If you are trying to book a trip to Asia with points and miles, Delta is probably not the first place you look. In fact, if you’re in the miles and points game at all, you probably have Delta at the bottom of your list. But every once in a while, a SkyMiles flash sale shows up that is hard to ignore. This is exactly how I booked a Delta SkyMiles flash sale to Taiwan
I ended up booking round-trip flights from Salt Lake City to Taipei for 37,400 miles per person in main cabin, with about $45 in taxes and fees each. Three tickets later, we had a full international trip booked for less than a flight to New York.
Here is exactly how it came together.
How I Found a Delta SkyMiles Flash Sale to Taiwan
Over the years, I have seen Delta run some incredible flash sales to Asia and the Pacific. They tend to pop up once or twice a year and often include destinations like Japan, South Korea, Australia, and even New Zealand. Knowing this, I’ve set up a Google Alert for “Delta SkyMiles flash sales,” so I know when something worth booking pops up.
This go around, when the alert came through, it pointed me to a deal from Thrifty Traveler. They are usually quick to catch these sales, so I followed their link and started digging.
The cheapest route offered was Taipei pricing at 25,000 miles round-trip in basic economy.
One thing worth noting is that these deals are often advertised with a narrow date range. In reality, there are usually more dates available if you take the time to search.
In this case, I was able to find roughly a full month of availability through September and October. Other destinations for higher, but still good, pricing included Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Australia, with dates scattered throughout the fall, winter, and spring.
A Quick Note on Delta Pricing and Discounts
The 25,000-mile pricing I saw includes a15% discount that comes from holding a Delta credit card. I have the Delta Skymiles Gold card.
Without that discount, these flights were priced at 30,000 miles round-trip in basic economy. Still a very strong deal for Asia.
When I moved up to main cabin, the pricing would have been around 44,000 miles per person without the discount. With the 15% reduction, it dropped to 37,400 miles, which is what I booked.
Why I Paid More for Main Cabin
While 25,000 miles is incredibly tempting, I chose to book main cabin for a few different reasons. Unlike most programs these days, Delta basic economy does not offer free cancellation and changes. With the new twins and a toddler, I didn’t want to risk not being able to cancel for a refund.
Main cabin also gives us seat selection, which I felt might be important considering we’re bringing along our 3.5-year-old
These days, locking in seats and keeping flexibility matter more than squeezing every last point out of the deal.
Booking the Flights with Amex Points
Once I confirmed the availability on Delta, the rest of the process was simple.
Neither of us had enough Skymiles, so we transferred American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta and booked directly through them.
Transfers from Amex to Delta are typically instant, though there is a small excise tax fee when transferring to U.S. airlines.
From there, it was just a matter of confirming the dates and booking our flights.
Total Cost Breakdown
Here is what the booking looked like:
- 37,400 SkyMiles per person (main cabin, with 15% discount)
- ~$45 in taxes and fees per person
- 3 passengers for a total of 12,200 Amex Points/Skymiles and $135 in taxes and fees
Even without the Delta credit card discount, this would have been a strong redemption. With it, it became a no-brainer.
Early Look at Accommodation Costs
Flights were the first piece. Next up is lodging.
Right now, I have an Airbnb booked for six nights at $580, and I am already working on bringing that cost down using a mix of credits and gift cards. More on this in a different post.
Why Delta Flash Sales Are Worth Watching
Delta SkyMiles often get a bad reputation, and in many cases, it’s well deserved. But flash sales are where the program can shine.
When these deals appear, they can offer some incredibly low rates to different parts of the globe.
The key is being ready when they show up and having flexible dates.
Flash sale headlines rarely show the full picture. If you are willing to search a bit, there is often more availability than what is advertised.
Final Thoughts
This was one of the easier international bookings I have made.
No complex routing. No hard-to-find partner space. Just a well-timed Delta SkyMiles flash sale and a quick transfer.
If you see one of these deals come through, it is worth taking a few minutes to check availability. You might find a trip that is much more affordable than expected.