Book fast: Delta One business-class award space to Europe this summer starting at 46K points
If you want to travel to Europe comfortably this summer, Air France-KLM Flying Blue is offering excellent award space in Delta One business class starting at just 55,000 Flying Blue miles.
Plus, if you have Citi ThankYou Rewards points, this deal is even better. Citi is currently offering a 20% transfer bonus to Flying Blue, which means you'll need to transfer only 46,000 Citi points to book lie-flat business-class seats, a terrific deal for peak summer travel.
This deal was first reported by One Mile at a Time.
Here's what you need to know about booking this great offer.
How to find Delta One award space
While we love the Seats.aero tool for quickly finding award space across a 12-month period, this resource unfortunately does not show Delta One seats bookable through Flying Blue. The platform does have a Delta One Finder tool that, in theory, shows Delta One seats bookable with partner miles (instead of paying 300,000-plus miles per flight through Delta's own SkyMiles program).
However, this tool only shows partner seats through one program, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. While Flying Club offers great award rates, showing seats available for 47,500 to 77,500 points, depending on the length of the flight, it tacks on huge fees, taxes and surcharges, which will amount to over $1,000 in additional costs each way. Therefore, you can expect to pay more than $2,000 for Delta One flights in addition to the Virgin Atlantic points required for round-trip flights to Europe.
If you don't want to pay high surcharges on Delta One flights, try booking through Air France-KLM's Flying Blue program, as it has both attractive mileage rates and significantly lower taxes and fees. Know, though, that availability is usually hard to find.
You can use Seats.aero's Delta One Finder as a starting point to check which routes and dates to Europe are available through partner programs. In theory, if a seat is available with Virgin points, it should also be available with Flying Blue miles (with the lower cash copay).
Unfortunately, we have not seen consistency between the seats available through Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and those available through Flying Blue, meaning that many Delta Air Lines seats available through Virgin Atlantic are not available through Air France or KLM.
If you have a specific route in mind, you may wish to try searching for it directly on the Air France and KLM websites in the hope of scoring a reasonably priced seat. For the best results, look for nonstop flights operated from Delta hubs.
Some Delta One business-class options we found available to book through Flying Blue include:
- Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Dublin Airport (DUB) in July for 55,000 Flying Blue miles (or 46,000 Citi points) plus $33 in taxes and fees
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) in July for 73,500 Flying Blue miles (or 62,000 Citi points) plus $33 in taxes and fees
- JFK to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) in August for 74,500 Flying Blue miles (or 63,000 Citi points) plus $33 in taxes and fees
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) to Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) in August for 85,500 Flying Blue miles (or 72,000 Citi points) plus $33 in taxes and fees
- New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Geneva Airport (GVA) in September for 72,000 Flying Blue miles (or 60,000 Citi points) plus $33 in taxes and fees
- BOS to Scotland's Edinburgh Airport (EDI) in October for 57,000 Flying Blue miles (or 48,000 Citi points) plus $33 in taxes and fees
Related: 9 European summer destinations to beat the heat
How to book Delta One award seats with Flying Blue miles
Once you find availability on the Flying Blue website, click through to the payment screen to ensure the seat is available, and then you should be able to book it.
Flying Blue partners with all major credit card currencies at a 1:1 rate:
- American Express Membership Rewards
- Bilt Rewards
- Capital One
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Citi ThankYou Rewards
- Wells Fargo Rewards
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to Flying Blue at a 3:1 rate and receive an additional 5,000 Flying Blue miles for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer.
Through July 19, Citi ThankYou Rewards members can transfer their points to Flying Blue with a 20% bonus, meaning you'll need 20% fewer points to book Delta One awards than with other credit card currencies. Transfers must be made in increments of 1,000 points, and there is a maximum of 500,000 ThankYou Rewards points that you can transfer per points transfer.
Transfers from Citi to Flying Blue should be instant, but remember that they cannot be reversed, so we recommend finding the award space on the Flying Blue website first and being ready to transfer your miles and book immediately once you find the flight you're interested in.
Transfers from other currencies may also be instant, though transfers from American Express and Marriott Bonvoy may take more than 24 hours to complete.
Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points
Bottom line
While it may be a bit difficult to find availability, it's well worth spending the time to search the Flying Blue website to see if you can score a great deal on your preferred route, even if you need to be flexible on the dates. Delta One is extremely difficult to book at a decent rate when factoring in the amount of points or miles needed and the additional cash fees.
Even though these seats can be tricky to find, at these prices, they won't last, so book now if you want to travel in style to Europe this summer.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.