Transferring points to airline loyalty programs is a fantastic way to make the most of your points. If you love Delta Airlines like I do but want to earn SkyMiles faster and easier, one of the best things to do is earn American Express Membership Rewards and transfer those rewards to your Delta SkyMiles Account. You’ll find that Amex points can be incredibly versatile and valuable, offering you tons of redemption options. In this article, we’ll show you how to transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Delta SkyMiles and explore the benefits, considerations, and strategies… So you can book those Delta award flights every time!
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Explanation of American Express Membership Rewards Program
The American Express Membership Rewards program is a travel-focused loyalty program that rewards cardholders who prioritize travel! With this program, cardmembers earn points on all their eligible purchases, which can then be used to unlock a world of travel possibilities. Whether it’s booking flights, reserving hotels, or enjoying other travel-related perks, Membership Rewards points offer flexibility and incredible value. As mentioned, one key feature of the program is the ability to transfer points to various airline and hotel partners, allowing you to maximize your points for exciting and rewarding travel experiences. One of my favorite Amex transfer partners is Delta! (And Amex is the only credit card issuer that transfers directly to Delta)
Overview of Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program
If you are unfamiliar with Delta’s SkyMiles program, Delta SkyMiles is the loyalty program offered by Delta Air Lines. Their program functions like most frequent flyer programs like United Airlines or Southwest Airlines, where members earn miles by flying with the airline or its partners or using co-branded credit cards. These miles can be redeemed for various travel rewards, including flights, upgrades, seat selections, and more. Frequent Delta fliers and SkyMiles members can also enjoy elite status benefits, such as priority boarding, complimentary upgrades, free checked bags, and access to airport lounges. With an extensive network of flight routes and partnerships, the Delta SkyMiles program offers flexibility and opportunities for travelers to make the most of their loyalty rewards.
Note: We live right by a Delta Hub, and Delta is our preferred U.S. airline. However, Delta is notorious for having some of the highest flight redemptions, which is why I love the ability to earn my American Express Membership rewards and then transfer them to Delta.
American Express Credit Cards that Earn Amex Membership Rewards Points
Several cards can earn American Express Membership Rewards. I’ll highlight four of my favorites and those that Jason or I have in our wallets! Each of these cards is fantastic, has a strong welcome offer, gives access to unique travel credits, and will help you earn Delta SkyMiles much faster than if you are trying to earn those SkyMiles through a single co-branded credit card like the Delta card. The stand-out card on this list, which I recommend to almost every family, is the American Express® Gold Card. Its earning potential is AMAZING for families who spend a lot on groceries and eating out. As a family of six with two pre-teen boys, our grocery bill has skyrocketed in the last few years – so this card is handy for us!
- American Express® Gold Card
- American Express® Business Gold Card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
An Important Note: American Express has HANDS DOWN the best customer service and is incredibly fast and helpful. I also love that once you are accepted for any of these cards, you’ll receive a virtual card you can use immediately. However, Amex cards typically have higher annual fees. These cards come with some outstanding statement credits and benefits, but it’s crucial to make sure you use those benefits to offset the cost of your annual fee. So before you apply for these cards, it’s a good idea to know the fees & benefits associated!
Why I like to have both a Delta co-branded Credit Card and cards that earn Amex Membership Rewards
By holding a Delta co-branded credit card like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, I get access to free bags (this is a HUGE money saver for our family of six), Delta’s Take15 discount (this is also an AMAZING point saver for our family) and the co-branded cards also help with my Delta Airlines status. When I transfer the points earned from my American Express Membership Reward cards, I can take advantage of the benefits of the American Express Membership Reward program and the Delta SkyMiles program. By utilizing both programs, I get Delta SkyClub lounge access, the Take15 discount, free bags, and a status boost. This means I pay a decent amount in annual fees for my family to access all of these benefits, but because we travel Delta often, the math always works out in our favor. If you are considering holding a co-branded Delta card and a card that earns American Express Membership Rewards, ensure that the benefits suit you and your family as well!
Benefits of Transferring Amex Membership Rewards to Delta SkyMiles
Some significant benefits come with transferring your points and booking through Delta directly.
Better Value and More Options Than Booking Through Amex
Transferring American Express Membership Rewards points from your American Express account to your Delta SkyMiles account can be incredibly lucrative for several reasons. While booking flights directly through American Express’s travel portal offers convenience, transferring points to Delta Air Lines will often give you better value and flexibility. By converting Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles, you can access exclusive award availability, take advantage of lower redemption rates for specific flights, and leverage Delta’s extensive network of destinations. Additionally, transferring points to Delta SkyMiles opens up opportunities for earning status, premium cabin redemptions, upgrades, and maximizing the value of each point earned.
It’s Overall Safer to Book Flights Direct vs Through A Third Party
Booking directly through an airline, like Delta Air Lines, instead of third-party platforms is incredibly helpful when encountering delays, lost baggage, or canceled flights. When you book directly with an airline, you establish a direct relationship with the airline, simplifying communication and assistance in unforeseen circumstances. In case of flight delays or cancellations, passengers who booked directly with the airline may receive priority rebooking and assistance, potentially leading to quicker solutions and accommodations. Additionally, airlines typically prioritize assisting passengers who booked directly when facing lost baggage or other travel mishaps, ensuring a smoother resolution process. By booking flights directly, you add more security and support to their travel experience.
How to Transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Delta SkyMiles
Here’s a step-by-step guide on transferring your American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles.
