[Biz Class Deal Alert] New York to Malta on Delta

US airlines are increasingly flying to leisure-focused destinations. Delta is launching flights to Malta and Sardinia this summer, which included a fan and employee vote to help pick new routes to fly. Delta is also flying to Sardinia this summer too, keep an eye out for a potential award fare sale to OLB as well.

As flagged by Thrifty Traveler yesterday, Delta is now having an award sale for flights between New York (JFK) and Malta (MLA). You can book flights this summer for as low as 14.2k points in basic economy, 26.1k regular economy, 67.9k premium economy, or 99.2k in business one way (JFK→MLA). To get the same price on the return, you’ll sadly need to book a round-trip flight. This deal is even better if you have a Delta co-branded Amex card that has a fee, as you get a 15% discount on these redemptions as well!

You can also mix and match your cabin bookings. So if you want to sleep on the night flight to Malta, you can book Delta One for ~99k points on the way there, and then book an economy seat on the way back for ~26k points. So the total cost would be ~125k points for the round-trip with one segment in business and one in economy (before 15% discount). It’s all personal preference but I personally don’t mind economy or premium economy on daytime flights. Malta has priority pass lounges and a lounge for SkyTeam Elite members.

I don’t think Malta is that mainstream but seems to be growing fast in popularity. I guess that’s why Delta added the route. It seems to be a more unique place to visit compared to the usual European spots.

Routes: New York (JFK) to Malta (MLA)

Airline: Delta

Programs to book with: Delta

Travel timeline: July-August 2026

Cost: 99.2k points business class, 67.9k premium economy, 14.2k or 26.1k for economy each way (must book round-trip to get same pricing on the return from MLA→JFK)

Transfer partners: American Express

Summary: Fly on Delta

Why I like this deal: 1) Somewhat reasonable cost for business class and great cost for economy 2) multiple seats (some dates 9+), 3) ability during busy summer season, and 4) Delta co-branded cardholders can book this for as low as ~85k points one-way with their 15% award discount.

JFK to MLA (99.2k business class)
July: 8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, 22, 26, 31
August: 2, 5, 7, 9, 14, 21, 23

MLA to JFK (99.2k business class)
July: 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30
August: 1, 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 27, 29

Delta One business class: Starting at 99.2k points + $6-47 in tax/fees each way. Free changes/cancellations.
Note: If you have a Delta co-branded card that has an annual fee, you get a 15% discount on miles needed to book, making the cost start at ~85k miles per person each way or ~169k points round-trip.
Transfer Partners: Amex

1) Search and book directly on Delta’s website.

2) On the Delta site, put in dates and destinations, click on “Shop with Miles”, click on “My dates are flexible”, choose one way, choose the “Advanced Search” option, then under the “Best Fares For” option choose Delta One. Then search.

3) After searching, you can choose the “Price Calendar” option to pull up a monthly calendar view.

4) Use the calendar view to quickly find dates with availability. You can change the trip length to find dates that work for you. 4 or 7 days is the best to find dates.

5) Confirm availability and ensure there are enough seats for the dates you want to book. Then transfer your points if you need to, then book!

The flights are currently scheduled to be on Delta’s 767s, which are a bit dated compared to the newer interiors on A330s and the new A350s. They are still lie-flat and all aisle access in a 1-2-1 layout. There is also a Delta One lounge to enjoy before your trip in JFK!

Review #1 JFK-FRA (Off the Beaten Points)
Review #2 JFK-LHR (Prince of Travel)
JFK Delta One Lounge review (One Mile at a Time)

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About Find Flights for Me.

I started the idea of Find Flights for Me back in 2023 to help educate and inspire people to use their credit card points more effectively, with a focus on using points to fly business and first class flights.

When I’m not working on Wall Street or searching for flight deals, you can find me planning for my upcoming wedding, enjoying local restaurants, helping my parents book their next trip, traveling internationally, or visiting friends/family in NYC, Philadelphia, or DC.