Can You Gift Delta SkyMiles?

Can You Gift Delta SkyMiles—Or Is That Just Wishful Thinking?

So, you’ve racked up a generous stash of Delta SkyMiles and now you’re feeling charitable. Maybe a friend’s trip fell through, your sibling forgot to book their flight, or your partner “accidentally” missed the lowest fare. That begs the question: Can you gift Delta SkyMiles to help someone else take off?

The short answer? Yes—you can. The longer answer? Well, not without fees, restrictions, and a few eyebrows raised from your accountant.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about gifting Delta SkyMiles: how it works, how much it costs, smarter alternatives, and when it might be worth it.

Can You Gift Delta SkyMiles Directly?

Yes, Delta does allow you to gift miles—but not in the way you might assume.

You can’t simply transfer your existing miles for free, like passing along a cookie. Instead, Delta considers “gifting” as buying brand-new miles for someone else and sending them directly into their SkyMiles account. Think of it like ordering a gift card, but with wings.

While the intention is sweet, this method can get expensive quickly. Let’s break it down.

How to Gift Delta SkyMiles (Without Turbulence)

Here’s how to officially gift Delta SkyMiles:

1. Log in to your SkyMiles account at Delta.com.
2. Go to the “Buy or Transfer Miles” section.
3. Choose the “Gift Miles” option.
4. Enter the recipient’s SkyMiles number and the number of miles you’d like to gift (minimum 2,000; max 60,000 in 2,000-mile increments).
5. You can include up to four recipients per transaction.
6. Review the fees, complete the transaction, and voilà—they’ll have miles in their account within 24 hours.

Just don’t expect a thank-you card in the mail—though you might get a free coffee out of it.

How Much Does It Cost to Gift Delta SkyMiles?

Ready for a little sticker shock?

• $0.035 per mile (that’s 3.5 cents per mile)
• Plus a $30 processing fee per transaction

That means if you want to gift 10,000 miles, you’ll pay $350. Yes, $350 to give someone $120 worth of flight value.

As generous as it sounds, this method often doesn’t make financial sense—unless you’re trying to top off someone’s account for a high-value redemption, like a business class award seat. Otherwise, it’s the equivalent of buying someone an $8 cup of airport coffee for $22. (Yes, we’re still bitter about that latte.)

Also worth noting, gifted miles do not count toward Medallion Status—they’re great for flights, but they won’t upgrade anyone’s elite perks.

What About Transferring Delta SkyMiles Instead?

If you’re thinking, “Why not just transfer my miles instead of buying new ones?”—that’s an option, too. But it’s no free ride either.

Delta allows you to transfer existing miles to another member for:

• $0.01 per mile
• Plus a $30 transaction fee

Transferring 10,000 miles would cost $130, and you’re still sacrificing the value of the miles themselves, usually around $120. That’s like selling a $100 bill for $80 and paying $30 to do it.

Unless someone is just short of booking a major award flight and you’re their travel hero, it’s usually not worth it.

Smarter Alternatives to Gifting Delta SkyMiles

Here’s where things get practical—and way more cost-effective:

1. Book the Flight for Them Using Your Miles

This is by far the best option. You can use your miles to book an award ticket for anyone, and you won’t pay any gift or transfer fees. It’s like gifting a flight directly, without all the red tape.

2. Use Delta Gift Cards or eCredits

You can opt to offer a Delta gift card or arrange to send eCredit (travel credit) if you want a bit of flexibility. These can offset taxes, fees, and base fares.

3. Transfer Credit Card Points

If you use American Express Membership Rewards, you may be able to transfer points to your own Delta account and book a flight on someone else’s behalf, without the middleman costs.

4. Donate Miles with Sky Wish

Feeling extra generous? Delta allows you to donate miles to charities like Make-A-Wish, UNICEF, and others. No extra fees—and you might just get some good karma in return.

Annual Gifting & Transfer Limits You Should Know

Before you become Santa in the skies, here are a few fine-print rules:

• You can gift up to 60,000 miles per recipient per year
• One member can gift up to 150,000 miles annually
• One SkyMiles account can receive up to 300,000 miles per year

And remember—miles must be gifted in increments of 2,000. No freelancing on the math here.

Is Gifting Delta SkyMiles Ever Worth It?

Let’s be honest—most of the time, gifting Delta SkyMiles isn’t the best bang for your buck. Between the high per-mile cost and transaction fees, you often pay more than the value your recipient receives.

But there are some exceptions:

• You’re topping off someone’s account for a high-value international award flight
• There’s a limited-time promo discounting the cost of gifting
• You really, really like this person (and maybe owe them a ride to the airport)

Otherwise, booking the ticket directly for them or using a gift card is often the smarter play.

Can You Gift Delta SkyMiles? Yes—But Know What You’re Paying For

To answer the big question: Can you gift Delta SkyMiles? Yes, you absolutely can—but it comes at a price, and it’s not always worth it.

If you want to be generous and pay for someone’s flight, just go ahead and book the award ticket for them. The most straightforward and inexpensive way of sharing your miles is. But if you’ve got some miles lying around and secretly thinking, “Hey, maybe it’ll be time to finally cash these in,” then yes, here’s another option.

Want to Turn Miles into Money Instead? We Can Help.

At Cash for My Miles, we make it easy to sell Delta SkyMiles and get real value—fast.

Whether you were planning to gift miles or just want to finally do something with them, we offer:

• Quick quotes with no obligation
• Instant payments
• A secure and professional process that saves you time and stress

Selling your SkyMiles should be simple. We’ve helped thousands of travellers convert their miles into cash without jumping through hoops or paying hidden fees.

So, if you’re looking for a better way to use your Delta SkyMiles, skip the transfer fees and gift charges—turn your miles into real value today.