If you regularly fly Delta, there's a hot new deal that could help you save $100 (or more) on your upcoming flights.
Frequent Miler was first to highlight that Newegg – an online electronics retailer – is offering 10% off a $1,000 Delta gift card with code BUDF77. That means you're paying $900 for $1,000 worth of Delta flights. There's no telling how long this offer will last so if you're planning to book Delta flights in the near future, it's worth jumping on quick!
This deal is limited to one transaction per person, so you won't be able to buy multiple discounted gift cards for yourself, but Delta does allow using up to five forms of payment at delta.com, and there's nothing stopping your favorite travel buddy from taking advantage of the offer, too.
If you and a partner are planning a big trip later this year or next and Delta fits your travel plans, you could each get a $1,000 gift card for just $900, then use them to book your flights, stretching the savings even further. This is also ideal for families, as it's not at all unlikely to spend $2,000 or more for domestic flights or even a winter trip to Mexico or the Caribbean.
Looking at flights from Thrifty Traveler's home airport of Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Cancun (CUN) this winter, Delta is actually the most competitively priced – but the Atlanta-based airline's stranglehold on MSP flyers means roundtrip Main Cabin fares start at $500 and only go up from there. If you were looking to take a family of four to the beach to thaw out from the cold next January, flights alone would run you $2,335.
If you and a spouse (or partner) both picked one of these discounted gift cards, you could knock $200 off that price. Is that the best deal ever? Not really – but it sure beats paying full price, given the rising cost of airfare.
A quick word of warning: You can only use these gift cards for Delta Air Lines-marketed flights (including codeshare partners like Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic) or Delta Vacations packages. They won't work if you're hoping to use them to pay for baggage fees, upgrades, advance seat assignments, or onboard purchases.
Since Newegg codes as an electronic goods retailer, the *biz gold* is the absolute best card to use for these gift card purchases. That card earns 4x points in your top two spending categories each billing cycle, and electronic goods retailers are one of the available options.
If you don't have an Amex Business Gold Card, there's a targeted Citi Merchant Offer – similar to Amex Offers – out right now that can get you an additional 1.5% kickback on Newegg purchases. That's not a massive savings, but it would amount to an extra $13.50 back on your $900 purchase.
If all else fails, you can't go wrong by making these gift card purchases on a card like the *capital one venture card* or the *venture x*, both of which earn unlimited 2x miles on everyday purchases such as this.
Finally, when you book your flights with one of these gift cards, it's a good idea to put a little of the purchase price on a credit card with good travel protections. That way, if your flight gets delayed, canceled, or your bags go missing, you have something to fall back on. Putting the full purchase price on a gift card would negate the insurance that normally comes with these cards.
Bottom Line
Newegg is currently offering $1,000 Delta gift cards for just $900 – a 10% discount. This deal is limited to one per customer, but there's nothing stopping your spouse or favorite travel buddy from grabbing one, too, helping you knock $200 off a big trip.
Just remember, these only cover Delta flights and vacation packages, not fees or add-ons.
