Delta is running a flash sale on business class SkyMiles awards to Europe. Prices start at 148,000 miles roundtrip, which is roughly what other programs normally charge. But it can be half what Delta frequently charges, and availability is pretty good. But you have to act fast.
Delta frequently prices its lowest-cost saver business class awards to Europe at 180,000 miles each way (though roundtrips can be less than twice the cost of a one way in their program). Under this scenario 148,000 mile roundtrips are really good for SkyMiles. And right now saver awards are great, period, since flights have been so full and award availability sparse.
For sample available routes, search your preferred departure city. From my home of Austin I get:
| FROM | TO | Dates | ||
| Austin, TX (AUS) | Munich, Germany (MUC) | Oct 03 – Oct 11, 2022 | ||
| Austin, TX (AUS) | Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) | Sep 26 – Oct 04, 2022 | ||
| Austin, TX (AUS) | Stockholm, Sweden (ARN) | Sep 22 – Sep 28, 2022 | ||
From Atlanta you’ll find Reykjavik, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. From New York there’s Frankfurt, Munich, and Copenhagen. Several U.S. departure cities are included.
Key details:
- You must book by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, June 29.
- Travel is allowed July 5, 2022 – January 4, 2023 (though won’t be available for all of those dates)
- 14 day advance purchase required, so travel isn’t actually allowed starting July 5
- Sale is blacked out November 11-19, 2022; November 27-28, 2022; December 17-23, 2022 (remember blackout dates?!)
- Saturday night stay required
Availability under this sale (outside of blackout dates) can be reasonably decent:
When you get a chance to use SkyMiles for better than average value, take it. Often the best you can do is a penny and a half cents per point on premium alcohol in their clubs.
Update: worth reminding that Delta award travel now counts towards elite status.
Don’t forget that Delta award-redemption flights now count for status re-qualification.
Now if only the Delta One lounges were open.
uh….shouldn’t they always be 148k or less for saver space. Sad times when I look at the calendar and see 565k awards.
Somewhat strange to me that thanksgiving is blacked out, given that my experience has been that transatlantic travel is usually pretty cheap over thanksgiving.
Me thinks Delta doesn’t see any significant international business-class travel coming back this fall. Hence the fire sale. Admittedly that doesn’t explain the crazy 580,000 price for round-trip over the slowest time of the year with no paid business travelers.
Booked. Now to build up another 300K SkyMiles…
Franz – D1 flash sales are a pretty consistent strategy from Delta. Honestly on my bookings D1 seems fairly full. They are probably trying to build a base so they can yield international business travel up in the fall.
Don’t think for a moment that Delta is being nice. I’m sure they will find a way to stab their customers in the back.