Delta SkyMiles

Delta SkyMiles is fully dynamic with no published award chart — the mileage price tracks the cash fare. Its redeeming virtue is that Delta doesn't levy fuel surcharges, and transfer bonuses (mostly from US currencies) can sharpen the value. For Australians it's a hard program to earn and an unpredictable one to spend.

How to earn SkyMiles

SkyMiles is difficult to build from Australia, with no local co-branded cards. It's largely a US-centric earning program, accessed here through partner flying or US-linked accounts.

How to use SkyMiles

With no chart, every award is a live quote. The upside is no carrier fuel surcharges, so the cash component stays low even when the mileage cost is high; the downside is that mileage prices on popular routes can be steep.

Sweet spots

• No fuel surcharges on awards, keeping the cash cost down.
• Occasional flash sales and transfer bonuses that improve effective value.
• SkyTeam partner space when dynamic pricing happens to land favourably.

What to watch

• Fully dynamic with no chart — you can't anticipate a redemption's cost.
• Fixed-value redemptions are often poor; mileage prices can be very high.
• Earning from Australia is limited, so balances grow slowly for locals.

Alliance & partners

Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Delta, Korean Air and Vietnam Airlines. Often a sweet spot via flexible-points transfers.

Frequently asked

Does Delta have an award chart?

No. SkyMiles awards are priced dynamically with no published chart, so the cost in miles shifts with the cash fare and the date. You have to search live to see what any given award will cost.