Delta flash sale to Tahiti: Round-trip flights starting at 50,000 SkyMiles

Friday is already a great day, and this Delta Air Lines flash sale makes it even better. Round-trip flights to Tahiti start at 50,000 and 54,000 Delta SkyMiles from San Francisco and Los Angeles, respectively.

Flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Faa’a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, French Polynesia, start on Dec. 17 as part of the carrier's newly announced route.

Flights are available to book three times per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) from both LAX and San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The sale prices apply to flights from January through March, with exact availability depending on the route.

As the name suggests, this flash sale, as first reported by Thrifty Traveler, will be gone in a flash — so be sure to book ASAP.

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Deal basics

Airlines: Delta.
Routes: Los Angeles and San Francisco to Tahiti.
Cost: From 50,000 Delta SkyMiles plus taxes and fees for a round-trip economy fare.
How to book: Directly through the airline.
Travel dates: January-March 2023.
Book by: ASAP.

Sample flights: SFO-PPT

To find travel dates that work with your schedule within the specified time frame of this deal, start your search as you would any other flight, but be sure to filter results to "Shop with miles." Also, check the "My dates are flexible" option to view date availability on Delta's Low Fare Calendar.

From there, you'll be able to select flights based on your desired dates of travel. For the SFO-PPT route, there are a handful of round-trip flights for 50,000 SkyMiles available in January and February, with just two flights in March, as shown below.

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For example, you could book this round-trip, nonstop flight from March 7 to March 14, for 50,000 miles plus $60 in taxes and fees.

Just note that all of the flights from SFO are going to include a layover at LAX. The above flight has a one-hour layover on the way to PPT and a two-hour layover on the way back to SFO. This flight in cash would cost $860 total for an equivalent Main Cabin fare, so using miles would save you approximately $100 based on TPG's current valuation of Delta SkyMiles at 1.41 cents per point.

Sample flights: LAX-PPT

For the LAX-PPT route, the best availability is for flights in February and March, though flights begin the second week of January and go through the second week of March.

Related: Delta releases rates for new Tahiti, Tel Aviv and Cape Town routes and Premium Select seats on Hawaii flights

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For example, you could book this round-trip, nonstop flight from Feb. 7 to Feb. 14, for 54,000 miles plus $54 in taxes and fees. This flight in cash would cost $945, so using miles would save you approximately $130. Unlike the flights from SFO, flights from LAX to Tahiti are nonstop.

The lowest-priced flights in this sale, for 50,000 or 54,000 SkyMiles, will be for the Main Cabin; this includes seat selection as well as the ability to change your flight without fees or cancel your flight for a flight credit for use on future travel. Travelers who book this fare are entitled to two free carry-ons and one free checked bag.

Maximize your purchase

If you book this deal, be sure to use a card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases. Delta frequent flyers should consider the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card (2 points per dollar on Delta purchases), the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (both 3 points per dollar on Delta purchases). Or try The Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) or the American Express® Gold Card (3 points per dollar on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel). Check out this post for more on maximizing airfare purchases.

Bottom line

If Tahiti has been on your bucket list, this is a great opportunity to use up some of those SkyMiles you've saved. We do not expect this deal to last, so be sure to book your flights ASAP for travel from both LA and San Francisco to Tahiti this winter.

Read more: Act fast: Fly Delta One to Germany for just 50,000 miles next summer