Updated 5/14/15 with current prices and routing rules. Screen shots show old prices.

Delta SkyMiles get a bad rap--very deservedly so--for the lack of Saver (Level 1) award availability that Delta releases, the fuel surcharges Delta charges on awards, the inability to add stopovers on awards, and the fact that Delta deleted its chart from the internet.

But it does not follow that Delta miles are worthless.

This is the ninth post in a monthlong series that started here. Each post will take about two minutes to read and may include an action item that takes the reader another two minutes to complete. I am writing this for an audience of people who know nothing about frequent flyer miles, and my goal is that by the end, you know enough to fly for free anywhere you want to go.
Where We Are and Where We’re Going
We’re in the section on redeeming miles.

This blog became famous because I was the first to articulate how to book free one ways on United and US Airways awards.

A free one way is a one way trip to or from your home airport that is tacked onto another award for no extra miles.

This was an April Fools prank. Glad it got a few people.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

The Delta SkyMiles program has sunk to unimaginable lows. I thought it was ridiculous in February that Delta removed its award charts, so we would no longer know how much an award should cost. Now Delta has gone one step farther: Delta will no longer display how many redeemable SkyMiles you have in your account!

When the award chart was removed, Delta pointed to its improved award calendar as the reason a chart was no longer needed.

I was explaining to my brother the changes that Delta has made in 2015, and I mentioned that the one I just couldn't believe was that Delta eliminated its award chart. It seems self-evident to all of us in the miles game that Delta eliminating its award chart is insane and unjustifiable.

(Delta deleted the chart from its site, but the possible priced for awards are the same now as they were when the chart was on delta.com.

I was explaining to my brother the changes that Delta has made in 2015, and I mentioned that the one I just couldn't believe was that Delta eliminated its award chart. It seems self-evident to all of us in the miles game that Delta eliminating its award chart is insane and unjustifiable.

(Delta deleted the chart from its site, but the possible priced for awards are the same now as they were when the chart was on delta.com.

Delta has a new daily flight from Philadelphia to London that begins April 26, 2015 with excellent economy award space immediately and good Business Class award space later in the year.

Delta charges 30,000 miles each way in economy and 62,500 miles each way in flat bed Business Class. If you don't live in Philadelphia, there are flights from Delta hubs plus Seattle and Raleigh/Durham to Philadelphia to connect.
Award Space
First I searched for one passenger in economy just on the direct flight from Philadelphia to London.

Delta has a new daily flight from Philadelphia to London that begins April 26, 2015 with excellent economy award space immediately and good Business Class award space later in the year.

Delta charges 30,000 miles each way in economy and 62,500 miles each way in flat bed Business Class. If you don't live in Philadelphia, there are flights from Delta hubs plus Seattle and Raleigh/Durham to Philadelphia to connect.
Award Space
First I searched for one passenger in economy just on the direct flight from Philadelphia to London.

China Airlines is a Taiwan-based member of SkyTeam, whose flights are bookable with Delta miles.

China Airlines recently started flying a world-class flat bed Business Class product between the United States and Asia on its brand new 777-300ERs.

Now all China Airlines award space is searchable and bookable on delta.com. Award space is excellent from the United States to Taiwan and beyond to the rest of Asia.
Routes
China Airlines flies from New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu to Taipei.

American Airlines, United, and Delta fly flat beds on their daily flights between New York-JFK and San Francisco and Los Angeles. Delta also flies its flat beds between New York-JFK and Seattle.

All three airlines compete in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Only Delta flies between Seattle and JFK with flat beds.

Which has the best flat bed award space on the routes?
What are the prices? 
What are the products?

The Products & Prices
Delta

Delta throws 757s and 767s configured with flat bed seats at its transcontinental routes.