You can transfer Delta miles to another person through the SkyMiles program, but the process has specific rules and costs

Delta allows you to move miles from your SkyMiles account to someone else's account, but you cannot transfer them to just anyone. The recipient must be a family member or household member — Delta defines this as a spouse, domestic partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, or sibling. You can also transfer to someone you live with. The transfer itself costs $15 per 1,000 miles, and Delta processes the request within one to two business days once you submit it online.

The main reason people transfer miles is to help a family member reach a redemption goal for a ticket or upgrade. If you have extra miles sitting unused and someone in your household is close to booking a trip, a transfer can be faster and cheaper than buying miles outright, which costs more per mile than the transfer fee.

Key Takeaways

  • You can only transfer Delta miles to a family member or household member, not to a friend or coworker.
  • Each transfer costs $15 per 1,000 miles, charged to your credit card on file with Delta.
  • The recipient must have an active SkyMiles account before you can send miles to them.
  • Delta processes transfers within one to two business days, and the miles appear in the recipient's account once approved.
  • You can transfer as many miles as you want in a single transaction, but there is no minimum or maximum per transfer.

How to start a transfer through your SkyMiles account

Log into your SkyMiles account on Delta's website or mobile app. Go to the "Manage Miles" section, which you will find in the account menu. Look for the option labeled "Transfer Miles" — this is usually near the top of the Manage Miles page. Click or tap it to begin.

You will be asked to enter the recipient's SkyMiles account number and their relationship to you. Delta's form has a dropdown menu with the allowed relationships: spouse, domestic partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, or household member. Select the one that applies. Then enter the number of miles you want to transfer. Delta will show you the fee ($15 per 1,000 miles) and ask you to confirm.

Review the details one more time before submitting. Once you confirm, Delta charges the fee to your payment method on file and sends the transfer request for processing. You will receive a confirmation email with a reference number. The recipient will also get an email notifying them that miles are on the way.

What happens after you submit the transfer

Delta typically completes the transfer within one to two business days. During this time, the miles are held in a pending status — you cannot cancel them once submitted, so make sure the account number and relationship are correct before you hit confirm. If you made a mistake, contact Delta SkyMiles customer service right away, though they may not be able to stop a transfer that has already begun processing.

Once approved, the miles land in the recipient's account and are ready to use when ready. They can book flights, purchase upgrades, or use the miles for other SkyMiles rewards. The miles do not expire as long as the recipient keeps their SkyMiles account active and has at least one may have access to activity (like a flight or credit card purchase) every 24 months.

The cost of transferring versus buying miles

A transfer costs $15 per 1,000 miles. If you are moving 5,000 miles, the fee is $75. If you are moving 10,000 miles, the fee is $150. This is usually cheaper than Delta's mile purchase prices, which vary but often run $20 to $30 per 1,000 miles when Delta runs a promotion. However, buying miles directly can sometimes be cheaper during sales, so compare the two options if you are deciding between them.

The transfer fee is not refundable once the transfer is complete. If the recipient does not use the miles or decides they do not want them, Delta will not reverse the transaction or refund your fee. Make sure the recipient actually wants the miles before you send them.

Who can receive your miles and what they need

The recipient must have an active SkyMiles account before you transfer miles to them. If they do not have one, they can open a free account on Delta's website in a few minutes — they just need an email address. Once their account is set up and active, you can transfer miles to them.

The recipient does not need to be on the same household address as you, but Delta does require that you have a genuine family or household relationship. Delta does not verify relationships in detail at the time of transfer, but the company reserves the right to reverse transfers if it suspects fraud or misuse of the program.

Transferring miles as a gift

Many people use mile transfers to give a gift of travel to a family member. You might transfer miles to help a grandchild book a flight home from college, or to help a spouse reach the miles needed for a ticket upgrade. The process is the same — you just select the relationship that applies and submit the transfer.

If you want to give miles as a surprise, you can transfer them without telling the recipient first. They will receive an email notification that miles have been added to their account, so they will find out then. Alternatively, you can tell them in advance and let them know the miles are coming, so they can plan a trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer miles to a friend who is not family?

No. Delta only allows transfers to spouses, domestic partners, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings, or household members. Friends and coworkers are not may be able to access recipients, even if you want to give them miles as a gift.

What if I enter the wrong account number?

Contact Delta SkyMiles customer service when ready. If the transfer has not yet processed, they may be able to stop it. If it has already gone through, Delta will not reverse it, and the miles will stay in the wrong account. The recipient account holder would need to contact Delta to request a reversal.

How long do transferred miles stay in the recipient's account?

Transferred miles follow the same expiration rules as any SkyMiles miles. They do not expire as long as the account holder has at least one may have access to activity every 24 months, such as a flight purchase or credit card transaction. If the account becomes inactive, the miles may expire.

Can I transfer miles multiple times to the same person?

Yes. You can transfer miles to the same family member as many times as you want. Each transfer incurs the $15 per 1,000 miles fee. There is no limit on how many transfers you can make or how many miles you can send to one person over time.

Do transferred miles count toward elite status?

No. Transferred miles can be used to book flights and rewards, but they do not count toward earning elite status or elite may have access to miles. Only miles you earn yourself through flights and credit card spending count toward elite status.