way to start your trip off right.
Read our guide to buying champagne in the Delta Sky Club using your SkyMiles!
Bottom Line
SkyMiles might be worth less than other airline programs … but that doesn't make them worthless.
Fine redeeming your SkyMiles for a domestic trip or waiting around for the next great SkyMiles flash sale to Europe and beyond? No problem! But if you're looking to squeeze as much value as possible, this list is the place to start.