You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio directly through your Amex online account or the Amex app. The process takes just a few clicks, and points typically arrive in your Delta account within minutes. Here’s exactly how to do it, what it costs, and when the transfer makes sense.
What You Need Before You Start
Two things must be in place before you can initiate a transfer. First, you need an Amex card that earns Membership Rewards points. Not every Amex card qualifies. Cards like the Platinum Card, Gold Card, and Green Card earn Membership Rewards, but Delta-branded Amex cards earn SkyMiles directly (those miles go straight to your Delta account automatically and don’t need to be transferred). If you’re unsure, log into your Amex account and look for a “Membership Rewards” section. If it’s there, your card qualifies.
Second, you need a Delta SkyMiles account. If you don’t have one, you can create a free account at delta.com in a couple of minutes. You’ll need your SkyMiles number during the transfer process, so have it handy.
How to Transfer Points Step by Step
Log into your American Express account at americanexpress.com or open the Amex app. Navigate to the Membership Rewards section, then look for “Transfer Points” or “Use Points.” From there, select Delta SkyMiles from the list of airline partners.
You’ll be prompted to enter your Delta SkyMiles account number and the number of points you want to transfer. The transfer ratio is 1:1, so 10,000 Membership Rewards points become 10,000 Delta SkyMiles. Enter the amount, confirm the details, and submit.
If this is your first time transferring to Delta, you may need to link your SkyMiles account by entering your account number and the name on your Delta profile. The name on your Delta account must match the name on your Amex account. Once linked, future transfers skip this step.
The Excise Tax Fee
Transferring Membership Rewards to a U.S. airline like Delta triggers a small excise tax offset fee. Amex charges $0.0006 per point transferred, capped at $99. In practical terms, transferring 10,000 points costs $6, transferring 50,000 points costs $30, and any transfer of 165,000 points or more hits the $99 maximum. This fee is charged to your Amex card automatically when you complete the transfer.
This fee only applies to U.S. airline partners. If you transfer to international airline programs or hotel partners, there’s no fee. It’s worth factoring into your math, especially on smaller transfers where $6 on 10,000 points adds a noticeable cost per mile.
How Long the Transfer Takes
Most transfers show up in your Delta SkyMiles account within 30 minutes. Amex notes that transfers can take up to 48 hours in rare cases, but same-day arrival is the norm. This is fast compared to some other loyalty program transfers, which can take several days. Still, don’t wait until the last minute to transfer points if you’re eyeing a specific award flight. Give yourself at least a day of buffer in case of delays.
Transfers Are Irreversible
Once you confirm a transfer, the points leave your Membership Rewards balance permanently. You cannot move SkyMiles back into Membership Rewards. This is the single most important thing to understand about the process. Membership Rewards points are flexible: you can use them for travel across multiple airlines and hotels, for statement credits, or for gift cards. Once they become SkyMiles, they can only be used within the Delta ecosystem.
The best practice is to transfer only when you have a specific redemption in mind. Search for the Delta award flight you want first, confirm the mileage price and availability, then transfer just enough points to book it. Speculatively moving a large balance into Delta “just in case” locks up your points without a clear payoff.
When the Transfer Is Worth It
Delta SkyMiles are worth roughly 1.2 cents each for economy tickets, according to NerdWallet’s analysis. That means 10,000 SkyMiles should save you about $120 on a flight to represent fair value. If a Delta award flight prices out to less than 1.2 cents per mile, you’re getting below-average value and might find a better use for your Membership Rewards elsewhere.
One thing to know about Delta’s award pricing: SkyMiles redemption costs are closely tied to the cash price of the ticket. Unlike some programs where you can find outsized “sweet spots” that deliver 3 or 4 cents per mile, Delta’s values tend to stay in a narrower range. You’re less likely to stumble into an incredible deal, but you’re also less likely to get terrible value. The consistency cuts both ways.
Transfers make the most sense when you’re booking a flight on Delta or its partners and the mileage price works out to at least 1.2 cents per mile. To check, divide the cash price of the ticket (in cents) by the number of miles required. If the result is 1.2 or higher, you’re getting solid value. For example, a $360 ticket that costs 25,000 miles works out to 1.44 cents per mile, a good use of your points.
Transferring to Someone Else’s Delta Account
Amex generally requires that the name on your Membership Rewards account matches the name on the Delta SkyMiles account receiving the points. You typically cannot transfer directly into another person’s Delta account. However, you can book Delta award flights for other people using the SkyMiles in your own Delta account after transferring points there. So the workaround is straightforward: transfer points to your own SkyMiles account, then book the flight for your family member or friend as the passenger.
Some Amex cardholders who are authorized users on a Membership Rewards account may have limited transfer privileges depending on the primary cardholder’s settings. Check your account permissions if you’re an authorized user trying to initiate a transfer.
Quick Math on Common Transfer Amounts
- 10,000 points: Becomes 10,000 SkyMiles. Excise fee: $6. Enough for short domestic one-way flights on off-peak dates.
- 25,000 points: Becomes 25,000 SkyMiles. Excise fee: $15. Covers many domestic round trips or one-way economy flights on mid-range routes.
- 50,000 points: Becomes 50,000 SkyMiles. Excise fee: $30. Opens up longer domestic routes or shorter international economy flights.
- 100,000 points: Becomes 100,000 SkyMiles. Excise fee: $60. Enough for international economy round trips or domestic business-class options.
- 165,000+ points: Excise fee caps at $99 regardless of how many points you transfer above this threshold.