How to Change or Cancel a Delta SkyMiles Award

As of October 4, 2026, a SkyMiles award ticket for travel that originates in the United States or Canada can be changed or canceled before departure with no redeposit or change fee, except on Delta Basic experience fares. A change still carries the mileage difference, taxes and fees for the new ticket. For travel that originates elsewhere, Delta says restrictions vary, so check your own ticket before you plan around a change.

At a Glance

Change path: Per Delta's Change Flight page, an award change starts in My Trips: find your trip or log in, select the flight, click "Change or Add Flights," choose new flights, complete checkout and pay any fare difference, and get your confirmation. The fare difference in miles and cash is collected at the time of change.
Cancel path: Delta's Cancel Flight page says, in its Risk-Free Cancellation terms, "For SkyMiles Award Tickets, please call Delta Reservations to request cancellation."
Fees, U.S. and Canada origin: Delta's Flying Made Simple page says "Award Ticket redeposit and reissue fees have been eliminated" and "Members may change or cancel Award Tickets before departure" for Award Tickets for travel originating in the United States and Canada to anywhere in the world, excluding Delta Basic experiences.
Fee table: Delta's Travel with Miles page shows "No fees" for Award Ticket Redeposit / Reissue for General, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion Members. Same-Day Standby and Same-Day Confirmed are $75 per ticket for General and Silver Medallion Members and waived for Gold, Platinum and Diamond.
Program Rules: Delta's Program Rules (Last Updated 1/1/2026) say that for travel originating from the United States and Canada, Members may change the origin, destination, routing, date and time, or cancel Award tickets without a redeposit or change fee, excluding Delta Basic experience fares, for which a change fee will apply if changes are permitted. Mileage difference, taxes and fees apply for any changes.
Delta Basic awards: The Change Flight page says Delta Basic Award Tickets are non-refundable, and that you may change or cancel for a fee assessed in miles, which is deducted from the value of your ticket. The Flying Made Simple page adds that when you cancel, the remaining mileage balance is redeposited into your SkyMiles account, and when you change, the change fee and mileage difference for the new ticket are collected.
Inside 72 hours of departure: Delta's separate Award & Service Fees page lists "$150 per ticket" for Award Ticket Redeposit / Reissue for General, Silver Medallion and Gold Medallion Members and says Award Tickets "must be canceled at least 72 hours prior to originating flight departure time to redeposit the miles." Call Delta Reservations to confirm before you cancel or change an award inside 72 hours of departure.

Delta can change these rules without notice, so check the linked Delta pages before you change or cancel.

Real-World Examples

U.S.-origin award, not Delta Basic, plans change. Open My Trips, select the flight, choose "Change or Add Flights" and pay the mileage difference, taxes and fees for the new itinerary. Delta's pages list no change fee for this case.
U.S.-origin award you no longer want. Delta's pages list no redeposit fee when you cancel before departure. The Cancel Flight page's instruction for SkyMiles Award Tickets is to call Delta Reservations.
Delta Basic award. Changing or canceling costs a fee assessed in miles, deducted from the value of the ticket. On a cancel, the remaining mileage balance goes back to your SkyMiles account.
Miles + Cash award. On a change or cancellation, miles, including miles purchased as part of the Miles + Cash transaction, are redeposited. The cash portion is nonrefundable, and any refund for the mileage portion that was purchased in cash is refunded in miles.
Award that starts outside the United States or Canada. Delta says restrictions vary and may include no cancellation or a fee for a change. Read the Baggage & Travel Fees page Delta points to before you book.

Before You Start

Closed notebook on an empty wooden bench at an airport curb with a small roller carry-on standing at the bench end

Award Tickets may be issued only by Delta and only on Delta ticket stock, per the Program Rules.
All SkyMiles Award Travel is subject to the contract of carriage of the operating carrier, per the Program Rules.
The no-redeposit and no-change-fee wording applies to travel originating in the United States and Canada, including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners, per the Travel with Miles page and the Program Rules.
For some travel originating outside the United States and Canada, the Program Rules say award ticket restrictions will vary and may be non-cancelable or changeable for a fee.
Taxes and fees for Award Travel are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked, per the Program Rules.

Changing an Award

Woman in a sage coat on a long bench facing a baggage claim window, notebook and an extra coffee cup beside her, from behind

As of October 4, 2026, Delta's steps for an award change are:

Find Your Trip or log in and go to My Trips.
Select the flight you need to change.
Click "Change or Add Flights."
Choose new flights.
Complete checkout and pay any fare difference.
Get your confirmation.

The Change Flight page says changes can be made any time prior to departure for award travel within the U.S. and for international travel originating in the United States and Canada.
The Travel with Miles page says changes to origin, destination, routing, date and time are permitted except for Delta Basic experiences, and the mileage difference and any applicable taxes for the new Award ticket apply.
The Flying Made Simple page says you can make changes yourself in My Trips and the Fly Delta app.
If you need help with a change, the Change Flight page says to contact Delta and a Reservation Specialist will be able to assist you.

