No, Delta SkyMiles cannot be directly transferred to Alaska Airlines as they belong to separate loyalty programs with no transfer partnership.
Understanding the Basics of Airline Loyalty Programs
Airline loyalty programs are designed to reward frequent flyers with points or miles that can be redeemed for flights, upgrades, and other perks. Delta Air Lines operates the SkyMiles program, while Alaska Airlines runs its Mileage Plan. Each program functions independently, managing its own currency and redemption rules.
Delta SkyMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan miles are earned through flights, credit card spending, and partner promotions. However, because these programs are competitors rather than partners in an alliance, their miles cannot be combined or transferred directly between accounts. This creates a clear boundary for travelers hoping to consolidate their rewards.
Why Direct Transfers Between Delta SkyMiles and Alaska Airlines Are Not Possible
Delta Air Lines is a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance. This alliance includes airlines such as Air France, KLM, and Korean Air. Alaska Airlines, on the other hand, joined the oneworld alliance in 2021 and partners with carriers like American Airlines and British Airways.
Because these two airlines belong to different alliances without overlapping partnerships that support mileage transfers, their loyalty currencies remain isolated. The business models behind these programs prioritize keeping miles within their own ecosystems to maintain customer loyalty.
Even though both airlines have code-share agreements on some routes, this does not extend to allowing mile transfers. Code-share flights may earn miles in either program depending on the operating carrier but do not facilitate cross-program mile movement.
The Impact of Alliances on Mileage Transfers
Alliances often enable reciprocal mileage earning and redemption but rarely allow direct point transfers between members’ loyalty accounts. For example:
- SkyTeam members let you earn SkyMiles when flying partner airlines.
- oneworld members allow earning and redeeming miles across their network.
However, transferring miles from one airline’s program to another’s is generally off-limits unless both airlines have a specific partnership agreement beyond alliance membership.
Alaska Airlines’ recent move into oneworld has expanded its partner network but has not changed the fact that Delta SkyMiles remain separate from Alaska’s Mileage Plan.
Alternatives When You Can’t Transfer Delta SkyMiles To Alaska Airlines
Though direct transfer isn’t possible, travelers can still leverage their miles strategically by understanding how each program works and using indirect methods.
Redeeming Miles for Partner Flights
Both Delta and Alaska offer ways to use their miles on partner airlines:
- Delta SkyMiles: Can be redeemed for flights with all SkyTeam members plus select non-alliance partners.
- Alaska Mileage Plan: Allows redemptions on a wide range of partners including American Airlines (oneworld), Emirates (non-alliance), and more.
This means if you want to fly an Alaska-operated route but only have Delta SkyMiles, you might book through Delta’s partner network if available—but this is limited and often more expensive than booking directly with Alaska miles.
Booking Separate Tickets Strategically
If you regularly fly both airlines but can’t pool miles, consider:
- Using Delta SkyMiles exclusively for Delta or SkyTeam flights.
- Saving Alaska Mileage Plan miles for Alaska or its partners.
- Monitoring promotions on both programs to maximize earning potential separately.
This approach requires managing two accounts but prevents losing value by attempting unsupported transfers.
How Credit Card Points Factor Into This Equation
Many travelers accumulate airline miles through co-branded credit cards or flexible points programs like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards. These flexible points sometimes provide an indirect way to move value between airline programs.
Flexible Points Transfer Options
Credit card points can be transferred to multiple airline partners at varying ratios. For example:
| Credit Card Program | Transfer Partners Include… | Transfer Ratio Examples |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | Delta Air Lines (SkyMiles), British Airways (Avios), Emirates | 1:1 (to Delta), 1:1 (to British Airways) |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | British Airways (Avios), United Airlines (MileagePlus) | 1:1 (to British Airways), 1:1 (to United) |
| Citi ThankYou Points | JetBlue TrueBlue, Qatar Airways Privilege Club | 1:1 (varies by partner) |
Notice that neither Amex nor Chase currently offers direct transfer options from flexible points into Alaska Mileage Plan or vice versa. However, Amex Membership Rewards does transfer directly into Delta SkyMiles.
