Redeeming Capital One miles for Delta Air Lines flights might seem like an impossible task, but it’s actually possible. Even though Delta isn’t a Capital One transfer partner, there are several ways to redeem Capital One miles for a flight. Thanks to Delta’s vast partner network (some of which also partner with Capital One), you have plenty of options for booking Delta flights without using Delta SkyMiles.
Each method has its pros and cons, and knowing which option is best depends on your travel goal. Don’t worry — you won’t have to navigate these murky waters on your own. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the best way to use Capital One points to book flights on Delta.
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Booking Delta flights using Capital One Travel
Redeeming Capital One miles for Delta flights through the Capital One Travel portal could be a great move. That’s because Delta’s own rewards currency, Delta SkyMiles, isn’t very valuable due to dynamic pricing. In fact, point.me partner One Mile at a Time values SkyMiles at just 1.1 cents each.
Meanwhile, Capital One miles are worth one cent each for Delta flights booked on the travel portal. Why is it better to redeem miles at 1 cent each instead of 1.1 cents? Because, when you book through the Capital One Travel portal, you also earn miles and elite status credits through Delta SkyClub by providing your frequent flyer number. You don’t earn miles or make progress toward elite status when redeeming Delta Skymiles for flights.
Furthermore, booking Delta flights using Capital One Travel is pretty straightforward:
- Visit the Capital One Travel website and click on the “book travel” button.
- Log in with your Capital One account credentials.
- Navigate to the “flights tab” on the travel homepage.
- Enter your flight information (departure, date, destination, cabin class, and number of travelers).
- On the search results page, select the “Airline” filter and check off the “Delta” box.
- Choose the Delta flight you want to book and select your seats (if available)
- You need to create a traveler profile on the next page, including the frequent flyer number you want to credit your flight to. If you’ve previously done this, you only need to select the travel profile.
- Enter your Capital One card as the payment method or apply your Capital One rewards.
- Hit “Confirm and book.”
One small caveat of booking with the Capital One portal: Airlines consider this a third-party booking (it’s powered by Hopper), which means if something goes wrong or you need to change or cancel your flight, you could get stuck with both the airline and Capital One Travel telling you its the other party’s responsibility to help you.
Booking Delta flights using Capital One points on partners
Delta SkyMiles isn’t a Capital One transfer partner, but there is still a workaround for redeeming miles for Delta flights. Capital One has 1:1 transfer partnerships with three airline loyalty programs that partner with Delta: Aeromexico Club Premier, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and Virgin Red. Not only can you redeem miles from these airlines towards Delta flights, but you might be able to do so at a lower rate than Delta would charge.
The great thing about these transfer partnerships is that sometimes Capital One offers bonus points to these partners. Your miles will go much further, and you’ll get a good deal on flight redemptions.
Booking Delta flights through Capital One transfer partners requires a bit more work. You’ll need to first find award space before transferring rewards to one of the three programs mentioned above. You always run the risk of award space disappearing before the points hit your account (which should be instant in most cases, but delays do happen).
The best Delta flights to book using Capital One points
Now that we’ve established that it’s possible to redeem Capital One points for Delta flights using a partner program let’s dive into the best options. Flying Blue and Virgin Red offer some of the best “sweet spot” awards, not just for flights on Delta but throughout the SkyTeam alliance. Here’s a look at some of the best Delta flight deals using Capital One transfer partners:
- 15,000 Virgin points each way for Delta Main Cabin flights from the East Coast to the UK (off-peak)
- 17,500 Flying Blue miles each way for Delta economy class from the West Coast to Hawaii
- 20,000 Virgin points each way for Delta Main Cabin flights from the East Coast to the UK (peak)
- 47,500 Virgin points each way for Delta One (first class) from the Central and East Coast to the UK (off-peak)
- 50,000 Virgin points each way for Delta flights between Europe and the U.S.
- 75,000 Aeromexico points each way for Delta One Suites from the U.S. to South America.
How point.me helps you book Delta flights with Capital One miles
Navigating the complexities of booking Delta Air Lines flights with Capital One points can be challenging, especially given the lack of a direct partnership between the two. However, point.me offers a streamlined solution to this problem. This platform simplifies the process of finding and booking award flights, enabling you to maximize the value of your Capital One points for Delta flights.
In addition to showing you all the options, point.me finds award availability across partner programs and compares redemption rates to find the lowest ones. The best part? The tool also considers current point transfer bonuses to determine the lowest rates.
This makes it much easier to decide which Capital One transfer partner offers the best value for your miles. Furthermore, you can compare the lowest transfer partner rate against the cost of booking a Delta flight through the Capital One Travel portal.
Frequently asked questions about booking Delta Air Lines flights with Capital One miles
Can I use Captial One miles for Delta flights?
Yes, you can use Capital One miles to book Delta flights via the Capital One Travel portal or by transferring them to airline partners like AeroMexico Club, Flying Blue, and Virgin Red. point.me can compare redemption rates across programs and guide you toward the lowest one.
What airlines partner with Capital One?
Capital One has 15 airline partners, three of which also partner with Delta Air Lines. You can transfer Capital One miles 1:1 to Aeromexico Club Premier, Flying Blue, and Virgin Red, then redeem those miles for Delta flights.
Can I partially pay for a Delta flight with Capital One miles?
Yes, you can partially pay for a Delta flight with Capital One points through the Capital One Travel portal or through transfer partners. Capital One’s Delta partners, Aeromexico Club Premier, Flying Blue, and Virgin Red, allow one-way award bookings.
Which Capital One credit cards earn transferable points?
Several Capital One credit cards earn transferable points. These include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Venture X, Spark Miles for Business, Spark Miles Select for Business, Venture X Business Card, and VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
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