If you don’t normally consider lodging or vacation activities as part of your airline loyalty strategy, Delta Air Lines and Airbnb may be a good place to start.
The companies, which have partnered since 2016, just announced they are expanding their partnership to bring more trips into a single rewards ecosystem, allowing travelers to earn Delta SkyMiles not only on Airbnb stays, but also on the platform’s growing lineup of experiences and services. Previously, you could only earn SkyMiles on Airbnb homes, and the process was quite tedious (see details below).
Travelers who linked their Airbnb and SkyMiles accounts have been able to earn 1 mile per dollar spent on eligible Airbnb stays since the partnership began, but starting May 5th, users will also earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible experiences and services. These categories go far beyond standard sightseeing tours.
In terms of experiences, travelers can book activities such as pasta-making classes in Rome, street art walks in Mexico City, and surfing lessons along the coast of Portugal.
A new feature of Airbnb that launched in 2025, the service offers at-home add-ons aimed at making vacation rentals look more like full-service hotel stays, such as hiring a private chef for a dinner party, booking a massage therapist to come to your rental, or bringing in a hair stylist or makeup artist before a big event.
On a practical level, Delta Air Lines and Airbnb’s expanded partnership means a wider range of travel spending will be reflected in airline loyalty accounts. Additionally, these earnings are on top of the credit card benefits you receive when you book with a travel credit card.
Here’s what you need to know about the program changes, including how to start earning extra miles.
How to earn SkyMiles with Airbnb
To take advantage of the program, travelers must link their Airbnb and Delta accounts before booking. Please note that the two accounts will not be linked indefinitely. Once connected, there is a 10-day grace period before your reservation is eligible to earn miles. Travelers will then need to relink their accounts to continue earning on future bookings. One easy way to check if your account is linked: If you don’t see the Delta branding and estimated mileage totals on your Airbnb listing or service, your account is not currently linked or that option is not available.
Although the relinking requirement adds an extra step, the overall setup is more streamlined than before. Previously, travelers had to initiate all reservations through a dedicated portal, with little visibility into whether their reservations would be tracked or how many miles they would generate.
Once your accounts are linked, you’ll be able to book directly from the Airbnb app, and Airbnb will highlight eligible stays, experiences, and services directly within the app, as well as provide an estimate of how many SkyMiles you’ll earn with each booking. Taxes and fees are not counted towards mileage accrual and are not included on all products and services.
First, visit deltaairbnb.com and fill out the form. Make sure the names on your SkyMiles and Airbnb accounts match. If they do not match, the connection will not be established.