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Delta SkyMiles offers pay with miles for elite status potential

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Delta SkyMiles offers pay with miles for elite status potential
Research
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Tarah Chieffi Senior writer | The Points Guy

The Delta SkyMiles Pay with Miles program allows Delta Air Lines cobranded American Express cardholders another option for redeeming their SkyMiles. The benefit provides a fixed value of 1 cent per mile when redeeming miles towards the cost of a ticket. Cardholders can use this feature on flights operated by Delta or its Delta Connection partners, but not on partner airlines.

Eligible Delta American Express cards include the Delta SkyMiles Blue, Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards. However, the primary cardmember must have at least 5,000 SkyMiles per passenger to use Pay with Miles. ZACH GRIFF from THE POINTS GUY explains, "You must also have a minimum of 5,000 SkyMiles per passenger in your account. For example, to use Pay with Miles for a two-person booking, you'll need at least 10,000 SkyMiles."

One potential advantage of using Pay with Miles is the ability to earn more Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) toward Delta elite status, even though the value of the redemption might not be as high as other methods. TPG values Delta SkyMiles at 1.2 cents each as of April 2025, indicating that Pay with Miles is not the best way to maximize value. Nonetheless, for cardholders looking to boost their Medallion status, the feature may still be appealing.

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For instance, a Delta flight from Asheville, NC, to Frankfurt would cost 106,500 SkyMiles with the TakeOff15 perk versus a cash price of $1,186, translating to about 1.1 cents per mile. On the other hand, a flight from New York's JFK to Boston costs 13,100 miles, offering a better value of 2 cents per mile.

Delta’s Miles + Cash is a similar offering but does not provide the same flexibility in choosing the number of miles and dollars to pay. It is available to all Delta SkyMiles members, not just cardholders. Yet, the value might not always be advantageous, as the example of the JFK-BOS flight illustrates—13,100 miles for a ticket compared to 10,500 miles plus $96 for the Miles + Cash option.

In summary, while Delta’s Pay with Miles can be a useful tool for cardholders aiming for Medallion status, it's generally not the best option for those looking to maximize the value of their SkyMiles. Cardholders pursuing elite status may want to consider using the feature despite its less favorable redemption value. "Delta Amex cardholders should be aware of the Pay with Miles option," remarks ZACH GRIFF.

Related resources on Delta SkyMiles and Delta's partnership with Uber are available for those interested in learning how to make the most of their membership.

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