Which Points Can You Transfer to Delta SkyMiles?

You want more Delta SkyMiles. We get it – especially with all the incredible Delta SkyMiles flash sales lately like 26,000 miles roundtrip to Europe or 45,000 SkyMiles to Tahiti and back.

Don’t worry: We’re here to help. Beyond flying with Delta, there are plenty of easy ways to rack up SkyMiles. But you have even more options than you might think…

No, you can’t transfer miles to your Delta account from other airlines – not even partner carriers like Virgin Atlantic, Air France, or KLM. But you can use bank points from non-Delta credit cards like the *amex gold* to boost your stash of Delta SkyMiles. And even hotel points can come in handy in a pinch.

Here’s how.

Transfer Between SkyMiles Accounts

Let’s get straight to it. You can transfer miles between SkyMiles accounts … but you shouldn’t.

While other airlines like United and Air Canada Aeroplan have made it easier than ever to share miles with loved ones, Delta still charges a hefty fee to transfer SkyMiles between accounts – even to spouses and relatives. If you want to go this route, it’ll cost you 1 cent per mile plus a $30 processing fee per transaction (plus applicable taxes). And you must transfer SkyMiles in increments of 1,000. Ouch!

At that rate, transferring 30,000 SkyMiles to another user would cost you $330 ($300 for the miles and a $30 transaction fee). That rarely makes sense – especially when there are better options.

Transfer from American Express Membership Rewards Cards

Delta SkyMiles credit cards aren’t the only way to earn SkyMiles fast. In fact, we’d argue they aren’t even the best credit cards for earning SkyMiles.

That distinction goes to American Express Membership Rewards cards. Yes, it’s a bit confusing as they share a bank (and similar names) with the co-branded Delta credit cards … but these standalone cards are much different. And you can transfer these points to your Delta SkyMiles account instantly on a 1:1 basis.

For starters, there’s *amex platinum*, which we love. It starts with an 80,000-point welcome bonus after spending $8,000 in the first six months. But be sure to check and see if you qualify for a bigger bonus via CardMatch or through a friend referral first! With a 1:1 transfer ratio, a 100,000-point stash of Membership Rewards can easily be turned into 100,000 SkyMiles.

Not sure how it works? Read our guide to transferring Amex Membership Rewards points!

While transferring all those points to Delta SkyMiles may not be the most valuable option, we’re still big fans – especially if you find a deeply discounted Delta SkyMiles flash sale. Plus, the card comes with an unbeatable suite of perks for the frequent traveler, including lounge access. It also comes with up to $200 in annual credits for incidental airline charges and up to $200 in annual Uber Cash, a statemetn credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, as well as a credit that covers the cost of CLEAR® Plus … that’s really just the tip of the iceberg.

To top it off, the card earns an unrivaled 5x points for flights booked directly with airlines or through amextravel.com, making it much easier to justify the card’s $695 annual fee (see rates & fees).

Learn more about *amex platinum*.

Then there’s the *amex gold* – and it might just be the best all-around credit card for travelers, period. It earns 4x Membership Rewards points at both restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 each year, then 1x) and U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 each year, then 1x). Making it a great card to keep in your wallet for everyday purchases, especially if you’re spending big on groceries or restaurants. 

The card also earns 3x Membership Rewards on flights booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com, and 2x points on prepaid hotels, rental cars, and cruises booked through amextravel.com. Other eligible purchases earn 1x point per dollar spent. 

The card carries a $325 annual fee (see rates & fees) but we’ve run the numbers and for us, it’s more than worth it. With over $400 per year in statement credits up for grabs, you can easily get your money’s worth year after year.

Learn more about the *amex gold* 

Finally, there’s the revamped American Express Green Card®. With an annual fee of $150, it’s at a lower price point. But it still packs a decent punch with $100 toward annual CLEAR membership fees to skip the line at airport security.

Learn more about the American Express Green Card®.

The one downside of transferring American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta – or any U.S. airline – is that Amex tacks on a small fee of .06 cents per point, up to a maximum of $99. This means a transfer of 20,000 Membership Rewards points would cost you $12. So while it’s not free to transfer, don’t let that stop you – it’s a relatively small price to pay.

Thrifty Tip: You can also transfer Amex points to another traveler’s SkyMiles account if you’ve added them to your account as an authorized user.

Transfer from Marriott Bonvoy

You can’t take miles from another airline and turn the into Delta SkyMiles. But if you’ve got the right hotel points, you’re in luck.

Marriott’s Bonvoy program allows you to transfer points to more than 40 airlines, including Delta SkyMiles.

These points transfer on a 3:1 basis, so transferring 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points would get you 5,000 Delta SkyMiles. That might not sound like a great deal, but if you’re in a pinch and need more SkyMiles, it’s nice to have the option.

Plus, with Marriott’s suite of co-branded cards and the occasional big welcome offer, it’s quite easy to rack up big batches of points in a hurry. 

Read more: How to Transfer Marriott Points to Partner Airlines

Bottom Line

Aside from flying Delta or racking up miles through their credit cards, there are some easy ways to transfer points into your Delta SkyMiles account.

Just avoid transferring SkyMiles between Delta accounts unless you absolutely have to.