Delta flash sale: Escape to beach destinations starting at 2.5k miles in economy and 10k in first class

For those in Seattle looking to break free from the dreary Pacific Northwest weather, pay attention.

Delta has launched another flash sale, offering discounted award flights from Seattle (SEA) to a variety of sunny vacation spots, including Cancun (CUN), Honolulu (HNL), Maui (OGG), Kona (KOA), Los Cabos (SJD), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Los Angeles (LAX), Tampa (TPA), and more.

Award tickets start at just 2,500 SkyMiles one-way for basic economy and 10,000 miles for first class. TPG values Delta SkyMiles at 1.41 cents per point, translating to about $35.25 for economy or $141 for first class—fantastic deals! Even if you're not based in Seattle, consider booking a positioning flight to take advantage of these low fares.

While Delta indicates that many of these fares are valid only until the end of March, availability is extending through May. However, you should act fast, as these deals may not last long. Depending on your chosen route, you might need to book a round trip to access the best prices.

Note that Delta is keeping all economy middle seats unavailable at least until April 30, 2021. Furthermore, all award bookings made by March 30, 2021, including basic economy tickets, can be modified or canceled without any fees.

The offer

Airline: Delta
Routes: SEA to/from CUN/FLL/HNL/KOA/LAX/OGG/PVR/SAN/SJC/SJD/MCO/TPA
Cost: Starting at 2,500 SkyMiles one-way in basic economy / 10,000 SkyMiles in first class + taxes and fees
Travel Dates: February – May 2021
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 annually), Chase Sapphire Reserve (3x on travel) or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2x on travel) for travel protections on your award flight.

Example itineraries

Round-trip flights to Mexico starting at 5,000 miles

The best fares are for flights to Mexico, with nonstop options from Seattle to Cancun (CUN), Los Cabos (SJD), and Puerto Vallarta (PVR) available for 2,500 miles in basic economy or 10,000 miles in first class.

Whichever city you choose to fly into, expect to pay about $40 in taxes and fees for each leg of your journey.

Round-trip flights to California starting at 6,000 miles

If you prefer to travel within the U.S., flights to California start at 3,000 miles one-way in basic economy or 12,000 miles in first class, plus approximately $6 in taxes each way. Low fares are available to destinations such as Los Angeles (LAX), San Jose (SJC), and San Diego (SAN). With careful planning, you might even secure a lie-flat seat.

Round-trip flights to Florida starting at 10,000 miles

For just an additional 1,000 miles each way, you can fly to Florida. Currently, nonstop flights to Tampa (TPA), Orlando (MCO), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) are available for 5,000 miles one-way in basic economy.

Round-trip flights to Hawaii starting at 10,000 miles

One of the highlights of this sale is the incredible deals to Hawaii. You can book nonstop flights to Honolulu (HNL), Maui (OGG), and Kona (KOA) for as low as 10,000 miles round-trip, plus approximately $12 in taxes. These rates are widely available, as shown in the calendar below.

Just a note: this rate is only valid for round-trip bookings, as one-way flights are priced considerably higher.

To illustrate the value of this deal, the cash price for some of these flights can reach around $400 for a round-trip, equating to approximately four cents per Delta SkyMile.

Increasing your SkyMiles balance

While it might be too late to earn a welcome bonus for this round of deals, you could consider applying for a card now in preparation for future flash sales. There are multiple ways to earn Delta miles, whether through Delta flights, travel on SkyTeam airlines, or various non-travel partners. However, one of the most effective methods to enhance your SkyMiles balance for a few free trips is to add one of these cards to your toolkit:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee; See Rates & Fees); Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card membership. Check the CardMatch Tool to see if you're eligible for a 125,000-point offer upon meeting minimum spending (offer subject to change). You can transfer Membership Rewards points directly to Delta SkyMiles.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee; See Rates & Fees); Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $99; see rates and fees); Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in purchases within the first six months of account opening.
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of account opening ($250 annual fee; see rates and fees).
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee; see rates and fees); Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first six months of account opening.
• Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card ($0 annual fee; see rates and fees); Earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Optimize your purchases

When settling the taxes and fees on your award ticket, make sure to use a credit card that earns extra points on airfare purchases and provides travel protection in case of any issues. Recommended options include The Platinum Card® from American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.

Images provided by Delta.