Earning Delta SkyMiles isn’t limited to the air. Did you know you can also boost your miles balance simply by renting a car? Delta Airlines partners with various car rental companies to offer SkyMiles members the opportunity to earn miles on qualifying car rentals booked through the dedicated delta.com/cars portal. This guide will break down everything you need to know to maximize your SkyMiles earning potential when you rent a car through Delta’s partners.
Understanding Qualifying Rentals for SkyMiles Credit
Not all car rentals are created equal when it comes to earning SkyMiles. To ensure you receive mileage credit, it’s crucial to understand what constitutes a “qualifying rental.” Generally, a qualifying rental is a booking made via delta.com/cars for one or more days at participating locations. However, certain rates and discounts are excluded.
Rentals booked under the following categories typically do not qualify for SkyMiles:
- Travel industry rates or discounts
- Wholesale tour package rates or discounts
- Insurance or dealer replacement rates
- Corporate and government rates
- Group travel discounts
- Rentals associated with frequent flyer car awards
- Other corporate agreements applicable to the car rental company
To put it simply, standard retail rates booked through delta.com/cars are usually eligible, while heavily discounted or negotiated rates are often excluded. Always confirm the terms and conditions at the time of booking to be certain.
How to Earn SkyMiles with Delta Car Rental Partners
When you book an eligible car rental through delta.com/cars, you can earn two (2) SkyMiles for every eligible US dollar (or foreign currency equivalent) spent on the base car rental rate. This means the more you spend on the base rental price, the more miles you’ll accrue.
To ensure your miles are properly credited to your SkyMiles account, remember these key steps:
- Book through delta.com/cars: This is the designated portal for earning miles on Delta car rentals.
- Provide your SkyMiles number at booking: Make sure to enter your SkyMiles number during the reservation process.
- Use a credit card in your name: The name on the credit card used for the reservation must match the name on your SkyMiles account. This verification step is crucial for mileage crediting.
Keep in mind that miles are awarded to the SkyMiles member whose name is on the credit card used for the booking and reservation. Miles will not be awarded for cancelled, no-show, or unpaid reservations. Only one SkyMiles number can be associated with each booking.
Important Conditions to Keep in Mind for SkyMiles Car Rentals
While earning SkyMiles through car rentals is straightforward, it’s important to be aware of a few additional conditions:
- Exclusions from Qualifying Dollars: Only the base car rental rate counts towards mileage earning. Taxes, fees, incidental charges, and any portion of the booking paid with vouchers or discount codes are excluded from “Qualifying Dollars” and will not earn miles.
- Mileage Credit Timeline: Allow up to 8 weeks after completing your eligible rental for the SkyMiles to be deposited into your account.
- Retroactive Mileage Claims: If your miles haven’t appeared after 8 weeks, you can request mileage credit within 6 months of your rental completion date. Contact Delta and specify “Request Refund or Miles > Mileage Credit > Partners Requests.”
- Rentals Before SkyMiles Enrollment: Car rentals completed before you enrolled in the SkyMiles program are not eligible for mileage credit.
- Bonus Miles: Miles earned through car rentals are considered bonus miles and do not contribute to Million Miler Status.
- Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs): Unless explicitly stated in a limited-time offer, spending on car rentals typically does not count towards Medallion Qualification Dollars.
- Multiple Rentals on Consecutive Days: Even if you rent different cars on consecutive days from the same location, it will be considered a single qualifying rental.
By understanding these terms and conditions, you can confidently book your car rentals through Delta Airlines partners and maximize your SkyMiles earnings while enjoying the convenience of having a vehicle for your travels. Make sure to always book via delta.com/cars and provide your SkyMiles information to take advantage of this valuable partnership.
