We talk a lot about earning points and miles here at Points, Miles & Martinis. And we’ve mentioned the importance of burning as fast as you earn or when you’ve saved enough miles and points for your dream vacation. So we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 uses of Delta Airlines SkyMiles for Business Class award redemptions. Here’s our list. Feel free to add or supplement as you see fit.
#5 – Mauritius
Using Delta SkyMiles to get you to Mauritius is a great deal. The flight in Business Class requires 120,000 SkyMiles on Partner airline Air France. But you can also fly on Air France Partner Air Mauritius on the same route. Tip: Add in a stop over in Paris and an open jaw to enhance award redemption value.
#4 – Australia
Delta operates a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Sydney. But you’ll be hard pressed to find one let alone two Business Class awards at the low redemption level. Instead, check out Delta’s partner Virgin Australia’s availability. There are a few lesser known options including Air Tahiti and a few other SkyTeam airline partners that you can redeem to Australia. But once you are there, you’ll be able to experience great destinations like the Great Barrier Reef and views of the Sydney Opera House.
#3 – South Africa
Delta operates a non-stop flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, South Africa. This is currently the fourth longest flight in the world, but will soon become the second longest flight in the world. Delta operates their 777 with Flat-Bed Business Class seats. We shared the rare find of Business Class availability earlier this year. If you plane to take this flight, better plan well in advance and be flexible if you’d like to fly in Business Class at the low award level.
#2 – Maldives
There are a number of SkyTeam partners that fly to the Maldives. One partner that recently added service is Korean Airlines. Using Delta SkyMiles to fly to the Maldives is something we’ve always wanted to do but have never found the time although we’ve had plenty of miles.
#1 – French Polynesia
Traveling to French Polynesia on SkyTeam partner Air France or Delta partner Air Tahiti is one of the most coveted awards flights using Delta SkyMiles. We were fortunate enough to book two Business Class tickets to French Polynesia in 2009.
Bottom Line
Delta SkyMiles may or may not have the best award availability, but there sure are some good ways to redeem your miles.
Questions or comments? Fire away…
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I think this is more a “top 5 hardest awards”, not necessarily top 5 best awards
I just unloaded most of my Sky Pesos on a trip to Egypt with the family at the low level. I have tried and tried all of these for just my wife and I with absolutely no luck. We tried Expert Flyer and called numerous times for each of these destinations. I flew with Delta for many years dating back to the mid 90s and have stopped because of the Sky Peso program.
ive been trying to get business class to on AF to Tahiti and there is nothing past September available 🙁 also nothing on Air Tahiti Nui
This is a joke, these are almost completely unbookable and this is from someone who has an annual Expert Flyer subscription…I think you have had a few too many Martini’s. The average person has almost NO shot at obtaining these rewards from Delta with the exception of Australia on Virgin, the others are a complete no-go, especially for 2 business class seats.
Hi Idaho St – I disagree. I can find availability on some of these routes often and others from time to time. Granted, they may not be the most direct route in all cases, but others are the most direct route.
Hi Derick – The French Polynesia route is the most difficult of all to find. I know it is not idea, but you could consider routing through Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines.
Hi Auf – I agree, finding availability for these routes takes a lot more effort than with other airline programs.
Hi Jack – How about if you can find the availability, then it’s the best award?
Idaho — I will say, for my part, that I’m heading YUL-CDG, CDG-MRU, MRU-CDG-IAD next month. However, since I booked it a year ago the DL/AF partnership seems largely in name only. At least from a miles perspective.
Hi Idaho – It took me 1, and only 1 search on Air France’s website to find 2 Business Class seats to French Polynesia.
http://pntsmlsmartini.wpengine.com/2013/05/hurry-two-french-polynesia-business-class-award-seats-available/
I think you are paying too much for your Expert Flyer subscription 🙂
Ok, how about a return to LAX
Just booked biz LAX-Seychelles last month. Was easy. At 120K with a stopover in Paris, was a steal.
Idaho – I’m not a free award booking service…
No problem, would never ask a blogger to do anything for free…
Idaho St – Please use one handle. This is your final warning. You’ve commented multiple times under different handles. Would be sorry to see you go, but…
Hi Idaho St – I’m a person not a blogger 🙂
Gosh, so testy, just giving another viewpoint that these awards are extremely difficult to obtain, certainly enough that you made an individual post that two tickets were available to French Polynesia…yes these awards are rare, and certainly your post proves that.
Just reiterating that with Delta award bookings, nothing is easy.
Hi PatMike – The Seychelles was a close runner up for our top 5 redemptions. With the closing of the Air Seychelles code share and requirement to travel through Nairobi on Kenya Airlines, it was too much of a hastle to get there to make our top 5. But a great redemption regardless. Enjoy your trip. Here is our trip report from our 2009 trip to the Seychelles.
http://pntsmlsmartini.wpengine.com/2009/06/seychelles-mauritius-and-paris-airline-trip-report/
Idaho St – Fair enough.
I always appreciate your content and I only read your blog and other Boarding Area posts because I learn tons of new and pertinent information. I always appreciate the fact that you allow different viewpoints, in my mind, Delta’s track record for negative “enhancements” needs opposing viewpoints and commentary, in the end, we are all in this together.
Also each of my computers may be linked by my Twitter account or other venue, thus different names. I use the same email address on each as you can see.
I agree that some DL awards are a pain to book, but I just wanted to comment to say thanks for not censoring your comments. If only others would follow suit.