How to Transfer Amex Points to Delta SkyMiles
When it comes to maximizing your travel rewards, one of the best ways is converting American Express Membership Rewards points into Delta SkyMiles. If you’re a frequent traveler, or even just an occasional flyer looking to redeem points for flights, you’ll want to ensure you’re getting the most out of your Amex points, which means transferring them out to external partners to go the extra mile. This article will cover the ins and outs of how to transfer your Amex Membership Rewards to Delta miles, plus tips on getting the best deals on award flights.
Why Transfer Amex Points to Delta SkyMiles?
Delta Air Lines is one of the largest and most well-known airlines in the world. Its SkyMiles program is highly regarded, especially for those interested in domestic and international flights. As an Amex cardholder (vanilla Amex's only! Not Delta's cobrand), you have the flexibility to transfer your American Express points to Delta SkyMiles—a huge benefit for those looking to book Delta flights, including domestic flights and international business-class trips.
Some benefits of transferring Amex points to Delta include:
• Access to award flights with Delta Air Lines and its partner airlines, including Air France, Virgin Atlantic, and China Eastern (booked via the Delta portal).
• The ability to redeem points for Delta flights as well as seats in business class or first-class flights.
• Opportunities for priority boarding, a free checked bag, and other perks when you hold one of Delta’s co-branded credit cards.
Understanding the Basics of Amex Points and Delta SkyMiles
Before diving into the transfer process, it’s essential to understand how Amex Membership Rewards points work and how they convert into Delta SkyMiles.
How to Earn Amex Points
American Express cards are well known for their Membership Rewards points system. Some of the most popular Amex cards that earn Membership Rewards points include:
• Platinum American Express card
• Gold American Express card
• Green card
Cardholders earn points through eligible purchases such as travel, dining, and groceries. For example, the Platinum American Express card offers a generous amount of bonus miles for every dollar spent on flights booked through the Amex Travel Portal or directly with airlines like Delta Air Lines. Similarly, the Gold American Express card is great for earning points through everyday spending like dining.
Many Amex cards also offer a welcome bonus, giving you a great head start on your points collection after you meet a certain spending threshold within the first few months of opening your card account.
How the Transfer Process Works
Transferring your Amex points to your Delta SkyMiles account is a straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Log in to your American Express Account: Access your Amex Membership Rewards page through your card account.
2. Select Delta as your transfer partner: Delta is one of the Amex transfer partners, and as a SkyMiles member, you can convert your Amex points into Delta miles. Simply choose Delta from the list of airline transfer partners.
3. Enter your Delta SkyMiles Account information: Ensure your Delta SkyMiles account is linked to your American Express account for smooth transfers. If you don’t already have one, it’s free to create a SkyMiles account via the Delta website.
4. Select the number of Amex points to transfer: You can choose how many Amex points you wish to convert into Delta miles. Typically, the transfer ratio from Amex points to Delta miles is 1:1, though it can vary, especially during promotional periods.
5. Complete the transfer: Once you’ve selected your points transfer amount, confirm the transaction. The transfer process may take up to 48 hours, so plan ahead if you’re booking a flight soon.
Maximizing Your Amex Points for Delta Flights
Once you’ve transferred your points, it’s time to look for the best deal on Delta flights. Delta doesn’t publish an award chart, but with a little research, you can find great deals on award travel using your newly converted SkyMiles.
Delta Partner Airlines
So there's an elephant in the room here, and one that my fellow points and miles nerds are aggressively familiar with: Is it worth it to transfer your Amex Points to Delta? Well..no.
Why? Because Delta has devalued their own points to a stunning degree over the last decade. They want "rev" passengers, meaning those that generate revenue. To do that, they've had to devalue their one-time lucrative points program. This has led the online community to affectionately refer to the Delta SkyMiles program as "SkyPesos," thanks to their relative worthlessness as compared to partner airlines.
However, the silver lining of the Amex ecosystem is the myriad of transfer partners. This also includes the SkyTeam. Delta is a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, which includes partners such as:
• Air France
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
• Korean Air
• China Airlines
This gives you flexibility when booking flights, particularly for destinations outside Delta’s regular routes, like Mexico City, Hong Kong, and other parts of South America, but it also gives you far, far better value for your Amex Points.
Best Ways to Use Delta SkyMiles
Some of the best ways to use your Delta miles include:
• Round-trip flight deals on domestic routes, such as New York to the West Coast.
• Leveraging your SkyMiles for upgrades on Delta flights, especially if you’re aiming for premium seating options.
• Checking for promotional offers on the Delta website, where you may find discounted award travel options requiring fewer miles.
Considerations and Additional Information
When converting Amex points to Delta miles, keep these points in mind:
• Regulatory fees and taxes: When booking award flights and you are based in the domestic United States, you will still be required to pay applicable taxes and fees. This can vary based on your route and airline, and can be offset with an additional conversion of miles. However, this can add up! Moving 200,000 points from Amex to Delta cost me $100, so keep that in mind!
• Transfer timing: As noted, transferring points from Amex Membership Rewards to Delta should theoretically be instant, but in some instances can take some time. Always plan ahead and ensure you have sufficient miles in your Delta SkyMiles account before booking.
• Financial products disclosure: Keep in mind that American Express is a financial institution and a credit card issuer. Be aware of the terms and conditions of each Amex card and its points earning structure. This includes attempts to gamify their points program. Like Liam Neeson, they will find you.
Other Options for Using Amex Points
If you’re unsure about transferring your Amex points to Delta miles, there are alternative ways to redeem your points, such as:
• Booking flights directly through the Amex Travel Portal and redeeming at a flat 1 cent per point.
• Redeeming points for gift cards at a number of popular hotel chains and retailers. (Do NOT do this if you want max value)
• Using points for financial products like the Atomic Treasury Account, a service provided by Atomic Invest, a SEC-registered investment adviser.
Conclusion
Transferring Amex points to Delta miles can unlock incredible travel opportunities, from domestic getaways to luxurious international business-class experiences. By leveraging Amex transfer partners like Delta, you’ll gain access to more award flights and greater flexibility with your travel plans. Whether you’re aiming to earn a welcome bonus, maximize your points transfer, or just want to score a great deal on your next trip, following these steps will help you get the most out of your Amex points and Delta SkyMiles.
Now that you know how to transfer Amex points to Delta miles, it’s time to start planning your next adventure. Happy travels!
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