Last week, Delta announced a program change to their SkyMiles program on how you’ll earn and redeem miles. Instead of being based on the distance flown, it will now be based on how much you spend on the flights.
With that, there are still other ways to earn Delta SkyMiles not through flying and one of the best ways is through credit card spending.
The American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card is one of the best credit cards to use for Delta flight purchases because you’ll earn 3X points on all flights booked with this card.
For instance for a New York-Los Angeles round-trip flight, with the Amex Premier Rewards Gold you would earn 924 points which could be transferred to Delta as opposed to using a Delta card which would only earn you 616 SkyMiles.
As a general SkyMiles member you would only earn 1,540 SkyMiles for these flights with the new program, so it’s a good idea to be earning as many miles as you can through your credit card since Delta has reduced the amount of miles you’ll receive on discounted fares.
Love racking up the Delta Miles?
If you are looking for more ways to earn Delta miles, consider The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
For instance some other transfer partners include British Airways, JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Canada, ANA, and Virgin America to name a few.
Bottom Line
Even with Delta’s recent devaluation there are still many other ways to earn miles and one of them is when you buy your flights especially if you can earn triple miles for your flight purchase.
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If you book through Amex Travel, you get an additional point per dollar, but there’s no risk-free cancellation.
@Garrett,
How can their not be risk free cancellation? Everyone has to have it.
My understanding is that you only get access to the risk-free cancellation policy when booking directly though Delta (online, phone). If you book through Amex Travel, that’s another company, and you’re subject to their policy.
“You have until 10PM CT the NEXT DAY to cancel. There is a fee. Domestic tickets cost you $6.99 and international cost you $10.99.”
I’m not sure how the airline fare restrictions come into play, but at the very least that’s what Amex will charge you. The only time I use Amex Travel to book is if I’m absolutely certain I can keep the flight.
This is a great post and I could not agree more – I think the whole Skymiles 2015 hoopla is overblown. The easiest way to earn Delta miles is NOT by flying – it’s through CC spend!
I can understand it if elite status is important to you, or if you do a lot of flying on Delta for business or other, but for me, this is a great big
If you are trying to maximize absolute miles, premier rewards is it, but if mqm’s/status is primary goal, delta amex the way to go
Do I still get the same earnings I would normally get through Skymiles, in addition to the 2 miles per dollar on the Delta cards?