On Thursday, Delta announced a great new feature for many co-branded credit cardholders: 15% off all bonus flights, called take off 15.
If you hold one of the participation cards, you mile sky are now at least 15% more valuable when used for Delta award tickets. All you have to do is pay the prize taxes and fees with your eligible account Delta credit card.
The discount applies to all Delta-operated flights regardless of when you’re traveling, although partner flights are excluded. For Delta loyalists, this could easily be worth hundreds of dollars a year.
Let’s take a closer look at Delta’s new TakeOff 15 feature and how to use it. Then we’ll learn how to use it to save miles on the flights you’ve booked.
Eligible card for 15 . TakeOff
Many popular Delta co-branded credit card from American Express are eligible for the TakeOff 15 discount, which includes:
The only card that is not eligible for the TakeOff 15 discount is the card Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
Related: Your Complete Guide to Delta SkyMiles
How to use TakeOff 15 to save on Delta award tickets
Using the discount is simple: Search for your desired Delta reward flight and book it as usual. The discount will be automatically reflected on the results page.
There are only a few limitations to keep in mind.
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- It is only valid on flights operated by Delta and Delta Connection.
- It does not apply to Pay with Miles or Miles + Cash ratio, nor does it apply to upgrades purchased after ticketing or any other Delta service.
- It does not reduce taxes and fees.
- You must pay taxes and fees with your participating Delta co-branded credit card.
Make sure you’re signed in to your Delta account before searching. Then enter your desired date and destination on the homepage and select the “Shop with Miles” option.
You will be introduced to the Delta awards calendar. The TakeOff 15 discount is reflected on all prices on the calendar.
The discounted price will appear for all bonus flights operated by Delta, with the original price reduced and the discounted price highlighted. Discount applies to all types of services, including basic economy.
You will also see the TakeOff 15 discount reflected on the payment screen. Again, pay taxes and fees with your eligible Delta co-branded American Express card for the discount.
Note that you can save a little more than 15% on award tickets in some cases. Delta looks to round the price down to the nearest 100 points, giving you a little more discount on some flights.
It should also be noted that the terms of TakeOff 15 refer to the discount as “at least fifteen percent (15%) off the mileage portion of the Award Ticket”, so we may see a higher discount Future.
Related: The sweetest spot with Delta SkyMiles
Save on previously booked flights by rebooking
Have you booked your Delta award ticket yet? You might be able to save on your flights.
Take a look at your current Delta rewards bookings and see if they’re discounted with the TakeOff 15 feature. Search for new reward flights as usual and compare prices with what you booked.
If you see a lower price with TakeOff 15, you will need cancel your current booking and reset it. Delta should refund your existing flights as soon as you cancel your ticket. However, Delta’s basic economy class award ticket is Not refundable, so you cannot cancel these tickets and get a refund.
We always recommend that you re-price your award tickets periodically. Now that Delta and other airlines have made their programs more flexible, you can use this to make dynamic pricing work to your advantage.
Related: How to redeem Delta SkyMiles for maximum value
bottom line
TakeOff 15 will provide real value to Delta co-branded credit cardholders. People who earn and redeem SkyMiles can save hundreds of dollars in SkyMiles annually.
You must use your Delta co-branded credit card to pay taxes and fees on tickets, and this card is valid only on Delta operated flights. However, there is no limit to how many times you can use this benefit.
And if you don’t currently have a Delta credit card, six qualifying cards have just been launched limited time welcome bonus of up to 100,000 miles. These offers end on March 29, so with this new perk, now could be a great time to add one of these cards to your wallet.
