Instacart groceries

Instacart Emerges as Another Way to Earn Delta SkyMiles

At the start of the pandemic, I tried the grocery delivery service Instacart for the very first time — and, despite the fees, I was pretty impressed. Of course, in a bid to save some money, I’ve since transitioned to using their Aldi pick-up option instead, but still make fairly frequent use of the app overall. Now, merging my pandemic-era splurge and (hopeful) post-pandemic travel plans, Delta SkyMiles customers can earn bonus miles when they shop using Instacart.

Instacart Loyalty Cards

After linking your SkyMiles account, regular Instacart users can earn 1 mile for every dollar spent on the app, minus taxes, tips, and fees. As for those with Instacart Express, they’ll earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent (with the same restrictions). To connect your SkyMiles account, open the Instacart app, tap the three-line icon in the upper left corner, then Account Settings, and select Loyalty Card. From there, tap “add” next to Delta SkyMiles, enter your account number and last name, and you’re all set.

Speaking of Instacart Express, frequent flyers with Silver or Gold Medallion status can opt for a three-month free trial of Instacart Express, while Platinum and Diamond Medallions can take advantage of a 12-month trial. With Instacart Express, customers receive free delivery on orders over $35, 5% rebates on pickup orders, and other such benefits. Just be aware that, after your trial is up, you’ll be automatically charged for a year of Express (currently $99) unless you cancel beforehand.

Instacart is actually the latest partnership Delta has formed that’s resulted in bonus SkyMiles for customers. Way back in the far-off year of 2017, the airline began allowing Lyft passengers to earn 1 mile per dollar spent on regular rides or 2x miles on U.S. airport rides — although you’ll need to decide if this opportunity is more valuable to you than a similar one from Hilton as Lyft now only allows you to choose one loyalty partnership at a time.

More recently, Delta announced a deal with Turo, with customers earning 500 SkyMiles each time they rent a car on the platform. Currently, they’re also offering a 2,000-mile bonus to those who link their SkyMiles account and make their first booking on Turo.

As a side note, after years of saving up SkyMiles from some of my business trips (at least the ones that my editor isn’t booking using miles himself), I actually made my first redemption a couple of weeks ago. When I noticed the option to upgrade to Delta Premium Select for our trip to France next week, I went ahead and took advantage. In total, the two upgrades cost around 50,000 miles — which isn’t cheap, but I wasn’t really using them for anything else. Plus, this now gives me a chance to compare Delta’s premium economy product to Air France’s, which I also recently had a chance to try out. The moral of the story is that, while these small amounts of miles might not do you much good now, perhaps they’ll come in handy for upgrades or short flights in the future.

Of the various Delta SkyMiles partnerships that have been unveiled in recent years, I believe that this latest one with Instacart is the one I’m most likely to use personally. And while I’m no longer relying on the app as much as I was for a hot minute a couple of years ago, it’s still nice to place an Aldi order every once and a while. So, although I don’t see myself racking up free flights with my grocery store purchases, this is yet another freebie I’m more than happy to nab while I can.

Author
Founder ~ Moneyat30
Kyle is a freelance writer - including being the head writer for Fioney.com. He also serves as editorial director for the Disney fan site LaughingPlace.com and the founder of Money@30.com. In 2015, Kyle and his wife Bekah moved from Los Angeles to Springfield MO in pursuit of greater financial freedom. Together, the pair enjoy travel, coffee, and spending time with their dog Rigby. Additionally, as of 2023, they become first-time homeowners.
Other Articles by Kyle Burbank
Walmart+ bag with goods, Paramount+ tablet, and Burger King bag and Whopper
Why I'm Excited for Walmart+ Week Happening Later This Month
To very loosely paraphrase a famed Dos Equis ad campaign, I don't always use Walmart+, but when I do, I enjoy it. For context, my Walmart+ membership is thanks to my Amex Platinum Card, which covers the monthly cost. While I enjoy the Scan & Go feature it offers and appreciate the complimentary Paramount+ subscription,...
entrance to Deta SkyClub ATL
Travel Tuesday: Delta's Newest Sky Club in Atlanta Has Arrived
Delta has debuted its latest Sky Club location at its hometown hub — which also happens to be the busiest airport in the world: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta. This week, the airline shared a first look at its new Concourse D lounge. While this is now the eighth Sky Club at ATL, there were previously nine, with...
vacationers with a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
The Famed Chase Sapphire Preferred 100k Offer Has Returned
For credit card enthusiasts, while ongoing perks and rewards are great, it's the welcome bonuses that are really exciting. In particular, when a low or no annual fee card features an offer that crosses into six figures, people talk. On that note, one of the most often discussed deals in recent years was a 100,000-point...

Leave a Reply

Featured Articles
Why I'm Excited for Walmart+ Week Happening Later This Month
To very loosely paraphrase a famed Dos Equis ad campaign, I don't always use Walmart+, but when I do, I enjoy it. For context, my Walmart+ membership is thanks to my Amex Platinum Card, which covers the monthly cost. While I enjoy the Scan & Go feature it offers and appreciate the complimentary Paramount+ subscription,...
Travel Tuesday: Delta's Newest Sky Club in Atlanta Has Arrived
Delta has debuted its latest Sky Club location at its hometown hub — which also happens to be the busiest airport in the world: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta. This week, the airline shared a first look at its new Concourse D lounge. While this is now the eighth Sky Club at ATL, there were previously nine, with...
The Famed Chase Sapphire Preferred 100k Offer Has Returned
For credit card enthusiasts, while ongoing perks and rewards are great, it's the welcome bonuses that are really exciting. In particular, when a low or no annual fee card features an offer that crosses into six figures, people talk. On that note, one of the most often discussed deals in recent years was a 100,000-point...
Should I Have a Business Credit Card? This Offer is Tempting Me
For as much as my credit card collection has grown over the years, one arena that I have yet to expand into is business credit cards. Of course, that makes sense seeing as their products are built for small business owners and aren't available to regular consumers. However, as a freelance writer, I technically am...