Delta Airline Partners: Complete Guide to SkyTeam, Joint Ventures, and SkyMiles Earning

Delta Air Lines partners with more than 20 global carriers through the SkyTeam alliance, strategic antitrust-immunized joint ventures, and bilateral codeshare agreements. Through these relationships, Delta SkyMiles members can earn and redeem miles, enjoy reciprocal Medallion elite benefits (including lounge access, priority check-in, and free checked luggage), and book coordinated single-ticket itineraries connecting to over 1,000 destinations across the globe.

Delta's most influential partners include Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, LATAM, and Aeromexico. Knowing how these partnerships function allows you to unlock worldwide flight availability, optimize elite status qualification, and maximize your frequent flyer miles.

Delta's Core Joint Venture Partners

While alliance membership allows basic codesharing, Delta's closest international relationships take the form of metal-neutral joint ventures. In these agreements, airlines coordinate flight schedules, align customer service policies, share revenues, and offer nearly seamless reciprocal benefits:

1. The Transatlantic Joint Venture (Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic)

Delta operates an extensive transatlantic joint venture alongside Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. This pact controls a substantial share of all air travel between North America and Europe, allowing passengers to fly Delta to Paris (CDG), Amsterdam (AMS), or London Heathrow (LHR) and connect smoothly to secondary cities throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India.

For an in-depth look at how Delta collaborates with France's flag carrier on transatlantic flights and shared hubs, explore our review of the Air France-Delta relationship.

2. The Transpacific Joint Venture (Korean Air)

Anchored at Seoul's state-of-the-art Incheon International Airport (ICN), Delta's joint venture with Korean Air gives North American travelers premier connecting access to dozens of destinations throughout Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. Terminals at ICN are designed for rapid international transfers, complete with transit hotels, free relaxation zones, and luxury lounges.

3. The Americas Joint Ventures (LATAM and Aeromexico)

• LATAM Airlines: Delta acquired a 20% equity stake in South America's largest airline group, establishing a joint venture covering travel between North America and Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay.
• Aeromexico: Delta coordinates cross-border flights with Mexico's legacy carrier, connecting U.S. hubs to Mexico City (MEX), Guadalajara, and coastal resorts.

SkyTeam Alliance Airline Roster

Delta is a founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, established in 2000. Current SkyTeam member airlines include:

Note: Czech Airlines ceased operations under the SkyTeam brand, and Aeroflot remains suspended from alliance activities.

When planning long-haul journeys to overseas destinations, review our guide to Delta international flights to discover how partner routes expand your options.

Independent and Former Partner Airlines

Beyond SkyTeam, Delta maintains bilateral relationships with select non-alliance carriers:

• WestJet: Delta coordinates extensive cross-border flights with Canada's second-largest carrier, allowing reciprocal SkyMiles earning and lounge access.
• Cape Air: Provides regional feeder flights in New England and the Caribbean.

In contrast, some prominent past relationships have completely ended. For example, Delta once shared a close codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines before growing its own Seattle hub. To learn why that domestic pact dissolved, see our history of the Delta Alaska Airlines partnership.

To understand why you can no longer use SkyMiles on Alaska flights today, read our breakdown of Delta miles on Alaska Airlines.

How SkyMiles Earning Works on Partner Flights

How you earn Delta SkyMiles and Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) on partner airlines depends strictly on how your ticket is ticketed:

1. Flights Booked Through Delta (Ticket Numbers Starting with 006)

If you buy your ticket directly on delta.com or through an agent where the e-ticket number begins with "006," your earnings mirror standard Delta flights:

• You earn SkyMiles based on the cash ticket price (excluding government taxes).
• You earn 1 MQD per $1 spent on the base airfare.

2. Flights Booked Through Partner Airlines (Non-006 Tickets)

If you purchase a flight directly through Air France, KLM, or Korean Air and enter your Delta SkyMiles number:

• SkyMiles and MQDs are calculated using a percentage of the flight distance and the specific fare class code of the ticket.
• Premium cabin tickets (First and Business) earn higher percentages (often 100% to 200% of miles flown), while deep-discount economy tickets earn lower percentages (often 25% to 50%).
• Savvy frequent flyers often leverage long-distance partner tickets in premium economy or business class to earn large sums of MQDs toward Delta Medallion status at lower cash costs.

Reciprocal Elite Perks: SkyTeam Elite & Elite Plus

Delta Medallion elite status translates directly into alliance-wide privileges when flying any SkyTeam carrier:

• SkyTeam Elite (Silver Medallion): Priority check-in counters, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance, and priority airport standby.
• SkyTeam Elite Plus (Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion): Guaranteed reservations on sold-out flights, priority baggage handling, expedited security lines (SkyPriority), and complimentary international lounge access for the member plus one traveling guest on international itineraries, regardless of travel cabin.

How to Check the Latest Information

Partner schedules, reciprocal perks, and mileage earning rates can change:

• Verify current partner mileage earning charts on delta.com.
• Confirm terminal locations when transferring between Delta and partner flights at foreign airports.
• Check visa, transit, and entry requirements for intermediate connecting countries.

Policies, fees, schedules and availability can change. Verify the latest information with Delta Air Lines or the applicable airport before traveling.

What to Do If You Need Help

If you have questions about coordinating flights across multiple partner airlines, have luggage issues during an international layover, or need help rebooking a disrupted codeshare itinerary, an independent flight specialist can evaluate options across airline alliances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn Delta SkyMiles on Air France and KLM flights?

Yes. You can earn Delta SkyMiles and Medallion Qualification Dollars on all qualifying Air France and KLM flights by adding your SkyMiles number to your reservation before travel.

Do Delta Medallion members get lounge access on partner flights?

Delta Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion members hold SkyTeam Elite Plus status, which grants complimentary access to SkyTeam partner lounges worldwide when traveling on an international itinerary, regardless of cabin class.

Can I use Delta SkyMiles to book flights on Virgin Atlantic?

Yes. Delta SkyMiles can be redeemed directly on delta.com for award flights operated by Virgin Atlantic between the U.S. and the UK, as well as onward connections.

Is LATAM part of the SkyTeam alliance?

No. LATAM is not an official member of the SkyTeam alliance, but it maintains an extensive bilateral joint venture with Delta Air Lines featuring reciprocal SkyMiles earning, redemptions, and elite perks.

What happens to my luggage when connecting between Delta and a partner airline?

When your journey is booked on a single ticket, your checked baggage is automatically transferred to your partner flight at the connecting airport, except when arriving on an international flight into the U.S., where federal customs rules require you to re-check bags after clearance.

Conclusion

Delta Air Lines' global partnership ecosystem allows travelers to venture far beyond Delta's domestic network while preserving loyalty rewards, elite ground perks, and baggage benefits. Whether you are flying across the Atlantic with Air France, traversing the Pacific with Korean Air, or exploring South America with LATAM, taking full advantage of Delta's airline partners ensures an enriched, comfortable travel experience worldwide.

Policies, fees, schedules and availability can change. Verify the latest information with Delta Air Lines or the applicable airport before traveling. For expert assistance coordinating partner flights and ticket reservations, call an independent travel specialist at +1 725 765 9837.