Incredible deal: Fly to Alaska this summer from 5,000 Delta SkyMiles roundtrip
For many in the lower 48, this summer will be the first time you'll be saying hello to Alaska.
With popular international destinations remaining off-limits to U.S. residents, this summer travel season will be domestic-heavy. Airlines have adjusted in recent weeks and months, increasing the number of seats available to leisure destinations, including the state known as "The Last Frontier."
Delta is offering an incredible SkyMiles award flash sale from dozens of continental U.S. airports to several Alaskan cities. Although Delta has marketed that the sale is from 5,000 SkyMiles roundtrip, but as of publication, most awards are pricing at 10,000 miles. (Seattle and Portland are still available from 5,000 miles.)
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This deal is available from a wide array of airports from coast-to-coast like New York and Atlanta, and even non-hub cities such as Dallas, San Francisco and many, many more. There's availability through the peak summer travel season, but you’ll want to act quickly because there's no telling how long this availability will be around.
If the glacier-capped mountains and wild nature of Alaska have been on your bucket list, now is a fantastic time to get booking.
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The deal
Airline: Delta
Routes: Dozens of continental U.S. cities to Alaska, roundtrip
Cost: From 5,000 SkyMiles roundtrip
Dates: Now through early Fall 2021
How to book: Go to this Delta landing page and enter your origin and select a city in Alaska. Real-time fares will populate and then select your preferred dates using the calendar tool on the next page.
Pay Taxes/Fees With: The Platinum Card® from American Express (5x on airfare booked directly with the airline; on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on travel) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel) for travel protections on the award flight.
Is it worth it?
TPG values SkyMiles at 1.1 cents apiece, so a 10,000-mile award is worth $110, an incredible deal for roundtrip economy travel.
However, it is very important to note that all SkyMiles tickets now include fee-free changes and cancellations to domestic and most international awards, but this excludes basic economy fares. That means if you book in basic economy, you cannot change your ticket or refund your miles (but some Basic Economy tickets originating from Europe, Africa, and other international markets may be changeable for a fee).
With all that said, only book basic economy if your plans are set in stone.
Related: Your complete guide to earning and redeeming Delta SkyMiles
Sample itineraries
Here are a few examples of what you can book. Your best bet will be to navigate to this Delta landing page to search for flights.
Seattle to various Alaska airports (from 5,000 miles)
New York to various Alaska airports (from 10,000 miles)
Boston to various Alaska airports (from 10,000 miles)
Los Angeles to various Alaska airports (from 10,000 miles)
Dallas to various Alaska airports (from 10,000 miles)
Boosting your SkyMiles balance
There are several ways to earn Delta SkyMiles for the next time there's a deal. The easiest is by flying Delta-operated flights, traveling with a SkyTeam partner or opening a Delta cobranded credit card. You can also earn miles through everyday activities like shopping and dining.
Here are some of our top picks for Delta cards, exclusively issued by Amex:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card:
- Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card:
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card:
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $6,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
Maximize your purchase
When paying the taxes and fees on your award ticket, be sure to use a credit card that earns additional points on airfare purchases and offers travel protections in case anything goes wrong. Cards that fit the bill include The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Related: The best credit cards for paying taxes and fees on award tickets
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: 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.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended 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.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: 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.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees