Flyers Can Earn Delta SkyMiles on Starbucks Purchases
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Here’s a unique way to earn Delta SkyMiles. Delta Air Lines has a partnership with Starbucks that allows customers to earn Delta SkyMiles for their spending, as well as bonus Starbucks Stars on days they fly with Delta.
As of June 12, 2024, the earning scheme for the partnership has changed. Instead of earning 1 Delta SkyMile per $1 spent on eligible purchases at Starbucks, members of the two rewards programs will only earn Delta miles when they reload a Starbucks gift card in the Starbucks app with $25 or more.
How the Delta-Starbucks partnership works
You’ll have to link your Delta SkyMiles and Starbucks loyalty accounts by visiting deltastarbucks.com to start earning rewards in both programs.
Here are the rewards:
Earn 25 Delta SkyMiles for a $25 - $49.99 gift card reload.
Earn 75 Delta SkyMiles for a $50 - $74.99 gift card reload.
Earn 125 SkyMiles for a $75 - $99.99 gift card reload.
Earn 200 SkyMiles for a $100+ gift card reload.
What else you need to know
The initial partnership was announced shortly after Delta announced some fairly significant changes to its loyalty program, including raising its spending requirement to earn Medallion elite status and adding new Choice Benefits, which are extra goodies for Diamond and Platinum Medallion members. One of those was 4,000 Starbucks Stars, which would cover 20 free hand-crafted beverages.
In 2025, that Choice Benefit will increase to 6,000 Starbucks Stars, or 30 free hand-crafted beverages.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
The earnings rate is likely not going to make you rich with SkyMiles, but it’s an easy way to earn miles on top of spending you’re already doing. NerdWallet values a Delta mile at 1.2 cents, so a $25 Starbucks gift card reload would earn you about 30 cents worth of Delta miles.
If you’ve got a coffee habit and spend at Starbucks regularly, you'll get a much better earning rate if you can reload your gift card in increments of $100. Keep in mind, though, it still won't cover the cost of a flight. A $100 gift card would get you $2.40 of Delta miles based on NerdWallet's valuation.
Still, it’s likely better than nothing — especially if it might just get you enough miles for a free flight. Another way to bolster you Delta SkyMiles account is by spending on a co-branded Delta credit card.
Photo courtesy of Delta Air Lines and Starbucks.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