1. Log in to your online Amex account using your username and password on the American Express website.
2. Once logged in, navigate to the rewards section of your account. This is where you can manage and redeem your Membership Rewards points.
3. Look for the option to transfer your points to travel partners. This option is usually under a menu item like “Use Points” or “Transfer Points.”
4. Select Delta Air Lines or Delta SkyMiles as the transfer partner from the list of available partners. You may need to search or scroll through the list to find Delta.
5. Enter the number of Membership Rewards points you wish to transfer to your Delta SkyMiles account. Make sure you have enough points for the transfer to be completed.
6. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the transfer details. This may include verifying the amount of points you’re transferring and confirming your Delta SkyMiles account information.
7. Double-check all the information you’ve entered and confirm the transfer. Once confirmed, the points transfer will be initiated.
8. After completing the transfer, log in to your Delta SkyMiles account to ensure the points have been successfully transferred. The points can take up to 30 minutes to reflect in your Delta account, so don’t stress if you don’t see them there immediately. I usually like to log out of my Delta account, refresh the page, and log back in.
An Important Transferring Note
The only airline that charges a fee to transfer points is, yep, you guessed it, Delta. While the fee is pretty minimal, it is something you want to be aware of and is something I find highly annoying. However, even with the annoying transfer fee, I still love Delta and often transfer my Amex points to them because it can be such an easy way to earn those nearly free Delta flights!
Tips for Maximizing Your Point Transfers
Make sure there is availability.
I teach our TRU Students NEVER to transfer their points until they have confirmed through the airline’s website that there is availability for the flight they want to book. Once you transfer your points to any partner, you can not transfer them back. This means once you have converted your Amex points to SkyMiles they will forever stay SkyMiles. If you fly Delta often, then it isn’t a big deal to have an extra stash of SkyMiles. However, if you don’t fly Delta often and you transfer a bunch of points only to find that the flight you want to book isn’t available, you may be stuck with points that are harder for you to use.
Understand the Possibility of Booking Delta Flights Through Airline Partners
Sometimes, booking a Delta flight through one of Delta’s airline partners can get you the absolute best deals. This is a very intermediate skill and something we teach in TRU extensively to help our students make the VERY most of their points. But I’m going to give a little rundown here.
There are several SkyTeam partners like KLM, AirFrance, and Virgin Atlantic where you can book those Delta flights for even fewer points by transferring your American Express points to one of the partner programs and then searching for a Delta-operated flight. We LOVE doing this, but it doesn’t always prove successful. For example, not all Delta flights can be booked through a partner. Most domestic flights can not be booked this way.
If you want to learn more about airline alliances, check out this post here.
We teach all of the intermediate and advanced skills like booking through airline alliances in TRU so, don’t forget to see if TRU is a good fit for you!
Booking Example
Here is an example of what it looks like to book the exact same flight through the Amex travel portal versus transferring those Amex Membership Rewards to Delta SkyMiles.
This is a round-trip flight from Salt Lake City to Kona, Hawaii. It’s on the same aircraft, for the same day, and the same seat class. Here, you’ll see that if I book directly through the American Express travel portal, I’ll spend almost 53k points – per person – roundtrip.
However, if I transfer my points from Amex to Delta, I can get that same flight for 29k points per person! That’s almost less than half the points than if I used my points in the Amex Travel Portal!
You’ll notice that I also got the Take15 discount on my redemption flight because I have a co-branded credit card. The Delta Platinum card is my favorite co-branded credit card! I love the annual companion certificate, the free bags for up to 9 people per trip, and the access to the Take15!
Transferring Amex Points to Delta SkyMiles Wrap-Up
As we wrap up, remember that strategically transferring points can unlock the full potential of your points and miles and can help you whether booking flights, upgrading seats, or indulging in premium travel perks within Delta’s extensive network. Remember, the key lies in understanding the transfer process, maximizing point value, and seizing the benefits of both loyalty programs. So, gear up, transfer those points, and get ready for your next Delta flight — for nearly free AND with fewer points!
FAQs About Transferring Amex Points to Delta
What is the transfer ratio between American Express Membership Rewards and Delta SkyMiles?
For every 1 Amex Membership Reward that you transfer, you’ll get 1 Delta SkyMile.
Do I have to transfer a certain number of Amex points?
You must transfer a minimum of 1000 points and you can transfer them in increments of 500.
How long does the transfer take?
Transfers to Delta can take up to 30 minutes
Can I transfer Amex points to Delta?
Yes! You can also transfer your American Express Membership Rewards to JetBlue, Hawaiian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, AirFrance, Air Canada, ANA and a whole lot more. You can get a list of all of Amex’s hotel and airline transfer partners here!
Does my Amex get me into Delta Lounge?
The American Express Platinum, The American Express Business Platinum, and the Delta SkyMiles Reserve will all get you visits to the Delta SkyClub.
Is Priority Pass free with Amex Platinum?
If you hold the Platinum Card, you and and one additional Platinum Card authorized user enjoy a complimentary Priority Pass Membership worth US$429 and allows you to access over 1200 airline lounges worldwide.
Do you get a free checked bag with Delta Amex?
If you have an eligible Delta SkyMiles co-branded American Express Card, you receive your first bag free on all your Delta flights booked with your Delta card linked to your account. The benefit extends to up to 8 travel companions! This is a must for big families who fly Delta often.
Does Amex give you Delta status?
The American Express Membership Reward cards do not give you Delta status. However, they give you an excellent way to earn Membership Rewards that can be transferred to SkyMiles quickly and efficiently.
