Delta is running an ‘award sale’ for domestic economy ‘starting at 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees each way’ but the discount is only available on roundtrips. So you give up the ability to book one-ways in exchange for a 5000 mile discount on saver awards.
The sale runs at Delta.com (and not telephone customer service) through November 30 for travel between January 5 and February 24. They’re straight-forward as part of this sale that the cheapest awards require 21 day advance purchase (although the promo’s purchase-by and eligible travel dates do the same work here). These awards also require a Saturday night stay. And February 12 – 16 and February 19 are blacked out.
Sometimes a sale is so restrictive, and the discount suffiicently modest, that’s it’s hardly worth it. Associating this with Black Friday is a stretch. As my grandfather used to say it’s “better than a hole in the head.” And there could be some people who manage to take advantage of it.
However, British Airways — even after they obliterate the 4500 point award — will offer better value since domestic flights up to 1151 miles each way will still be 7500 points and up to 2000 miles will be 10,000 points (for travel on American and Alaska) with one-ways permitted and no 21 day advance purchase requirement.
Here are their ‘sample cities’:
| SAMPLE DEPARTURE CITIES | SAMPLE DESTINATION CITIES | EACH-WAY FARES* |
| (based on a required | ||
| round-trip purchase) | ||
| Atlanta, GA (ATL) | Panama City, FL (ECP) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Atlanta, GA (ATL) | Gainesville, FL (GNV) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Atlanta, GA (ATL) | Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Burbank, CA (BUR) | Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Cincinnati, OH (CVG) | Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Cincinnati, OH (CVG) | Fort Myers, FL (RSW) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) | Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) | Jacksonville, FL (JAX) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) | Orlando, FL (MCO) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) | Fort Myers, FL (RSW) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) | Sarasota, FL (SRQ) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Detroit-Wayne County, MI (DTW) | Tampa, FL (TPA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Fresno, CA (FAT) | Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Jacksonville, FL (JAX) | New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Jacksonville, FL (JAX) | New York-La Guardia, NY (LGA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK) | Orlando, FL (MCO) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK) | Miami, FL (MIA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK) | San Diego, CA (SAN) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK) | Tampa, FL (TPA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | Minneapolis/St Paul, MN (MSP) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | Seattle, WA (SEA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | San Jose, CA (SJC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Las Vegas, NV (LAS) | Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | San Diego, CA (SAN) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | Tampa, FL (TPA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | Tucson, AZ (TUS) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-La Guardia, NY (LGA) | Orlando, FL (MCO) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-La Guardia, NY (LGA) | Miami, FL (MIA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| New York-La Guardia, NY (LGA) | Fort Myers, FL (RSW) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Minneapolis/St Paul, MN (MSP) | Tampa, FL (TPA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Oakland, CA (OAK) | Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Phoenix, AZ (PHX) | Seattle, WA (SEA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Palm Springs, CA (PSP) | Seattle, WA (SEA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| San Diego, CA (SAN) | Seattle, WA (SEA) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Seattle, WA (SEA) | San Jose, CA (SJC) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
| Seattle, WA (SEA) | Tucson, AZ (TUS) | 10,000 miles plus taxes and fees |
How would you shop for this sale? Search one of the suggested routes and run the search over and over until the infallible computer presents you with an option at the sale price?
And one sale route from MSP! Is there a more captive market in the USA?