Summary Delta SkyMiles members can still earn miles on 747 and A380 flights by flying with Korean Air. Korean Air operates 747s and A380s to US gateways, offering SkyMiles earning options for Delta flyers. Delta and Korean Air partnership allows members to earn miles on transpacific routes and enjoy consistent flight experiences.
Although Delta Air Lines flew its last Boeing 747 service in 2017, its SkyMiles frequent flyer program members can still earn miles on flights operated by the iconic Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 this year. Twice as nice Delta Air Lines has operated the 747 on two occasions. The airline received its first Boeing 747s in 1970, the year it debuted with Pan Am.
During the seventies, it operated a small fleet of 747s before retiring them all before the decade's end. Fast-forward thirty years, and the airline again found itself the possessor of a 747 fleet thanks to its merger with Northwest Airlines. The carrier's 747s have wound up in some interesting places.
The airline began operating the jumbo jets again on flights from Atlanta (ATL) to Honolulu (HNL) and Tokyo Narita (NRT) before serving a total of 40 routes with the type during its noughties revival. Delta finally retired the last Boeing 747 400 for good in 2017, marking the last passenger flight of the Queen by a US carrier. Like the other US carriers, Delta never flew the Airbus A380 and has since passed the torch of 747 flights to fellow SkyTeam Alliance carrier Korean Air.
The Queen's final consort Today, three airlines operate 747 flights to and from the United States: Air China, Lufthansa, and Korean Air. For Delta Air Lines frequent flyers, the key to flying the Queen of the skies is with Korean Air . The flag carrier of South Korea has a fleet of eight Boeing 747-8s that it uses to fly to a handful of destinations across the US and Asia, offering multiple SkyMiles redemption opportunities to fly on the legendary aircraft.
One passenger was awarded a roundtrip in business class. From its hub in Seoul's Incheon International Airport , Korean Air will serve three US gateways on a daily basis this fall, plus a few select additional flights. There are still a few flights to Honolulu (HNL) remaining this month before the carrier moves the aircraft on to a different route.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will see a 747 on September 13th and 20th, according to data from Cirium. Get all the latest airline route news right here. The next destination to receive a regularly scheduled 747 flight is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a major West Coast gateway.
The daily service will begin on October 27th and continue for the remainder of the winter season. The SkyTeam Alliance carrier uses the type every day on its link to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the largest Delta Air Lines hub in the nation. The final airport to welcome the 747 daily is New York JFK Airport, which will soon be home to a spacious Korean Air lounge .
All hail the king Korean Air is one of the few carriers worldwide to operate both double-decker passenger jets. The carrier has a fleet of Airbus A380-800s , of which five are currently listed as active. The superjumbos are configured to seat 407 passengers each, with a daily flight equaling over 12,000 monthly seats in each direction.
How has the South Korean flag carrier overcome its tarnished safety records to become a five-star airline? The airline flies all its A380s to the United States, with multiple flights to two gateways. A double daily service to LAX runs through October when the second daily rotation will switch to a Boeing 747, as previously noted. The remaining A380s are deployed daily to New York JFK, giving passengers at both airports a choice of double-deckers on which to fly this year.
Thankfully, flights are quite simple to book for anyone, offering Delta Air Lines SkyMiles and other SkyTeam frequent flyers the chance to take one more flight on the vanishing icons. How to earn SkyMiles on 747 and A380 flights. The Delta Air Lines SkyMiles frequent flyer program is one of the largest in the world and offers earning opportunities across a range of airlines, including Korean Air.
The two airlines launched a joint venture partnership on transpacific routes on May 1st, 2018, and work together closely to develop a consistent experience and convenient flight schedules. Members of Korean Air's SKYPASS and Delta's SkyMiles can earn miles when traveling on flights to more than 290 destinations in the Americas and over 80 destinations in Asia in 44 countries. Delta has established numerous joint ventures across the Atlantic and Pacific, including partnerships with airlines such as Virgin Atlantic in the UK.
To book flights on one of Korean Air's double-decker routes, passengers can log into their SkyMiles account and enter destinations across Asia via Korean Air. Cash flights are easily bookable on the Delta website, although the ability to book with miles is not currently enabled on flights operated by Korean Air. Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here .
The flight booking matrix shows which aircraft is operating the selected flight under "details," making it easy to see if the connecting link is operated by a Delta aircraft, Korean Air Jumbo, or another partner's airplane. Over the coming months, passengers traveling through JFK or LAX can fly a 747 in one direction and an A380 on the return flight. A sample flight from New York to Seoul in November departing on a 747 and returning on an A380 came out at just over $1,500, earning 7,175 Miles and $1,435 Medalian Qualifying Dollars.
Any onward destinations across Korean Air's significant network would earn additional miles and MQDs. But what about Saudia? Special mention goes to SkyTeam Alliance member Saudia , which also still operates the Boeing 747. The carrier has two 747-400s leased from Air Atlanta Europe, in addition to the ones dedicated to the Saudi Royal Flight fleet.
Based on flight schedule filings, the type has no more scheduled flights with Saudia after a smattering of flights to Kuala Lumpur this month. However, flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows the 747 registered 9H-AZB has been pressed into service on a flight to Addis Ababa (ADD), from which it returns on August 24th. Meanwhile, 9H-AZA has been filling in on flights to Cairo and is bound for Dhaka (DAC) tomorrow.
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