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PostedMay 06, 2026
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Airbnb Adds Delta Miles as Its Bigger Travel Bet Takes Off

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Airbnb expanded its Delta Air Lines partnership, giving Delta SkyMiles members more ways to earn miles on the platform.

Members now earn one Delta mile for every US dollar spent on qualifying Airbnb stays and three miles for every US dollar spent on qualifying Airbnb Experiences and Services.

Experiences include local activities such as tours, classes, and events. Services include bookable extras such as chefs, photographers, massages, and other professional services.

Why Airbnb is offering more miles

The higher rewards rate shows where Airbnb wants more attention. Stays earn one mile per US dollar, but Experiences and Services earn three miles. That gives travelers a clearer reason to try Airbnb’s newer products, which are still less familiar than its core short-term rental business.

To earn miles, travelers must connect their Airbnb and SkyMiles accounts before booking. The link works for a 10-day booking window, so users need to reconnect later if they want to keep earning miles. This setup helps Delta keep SkyMiles active across more parts of the trip, while Airbnb gets another way to promote travel extras.

Airbnb wants to be more than a stays platform

Airbnb’s larger goal is to become a broader travel marketplace. Its redesigned app now brings homes, experiences, and services into one place, so users can book where they stay and what they do around the trip.

The company has reported some early signs of demand. Airbnb said Services and Experiences had an average rating of 4.93 out of five after launch. It also said almost half of Experiences' bookings in the third quarter of 2025 were not tied to an Airbnb stay, meaning some users booked activities even when they were staying elsewhere.

Airbnb is adding more hotels in cities where home-rental rules are becoming harder, launching airport and train station transfers in more than 125 cities, and testing a wider role for AI in customer service and future trip discovery. Together, these updates show a clear direction: Airbnb is trying to keep travelers inside its app for accommodation, transport, activities, services, and eventually more personalized planning.

Photo by rawkkim on Unsplash

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