Delta SkyMiles have earned a rough reputation over the years – and often, for good reason. Award rates can be sky-high, pricing is unpredictable, and finding a good deal is often easier said than done. But does all that mean SkyMiles are completely worthless?
Spoiler alert: No … not in the slightest.
But take a look for yourself as I captured the entire experience of flying Delta’s flagship Airbus A350-900 – outfitted with Delta One Suites – to Brisbane, Australia (BNE) using SkyMiles earlier last month. It also includes a look at the exclusive Delta One check-in area at Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) and the gorgeous Delta One Lounge at Los Angeles (LAX).
This is all a part of a larger vision I laid out in an earlier video about my SkyMiles strategy for 2026 to show that SkyMiles are far from worthless. In fact, I think when you can find the right redemptions, you can get some incredible value from what many (inappropriately) call SkyPesos.
At Thrifty Traveler, we don’t accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one!
In This Video
- 0:00 Are SkyMiles Worthless?
- 1:00 Delta One Check-In
- 2:05 First Class to Los Angeles
- 3:11 Delta One Lounge at LAX
- 7:14 Delta One to Brisbane
- 10:28 How We Find SkyMiles Flash Sales
- 11:20 Rebooking Can Save You SkyMiles
- 11:59 Landing In Australia
Other Reviews & Helpful Resources
- Save Your SkyMiles with This Workaround
- Delta Never Advertises its Best Deals
- 10 of the Best Award Search Tools to Find Award Availability
- Delta Unveils Fancy New Delta One Suites, Plans to Retrofit Old Planes
- Our Delta One Review from the 767-400
- The Best & Worst Planes for Delta One Business Class
- The Best Delta One Deals We've Found in 2026
- The Best Workaround to Book Delta Flights (Including Delta One!) for Fewer Miles
- Despite ‘Premium' Brand, Most Delta Biz Class Cabins are Relics
