Delta brings back 12Status: Score SkyMiles each time the Seahawks throw a pass

This weekend marks the return of the NFL, and with that comes an easy way for Pacific Northwest travelers to earn miles.

Delta Air Lines is bringing back 12Status, its loyalty program specifically for Delta SkyMiles members who live in Washington state, this fall.

As part of the program, the carrier will award members 1 mile for every passing yard thrown by the Seattle Seahawks this season.

While those miles won’t exactly get you a free Delta One seat to Europe, they do add up: I crunched the numbers, and over the last five seasons, the Seahawks have averaged just over 4,100 passing yards per season.

This summer, I scored a SkyMiles award deal to book my wife on a one-way economy flight from Texas to North Carolina for 5,000 miles.

That’s not to say there are many 5,000-mile flights out there, but combined with linking your Uber and Starbucks accounts to SkyMiles, these are several other easy ways you can earn loyalty currency — that is, in addition to flying and spending on a credit card that helps you earn miles on everyday purchases.

You can sign up here for the 12Status program, which is named for the passionate Seahawks fan base aptly nicknamed the “12th man.”

It’s free, but you have to register before the Seahawks’ first game of the season kicks off at 1:05 p.m. PDT on Sunday.

Turf war in Seattle (and not just on the football field)

Delta has offered its 12Status program since 2016.

The carrier’s fall 2025 push to reward Pacific Northwest flyers comes amid some heightened competition in Seattle — a turf war that goes beyond Lumen Field.

Alaska Airlines is growing a global hub at its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) home base, where Delta also has a major hub. Both airlines have announced nonstop service from Seattle to Rome, launching next year. Alaska will also soon go head-to-head with Delta on flights to London.

Alaska grabbed plenty of headlines last month when it unveiled its new Atmos Rewards loyalty program in conjunction with merger partner Hawaiian Airlines.

Delta, for its part, just stepped up its premium offerings at SEA with a brand-new Delta One Lounge and Sky Club.

Best ways to earn Delta SkyMiles

As for Delta loyalists, here are some of TPG’s top tips for earning SkyMiles:

• Best Delta credit cards
• Delta Medallion status: What it is and how to earn it
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• Delta basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more