Getting To Israel With Miles

[shmuels2]

Anyone know, TLV-NYC on LH with M&M how much is YQ?

Usually $255 - $275 IME

[high end hobo]

Check matrix for fare breakdown

[Geshmak25]

probably getting the biz plat to get the 50% bonus. But even so he wont be able to buy all the tickets at once because it takes 2 days for the bonus to post. Buy 4 wait 2 days and buy the rest if the price allows for that.

Yeah that's exactly what I was thinking about doing if they went with the amex plat option.

Aeroflot is ~$830 while american/delta is ~$1350 (so let's say 70K points end of day). Monetary wise I think they would come ahead if they sold the points and just bought the tickets but there is a big difference in the economy class of the diff airlines?

[12HRS]

Friend has 575K amex points and wants to buy 7 tickets to Israel for pesach. I'm assuming award availability is going to be very limited and not shayach for 7 ppl? Is the best option to either sell the points and buy $ fare or have them get the amex plat and use 50% rebate with delta or american?

i assume you mean delta or united?

[Geshmak25]

i assume you mean delta or united?

Theres something online on american with 1 stop. There's no non-stop availability for 7 tickets on the domestic airlines.

[davidmal]

Maybe a wiki with a link to DDMS Chart

[shmoe joe]

I have a lot of chase hybrid points what's my best option for direct/stop to Israel?

[David Smith]

I have a lot of chase hybrid points what's my best option for direct/stop to Israel?

Look on your preferred source for finding revenue tickets. Then book on Chase.

[shmoe joe]

I have a lot of chase hybrid points what's my best option for direct/stop to Israel?

and I also have Amex points

[aygart]

and I also have Amex points

With amex you will need fewer points for business or first and for your chosen airline

[elya]

With amex you will need fewer points for business or first and for your chosen airline

Only if he has the Business Platinum card.

[aygart]

Only if he has the Business Platinum card.

Minor details.....

[skyguy918]

This thread doesn't fit my question exactly, but it's close enough to not open a new thread.

I'm planning a family trip (me, my wife, and 3 children ages 1-5)  to Israel at the end of August (15-30). I was originally reading up on all the award possibilities for NYC-TLV, but also made sure to keep an eye on cash prices. After seeing tickets for $750 on google flights (J2 via GYD and DY via ARN), I figured I should check the UR travel portal, as I've got all those sweet sweet CSR bonus points just sitting there. They didn't have the tickets I found on google flights, but they did have something better: JFK-AMM-TLV (RJ obviously) for just $728 - with a discount for the children at $643. So total cash is $3383, and UR points just 225,525. Plus I can use a $300 travel credit on the CSR and save 20k on the points.

I'm not particularly worried about transiting through AMM. The length of the layovers (4:45 on the way there, 2:30 on the way back) is not terrible (lounge with PP might mitigate the issue), but it's probably pushing the boundary for a layover with kids where you can't really leave the airport. Also, timing wise I would have to daven shachris on the plane, and some here have advised against doing so with T&T on RJ.

So the question is this. First of all, can I assume that this opportunity is better/cheaper than any I'll find by booking actual award
tickets? And second of all, is it worth gambling on cash prices (especially with airlines that Chase can book) dropping at some point between now and August - or at least something similar on a more 'acceptable' airline/layover city?

[12HRS]

Check out using a BP as well. the 2c value could make it more worth it to fly direct or a different route.

[skyguy918]

Check out using a BP as well. the 2c value could make it more worth it to fly direct or a different route.

Not a bad idea. Only problem is that there's no way I can get enough MR by then.

I guess my main question is for people that do a lot of cash bookings NYC-TLV, especially the travel agents on DDF. Is $728 a really great price for August, or am I likely to find equal (with another airline) or better if I wait?

[gotkwah]

Hi Everyone. First time posting here. Thanks in Advance for the help.

Trying to figure out the best strategy to rack up points and get to some award tickets to TLV. We would like to be able to go this summer but maybe its too late for that? If it is, then the question is still relevant to understand the best points to try to accumulate and the best way to get them.

Currently we only have:
Delta Skymiles: ~240k
Chase UR: ~300k

We have a lot of organic credit card spend so sign up bonuses are usually pretty easy for us to achieve. We just started opening cards for sign up bonuses a few months ago, so far wife & I opened several chase cards (we are both at 3/24 now, although one of her cards was a business card and seems like its unclear if that counts toward 5/24) I do need to open her one more Southwest card so she can get her CP)

We are in ATL, but usually find ourselves in NYC several times over the summer, or we have plenty of WN points that can get us there if needed.

We are 2 adults and 2 kids over 2 yrs old + 1 baby.

Help is truly appreciated.

[Emkay]

Hi Everyone. First time posting here. Thanks in Advance for the help.

Trying to figure out the best strategy to rack up points and get to some award tickets to TLV. We would like to be able to go this summer but maybe its too late for that? If it is, then the question is still relevant to understand the best points to try to accumulate and the best way to get them.

Currently we only have:
Delta Skymiles: ~240k
Chase UR: ~300k

We have a lot of organic credit card spend so sign up bonuses are usually pretty easy for us to achieve. We just started opening cards for sign up bonuses a few months ago, so far wife & I opened several chase cards (we are both at 3/24 now, although one of her cards was a business card and seems like its unclear if that counts toward 5/24) I do need to open her one more Southwest card so she can get her CP)

We are in ATL, but usually find ourselves in NYC several times over the summer, or we have plenty of WN points that can get us there if needed.

We are 2 adults and 2 kids over 2 yrs old + 1 baby.

Help is truly appreciated.

There is still enough time.
Have the reserve card?
If yes, then trade the worthless DL miles for some Xanax and use the UR miles to book revenue economy flights through the chase portal.

[gotkwah]

There is still enough time.
Have the reserve card?
If yes, then trade the worthless DL miles for some Xanax and use the UR miles to book revenue economy flights through the chase portal.

Yes, have the CSR.
are UR the best points to rack up for this? I guessi should just max out our 5/24 with high sign up bonuses then?

What about if we want to try to go Business class?

[hvaces42]

Was looking at DL availability in December and found multiple dates from TLV to NYC on AF for 35k plus ~$200 OW for up to 5 seats so the skypesos may have more value than the Xanax.

[hvaces42]

Yes, have the CSR.
are UR the best points to rack up for this? I guessi should just max out our 5/24 with high sign up bonuses then?

What about if we want to try to go Business class?

Swiss has multiple seats using United points 70k business one way.