Delta Airlines Travelers with an eligible co-branded American Express card have access to a lucrative benefit: a 15% discount on all award flights, called TakeOff 15.
If you have one of the participating cards, your SkyMiles They are at least 15% more valuable when used for Delta award tickets. All you have to do is pay the prize taxes and fees with your eligible delta card.
The discount applies to all Delta-operated flights regardless of when you travel, although partner flights are excluded. (Full terms are available at delta.com).
For Delta loyalists, this can easily generate hundreds of dollars in value each year.
Let’s take a closer look at Delta’s TakeOff 15 feature and how to use it when booking award travel. Then, we’ll look at how it can potentially save you miles on flights you’ve already booked.
Cards eligible for TakeOff 15
Many popular Delta co-branded cards from American Express are eligible for the TakeOff 15 discount, including:
The only Delta co-branded card that is not eligible for the TakeOff 15 discount is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
Related: Earn extra SkyMiles with these Delta Card welcome offers
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How to use TakeOff 15 to save on Delta award tickets
Using the TakeOff 15 discount is simple. Simply find the Delta award flight you want and book it as usual; The discount will automatically be reflected on the results page.
There are just a few restrictions to keep in mind:
- Only valid on flights operated by Delta and Delta Connection.
- Does not apply to Pay with Miles or Miles + Cash purchases, upgrades purchased after ticket issuance, or any other Delta service.
- Does not deduct taxes and fees.
- You must pay taxes and fees with your participating Delta co-branded card.
Make sure you are logged into your Delta account before searching. Then, enter your desired dates and destinations on the home page and select the “Buy with miles” option.
You will be presented with the Delta rewards schedule, with the TakeOff 15 discount reflected in all prices.
When you choose a date, you’ll see more flight options. The discounted price will appear for all Delta-operated flights, with the original price reduced. The discount applies to all classes of service, including basic economics.
You will also see the TakeOff 15 discount reflected on the checkout screen. Again, pay taxes and fees with your eligible Delta co-branded American Express card to receive the discount.
Keep in mind that in some cases you could save a little over 15% on award tickets. Delta appears to be rounding prices to the nearest 100 points, giving you a slightly larger discount on some flights.
It’s also worth noting that the terms of TakeOff 15 mention that the discount is “at least fifteen percent (15%) off the miles portion of an award ticket,” so we could see bigger discounts in the future.
Related: Some of our favorite ways to use Delta SkyMiles
Save on previously booked flights by rebooking
Have you already booked a Delta award ticket before getting your participating card? You may still be able to save on your flights.
Review your existing Delta award reservations and see if they have dropped in price with the TakeOff 15 feature. Search for new award flights as usual and compare prices with those you’ve already booked.
If you see a lower price with TakeOff 15, you will need to cancel your existing reservation and rebook. Delta must refund both your miles and fares immediately after you cancel your ticket. However, Delta basic economy class award tickets are No refundable, so it’s probably not worth trying to rebook them.
We always recommend changing the price of your award tickets periodically. Now that Delta and other airlines have made their programs more flexible, you can use this to make dynamic pricing works in your favor.
Related: How to Redeem Delta SkyMiles for Maximum Value
In a nutshell
TakeOff 15 will provide value to eligible Delta co-branded cardholders, who can save hundreds of dollars on SkyMiles annually.
You must use your Delta co-branded card to pay for ticket taxes and fees, and it is valid only on Delta-operated flights. However, there is no limit to the number of times you can use this benefit.