If you hold flexible points instead of airline-specific miles, you might choose which airline’s program to top up based on your travel plans. Unfortunately, this doesn’t solve direct transfers between Delta and Alaska miles but provides a workaround by shifting flexible points instead of fixed airline currency.
The Value Differences Between Delta SkyMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan Miles
Understanding how much each mile is worth helps decide whether it’s worth pursuing complex booking strategies instead of transferring miles outright.
On average:
- Delta SkyMiles tend to have a value around 1.2 cents per mile.
- Alaska Mileage Plan miles often fetch higher value—commonly 1.5 to 2 cents per mile—due to favorable award charts and unique partner redemptions like Emirates first class or Cathay Pacific business class.
This difference makes holding onto your Alaska Mileage Plan miles attractive for premium cabin redemptions that are tough to find with other programs.
Mileage Redemption Flexibility Comparison
| Feature | Delta SkyMiles | Alaska Mileage Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Award Chart | Dynamic pricing system | Fixed award charts |
| Partner Redemptions | Good selection within SkyTeam | Extensive mix including non-alliance |
| Upgrade Options | Limited upgrade awards | Generous upgrade possibilities |
| Expiration Policy | No expiration | No expiration |
Because Delta uses dynamic pricing for awards, the cost in miles can fluctuate dramatically depending on demand. Conversely, Alaska’s fixed award charts offer predictability when planning redemptions months ahead.
The Role of Account Sharing or Gifting Miles Between Programs
Some airlines allow gifting or sharing of miles within their own program networks—but this is rarely possible across different loyalty programs unless explicitly stated in partnerships or alliances.
Neither Delta nor Alaska offers official mile gifting options across each other’s programs. Attempting third-party solutions like mileage brokers is risky due to potential violations of terms of service leading to account suspension or forfeiture of miles.
For safe travel rewards management:
- Keep your accounts separate.
- Use official channels only.
- Focus on maximizing each program independently rather than trying unsupported transfers between them.
How Frequent Flyers Can Maximize Both Programs Without Transfers
Managing two separate mileage balances might seem cumbersome but offers unique opportunities if handled smartly:
- Create a travel plan: Allocate specific trips where one airline offers better routes or availability.
- Leverage credit card bonuses: Use co-branded credit cards tied directly to each airline.
- Monitor promotions: Both airlines run periodic sales on award tickets; snagging deals can stretch your mileage further.
- Diversify earnings: Earn points via hotel stays or rental cars that transfer into one program or the other.
- Avoid expiring balances: Both programs do not expire miles as long as there is activity; keep accounts active.
By treating each account as a distinct asset rather than trying to merge them, travelers can optimize rewards without risking losing value through improper transfers.
Key Takeaways: Can I Transfer Delta SkyMiles To Alaska Airlines?
➤ Delta SkyMiles cannot be directly transferred to Alaska Airlines.
➤ Both airlines have separate loyalty programs and partnerships.
➤ Points transfers are generally restricted between different airlines.
➤ You can use miles separately for flights on each airline.
➤ Check for codeshare flights to maximize mileage benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer Delta SkyMiles to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan?
No, you cannot transfer Delta SkyMiles directly to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. These loyalty programs operate independently without any transfer partnership, so miles earned in one program cannot be moved to the other.
Why can’t Delta SkyMiles be transferred to Alaska Airlines?
Delta SkyMiles and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan belong to different airline alliances—SkyTeam and oneworld respectively. Since they do not share a partnership that supports mile transfers, direct transfers between their programs are not possible.
Are there any alliances that allow transferring Delta SkyMiles to Alaska Airlines?
No, airline alliances typically allow earning and redeeming miles across partners but do not support direct transfers between different loyalty programs. Delta’s SkyTeam and Alaska’s oneworld memberships do not enable transferring miles between their accounts.
Can code-share flights help transfer Delta SkyMiles to Alaska Airlines?
Code-share flights may let you earn miles in either program depending on the operating carrier, but they do not allow transferring miles between Delta SkyMiles and Alaska Mileage Plan accounts.
What alternatives exist if I want to use Delta SkyMiles with Alaska Airlines?
Since direct transfers are impossible, consider redeeming your Delta SkyMiles for flights operated by SkyTeam partners or use Alaska Mileage Plan miles separately. You can also explore credit card rewards or partner promotions that may offer more flexible options.