It’s been a long time since Delta’s international business class award prices competed favorably with competitors like AA or United, but until a few years ago it was possible to find awards that were less than double the competition. For example, where AA would charge fewer than 60K miles for a one-way business class flight to Europe, Delta would sometimes charge fewer than 100K. In recent years, even that value has quickly evaporated for most flights.
At first, it was only Delta’s own business class flights that started at over 200,000 miles one-way. Partner awards of under 100K each way were still available. Last year, though, they seemingly killed even those opportunities (see: Delta devalues SkyMiles again). Is anything left? Actually, yes. Most partner awards where neither the origin or destination touch the U.S. or Canada are still pricing with reduced rates when compared to the “SkyHigh” rates starting or ending in the US/Canada. Below you’ll find a number of examples. Note that all examples are for one-way prices.
Mexico to/from Australia business class for 120K
Example: Mexico City to Sydney via LAX
Mexico to/from South Africa business class for 110K
Example: Mexico City to Johannesburg on Air France
Mexico to/from Europe business class for 105K
Example: Mexico City to London via Paris on Air France
Example: Amsterdam to Mexico City via Paris on Air France
South America to Europe business class for 105K
Example: Colombia to Paris on Air France
Example: Brazil to Paris on Air France
Europe to/from Asia business class for 80-90K
Example: Paris to Seoul on Korean Air
Example: Seoul to Amsterdam on Korean Air
Example: Vienna to Taipei via China Airlines business class
Fly within Europe for 10K economy or 20K/25K business
For a better deal, but with Virgin Atlantic miles, see: Air France & KLM across Europe for less.
Example: Amsterdam to Bucharest for 10K economy or 25K business
Example: Paris to Lyon for 10K economy or 20K business
South Korea to/from Japan business class for 15K
Example: Seoul to Tokyo on Korean Air business class
Many, many more…
The image above shows airports around the world that are served by SkyTeam airlines. Since Delta is a SkyTeam member, you theoretically have the ability to use SkyMiles to book any/all of those flights. And that image doesn’t even include Delta’s non-alliance partners like Virgin Atlantic. As long as the route doesn’t begin or end in either the United States or Canada, and if awards are available, you should be able to find more reasonable prices like the many examples shown above. Use Delta.com to do your searches and make sure to click the “Shop with Miles” box.
Happy hunting!
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Paired a Asia-Europe redemption with a Starlux redemption I had booked a while back for a mini RTW. Should be fun, and glad to be done with worthless skypesos. Lots of space Asia-Europe even during peak season which made it preferable than trying to pay cash or trying to find award space back to the US
MEX to Asia for 90k (RIP) was mildly tempting, but hard to justify when other programs cost less without the positioning flight. In the end, nothing in the last 3 years has elevated DL from a niche program that’s useful 0.05% of the time for me.
Travelers hopping the border for cheaper rates, just like medical tourism … man, good times.
I did see 45K one-way Seoul to SE Asia on Korea with Delta during some recent searches. Just happened to not work for my dates.
Regarding the phantom availability between Seoul and Tokyo, if you need a RT in business, a random check of the fare came back around $550 or so. If you redeem your Amex points and get 35% back with the biz platinum, the resulting cost would be somewhere around 38k. It’s not the 30k it would cost with DL miles, but it’s not too far off.
Yes, just nothing involving North America as Origin or Destination. It’s ridiculous that they blocked everything out for US-related flights.
Does this mean that Delta is rotten but not completely rotten?
I don’t think you mentioned that Delta closed the SYD to MEX (connecting in LAX) loophole. All days are showing 425k miles for Delta One. I was able to get three for 95k each earlier in the year.
It’s true that you can’t get tickets for 95k anymore, but you can still get partner awards to SYD for 110k. The screenshots in the post were from earlier today. So the “loophole” isn’t completely closed.
Yeah, except now instead of positioning to Mexico and then flying MEX-LAX-SYD, they are adding in a stop in Taiwan? I know it is not entirely closed, but that just sounds brutal, even in a good business class product.
It’s not Delta metal either. Does CI have a good business class product?
After watching my Delta miles continually lose value, I finally decided to use them all and be finished with Delta. The Mexico connection was great – fly to Mexico for 50K in first class from SLC; hang out for about four hours, and then fly Business Class on KLM via AMS to FRA, for 75K Delta Miles.
They are separate reservations, so my only concern is I have to get from Terminal 1 (Delta arrival) to Terminal 2 (KLM departure) in MEX. Never been to MEX, and looking at the website, I can’t tell if I can get from T1 to T2 without going in/out customs. I will have no checked luggage. I also am not sure I can check in for the KLM flight w/o visiting a counter (currently the app says it cannot digitally approve my documents (passport)), and there is no counter in SLC (and I’m not leaving from there on a KLM flight anyways). If anyone can enlighten me on the MEX connection piece, that would be handy……
Transiting in Mexico is just like transiting through the US. You’ll have to go through immigration/customs upon arrival from SLC.
To connect from T2 to T1 there’s a train outside of security that you can take. Just have your KLM itinerary info handy so you can show to personnel so they allow you to take the train.
Also as far as checking in, try to manually add your info before hand. Then try checking in through app or online website. Worst case, you’ll have to go to KLM counter if app/website don’t issue a bp.
Thanks for the information!
It seems that Delta has killed all Mexico – Sydney D1 low pricing (both ways). Do you also see the same thing?
You can still get partner awards for 110k (see the screenshot from earlier today). But, availability is way down and it doesn’t seem to include flights on Delta metal anymore.
Doing this seems extreme to me
I’m seeing a lot of devaluations on these international business class deals as of Tuesday, Sep 26, 2023. For example, CDG-CUN went from 75K to 105K overnight. 🙁
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