Delta Airlines Frequent Flyer Miles are among the easiest to build up. They are partnered with several different airlines, hotels and car rental companies. Plus, they offer several easy ways to build up miles with out leaving home

Airline, Car Rental and Hotel Partners
Delta Airline currently list several main Airline partners, including Air France and United Airlines. They also offer reward for flying with many lesser know airlines like AreoMexico, Air Jamaica and Korean Air. These destination specific companies might not come in handy if you are looking to fly domestic.

Delta does better with its Hotel and Car rental partner. Almost every major upscale hotel chain can help you build miles, from Best Western to Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. You can earn any where from 250 to 1000 miles with each stay depending on the partner. Car rentals will get you 50 miles a day and some of the rental companies also offer discounts to Skymiles Partners.

SkyMiles Dining Program
An excellent way to build miles. You simply register your credit card or cards with the program, select from a number of local restaurants and pay using that credit card. It’s very simple, there is no additional card to show at the restaurant, and the program is free. You earn 10 points for every dollar spent (minus tax and tip) Chances are, you’ll be paying for meals out with a credit card anyway, might as well get the miles at the same time.

SkyMiles Shopping
Another free service that helps you build miles, very similar to SkyMiles dining. You register for free and then shop at featured stores, catalogs and e-merchants. You’ll get 5 miles for each dollar spent. Also, if you sign up online, you’ll get 100 miles.

MCI WorldCom
If you sign up with MCI, you get between 2000 and 5000 miles, usually spread out over a few months. I had taken advantage of this program but was not happy with MCI after 6 months, I switched companies. MCI called me, asked if I wanted to come back to them for another 5000 miles. I told them it wasn’t the miles I was concerned with, it was the service. They didn’t offer to help me there but they did dangle another 10,000 in front of my nose. It worked, I’m back with MCI and I now have enough miles to fly anywhere in the US. But I still can’t stand MCI’s service.

Other Partners
Many of the other partners are one time deals. i.e. open an account with E*trade and get 5,000 - 25,000 miles or take a cruise and earn miles. Personally, I would only recommend these if you were interest in the service anyway.

Clickreward.com and e*Rewards let you earn miles by browsing or shopping on the web. MilePoint.com lets you use your miles as discounts on e-commerce websites. If you plan on shopping online, it’s worth looking into these sites featured merchants.

1-800-flowers.com will give you 100 miles per $10.00 spent.

Once you have your Delta SkyMiles card it’s worth checking back with their partners to see if any of them offer services you might need.

Spending your miles
Here’s the tricky part. You can’t use miles spontaneously. The airlines are not fond of letting people fly for free. You’ll need to make your reservation well ahead of time, up to 6-months or a year depending on when and where you want to travel. This is fine if you know where you’ll be in a year, for example, you always fly home for the holidays. Try to be flexible in your travel plans, leave during the week or take a less popular flight. It is nearly impossible to use your miles to book one flight free and one flight paid and get your money’s worth. Either take separate flights or save enough miles for two.

SkyMiles Stats
Points needed for Awards

Within or between the continental U.S., Alaska and Canada
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 5,000
One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Select Fares - 10,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 25,000
One First Class - 40,000

Between the continental U.S., Alaska, Canada AND Bermuda, the Caribbean, Hawaii or Mexico
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 7,500
One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Select Fares - 15,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 30,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class (excludes Mexico) - 60,000
One First Class (Mexico only)- 60,000

Between the 50 U.S., Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico AND Central America
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 7,500
One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Select Fares - 15,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 35,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class - 50,000

Between the 50 U.S., Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico AND Peru or Venezuela
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 7,500
One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Select Fares - 15,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 35,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class - 50,000

Between the 50 U.S., Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico AND Europe
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 20,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 50,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class - 80,000

Between the 50 U.S., Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico AND India via the Atlantic
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 25,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 80,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class - 100,000

Between the 50 U.S., Bermuda, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico AND Japan via the Pacific
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 25,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 60,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class - 90,000

Between Europe AND India
One, One-Way, One-Class Upgrade From Full Fare - 25,000
One Coach/ Economy Class - 50,000
One Business/ BusinessElite Class - 60,000




Recommended: Yes