Canceling an Award

Woman in a camel coat on a waterfront promenade bench with a small suitcase at the other end, seen from the steps above

For travel originating in the United States and Canada, the Flying Made Simple page says members may cancel Award Tickets before departure, and the Travel with Miles page shows no redeposit or reissue fee.
The Cancel Flight page says to call Delta Reservations to request cancellation of a SkyMiles Award Ticket. Call Delta Reservations if you cannot complete the cancellation in My Trips or the Fly Delta app.
Delta Basic award: you may cancel for a fee assessed in miles, and the remaining mileage balance is redeposited into your SkyMiles account.
Miles + Cash award: the Cancel Flight page says, in its Risk-Free Cancellation terms, that miles will be re-deposited and cash will be returned in equivalent miles.
No-shows: the Cancel Flight page says customers who do not show up for a flight without changing or canceling their reservation prior to departure will lose the value of their ticket, except as required by law.
After departure: the Program Rules say that once travel has commenced on an Award ticket, the Award is considered used, and mileage will not be credited back to the account for the unused portion of the ticket.

Same-Day Changes

The Flying Made Simple page says that within 24 hours of your originally scheduled departure time you can search for alternative flights and may be able to select a standby or confirmed option using the Same-Day Change feature within the Fly Delta app.
The Travel with Miles page lists Same-Day Standby and Same-Day Confirmed at $75 per ticket for General and Silver Medallion Members, waived for Gold, Platinum and Diamond Medallion Members. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible, and both options are limited to availability and to domestic flights.

Partner-Award Differences

Two aircraft on a distant taxiway at dusk seen from a terminal window, with no airline markings or readable signs

The Program Rules say rules for Award Travel on other SkyMiles partner airlines may vary, and that the prices and benefits for each partner airline are subject to the terms and conditions of that partner.
The Travel with Miles page lists partners such as Air France, KLM, Korean Air and Virgin Atlantic as bookable on delta.com, and lists Air Europa, Air Tahiti Nui and Kenya Airways as booked through Delta Reservations.
Some airline partners impose a surcharge on award redemptions, collected at the time of booking, per the Program Rules and the Travel with Miles page.
Skymark, for Medallion Members and Delta SkyMiles Credit Card (issued in Japan) Members residing in Japan: the Travel with Miles page says cancellation and changes are not permitted once the booking is confirmed, and redeposit of miles is not permitted.

When to Call Delta

Man seen from behind at a long empty table in a large, empty airport terminal hall

You are canceling an award: the Cancel Flight page says to call Delta Reservations.
Your award is inside 72 hours of departure: the Award & Service Fees page says Award Tickets booked within 72 hours of departure are nonrefundable and cannot be redeposited or changed, so confirm your ticket's terms first.
You are buying an award for travel within or originating in China, Russia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Brazil or any country in Africa: the Program Rules require a 72-hour advance purchase, and members who want travel in those markets within 72 hours must go to the airport to purchase the ticket, including ticket reissues.
Your award starts outside the United States or Canada: confirm the fee and cancellation terms for your ticket.

TL;DR – Verdict

As of October 4, 2026, a SkyMiles award that originates in the United States or Canada can be changed in My Trips and canceled before departure with no redeposit or change fee, except Delta Basic fares, which cost a fee in miles. Call Delta Reservations to cancel an award and to confirm anything inside 72 hours of departure.

Change in My Trips or the Fly Delta app; you pay the mileage difference, taxes and fees.
Delta Basic awards: fee in miles; remaining miles redeposited on a cancel.
After departure, unused miles are not credited back.

FAQ

Can I change a Delta SkyMiles award ticket for free?

As of October 4, 2026, for travel originating in the United States and Canada, Delta's Program Rules and Travel with Miles page say Members may change Award tickets without a redeposit or change fee, excluding Delta Basic experience fares. The mileage difference, taxes and fees for the new ticket apply.

How do I cancel a SkyMiles award ticket?

Delta's Cancel Flight page says, in its Risk-Free Cancellation terms, to call Delta Reservations to request cancellation of a SkyMiles Award Ticket. The Flying Made Simple page says members may cancel Award Tickets before departure for travel originating in the United States and Canada.

What about Delta Basic award tickets?

Delta's Change Flight page says Delta Basic Award Tickets are non-refundable, and that you may change or cancel for a fee assessed in miles, which is deducted from the value of your ticket. On a cancel, the remaining mileage balance is redeposited into your SkyMiles account.

Do I get my miles back on a Miles + Cash award?

Delta's Program Rules say miles, including miles purchased as part of a Miles + Cash transaction, are redeposited on a change or cancellation. The cash portion is nonrefundable, and any refund for the mileage portion that was purchased in cash is refunded in miles.

What if I cancel inside 72 hours of departure?

Delta's Award & Service Fees page lists "$150 per ticket" for Award Ticket Redeposit / Reissue for General, Silver Medallion and Gold Medallion Members and says Award Tickets booked within 72 hours of departure are nonrefundable and cannot be redeposited or changed. Delta's Travel with Miles page shows "No fees". Call Delta Reservations to confirm before you cancel.

Are partner awards changed the same way?

Delta's Program Rules say rules for Award Travel on other SkyMiles partner airlines may vary and that all SkyMiles Award Travel is subject to the contract of carriage of the operating carrier. Contact Delta Reservations before changing a partner award.

What happens if I miss my flight or the trip has started?

Delta's Cancel Flight page says customers who do not show up without changing or canceling prior to departure will lose the value of their ticket, except as required by law. Delta's Program Rules say that once travel has commenced on an Award ticket, the Award is considered used and mileage will not be credited back for the unused portion.