Delta deal alert: Australia as low as 60,000 SkyMiles
In a year where many travelers finally feel confident booking bucket list-type trips that might not have been feasible over the last couple of years, we've got a great deal to put on your radar…but you'll want to act fast.
Delta Air Lines has some great mileage deals available right now on flights to Sydney Airport (SYD). While the best deals involve flights out of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) — the only airport with direct Delta flights to Australia — right now, no matter your home city, it appears you can get a pretty good deal on a flight Down Under.
At the moment, Delta's sale involves round trips from LAX to Sydney for 60,000 SkyMiles throughout much of late 2022 and the first few months of 2023. Compare that to mileage fares out of LAX that can routinely cost well north of 100,000 — sometimes closer to 200,000 — SkyMiles for the round trip.
While you won't find the same 60,000-mile fare from anywhere other than LAX, travelers leaving from an extensive list of U.S. airports should be able to get the round trip for 70,000 to 80,000 miles — still significant savings from what you'd typically see.
Related: Project Sunrise: Qantas announces plane purchase for NY-Australia nonstop flights
In keeping with the 2022 tradition, good deals (even with miles) often don't last long, so if you think this might be an option for you, you should book right away.
One of the best parts of this deal is that it will allow you to get Australia right as the continent is heading into its summer months, since it's in the Southern Hemisphere. Whether you want to stick to sightseeing in Sydney itself, or make your way to other parts of the country, this could be the opportunity you've been waiting for to get to the other side of the world.
Deal Basics
Airline: Delta Air Lines
Routes: LAX to SYD for the best deal, but many U.S. airports have strong options to Sydney as well
How to book: Directly through the airline.
Travel dates: August 2022 through spring 2023, excluding the holidays
Sample fares
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney for 60,000 miles
- Seattle (SEA) to Sydney for 70,000 miles
- Phoenix (PHX) to Sydney for 75,000 miles
- New York-Kennedy (JFK) to Sydney for 80,000 miles
One of the things that struck me about these flights out of LAX was that month by month, they had a similar look to the awards calendar below.
Looking to book on a particular week in the fall? There's a good chance it's available as part of this deal. Already know the dates for your 2023 spring vacation? You may be in luck.
Let's first look at the strongest 60,000-mile, Main Cabin round-trip itinerary out of LAX, which TPG values at about $846 — cheaper than the cash price you'll generally pay to get to Sydney. These are nonstop, long-haul flights between Los Angeles and Sydney aboard an Airbus A350-900. The outbound flight is the longest — close to 15 hours. On the way back, it's a bit shorter, about 13 and a half hours. On top of the mileage fare, you pay $108 in fees which, considering it's a trip to Australia, really isn't bad. For perspective, I paid quite a bit more than that just this month for a short flight to the Caribbean on another legacy carrier.
Because Delta's flights to Sydney are out of LAX, as part of this deal you're going to end up there during your trip regardless of your origin airport. Those wanting to leave from New York can take a transcontinental flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK); they'll have a short layover at LAX before the long-haul flight. It's the same story on the return. The round trip goes for 80,000 miles, as is the case for many non-western U.S. cities.
Plugging in a whole bunch of U.S. cities throughout the eastern U.S. and Midwest, I found nearly every one had the 80,000-mile round trip available. You can even get the fare on departures out of the smallest of airports. Take the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport CHO) in my Virginia hometown, which has Delta flights to just two destinations in all. You can get the 80k deal. But you'll end up with double connections (Atlanta and then Los Angeles) but, hey, you can get to Australia for a round trip mileage fare that TPG values at a little over $1,100.
Related: How to book a trip to Sydney with points and miles
Bottom line
If you've long wanted to travel to Australia but have never found the cash or mileage fares to be approachable, this could be a game changer. Whether you've accrued a bunch of SkyMiles through a Delta co-branded credit card or have, say, a haul of American Express points you've been thinking about redeeming, this deal is a good opportunity for travelers both in southern California and across the country to get to Sydney at a fraction of the cost typically available.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees