For the past few years, Delta and Starbucks have partnered to let loyalty members earn airline miles on their coffee purchases. The program has been a hit with commuters who start their day with a latte and want to earn rewards towards their next flight. But now, the way you earn SkyMiles on Starbucks purchases is changing.
Under the old program, Delta SkyMiles members could link their loyalty accounts to Starbucks Rewards and earn one mile per dollar spent at Starbucks, with no limits. This made it easy to rack up miles just by buying your regular coffee drinks.
However, starting later this year, the earning structure will shift. Instead of earning a flat rate of one mile per dollar, SkyMiles members will earn miles based on their Starbucks Rewards tier level.
Level One members in the Starbucks program will earn one mile for every two dollars spent. Level Two members will earn one mile per dollar, the same as under the old program. But to reach Level Two, you’ll need to earn 300 stars within a year, which requires more spending than before.
The biggest change is that Level Three members will now earn two miles per dollar spent. To reach Level Three, you’ll need to earn 1,200 stars in a year. This will require regular, high-volume spending at Starbucks.
The good news is that there’s still no limit on how many miles you can earn. So if you’re already a heavy Starbucks spender, you can rack up SkyMiles quickly. But for casual customers, the earning rate is decreasing unless you step up your Starbucks habit.
It’s also worth noting that you’ll still need to link your Delta and Starbucks accounts to earn miles. And miles will be earned in addition to any Stars or Rewards you earn through the Starbucks loyalty program.
The change is likely a bid by Starbucks to incentivize more spending and loyalty. But for Delta flyers who only occasionally grab a Starbucks, it may not be as valuable as it once was.
To maximize the new program, focus on reaching Level Three status if you’re a regular Starbucks customer. You can do this by buying more drinks, opting for pricier items, and taking advantage of bonus star offers. Also, consider using a cash back or rewards credit card for your Starbucks purchases to stack earnings.
The exact date of the change has not been announced, so SkyMiles members can still earn miles at the old rate for now. But coffee lovers should prepare for the shift and strategize how to maximize their SkyMiles earnings under the new program.
