Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.
If you didn’t make it to Europe this summer, here’s a chance to go this fall and winter for fewer miles!
Via View From the Wing, Delta has an award ticket sale between the US and Europe. You’ll spend up to ~30% fewer miles for travel from mid-October 2015 through February 2016.
Remember, Delta no longer publishes an award chart. So you have to search for specific routes and dates to see if you can get a discount!
What’s the Deal?
Link: Delta
Yesterday, Delta Points reported sale award pricing for Delta elites and credit card holders. But this sale is open to everyone now!
If you can find reduced price tickets between the US and Europe for your route and dates of travel, you’ll pay:
- 21,000 Delta miles 1-way in coach (42,000 Delta miles round-trip)
- 43,500 Delta miles 1-way in Business Class (87,000 Delta miles round-trip)
Normally, Delta’s lowest level award seats cost 30,000 Delta miles 1-way in coach, and 62,500 Delta miles 1-way in Business Class. So this is a great savings!
Note: Flights from the West Coast are slightly more expensive. You’ll pay 24,000 Delta miles 1-way in coach, and 50,000 Delta miles 1-way in Business Class.
For example, I found lots of available coach award seats between New York and London this fall.
Business Class seats may be more difficult to find, depending on the route. Here are the available seats from Atlanta to Paris in November and December.
Flights from smaller cities in the US that require a connection are included in the sale, too. For example, I found flights from Rochester to London via New York (JFK) in coach for 21,000 Delta miles.
The only way to see if a route and date is on sale is to search! If you’re flexible, you might get lucky and find a discounted seat.
How to Earn More Delta Miles
1. Limited-Time Sign-Up Bonuses on AMEX Delta Cards
Link: Gold Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express (Personal)
Link: Gold Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express (Business)
Link: Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express
You’ll earn 30,000 Delta miles when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account with the Gold Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express (Personal) and Gold Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express (Business).
Plus, both cards offer a $50 statement credit when you make a Delta purchase in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
With the Platinum Delta SkyMiles Card From American Express, you’ll earn 35,000 Delta miles (5,000 of which are elite-qualifying) after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the 1st 3 months of opening your account.
The annual fee of $195 is NOT waived for the 1st year. But you’ll earn a $100 statement credit after your 1st Delta purchase in the 1st 3 months.
Remember, AMEX Delta cardholders get a free checked bag for themselves and up to 8 traveling companions on the same reservation.
2. Transfer Starwood Points to Delta Miles
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (Personal)
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest American Express (Business)
Until September 14, 2015, the sign-up bonus on the American Express Starwood Preferred Guest personal and business cards has been increased to 30,000 Starwood points after completing minimum spending requirements.
And for every 20,000 Starwood points you transfer to Delta, you’ll get 5,000 bonus miles.
Check out my series on how to earn and use Starwood points!
Note: Starwood point transfers to airlines can take up to 4 weeks! Although in my experience it often takes ~7 to 10 days.
3. Transfer AMEX Membership Rewards Points to Delta Miles
You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio if you need more miles, or want to top-off your account.
Remember, the following cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points:
And because American Express Membership Rewards points usually transfer to airlines within ~1 to 2 days, this is a good choice for folks who need more Delta miles quickly to take advantage of this sale!
Bottom Line
For a limited time, Delta has a sale on award tickets between the US and Europe. You’ll get a discount of as much as ~30% on the lowest-level coach and Business Class tickets.
From the East Coast, you’ll pay 21,000 Delta miles 1-way in coach and 43,500 Delta miles in Business Class. Prices are slightly higher (24,000 and 50,000 miles each way) from the West Coast.
This is a terrific deal…if you can find seats! There’s no award chart or sale page, so to find discounted award tickets you’ll have to search for your route and dates of travel.
If you don’t have enough Delta miles, consider transferring points from Starwood or American Express Membership Rewards to Delta.
Have you found a good deal with this sale? Let me know in the comments!