Delta Either Has an Unannounced Award Sale or Mistake Fare

Delta is pricing business class awards to Europe over the summer for less than usual pricing. They haven’t announced a sale that I’m aware of.

Of course, Delta no longer ‘publishes’ award charts. So it’s not surprising they wouldn’t publish sale pricing either. Delta claims that ‘the price displayed is the price’. Although we know that isn’t really true.

Despite eliminating published award charts, Delta does have an award chart. There is saver award inventory (all partner awards are saver awards), and the price of those awards is fixed when available. Delta just keep a copy of the chart on its website where members can see it any longer.

The ‘saver award’ price of roundtrip business class between the US and Europe is 125,000 miles.

And when you search one way awards New York JFK – London Heathrow, you see saver availability at half that price as you’d expect: 62,500 miles.

However when you search New York JFK – London Heathrow roundtrip the price drops to 105,000 miles (which is 52,500 miles each way, a discount of 16%)..

You get the same thing from other gateways like Atlanta – London. (And pricing works out not just for non-stops, either.)

Pricing from the West Coast is 115,000 miles roundtrip — so a discount but only of 8%. Here’s Seattle – London. (Los Angeles – London will price out the same way, but is far less available.)

Here’s the Seattle – London itinerary, it isn’t just a glitch with the website calendar.

Since Delta has run award sales before I’m assuming this is intentional, just announced. But without an announcement we also don’t know how long it will last.

So book your summer SkyMiles Europe award travel now!

(HT: Matthew)

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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  1. The frontpage shows an Award Sale, so I’m guessing it extends beyond domestic flights.

  2. I too saw the award sale on the homepage. It’s in the area that scrolls between various promos/offers.

  3. I saw some economy DL awards to JNB for 40k OW or 80k RT. That’s lower than the old 100k saver. Unless it’s been lower for a while. Haven’t checked in a few months.

  4. What if I’ve already booked Delta this Summer (saver level, of course) with miles? Can I get a refund of the miles difference?

  5. With all the Muslims having invaded Europe the past decade I wonder if tourism is being affected?

    With the refugee invasion and terrorist attacks I have no interest in visiting Europe.

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