Summary

• Delta's primary partner for SkyMiles is the SkyTeam alliance, offering access to 1,100+ destinations.
• Delta partners with airlines outside SkyTeam, like LATAM, for expanded travel options.
• Holders of the Platinum reserve card can earn miles on non-partner airlines using a helpful loophole.

As a Delta SkyMiles account holder, you should learn about the airline's partners to earn miles on other airlines. Delta's primary partner for SkyMiles is the SkyTeam alliance, a network of 19 airlines that offer numerous opportunities for frequent fliers.

The SkyTeam alliance includes founding members such as Delta Air Lines, Aeroméxico, Air France, and Korean Air. It offers customers access to over 1,100 destinations across a fleet of over 3,000 aircraft worldwide. Other notable alliance members include Virgin Atlantic, China Eastern, Kenya Airways, and Aerolineas Argentina.

SkyTeam was established on June 22nd, 2000, but its foundations were laid a year earlier when Delta and Air France signed an exclusive long-term strategic agreement, which became the bedrock for the subsequent alliance.

SkyTeam partners

Airline alliances like SkyTeam provide travelers many benefits, including more travel options, streamlined ticketing, and more miles earnings. For example, suppose you are a frequent flier looking to make the most of your SkyMiles for your next vacation. You can fly from Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) in South Korea, a Delta Air Lines hub. You can earn the maximum miles possible and reach your final destination quickly.

Delta's partnership with fellow SkyTeam member Korean Air allows passengers to earn miles on Korean Air flights and maximize their SkyMiles. Moreover, once you arrive at ICN, you can continue collecting miles on SkyTeam: Korean Air or Garuda Indonesia. Both airlines offer direct flights between ICN and Bali (DPS), with both carriers utilizing the Airbus A330-300.

Non aligned partners

Apart from SkyTeam, Delta partners with carriers that are not members of the alliance, such as Cape Air, China Southern Airlines, LATAM, and WestJet.

It is worth noting that China Southern left the partnership in 2018, and Cape Air is a small regional airline in the US. However, Delta's partnership with LATAM, a member of the rival oneworld alliance, is surprising. But Delta has a joint venture with LATAM, set up after the US airline took a 20% stake in the South American airline.

LATAM directly competes with Aerolineas, a SkyTeam member which, in theory, is not competing with Delta on flights between Buenos Aires and the United States. Nevertheless, Delta's frequent fliers can use LATAM's broadest network of destinations in South America, which benefits them immensely.

Below is the complete list of Delta's airline partners:

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• Aeromexico
• Air Europa
• Air France
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• Czech Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Hawaiian Airlines
• ITA Airways
• Kenya Airways
• KLM
• Korean Air
• LATAM
• META
• Saudia
• Tarom
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Westjet
• Xiamen Air.

Credit cards, a helpful loophole

If you hold the Platinum reserve card, you can earn one mile per dollar on purchases other than hotels, dining, and groceries. This means you can earn miles on any airline from Spirit to Lionair and Emirates, even though none of these carriers are partners.

For instance, if you fly on Spirit for $300, you will earn 300 miles, which you can redeem on Delta flights (and their partners worldwide). However, you can only redeem miles for flights within the network.

Suppose you fly with the airline and their partners. In that case, you will also gain access to the SkyClub lounges and other lounges that collaborate with Delta worldwide, and you will earn 3 miles per dollar on your booking, creating a positive feedback loop that, in turn, can help you save up for your next flying adventure.

Note: The card mentioned in this article is for illustration purposes only. The product mentioned above is not endorsed by Simple Flying. Always exercise caution when signing up for a credit card, and only spend as much as you can pay back.

Bottom line

Delta has one of the world's largest codeshare networks. Boasting the 19 other Skyteam carriers as partners, a handful of global non-aligned carriers like Hainan and China Southern, and a rival alliance partner, LATAM, it's an extensive expansion to its already large network.

Which Delta Air Lines partner do you find most interesting? Have you flown on any of them? How was your experience? Please let us know in the comment section below this article.

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  SkyMiles

  Participating Airlines:

  Delta Air Lines

  Owner:

  Delta Air Lines

  Region:

  North America

  Countries:

  United States

  Established Date:

  1981-00-00