MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.
Delta has cheaper awards to Africa, the Middle East, and Hong Kong in economy than United or American Airlines. All are only 35,000 Delta miles each way from the United States.
Award space is excellent to these destinations in February 2017, a great time to go, weather-wise.
Right now, the Delta Platinum personal and business cards are offering 70,000 bonus miles and the Delta Gold personal and business cards are offering 50,000 bonus miles after a minimum spending requirement. These limited time offers end November 9, 2016.
Credit card links have been removed from posts and added to the menu bar at the top of every page of MileValue under the heading Top Travel Credit Cards.
Delta Economy Award Space to Uganda
I went to Uganda in January 2012. I enjoyed a few days in Kampala, CouchSurfing at an orphanage in the crater lakes district, and chimpanzee tracking. Below is an award space calendar from delta.com from Minneapolis to Entebbe, Uganda in February and March, 2017 for two passengers. There is award space for 35,000 miles one way on 17/35 days.
A typical itinerary is this one with a Delta flight to Amsterdam, connecting to a KLM flight to Uganda.
There’s nothing special about Minneapolis or Entebbe regarding the price. It would cost the same 35,000 miles from anywhere in the Continental United States to anywhere in Africa except South Africa.
Delta Economy Award Space to Dubai
Dubai is a comfortable temperature in February, and award space is wide open for two passengers from Atlanta for 35,000 miles one way on 35/35 days shown below.
A typical itinerary features a Delta flight to Amsterdam that connects to a KLM flight to Dubai.
Again, the 35,000 mile price is valid from anywhere in the continental United States to anywhere in the Middle East.
Delta Economy Award Space to Hong Kong
Delta has a nonstop flight from Seattle to Hong Kong with fairly good award space for two passengers on the days I searched–14/35 days–in February and March.
The award is 70,000 miles and $64 per person roundtrip.
Connections from your home airport to Seattle wouldn’t increase the award price.
Searching and Booking the Award Space
Search and book on delta.com. The partners you want to use to the Middle East, Africa, and Hong Kong are there.
How to Get the Miles
The easiest way to get a lot of Delta miles fast is via the Delta Gold and Platinum cards.
The Gold personal and business cards each offer:
- 50,000 SkyMiles after spending $2,000 in the first three months
- a $50 statement credit after making any Delta purchase in the first three months (hint: gift card if necessary)
- Priority Boarding
- Free Checked Bag
- 20% off inflight purchases
- $0 annual fee for the first 12 months, then $95
You can get both the personal and business Gold cards.
The Platinum personal and business cards each offer:
- 70,000 SkyMiles and 10,000 MQMs (elite status miles) after spending $5,000 in the first three months
- a $100 statement credit after making any Delta purchase in the first three months (hint: gift card if necessary)
- Priority Boarding
- Free Checked Bag
- 20% off inflight purchases
- $195
Credit card links have been removed from posts and added to the menu bar at the top of every page of MileValue under the heading Top Travel Credit Cards.
Eligibility
These are American Express cards, so if you have ever had one, you cannot get a bonus on the same card again. These are four separate cards, though, and you can get the bonus on all four.
As an example, if you’ve only ever had the Gold personal card, you can get any of the other three cards now and get its bonus, but you can’t get the Gold personal’s bonus again.
Bottom Line
Award space is wide open from the United States to Africa, the Middle East, and Hong Kong for 35,000 SkyMiles each way. That’s a great deal, especially in conjunction with the current 50,000 and 70,000 mile limited time offers on Delta credit cards.
Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.
With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.
The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.
Usable Delta miles for the non-snobs. Pretty great find.
These are off-peak dates. Very easy to find for 2 people. We need some hard and good stuff (peak for a family of 4+) to peak your reader’s interest.