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.