By Vamsi, RewardsGuru.club. Published October 22, 2026.
Searched October 21, 2026 in the Fly Delta app, signed in to our own SkyMiles account with a Delta SkyMiles card, so the cardmember discount was applied. One-way prices per passenger, exactly as the app showed them. Figures are as of October 21, 2026.
Delta doesn't publish an award chart, and its own award deals page, set to Washington, D.C., showed Rome, Amsterdam and Paris at 70,000 miles round trip in Delta Main. That's where most people stop.
Our searches found a different number. New York to Amsterdam on Delta's nonstop came in at 17,000 miles plus $6 one way, on two dates in November, and three more routes to Europe were between 21,200 and 22,600.
TL;DR
- New York to Amsterdam, nonstop: 17,000 miles plus $6 one way on Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
- Chicago to Amsterdam and Los Angeles to Rome: 21,200 plus $6 on the same two dates, with one stop. Los Angeles to Milan: 22,600 plus $6 on Sunday, March 14 and Monday, March 15, 2027.
- The day next door doubles it. On every route, the date just outside the cheap pair was 39,900 miles or more.
- These are Basic fares, after a 15% cardmember discount. Delta's TakeOff 15 takes 15% off awards for Delta Gold, Platinum and Reserve cardmembers. Main Classic cost more on our searches, and the gap varied by flight.
What we found
All four searches were one way, with the TakeOff 15 discount applied, and Delta showed the price before the discount crossed out:
| Route | Dates | Miles, one way | Before the discount | Stops | The day next to it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York to Amsterdam | Mon Nov 16 and Tue Nov 17, 2026 | 17,000 + $6 | 20,000 | Nonstop | 39,900 (Wed Nov 18) |
| Chicago (O'Hare) to Amsterdam | Mon Nov 16 and Tue Nov 17, 2026 | 21,200 + $6 | 25,000 | 1 stop | 44,600 (Wed Nov 18) |
| Los Angeles to Rome | Mon Nov 16 and Tue Nov 17, 2026 | 21,200 + $6 | 25,000 | 1 stop | 40,400 (Wed Nov 18) |
| Los Angeles to Milan (Malpensa) | Sun Mar 14 and Mon Mar 15, 2027 | 22,600 + $6 | 26,600 | 1 stop | 40,100 + $25 (Sat Mar 13) |
The $6 is the whole cash part of these awards on Delta's screen. Prices are per passenger, and Delta says award prices vary: "Actual flight prices vary," and miles needed "differ based upon flight(s) sought." A search on another day can show something else.
The catch: these are Basic fares
All four prices above were Delta Main Basic. On the search we checked, Main Classic cost 8,500 miles more, and the gap varies by flight.
Delta's screen says it plainly under the dates: Basic fares "do not include a seat assignment until after check-in, are nonrefundable, do not permit ticket changes, and have additional restrictions." Delta's own pages add that changes to an award are allowed "except for Delta Basic experiences," and that Basic doesn't include priority boarding, Delta Sky Club access, upgrades or Preferred Seats. Delta's footnote says seats can be bought in advance for a fee.
So the 17,000 is a no-changes ticket. It works when your dates are fixed.
Where the 15% comes from
Delta's TakeOff 15 page: cardmembers "save 15% when booking Award Travel with miles on Delta flights when using delta.com or the Fly Delta app." The cards that get it: "Delta SkyMiles Gold, Gold Business, Platinum, Platinum Business, Reserve and Reserve Business." The Blue card isn't on the list.
What it doesn't cover:
- Partner flights. It's "available only if entire itinerary is on Delta and Delta Connection® carrier-operated." KLM and Air France flights don't get it.
- Taxes and fees. The discount is "not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees."
- Additional cardholders. "Additional Card Members are not eligible," and you must be logged in.
Without the discount, the four prices above would be the crossed-out numbers: 20,000, 25,000, 25,000 and 26,600.
How to find dates like these
- Search one way in the Fly Delta app or on delta.com, logged in with your Delta card on the account. Look for the TakeOff 15 banner above the results.
- Use the flexible dates strip. The cheap prices came in pairs, and the day beside them was about double, so check a few days either side.
- Price Main Classic before you book Basic. If your dates might move, the extra miles may be worth it.
If you're weighing a Delta card for the discount, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve is one of the six cards that gets it; Amex pays us a referral bonus if you're approved through our link. For Sky Club access on international SkyTeam trips without a Delta card, our look at SAS's €199 status match covers the Elite Plus route, which Delta's Basic rules may not honor.
This is educational content, not financial advice. Program terms change often, so check the current terms on each program's site before you rely on them.
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