Prices checked October 3, 2026, in the Delta app, one way, per passenger. Award prices move every day, so treat these as what we saw that morning, not a quote.
Delta was asking 64,300 SkyMiles to fly Los Angeles to Lisbon on Wednesday, November 25, the day before Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving Day itself, the same search showed 21,200 SkyMiles plus $6 in taxes. That is about a third of the price for flying one day later.
What we saw, date by date
| Date (2026) | SkyMiles, one way | Taxes and fees | Stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 25 | 64,300 | $36 | 1 |
| Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving) | 21,200 | $6 | 1 |
| Friday, November 27 | 21,200 | $6 | 1 |
Delta app, October 3, 2026: Los Angeles to Lisbon, one way, prices per passenger.
Delta's own note on the results page: "prices shown are as per passenger." Thursday and Friday were both tagged "Lowest" in the flexible-dates grid.
The catch: 21,200 is a Basic fare
The 21,200 price on Thanksgiving Day is Delta Main Basic. Basic comes with three restrictions Delta lists on the fare:
- No seat assignment until after check-in. Two people on one booking may not sit together.
- No changes. The date and flight are fixed once you book.
- No refunds. If plans change, the miles are gone.
Main Cabin on the same flight date showed 29,700 SkyMiles. That is the price for a regular economy seat you can pick in advance and change later, about 8,500 miles more than Basic each way.
The 15% that was already in the price
The app showed "15% Card Member Savings Applied" on the 21,200 fare, with 25,000 struck through. Delta takes 15% off award flights for eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card members. So:
- With a Delta Amex card: 21,200 SkyMiles for Basic on November 26.
- Without one: 25,000 SkyMiles for the same seat.
For two travelers, that is 42,400 SkyMiles with the card discount and 50,000 without, for the Thanksgiving Day Basic fare, one way. Taxes were $6 per passenger.
How to check your city
We saw similar prices from other US cities in the same session, but every route prices on its own. To check yours:
- Open the Delta app and tap Book.
- Turn on Shop with Miles.
- Enter your airport and Lisbon (LIS), one way, and turn on flexible dates.
- Look at November 25 through 27. The grid labels the cheapest days "Lowest".
- Before you book, tap the fare to see whether it is Basic or Main Cabin, and check the restrictions above.
The same flexible-dates search is how we found Delta's Hong Kong award sale, and the September SkyMiles flash sale followed the same pattern: one day priced far below its neighbours.
Before you book
- Basic can't be changed. If your Thanksgiving dates could still move, the 29,700 Main Cabin fare is the one that can.
- One way is one way. These prices are for the flight to Lisbon. The return prices separately; search it before booking either direction.
- The price is per person. A family of four on Basic with the card discount would need 84,800 SkyMiles for the outbound alone.
Delta's Amex cards are where the 15% comes from. Our Delta Reserve referral link is one way in; we earn a referral bonus if Amex approves your application.
Related articles
- Delta's SkyMiles Flash Sale Ends September 24: Round-Trip Awards From 12,800 Miles
- Delta Isn't Advertising This Hong Kong Deal. Here's How to Find It.
- Delta and Hyatt Are Teaming Up. The Date That Actually Matters Is November 15
- Amex Raised Every Delta Offer. The 200,000-Mile One Is Second From Bottom.
Do this with your own numbers
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