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Out with the old, in with the new — new aircraft, that is.
In mid-May, Delta announced that it would be retiring its entire fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft. That includes the 10 Boeing 777-200LR (Long Range) aircraft that Delta used to operate it's longest routes—such as between Atlanta and Johannesburg. However, it's not giving up on this route. Instead, it's swapping in Airbus more fuel-efficient A350-900 aircraft. Not only that, but Delta also revealed an additional stop on the westbound leg of the journey: Cape Town.
Although this change was announced by Delta in May, it wasn't until today—June 21—that Delta has loaded the new aircraft and route into its schedule. However, it's currently quite expensive to book this flight with cash or miles:
Reason for the Route Change
The Airbus A350 has a shorter flying range than the Boeing 777-200LR and cannot operate the route heading west from Johannesburg to Atlanta. However, Delta has taken what could be a problem and turned it into an opportunity to serve Cape Town as well.
The eastbound flight remains the same, but traveling from Africa to Atlanta adds a stop. Below is the new flight schedule, all in local times:
- Depart Atlanta (ATL) 5:45 pm, arrive Johannesburg (JNB) at 3:45 pm the following day
- Depart Johannesburg (JNB) 5:15 pm, arrive Cape Town (CPT) at 7:30 pm
- Depart Cape Town (CPT) 9:30 pm, arrive Atlanta (ATL) 6:45 am the following day
Note that Delta isn't selling tickets for the segment from Johannesburg to Cape Town. That's because most countries don't allow foreign airlines to operate domestic flights. However, travelers will be able to fly Atlanta to Cape Town via Johannesburg and from Johannesburg to Atlanta via Cape Town.
Best Ways to Book These Delta Flights
For Delta operated flights, one might assume that booking with Delta miles would be the best option. However, that's usually not the case when it comes to Delta award flights.
Delta SkyMiles
The Delta SkyMiles program no longer publishes an award chart. However, AwardWallet pieced together an unofficial Delta award chart for reference. Unlike the unofficial United partner award chart where travelers pay additional miles to fly on partner airlines, Delta charges a premium to fly on its own metal. This is especially true between the United States and South Africa.
As the chart notes, low-level awards cost 60,000 SkyMiles in economy or a staggering 465,000 SkyMiles in business. This is proven out in an award search before the route change.
After the route change today, the pricing on this route is a bit wacky. Premium Select is still generally pricing at 115,000 each way and Delta One Suites cost 465,000 miles each way. However, economy is pricing at much higher rates:
Some flights from Cape Town to Atlanta are pricing as high as 230,000 miles one-way in economy:
Delta offers several ways to earn SkyMiles. Be advised that there's typically a nominal transfer fee if you plan to transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards to Delta. However, this fee has been waived for transfers through December 31, 2020.
Anyone with a stash of SkyMiles might want to book directly with Delta, though you can do better booking through other programs.
Air France/KLM Flying Blue
Flying Blue—the joint frequent flier program of Air France and KLM—offers an alternative way to book Delta’s refreshed route. Air France, KLM, and Delta all belong to the SkyTeam alliance.
Like the Delta SkyMiles program, Flying Blue does not publish an award chart. However, Flying Blue does allow travelers to see the number of miles required for any award itinerary by using its award calculator. According to the award calculator, the lowest mileage cost for a one way between Atlanta and Johannesburg is 34,000 in economy or 86,000 in business.
However, I could only find these prices for Air France or KLM-exclusive itineraries. Before the route change, I did manage to find the nonstop Delta flight for 46,000 miles in economy:
Unfortunately, I was unable to find business class award space on this route through Flying Blue before or after the route change. Historically this has been a route with little to no premium cabin award space. So, if you do stumble upon it, act quickly!
Flying Blue partners with all five major flexible travel rewards currencies:
- American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Citi ThankYou Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Capital One Rewards (4:3 transfer ratio)
- Marriott Rewards (3:1 transfer ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for transferring 60,000 points)
The abundance of transfer options means you can focus on a strategy to accumulate flexible points and then transfer to Flying Blue when needed.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Virgin Atlantic doesn't belong to any particular airline alliance. However, Virgin Atlantic and Delta enjoy a healthy partnership—thanks to Delta's 49% ownership stake in Virgin Atlantic. As part of that partnership, travelers can redeem Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles for Delta flights.
A welcome change from other booking options, Virgin Atlantic publishes an award chart for Delta flights. This award chart hasn't changed in years and remains an excellent value:
Flying Club's rate of 40,000 miles one-way in economy edges out Flying Blue’s 46,000 miles cost for the same flight. And, if you’re lucky enough to find Delta One space on this route, it will cost just 60,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club miles—making it the best booking option by far. Better yet, just like Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying club partners with all five major flexible travel rewards currencies.
However, Virgin Atlantic has been hit especially hard by the ongoing global pandemic. While this booking option requires fewer overall miles, going through Flying Blue might provide stability that Flying Club cannot offer at the moment.
Other Alternatives
Airlines such as Aeromexico, Alitalia, and Korean Air all belong to the same SkyTeam global airline alliance as Delta. As a result, it is possible to book Delta flights through any of their associated frequent flier programs. However, each of these three programs has its drawbacks for booking awards between the U.S. and South Africa:
- Aeromexico and Alitalia: Prohibitively high mileage costs.
- Korean Air SKYPASS: Reasonable mileage costs, but requires round-trip bookings and several other restrictions.
Final Thoughts
By swapping out a 777-200LR for a newer A350 on its route between Atlanta and Johannesburg, Delta necessitated service to a second city in South Africa: Cape Town. Making a short stop in Cape Town to refuel allows the shorter-ranged A350 to complete the long transatlantic journey back to the United States.
For the lowest point cost and most flexible booking options, book this new route via Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. Just 40,000 miles—or 60,000 if you can find business class award space—is all it takes for travelers to fly between the United States and South Africa on Delta’s direct flight. Flying Blue offers a decent alternative to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for booking this flight as well. Both of these two programs partner with all major transferable points programs, making booking even easier.
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