Skip to content
SuperMoney logo
SuperMoney logo

How To Transfer Amex Points To Delta?

Last updated 12/05/2022 by

Benjamin Locke

Edited by

Fact checked by

Summary:
Transferring your rewards points from Amex to Delta is relatively easy as long as you have online accounts with Delta and American Express. You can either search for a flight you would like to book via Delta’s website or just transfer the points to your SkyMiles account for a future flight purchase. There are certain fees that you should be aware of before you make a transfer or buy the ticket.
Nothing sets the mind racing more than coming home from a long day at the office and dreaming of a vacation on an isolated beach. However, beach holidays, particularly those outside the country, can be expensive. Therefore, if you’re dreaming of exotic travel to far-off destinations, affordability is key. For those that enjoy flying Delta and have an American Express credit card, it’s good to know that Delta is one of the airline transfer partners of American Express. If you’d like to save some money on your next vacation by converting points from your Amex account into Delta SkyMiles, we’ll walk you through the transfer process.

Compare Credit Cards

Compare the rates, fees, and rewards of leading credit cards.
Compare Credit Cards

How to begin transferring points

First, you must decide if you want to transfer points for a specific destination or flight you picked out or if you would just like to transfer points onto Delta’s SkyMiles platform and wait for an opportunity to come up. Regardless of the purpose, transferring from American Express membership rewards to Delta is pretty straightforward. We will take you through a step-by-step guide to transferring your points to Delta (and turning them into air miles) with ease. Remember, American Express has various credit partnerships, including Delta-branded cards, so they make it very simple.

Step-by-step guide to transferring points to Delta

Follow these six steps to transfer your points and get on your way to your next destination.

Step 1: Make sure you are registered for both online accounts

You will need to have personal online accounts with both American Express and Delta.

For Amex

Once you receive your card, go to www.americanexpress.com/register and fill out the instructions to link your card to this account. This is now your American Express online account which will allow you to track your spending and rewards, make payments, and get various alerts and messages related to your account.

For Delta

Create an online account at www.delta.com/join-skymiles.com. Remember that the SkyMiles program is free to join, but some of the Delta-branded credit cards have an annual fee (although this might be waived for the first year). Enter all of the relevant information and payment details so that you have your account up and running.

Step 2: Search for a flight on Delta using miles

Once you have both accounts confirmed and you would like to search for flights, then you will need to go to Delta’s website. On the search screen, there will be an option to have the search results shown in miles rather than U.S. dollars. Currently, Amex offers one SkyMile for every membership reward point. It’s an easy equation to do.

Ticket cost in miles: 3,000
Total points needed: 3,000

Once you have this knowledge, it’s time to transfer the points.

Pro Tip

American Express claims it takes 30 minutes to transfer points from Amex to Delta SkyMiles, although it may take less than that. However, be aware that ticket prices tend to change over time, particularly with flash deals that might be available one minute and gone the next. For this reason, you might want to consider transferring a bunch of points to sit in your SkyMiles account so you can pounce when tickets become available.

Step 3: Log in to your American Express online account

You can do this by either going directly to americanexpress.com or using a shortcut related to the American Express partner site here.

Step 4: Transfer the points

If you used the shortcut, you should be able to transfer the points on the same page where you logged into your account. If you didn’t use the shortcut, go to the Membership Rewards section near the top of your screen and select “transfer points.” You can transfer a minimum of 1,000 points at one time.
The points should now be in your SkyMiles account. Be aware that in most cases, this happens automatically, but it could take up to 30 minutes to successfully transfer. Regardless, the next step is to confirm you have the points.

Step 5: Log in to your Delta account and confirm points

Log back into your Delta SkyMiles account. Confirm that the points that you transferred are in the account. For example, if you transferred 3,000 points, then you should now have 3,000 SkyMiles in your account.

Step 6: Shop for a flight

Once this is all done, you can go ahead and start shopping for a flight on Delta. Remember that when you search and when you pay, you need to be clear that you are paying with miles on the search engine and payment tabs.

Mixing and matching points/money

You need to make sure that when you search for flights, the flights are “miles eligible,” meaning that they can be paid for with miles. However, if you don’t have quite enough miles, you can still buy the flight with a combination of miles and cash. Here is how you do this:
1. On the “Trip Summary” page, view the “pay with miles” option.
2. Choose to pay in miles, dollars, or a combination of both.
3. You can now choose to pay part of the ticket in miles and the other portion of the ticket with your card.
4. Book the selection.

Be aware of extra fees

American Express charges six cents per mile when you transfer your points from Amex Rewards to Delta SkyMiles, up to a maximum of $99. This means that if you want to transfer a lot of points, it is better to do it in large chunks. Even if some of it sits there for a while, you can avoid paying the fee over and over again. Having your account loaded with points not only saves you from having to pay every time you transfer but also allows you to keep money in the account so that you can pounce on a great flash deal if you see one.
Looking for an Amex or other credit card with travel benefits or membership rewards points? Compare your options below.

SuperMoney may receive compensation from some or all of the companies featured, and the order of results are influenced by advertising bids, with exception for mortgage and home lending related products. Learn more

Loading results ...

FAQ

How many Amex points can I transfer to Delta?

There is no overall limit on how many Amex membership rewards points you can transfer. However, you have to transfer at least 1,000 points and you must transfer them in increments of 1,000. You can’t transfer 1,500 points, for example.

How long does it take American Express to transfer points to Delta?

For many people, it’s immediate. However, American Express says that it can take up to 30 minutes for the points to be transferred into Delta SkyMiles.

Can you transfer Amex points to multiple Delta accounts?

That all depends on whose name is on the Delta account. You can transfer Amex points to any Delta account in your name. Even if it’s a close friend or family member, if the account is not in your name, you can’t link the points.

Can I convert my Amex to a Delta Amex?

American Express has rules dictating how and what you are allowed to change. Their restrictions are as follows:
So this all depends on what type of Amex card you have. You can contact the customer service number on the back of your card if you have specific questions.

Can I use Amex Platinum points on Delta?

Yes, you can immediately transfer the membership rewards points from your Amex Platinum account to your Delta SkyMiles account for eligible purchases.

Key takeaways

  • American Express lets you earn membership rewards points, which can then be converted to Delta SkyMiles with relative ease.
  • You can either search for the ticket that you want to buy before transferring the points from your membership rewards account or just transfer them in one lump sum.
  • If you transfer membership rewards but they are not enough for the ticket, don’t worry. You can mix and match paying with points and money on Delta.
  • Be aware of the extra six cents a mile or up to $99 fee in the form of tax you have to pay when you transfer card membership points to SkyMiles.

SuperMoney may receive compensation from some or all of the companies featured, and the order of results are influenced by advertising bids, with exception for mortgage and home lending related products. Learn more

Loading results ...

Share this post:

You might also like