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The first time I earned status with Delta Air Lines was in 2013. I had recently started a job as a traveling project manager, and I couldn’t wait until I got upgraded from basic economy—where my six-foot-three-inch frame literally didn’t fit—to first class, where I assumed they nibbled on shrimp cocktail, popped champagne and played with Goldendoodle puppies until landing.
But I soon discovered a hysterical irony. Virtually everyone else in my 8,000-person company must have earned elite Delta status around the same time as me, and since we all flew out of the same tiny airport on Monday mornings, I was probably No. 7,991 on the upgrade list every time.
Thankfully, Silver Medallion status had tons more to offer than the occasional lucky upgrade to Goldendoodle class—and it still does more than a decade later. You’ll get priority check-in, free Preferred Seats and a shocking perk potentially worth up to $630 round trip. That’s not to mention the handy SkyMiles you’ll earn along the way, which you can redeem for flights, hotels and more to subsidize your next trip.
Still, there are a few key caveats to the program that you’ll want to keep in mind before you book your next flight. So let’s examine the pros, the cons and the fine print as we discuss everything you need to know about Delta SkyMiles in 2024.
What is Delta SkyMiles?
Delta SkyMiles is Delta Air Lines’ official loyalty rewards program.
Here’s how it works in a nutshell: Once you create a free SkyMiles account and start spending money with Delta, you’ll begin to earn two types of points. Those are as…