How to effectively utilize and enhance Delta’s TakeOff 15 feature for savings on award tickets

In 2023, Delta Air Lines launched an exciting new benefit for many of its cobranded credit card users: a 15% discount on all award flights, known as TakeOff 15.

If you're a holder of one of the eligible cards, your SkyMiles become at least 15% more valuable for Delta award tickets. Simply pay the taxes and fees of the award using your qualifying Delta credit card.

This discount is applicable to all Delta-operated flights, no matter when you travel, though it does not apply to partner flights (you can find full terms on delta.com). For frequent Delta flyers, this could translate into hundreds of dollars in savings each year.

Let’s dive deeper into Delta's TakeOff 15 feature and learn how to leverage it while booking award travel. We’ll also explore how it may help you save miles on flights you've already secured.

Cards that qualify for TakeOff 15

A variety of popular Delta cobranded credit cards from American Express are eligible for the TakeOff 15 discount, including:

• Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

The only card that does not qualify for the TakeOff 15 discount is the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.

How to utilize TakeOff 15 for savings on Delta award flights

Utilizing the TakeOff 15 discount is straightforward. Simply search for your preferred Delta award flight and proceed with booking as normal; the discount will automatically appear on the results page.

Keep in mind a few limitations:

• It applies exclusively to flights operated by Delta and Delta Connection.
• It is not valid for Pay with Miles or Miles + Cash transactions, nor for upgrades purchased post-ticketing or any other Delta services.
• Taxes and fees are not included in the discount.
• You must use a qualifying Delta cobranded credit card to pay the taxes and fees.

Ensure you're logged into your Delta account prior to searching. Then, input your preferred dates and destinations on the homepage and select the "Shop with Miles" option.

You will see the Delta award calendar, showcasing prices with the TakeOff 15 discount applied.

Selecting a date will reveal additional flight options. The discounted fare will be displayed for all Delta-operated flights, with the original price crossed out. This discount applies to every service class, including basic economy.

The TakeOff 15 discount will also be visible on the checkout screen. Remember to pay the taxes and fees with your eligible Delta cobranded American Express card to benefit from the discount.

In certain situations, you may actually save more than 15% on award tickets. Delta seems to be rounding down to the nearest 100 points, which could lead to a larger discount on select flights.

It's important to note that the terms for TakeOff 15 state the discount is "at least a fifteen percent (15%) reduction on the mileage portion of an Award Ticket," indicating that we might see even greater discounts in the future.

Rebook to save on flights you’ve already booked.

Did you book a Delta award ticket before getting your eligible credit card? You might still have an opportunity to save on your flights.

Review your current Delta award reservations to check if prices have dropped thanks to the TakeOff 15 feature. Search for new award flights as you normally would and compare those prices with your existing bookings.

If you find a lower price using TakeOff 15, you’ll need to cancel your current reservation and book a new one. Delta will promptly refund your miles and fees right after you cancel the ticket. However, please note that Delta's basic economy award tickets are not refundable, making rebooking these likely unwise.

We always advise checking your award tickets for better pricing periodically. With Delta and other airlines adopting more flexible policies, you can leverage dynamic pricing to your benefit.

In summary

TakeOff 15 offers significant benefits to those with a Delta cobranded credit card, enabling them to save hundreds of dollars in SkyMiles each year.

To take advantage of this offer, you must use your Delta cobranded credit card for the ticket's taxes and fees, and it's applicable solely to Delta-operated flights. There's also no cap on how often you can utilize this benefit.