Delta and Starbucks Are Changing How You Earn SkyMiles When You Buy Coffee

Delta and Starbucks are changing their partnership again. A banner on the partnership's landing page confirms that the way linked members earn miles changes effective August 5, 2026.

The new structure returns to something close to the 2022 launch: one bonus SkyMiles mile per dollar spent at Starbucks, excluding tax, tips, gift cards, and alcohol.

But there's a catch that didn't exist before. To earn under the new setup, you'll reportedly need to have flown a qualifying Delta flight in the previous 12 months, or have one booked in the next 60 days. That replaces the current tiered reload system, where you earn SkyMiles based on how much you add to your Starbucks account.

The Starbucks side of the deal isn't moving — linked members at Green, Gold, and Reserve status still earn Double Stars on qualifying purchases on Delta travel days.

Andrew's Take

The best thing about this change is that it's simple. No reload tiers, no adding $100 to your Starbucks account just to hit the good rate — spend a dollar at Starbucks, get a mile. But simple isn't better for everyone. If you were loading $100 at a time, you were pulling 2 miles per dollar, and this halves it.