Deal of the day: Fly nonstop coast-to-coast from only 12,400 Delta SkyMiles

If you’re looking to travel between the East Coast and West Coast without breaking the bank, Delta Air Lines has you covered. Right now, there’s solid award availability for nonstop transcontinental flights starting at just 12,400 Delta SkyMiles each way, with no basic economy restrictions.

Whether you’re heading to New York for a Broadway show, jetting to Los Angeles for some sunshine or visiting San Francisco for a long weekend, this deal makes coast-to-coast travel accessible for fewer miles than you might expect.

Read on to learn which routes are available and how to book this deal.

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: 80,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus 20,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $2,000 on purchases (for a total of $6,000) in the first six months of card membership.

Note that prices and availability were accurate at the time of writing.

Delta 767 taking off in Los Angeles — PHILIP PILOSIAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

TPG’s deal of the day basics

Airline: Delta Air Lines
Routes: Nonstop flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), JFK and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and LAX, and BOS and SFO
Best way to book: Delta SkyMiles (you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio)
Price: From 12,400 SkyMiles plus $5.60 taxes and fees each way
Retail price: From $150 each way
Travel dates: Various dates from February to December

How to find and book TPG’s deal of the day

We found this deal on Seats.aero, which makes it easy to search SkyMiles for nonstop flights across the country a year out (with a Pro membership).

Head to Delta’s website to book directly. Main Classic includes advance seat selection, an earlier boarding group, same-day flight changes and full mileage earning.

You’ll see options to save even more SkyMiles by selecting Main Basic fares for as low as 7,600 miles. Main Basic is Delta’s most restrictive fare: no seat selection until check-in, boarding last, no same-day changes and earning fewer SkyMiles (though on a redemption, this last restriction wouldn’t matter).

However, if you can handle the restrictions, this is astonishingly cheap for a six-hour flight.

Remember, always confirm availability with the airline before transferring your points or miles.

How to earn the points or miles required for TPG’s deal of the day

One of the simplest ways to earn Delta miles is by using Delta’s cobranded American Express cards. Here are some of the current welcome offers available for these cards:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card: Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles: 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus 20,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $2,000 on purchases (for a total of $5,000) in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles: 80,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus 20,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $2,000 on purchases (for a total of $6,000) in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn up to 125,000 bonus miles: 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus 25,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $3,000 on purchases (for a total of $9,000) in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card: Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card: Earn 125,000 bonus miles after spending $15,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.

Remember that all of these cards include access to the TakeOff 15 benefit, which will save you 15% on Delta-operated award flights, giving this deal even better value.

Bottom line

Coast-to-coast travel doesn’t have to cost a fortune when you use your Delta SkyMiles strategically. For just 12,400 SkyMiles each way (or less with the right credit card or accepting basic economy restrictions), this deal offers an affordable way to fly nonstop between major East Coast and West Coast cities.

Continue reading:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.