Just when we think the Delta SkyMiles flash sales can't possibly get any better, Delta outdoes itself … with some of the lowest award rates to Europe we've ever seen!
You read that headline right: Just 22,000 SkyMiles can get you to Spain and back later this year or early next. That's less than half of what most other airlines charge to fly economy to Europe and back – and a quarter of what you can generally expect to pay with Delta. This could easily go down as the best Delta SkyMiles deal of the year.
As always, our Thrifty Traveler Premium members got first dibs on this deal when we found it. You'll find the lowest rates on Delta's nonstop flights from New York City (JFK), but there are plenty of flights across the pond for under 30,000 SkyMiles from airports all across the country.
Let us reiterate: The savings here are enormous. Most airlines typically charge 30,000 miles (or much, much more) for a one-way flight in economy to Europe – and with Delta, you're more often to see rates of 100,000 SkyMiles roundtrip. And while award surcharges are on the rise elsewhere, not to Spain: You'll pay less than $50 roundtrip in taxes and fees!
There are ultra-low rates whether you head to Madrid (MAD) or Barcelona (BCN) – plus, a few flights into Italy at similar rates! There's availability under 30,000 SkyMiles roundtrip from November through February of next year.
While the cheapest deals are on those New York nonstops, dozens of cities with Delta service can get in on this deal with one quick connection. Got a Delta SkyMiles card like the *delta skymiles gold card* in your wallet? You're in luck: You'll get the best deal thanks to the TakeOff 15 benefit. That 15% discount brings all these roundtrip fares to around 27,000 SkyMiles or less.
Unfortunately, the lowest rates in this deal are on Delta's pesky basic economy award fares. That means you won't be able to pick a seat for free, you'll forfeit a sizable 19,900 SkyMiles if you decide to cancel your ticket later on, and you won't earn Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) towards elite status. It could be well worth the extra 17,000 to 20,000 miles or so to book a main cabin fare, getting free seat selection and cancellation to get all your SkyMiles back if plans change.
Get the next discounted Delta deal and other points and miles alerts with Thrifty Traveler Premium!
Don't have the SkyMiles you need to book these flights? You might: Delta is an Amex transfer partner, so you can send points to your SkyMiles account from cards like amex_plat or the amex_gold instantly to your Delta account and book minutes later.
Thrifty Tip #1: Got Amex airline fee credits to burn on cards like the Amex Platinum? Use your card to book this fare and cover those fees!
Thrifty Tip #2: Make sure to use Delta’s “Price Calendar” feature when searching for award rates to find the best deals over a five-week span.
SkyMiles Sale to Europe Details
- Travel November – February (Best availability in January and February)
- To book these fares, visit Delta.com and search from your airport – be sure to select “Shop with miles.”
- Get 15% off award rates with a co-branded Delta Amex card in your wallet thanks to the TakeOff 15 benefit
To begin, do a normal search for flights at Delta.com and be sure to check the box that says “Shop with Miles.” On the next page, you'll see this grid full of fares.
For the best results, click the “Price Calendar” button to get the clearest view of what's available. It should look like this instead.
From there, just choose the dates with the best deal and book!
Bottom Line
Delta SkyMiles flash sales have been incredible lately, but this one might just take the cake if you want to get to Europe this year or next.
Flying to Europe and back for half the miles other airlines charge is a steal – especially when it includes destinations like Madrid and Barcelona.
These sales are one of the main reasons why we value SkyMiles more than most. They're truly the best way to use your SkyMiles. And the fact that you can lock in a trip to Europe for as low as just 22,000 SkyMiles? You can't beat that.
Are these special fares good for one-way flights from Europe, Paris or London back to the US? Seems if you want to use Points to book the flight the cheapest airfare and points is to utilize a Delta partner like KLM or Virgin Atlantic
I am looking to travel to Rome (FCO) from Columbus (CMH) in April or May. The cheapest that I am finding is 62,000 points. Is that a pretty standard amount for a smaller airport like Columbus?
The fights from BOS-LHR are such a find at 20k miles but require long (7 hour???) layovers at JFK or DTW. How do you make that layover worth it?
Try other dates or scroll farther down past the initial options. There are tons of BOS-LHR fares with quick connections or nonstop. I checked one date (Nov 13th) and found tons of options.
I can’t seem to find out how to search flexible dates. I never see that box to check. I even searched by money not miles as well.
First, make sure you’re using the desktop site and not via mobile. As you’re selecting your dates from the homepage for your search, look for a small box labeled “Flexible Dates” — tick it and it should pull up some flexible options.