You can buy Delta miles directly from Delta, and some airline credit cards let you transfer points to your miles account
Delta allows you to purchase miles through their SkyMiles program, and you can fund that purchase using a credit card. You can also earn miles through a Delta-branded credit card and then move those points into your SkyMiles account as miles. The two paths work differently: buying miles is a straightforward transaction with Delta, while transferring credit card points requires that your card's rewards program has a transfer partnership with Delta.
The cost of buying miles varies depending on how many you purchase and what promotions Delta is running at the time. Transfer rates from credit card points to miles are typically one-to-one — meaning one point equals one mile — though some cards offer bonus multipliers during promotional periods.
Key Takeaways
- You can purchase Delta miles directly from Delta's website using any credit card, though the per-mile cost is higher than earning miles through regular flying or credit card spending.
- Some Delta credit cards earn points that transfer to your SkyMiles account at a one-to-one ratio, letting you convert card rewards into miles without buying them.
- Buying miles makes sense only if you are close to a specific award ticket price and want to avoid paying cash, since the per-mile cost is typically between 1 and 2 cents per mile.
- Transfer partners vary by card issuer, so you need to check whether your specific card has a transfer relationship with Delta before assuming you can move points over.
How to buy miles directly from Delta
Visit Delta's SkyMiles website and log into your account. Navigate to the "Buy Miles" section, which is usually found under account settings or the "Manage Your Account" menu. Select the number of miles you want to purchase — Delta typically allows purchases in increments, and you can buy anywhere from a small top-up to several thousand miles in one transaction.
Enter your credit card information at checkout. Delta accepts all major credit cards. The transaction processes when ready, and the miles appear in your SkyMiles account within minutes. You will receive a confirmation email with the purchase details and the per-mile cost you paid.
The price per mile fluctuates based on how many miles you buy and current promotions. Buying a small amount — say, 1,000 miles — costs more per mile than buying 10,000 miles at once. Delta occasionally runs promotions offering bonus miles on purchases, which can improve the value slightly, but buying miles is almost always more expensive than earning them through credit card spending or flights.
Transferring credit card points to Delta miles
If you hold a Delta credit card, check your card's rewards program details to see whether points transfer to SkyMiles. Most Delta-branded cards issued by American Express do offer this transfer option. Log into your credit card account online and look for a "Transfer Points" or "Redeem Points" section.
Select Delta SkyMiles as your transfer partner and choose how many points you want to move. The transfer typically completes within one to three business days. Once the points arrive in your SkyMiles account, they become miles and can be used for award flights, seat upgrades, or other SkyMiles redemptions.
Transfer rates are usually one-to-one, meaning 1,000 points become 1,000 miles. Some cards offer promotional transfer bonuses — for example, a 25% bonus on transfers during a limited period — which means 1,000 points might become 1,250 miles. Check your card's current promotions before transferring, since bonus periods change throughout the year.
When buying or transferring miles makes financial sense
Buying miles is most useful when you are a small number of miles short of an award ticket you want to book soon. If you need 5,000 more miles to reach a domestic award flight and the per-mile cost is 1.5 cents, you would spend $75 to complete the booking. Compare that to the cash price of the ticket — if the flight costs $300 to buy outright, spending $75 in miles might be worth it to you.
Transferring credit card points to miles, by contrast, is almost always the better option if your card offers it. You are not paying extra; you are straightforward converting rewards you already earned into a different currency. The only reason not to transfer is if you can redeem those points for something else at a better rate — for instance, if your card allows point transfers to hotel partners at a higher value than the one-to-one miles transfer.
Buying miles becomes poor value when you are trying to top up a large shortfall. If you need 50,000 miles and buying them costs 1.5 cents each, you are spending $750 — money you could put toward a cash ticket or save for future travel. In those cases, it usually makes more sense to wait and earn the miles through credit card spending or flights.
Understanding Delta SkyMiles award pricing
Delta awards are priced in miles, not in fixed dollar amounts. A domestic round-trip flight might cost anywhere from 25,000 to 75,000 miles depending on the route, season, and how far in advance you book. International awards typically start around 70,000 miles for economy and go much higher for premium cabins.
Award prices are not published in advance — they change based on demand and availability. This means you cannot know exactly how many miles you will need until you search for your specific flight. That uncertainty is why buying miles to top up a shortfall can be risky: you might buy 10,000 miles thinking it will get you to your goal, only to discover the flight now costs more.
Booking award flights as far in advance as possible typically gives you access to lower mile prices. If you are considering buying miles to close a gap, check whether waiting a few weeks to earn more through credit card spending might be cheaper than paying the per-mile purchase price.
Promotions and timing for mile purchases
Delta runs periodic promotions on mile purchases, usually offering bonus miles on top of what you buy. For example, a promotion might offer 50% bonus miles when you purchase 50,000 or more miles. These promotions are advertised on Delta's website and via email to SkyMiles members.
The per-mile cost also varies based on purchase volume. Buying 5,000 miles costs more per mile than buying 50,000 miles. If you are planning to buy miles, waiting for a bonus promotion and purchasing a larger quantity at once will lower your effective cost.
Check Delta's SkyMiles page regularly if you are considering a purchase, or sign up for Delta's email alerts to be notified when promotions launch. However, do not let a promotion pressure you into buying miles you do not need — the best miles are still the ones you earn through credit card spending or flights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy Delta miles with a non-Delta credit card?
Yes, Delta accepts all major credit cards for mile purchases. You do not need to hold a Delta card to buy miles. However, if you do hold a Delta card, you might earn bonus points on the purchase itself, which could offset some of the cost.
What is the difference between buying miles and transferring points?
Buying miles is a direct purchase from Delta using cash (via credit card). Transferring points means converting rewards you already earned through a credit card into miles. Transfers are almost always better value because you are not paying extra money — you are just changing the form of a reward you already own.
Do transferred points count toward elite status?
No. Miles earned through credit card spending count toward elite status qualification, but miles purchased or transferred from points do not. Only miles earned through actual Delta flights and certain credit card bonuses count toward elite status thresholds.
How long do purchased or transferred miles stay in my account?
SkyMiles miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Any account activity — including earning miles, transferring points, or booking an award — resets the clock. Purchased miles follow the same expiration rules as earned miles.
Can I transfer miles from my SkyMiles account to someone else?
Delta allows you to gift miles to another person's SkyMiles account, though there are fees involved and restrictions on how many miles you can transfer. This is different from transferring credit card points — you would be moving miles you already own, not converting points. Check Delta's website for current gifting rules and fees.