Saving 15% on Delta award flights: A step-by-step guide

Delta Air Lines is offering an exclusive 15% discount on flight redemptions for select cardholders through its SkyMiles program. The TakeOff 15 perk is available to Delta Amex cardholders, including the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve cards, both consumer and business versions.

To access the discount, cardholders must link their Delta Amex card to their SkyMiles profile. The 15% discount will be automatically applied when booking Delta-operated flights through the airline’s website or app. The discount is applicable to all fare classes, including basic economy, Main Cabin, Comfort+, and first class.

Cardholders can save on flights to various destinations, such as a round-trip flight from New York-LaGuardia to Nashville, which normally costs 16,000 SkyMiles and $12 in taxes and fees, but only requires 13,600 SkyMiles for eligible cardholders.

The Delta SkyMiles Gold card offers the benefit with a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, while the Platinum and Reserve cards come with higher annual fees but additional perks like statement credits and companion certificates.

Despite criticism of Delta’s devaluation of the SkyMiles program, the TakeOff 15 perk provides value for cardholders looking to maximize their miles. With the flexibility to cancel award tickets for a full refund, this benefit is a favorite among travelers.

For those interested in applying for a Delta Amex card to access the TakeOff 15 discount, new applicants can earn welcome offers to boost their SkyMiles balances upon meeting minimum spending requirements.