Via One Mile at a Time, the Delta Business Class award price to Europe has increased unexpectedly for all flights departing January 1, 2017, and after.
Although Delta stopped publishing an award chart, one-way Business Class award flights to Europe have been available for as low as 62,500 Delta miles. Now, the cheapest one-way Business Class award flights in 2017 cost 70,000 Delta miles.
It’s disappointing Delta didn’t give folks the chance to book award flights before increasing the price.
The Cost of the Cheapest One-Way Delta Business Class Award Flights to Europe Has Increased by 7,500 Delta Miles. This Change Affects New Flight Bookings Departing on January 1, 2017, and After
I’ll explain what’s going on!
What’s Happening With the Delta Business Class Award Price to Europe?
Delta stopped publishing an award chart last year. But, one-way Business Class award flights to Europe were available for as low as 62,500 Delta miles.
Now, the cheapest Business Class award flight departing on January 1, 2017, and after costs 70,000 Delta miles.
For example, I searched one-way Business Class award flights from Newark to Paris.
For Flights Departing on January 1, 2017, and After, the Cheapest One-Way Business Class Award Flight Costs 70,000 Delta Miles
Until the end of 2016, you can still book award flights for 62,500 Delta miles if you can find seats available. But starting in 2017, the cheapest flight you’ll find costs 70,000 Delta miles.
This means round-trip Delta Business Class award flights cost 15,000 miles more. Drat!
Something interesting I found is the small difference in award pricing on certain flights. For example, it only costs 7,500 Delta miles more to fly Business Class instead of coach on this award flight from Newark to Paris.
A Sample Award Flight Search Shows a Business Class Flight Costs Only 7,500 More Delta Miles Than a Coach Flight
If you have enough Delta miles, you’ll want to check your flight in case you see something similar. Because it’s worth it to pay a few extra miles to get a more comfortable seat and better meal.
Is There Any Good News With This Change?
I might be optimistic, but perhaps there is some good news.
In the past, it’s been extremely difficult to find the lowest level Business Class award seats on flights.
But, when I search award flights from Newark to Paris in May and June of 2017, I see quite a few dates available for the new cost of 70,000 Delta miles. Historically, you might only see 3 or 4 days with the low level pricing available.
Although the Business Class Award Flights Cost More, The Calendar Shows More Days With Available Award Seats
If Delta releases more award seats with the increase in price, this has the potential to be good news for folks.
Use Alaska Airlines Miles to Get Better Business Class Award Prices to Europe
Link: Using Alaska Airlines Miles
Alaska Airlines is not in an alliance, but they have partnerships with many airlines, including Delta.
And, Alaska Airlines uses their own award award chart for Delta award flights.
Even with the unexpected Delta change, you can still book a round-trip Delta Business Class award flight to Europe using 125,000 Alaska Airlines miles. That’s 15,000 miles less than you’ll need to book directly with Delta.
Note: You’ll pay the round-trip price for a one-way Delta award flight using Alaska Airlines miles. So you’ll only want to use this method if you plan to book a round-trip flight.
There’s a $25 fee to book partner award flights with Alaska Airlines miles. But it’s worth paying if you can save miles!
Earn Alaska Airlines Miles
Link: Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card
You can earn a sign-up bonus on the Alaska Airlines card of 30,000 Alaska Airlines miles after you complete the minimum spending requirement.
If you need more miles, you can transfer Starwood points to your Alaska Airlines account.
Transfers from Starwood to Alaska Airlines are at a 1:1 ratio, but for every 20,000 Starwood points you transfer, you’ll get a bonus 5,000 miles.
You can also credit miles earned on any paid Delta flights to your Alaska Airlines account.
Bottom Line for Delta Business Class to Europe
The cheapest one-way Delta Business Class award flights to Europe will now cost 70,000 Delta miles of 62,500 Delta miles. The increased price affects all new bookings for flights departing on January 1, 2017, and after.
With the increased pricing, I’m hopeful Delta will release more Business Class award seats.
This change does not impact the cost of Alaska Airlines partner flights. So you’ll still be able to book a round-trip Delta Business Class award flight using 125,000 Alaska Airlines miles.
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