Delta lets you transfer miles to another person's account, but the process has strict rules and costs money

You can move Delta SkyMiles from your account to someone else's account, or convert them to miles in partner airline programs. Delta charges $10 per transfer, and the recipient must have an active SkyMiles account before you send the miles. The transfer takes 24 hours to complete once you submit the request through your online account.

The main limitation is that you cannot transfer miles to yourself across different accounts, and you cannot transfer miles as a gift to someone who doesn't yet have a SkyMiles account — they must enroll first. If you're trying to help someone reach a specific award ticket price, you need to know their account number and have them set up their account before you begin.

Key Takeaways

  • Delta charges $10 per transfer and processes the move within 24 hours after you submit the request online.
  • The person receiving your miles must already have an active SkyMiles account with their own account number.
  • You can transfer miles to a family member, friend, or business associate — Delta does not restrict who receives them.
  • Partner airlines like American, United, and Air France accept Delta miles through their own transfer programs, though rates and fees vary by airline.
  • Miles transferred to another person cannot be transferred again; once they land in someone else's account, that person owns them.

How to transfer miles through your Delta account

Log into your SkyMiles account on Delta's website and navigate to the "Manage Miles" section. Look for the option labeled "Transfer Miles" or "Send Miles" — the exact wording changes occasionally, but it appears in the account management area. You'll need the recipient's SkyMiles account number, which is an 8-digit number they can find on their SkyMiles card, in their account settings, or in any Delta email confirmation.

Enter the number of miles you want to transfer and confirm the $10 charge will be applied. Delta will deduct the $10 fee from your account immediately, but the miles themselves take up to 24 hours to appear in the recipient's account. You'll receive a confirmation email with a transaction number, and the recipient will get a separate email once the miles land in their account.

If the transfer fails, check that the recipient's account number is correct and that their account is active. Closed or suspended accounts cannot receive transfers. If you entered the wrong account number, contact Delta customer service — they can sometimes redirect miles if you catch the error within a few hours, but this is not may provide.

Converting Delta miles to partner airline miles

Delta has transfer partners in its frequent flyer network, including Air France-KLM, American Airlines, United Airlines, and several others. You can move your SkyMiles into these programs at set exchange rates, though the rates are almost always worse than using the miles for Delta flights directly. For example, you might get 1 Delta mile for every 1.25 miles in a partner program, meaning you lose value in the conversion.

To transfer to a partner airline, log into your SkyMiles account and find the "Transfer Partners" or "Airline Partners" section. Select the airline, enter the recipient's frequent flyer account number with that airline, and confirm the transfer. The process is similar to transferring within Delta, though some partners charge their own fees on top of Delta's $10 charge.

Partner transfers are most useful if you're trying to help someone reach a specific award ticket on an airline where they have more miles accumulated, or if you have miles expiring and want to move them somewhere you might use them. For most situations, using Delta miles directly for Delta flights gives you better value than converting to a partner.

Rules about who can receive your miles

Delta does not restrict transfers based on your relationship to the recipient — you can send miles to a spouse, adult child, friend, coworker, or anyone else with a SkyMiles account. The recipient does not need to be a U.S. citizen or resident, though their SkyMiles account must be in good standing and not suspended or closed.

You cannot transfer miles to a minor's account, and you cannot transfer miles to an account that is currently locked or under review by Delta. If the recipient's account has been flagged for unusual activity, Delta may block incoming transfers until the account is cleared. Ask the recipient to check their account status before you attempt a transfer.

Once miles land in someone else's account, they become that person's property. You cannot ask for them back, and the recipient cannot transfer them to a third person. This is why it's important to be certain about the transfer before you submit it — there is no reversal option once the 24 hours have passed.

Timing, fees, and what to expect

The $10 fee is charged to your account immediately when you submit the transfer request. The miles themselves take up to 24 hours to appear in the recipient's account, though most transfers complete within a few hours. During that waiting period, the miles are deducted from your balance but not yet visible in the recipient's account — this is normal and not a sign of a problem.

If you transfer miles multiple times in a short period, Delta may flag your account for review. This is rare, but it can happen if you're moving large amounts of miles frequently. If your account is flagged, you may not be able to transfer again until Delta's fraud team clears it, which can take several days.

There are no limits on how many miles you can transfer in a single transaction, but there may be account-level limits on how much you can transfer per year. Check your account settings or contact Delta to confirm your specific limits before planning a large transfer.

When transferring miles makes sense

Transferring miles is most useful when someone in your household or a close friend is close to booking an award ticket and needs just a few thousand more miles to reach the price. If they need 5,000 miles and you have 6,000 sitting unused, a $10 transfer is much cheaper than buying miles at Delta's retail rates, which typically cost 1 to 2 cents per mile.

Transferring is also worth considering if your miles are about to expire and you won't use them yourself. Delta's expiration policy requires account activity every 24 months — if you haven't earned or spent miles in that time, your account closes and miles are lost. Sending them to someone who will use them is better than losing them entirely.

Transferring to a partner airline makes less sense unless you have a specific award ticket in mind on that airline and the math works out. Run the numbers: if you're converting at a 1.25-to-1 rate and the partner airline's award prices are high, you may be better off waiting to accumulate miles directly with that airline instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer miles to someone who doesn't have a SkyMiles account yet?

No. The recipient must have an active SkyMiles account and provide you with their account number before you can transfer. They can enroll for free on Delta's website in about five minutes, and their account becomes active immediately. Once they're enrolled, you can proceed with the transfer.

What happens if I transfer miles to the wrong account number?

The miles will go to whatever account number you entered. Contact Delta customer service immediately with your transaction number — they may be able to redirect the miles if you catch the error within a few hours, but this is not may provide. After that window closes, the miles belong to whoever owns that account.

Can the person I send miles to transfer them to someone else?

No. Miles can only be transferred once. Once they land in someone's account, that person can use them to book flights or transfer them to a partner airline, but they cannot send them to a third person. This is a permanent rule in Delta's program.

Do I have to pay tax on miles I transfer as a gift?

The IRS does not currently treat frequent flyer miles as taxable income when transferred between individuals, though this is an unsettled area of tax law. For large transfers, consider consulting a tax professional. Delta does not issue tax documents for transfers, so you would need to document the transfer yourself if questions arise.

What's the difference between transferring miles and buying miles?

Transferring moves miles you already own to someone else's account for a $10 fee. Buying miles means purchasing new miles directly from Delta at their retail rate, which is typically much more expensive — often $0.01 to $0.02 per mile. Transferring is cheaper if you have miles available to send.