Are you a loyal Delta flyer looking for creative ways to redeem your hard-earned SkyMiles? Perhaps you’ve come across the Pay With Miles feature but aren’t quite sure how to use it effectively.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore every aspect of Delta’s unique Pay With Miles program. From understanding eligibility requirements to mastering booking strategies and everything in between, you’ll gain the knowledge needed to maximize this valuable redemption option.
What Is Delta Pay With Miles?
Delta’s Pay With Miles feature allows Delta American Express cardmembers to redeem SkyMiles at a fixed rate of 1.0 cent per mile to cover a portion or all of their ticket on Delta and Delta Connection-operated flights. The program has a restriction: miles must be redeemed in 5,000-mile increments, equating to a $50 discount on your ticket price.
One of the most appealing aspects of Pay With Miles is that these tickets are treated as regular cash fares. This means you’ll accrue those valuable Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on your flights, propelling you closer to Delta Medallion elite status.
If you’re starting your journey with a welcome bonus from a Delta co-branded Amex card, you could have a substantial cache of miles to allocate towards your upcoming trip.
Who is Eligible for Delta Pay With Miles?
You might be wondering whether you can take advantage of Pay With Miles. The primary requirement is holding a Delta co-branded American Express credit card, which include the following:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Unfortunately, general SkyMiles members without these specific cards cannot utilize Pay With Miles.
How Do You Book a Delta Pay With Miles ticket?
The process is straightforward when you’re ready to book your Pay With Miles ticket. Begin by logging into your SkyMiles account and searching for your desired flights. Only flights operated by Delta or Delta Connection carriers will be eligible for Pay With Miles.
Upon reaching the payment page, simply select the “Pay with Miles” option. You can choose how many miles you want to apply in 5,000-mile increments.
Feel free to use as many or as few miles as you’d like – there’s no limit to the number of Pay With Miles tickets you can book, as long as you have sufficient miles in your account.
One beneficial feature is booking tickets for multiple passengers using Pay With Miles. Ensure you have at least 5,000 miles per person and everyone is on the same itinerary. This can be an excellent way to cover travel costs for your family or coordinate a group trip with friends.
Do You Earn MQDs on Delta Pay With Miles Tickets?
Here’s some great news for those pursuing elite status: Pay With Miles tickets accrue valuable Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs). The earning rate is straightforward – you’ll earn one MQD for every 100 miles redeemed.
For example, if you apply 25,000 miles to your ticket, you’ll earn 250 MQDs. This can provide a helpful boost, especially if you’re aiming for the upper tiers of Delta elite status.
The fact that Pay With Miles tickets earn MQDs is a notable advantage over traditional award tickets. Typically, award bookings do not contribute to elite status qualification at all.
By utilizing Pay With Miles, you can simultaneously offset your cash cost and progress towards valuable perks like complimentary upgrades and bonus miles. It’s a win-win situation!
Do You Earn SkyMiles for Delta Pay With Miles Tickets?
Another frequently asked question is whether Pay With Miles tickets earn redeemable SkyMiles. The answer is yes, but it has a limitation. You’ll only accrue miles on the portion of the ticket that you pay for in cash. The segment covered by your mileage redemption will not earn any additional redeemable miles.
To illustrate this point, let’s consider a scenario where your ticket costs $300, and you apply 25,000 miles to cover $250 of that expense. You’ll only earn SkyMiles on the remaining $50 paid in cash.
It’s essential to keep this in mind when comparing Pay With Miles to other redemption options. While you might not be maximizing your mileage earning potential, the ability to save cash and still make some progress towards your next award ticket can be appealing.
Can you Upgrade Delta Pay With Miles tickets?
Pay With Miles are eligible for certain types of upgrades. If you hold Delta Medallion elite status, you can apply your Global or Regional Upgrade Certificates to Pay With Miles bookings. This can be a fantastic way to secure a seat in Delta One or First Class while benefiting from the mileage discount.
Complimentary Medallion upgrades are also possible with Pay With Miles, although they are not guaranteed. These tickets receive upgrade priority similar to regular cash fares.
One thing to note is that you cannot use miles to upgrade Pay With Miles tickets. Mileage upgrade options are only available for specific types of published fares. So, if your goal is to fly in a premium cabin, using an Upgrade Certificate or hoping for a complimentary Medallion upgrade might be your best bet.
Delta Pay with Miles vs. Delta Miles + Cash
If you’ve explored other ways to redeem SkyMiles, you might be familiar with Delta’s Miles + Cash feature. While both options involve using miles to discount your ticket, there are some key differences to be aware of. Miles + Cash is available to all SkyMiles members, not just those with a Delta Amex card. It’s a fixed-value redemption that allows you to use miles to cover a portion of an award ticket cost.
In contrast, Pay With Miles is exclusively for Delta Amex cardholders and applies to cash tickets rather than award bookings. With Pay With Miles, you can choose how many miles to apply. Miles + Cash has predetermined redemption tiers that vary based on route and demand.
So, which option comes out ahead? It truly depends on your specific booking and priorities. Sometimes, you might find a Miles + Cash award requiring fewer miles than a Pay With Miles ticket. Other times, Pay With Miles could be the clear winner. As with most aspects of points and miles, it’s wise to compare both options and determine which offers the best value for your situation.
Is Delta Pay With Miles a Good Deal?
As with many aspects of the points and miles landscape, the answer is not always straightforward. Pay With Miles offers a fixed value of one cent per mile, a respectable but not extraordinary redemption rate. It’s a simple method to utilize your miles without worrying about award pricing.
That being said, SkyMiles can hold significant value when redeemed strategically. For example, international business class award tickets often yield a substantially higher per-mile value, particularly when booked with partner airlines. If you’re willing to invest time and effort into finding sweet spot awards, you might be better served by saving your miles for those redemptions.
Nevertheless, there are numerous scenarios where Pay With Miles can be an excellent choice. For example, if the cash price of the flight is low compared to the cost to redeem miles. Pay With Miles can also prove useful for routes where traditional award availability is scarce or for travelers who simply prefer the simplicity of a fixed-value redemption.
