Looking for a cheap one-way TLV-SFO ticket

[Gandalf]

Hi,

I'm planning to fly one-way from Israel to SFO (any day in Apr or May will work) and was wondering what's the cheapest way to arrange that. I have a lot of SPG points (courtesy of the mint)...
Thanks to the recent United 1-way policy change I can get a FRA-SFO flight for 27,500 miles (not sure about the fuel charge though), but couldn't find a TLV-FRA 1-way flight.

Does anybody know of a cheap way to do that?

Thanks,
Meir

[mordys]

If you have the time and ability try this:
On bmi you can have a one way tlv-fra on Lufthansa for 20,000 miles.
They currently have a promo with Wyndham rewards where you can get 5,000 bmi points for each stay, up to 4 times.  They have some cheap hotels in their brands, and in some areas can be booked for $35/night.  
http://www.wyndhamrewards.com/uk/bmi/
http://www.flybmi.com/bmi/en-gb/diamond-club/diamond-club/ways-to-spend-miles/ways-to-spend-miles.aspx#
word of caution: taxes may be high

[Gandalf]

Thanks Mordy,

Yes that brings the trip price to 47,500 miles (excluding taxes and fuel surcharge), which is very close to the 50,000 miles you need to fly US->Israel->US with Alitalia (however they might rip me off with the fuel surcharge).

Does anybody have other ideas on how to fly one-way from TLV to SFO? I know FlyingBlue used to have great one-way promotions but I see none now...

Cheers,
Meir

[SuperFlyer]

add a few rentals.

[SuperFlyer]

alitalia is not a partner of bmi, so Im not sure I follow.

by the way; AA TLV-Europe is also around 20k one way.

with BMI, using any star alliance (CO, UA, LH, LX, US, OS, etc) its 40k miles, or part cash which is 20k + 135GBP, both obviously excluding taxes.

If flying directly to the states the taxes should stay withing reason.

[gdam]

If you have a Miles&More account with Israeli address, you can fly TLV-FRA-TLV for 15K Miles&More (Flysmart award) . This is the cheapest way to get there.

[flyingace]

Flying Blue allows one way awards. At the regular rate it should be 25,000 for a one way. At the promo rate it should be 12,500. The taxes will probably be over 200 for the one way.

[flyingace]

Sorry if the previous post was unclear. That is for the entire TLV-SFO trip. FB is a Skyteam member so availability may be searched on Air France, KLM, Delta or Alitalia.

[SuperFlyer]

I checked out the promos at http://www.flyingbluenews.com/promotions/spendingmiles/promoawards.html

however even when the promos are applicable, I never saw yet a middle east-usa promo. Did you?

As written on a previous post you can combine tlv-europe, with a europe-usa, however, this will eliminate the The airlines that fly direct (thus saving on taxes and flying time).

[Dan]

I checked out the promos at http://www.flyingbluenews.com/promotions/spendingmiles/promoawards.html

however even when the promos are applicable, I never saw yet a middle east-usa promo. Did you?

As written on a previous post you can combine tlv-europe, with a europe-usa, however, this will eliminate the The airlines that fly direct (thus saving on taxes and flying time).

TLV is Europe 3 in Flying Blue.

[Gandalf]

Thanks everybody,

I checked with El-Al, and they fly TLV-LAX for 900 points (+$190) one-way. I can then fly LAX-SJC (496km apart) with 6,000 LAN kilometers (2,400 SPG points) according to http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/5533. SJC is closer to my home than SFO, and is just under the 500km threshold LAN has (LAX-SFO is 543km).

Now I just need to buy those El-Al points. I already have some, and I hope there's a way to actually transfer points between accounts (rather than make a reservation on my name). If any member here wants to sell El-Al points please PM me. I'm open also to trading them for United, Delta, Continental, Hilton, and SPG points.

Thanks,
-Meir

[moish]

unfortunately, i dont think you can transfer points

[Dan]

Just use 40K AA for the whole thing?

[SuperFlyer]

Just use 40K AA for the whole thing?

yes, its possible

[SuperFlyer]

TLV is Europe 3 in Flying Blue.

Dont know this stuff you are talking about, I guess you get different promo and halochos according to your profile.

[ChaimB]

Just use 40K AA for the whole thing?

 I thought AA was 90k or 45k 1 way? are U transferring the miles from AA to some other program then cashing out?

[Dan]

Dont know this stuff you are talking about, I guess you get different promo and halochos according to your profile.

"Europe 1/2/3 - Chicago (and v.v.), 12,500 miles each way."

I thought AA was 90k or 45k 1 way? are U transferring the miles from AA to some other program then cashing out?

It's 20K from TLV to Europe and 20K from Europe to US off-peak.  You can probably accomplish this on one ticket.

During peak times its better to do 45K for TLV-US.

[SuperFlyer]

I so that, but where do you see that TLV is part of europe.

[Dan]

I so that, but where do you see that TLV is part of europe.

Flying Poo has apparently recently hidden their reward chart and removed the page that showed Israel as part of Europe 1/2/3.
However if you login to your account you can see that JFK-CDG has the exact same redemption rates as JFK-TLV. (50K Y, 100K J, 50% discount with promo)

[moish]

dan do you call it that b/c they fly bad aircraft or theyre a bad company. basically should i bank miles with them, or delta or another one?