Topic Wiki

Please follow the following rules when posting in this thread. Failure to do so may result in you request being ignored or deleted.

(If you are looking to purchase a paid ticket, please post here)

FAQs:

Q: How can I use my credit card points to book a USA-TLV ticket?
A: Please read Dan's very helpful and informative guides found here and here

Great tool to see the mileage cost for a route http://www.awardhacker.com

Q: Do I have to pay a lot of money when using miles for a ticket?

A: Sometimes. For more information read this

Q: How do I find award availability?
A: For Star Alliance (United, AirCanada, Lufthansa, Swiss, and others) see this guide

For OneWorld (AmericanAirlines, BritishAirways, Iberia, Malev, and more) You can use BA's award search engine (you need to have a free BA account to access the engine). In addition, you can use Qantas' engine (free account needed as well), which will (to an extent) search Elal. As of this posting, the Elal business flights that show up are coach, and vice verse.

For Delta and AirFrance, use their respective sites. While not perfect, they are quite manageable for the casual searcher.

And of course, many of us here will take time out to help someone who is trying to learn.

Q: All this searching is making me crazy. Is there an easier way?
A: Yes, but it might cost you. Check out AwardNexus.com, KVStool.com, and expertflyer.com.

Q: I see AirCanada availability, but when I call AirCanada they say I can't use my United miles with them. Aren't they partners?
A: You can only use miles with the airline that issued them. Through that airline (in our case United) they can issue a ticket on a partner (ie AirCanada). Trying to call AirCanada with United miles, is like trying to use shekels in Mexico.

Q: I can't find availability on my dates. What should I do?
A: You should try to be as flexible as possible. Can you add a stop or 2? Can you be more flexible with your dates? The airports?
If all else fails, keep trying. Availability is constantly opening up.

Q: Can someone please help me find a ticket?
A: No! Find it yourself.  ;D ;D Just kidding. Please copy the following lines, delete the non bolded parts, and fill it out in your post.

One way/Round-trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:
From: All airports from which you can depart
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible.
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets
Return dates: Delete this line for One-way tickets
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with

IF you have any airline status or credit cards (Ie, United CC or status) that gives extended seat availability, please add that. Would be helpful to find you correct availability.

An additional note about using miles for direct flights from NYC-TLV

NYC-TLV is only served by 3 carriers non-stop, United, Delta, and El Al. Saver availability on Delta is non-existent. Saver availability on United is rare but sometimes available close-in. It is almost never available on or near holidays or holiday weekends, or around yomim tovim. Any award space that opens will be snatched up immediately so you have to constantly be checking if you hope to snag it if/when it opens. El AL awards are more readily available but prohibitively expensive using Matmid points (El Al's frequent flyer program) but may be able to be booked using Quantas points (transfers from Citi & Amex) at a much more reasonable rate.

This leaves the following options if no saver availability:

The Chase travel portal will let you use Ultimate Rewards, or a combination or UR and cash to book flights. If you have a Sapphire Reserve or a Sapphire Preferred, the redemption rate will be 1.5 cents per point or 1.25 cents per point respectively, instead of the regular 1 cent per point without them. (A, Ink cash or Ink Preferred will also give you the 1.25 cpp redemption rate.)

The Amex travel portal will let you redeem points at 1 cent per point towards the cost of air travel. If you have a grandfathered Business Platinum card, you will get 50% of the points you redeem back around a month after you book the ticket. If you have a non-grandfathered card, you will get 35% of your points back. (This is only available when redeeming points for tickets on your selected American carrier in economy class or on any airline in business or first class.)

The Citi travel portal also lets you redeem points at 1 cent per point towards travel and seems to have better pricing on El Al in business class.

Alternatively, you can sell your points (not here on DDF) and use the cash to buy regular tickets. This is usually the best option for people without either a Chase Sapphire Reserve or grandfathered Business Platinum who are flying economy.

Those are your only options for nonstop travel. For options with a stopover and more information in general, see https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/the-ultimate-israel-mileage-award-chart/

This keeps on getting asked over and over. Besides Dan's comprehensive list of how to get to, or from, TLV here is a short list of options for travel to or from NYC in Y:
Lowest point per RT is FB 50K (less with promo, but YQ of ~$500 unless you can find unicorn DL availability), AA 80k (AA metal for transatlantic), AC 80k (LX or LO for low YQ) and UA 85k. Half that for OW.

Please add any other information to this wiki that you feel might be useful.



Author Topic: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)  (Read 1839340 times)

Offline db23

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8340 on: October 09, 2017, 10:35:39 AM »
r/t
delta-i know there insane
spg-the 50k whats the best to tranfer into, i would go outbound with stopover if i can get a good deal.

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8341 on: October 09, 2017, 11:18:29 AM »
r/t
delta-i know there insane
spg-the 50k whats the best to tranfer into, i would go outbound with stopover if i can get a good deal.
Coach or business?
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Offline db23

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8342 on: October 09, 2017, 11:43:33 AM »
Coach or business?

would try business if a good deal and timing make sense

i was able to find one way AA-mad-tlv for 70k

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8343 on: October 09, 2017, 11:44:55 AM »
would try business if a good deal and timing make sense

i was able to find one way AA-mad-tlv for 70k
That's a decent use of AA miles
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Offline db23

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8344 on: October 09, 2017, 12:10:08 PM »
That's a decent use of AA miles

40k for aa coach

what program may be good to check out using my 50k spg points?

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8345 on: October 09, 2017, 12:13:23 PM »
40k for aa coach

what program may be good to check out using my 50k spg points?
No good use
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Offline db23

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8346 on: October 09, 2017, 12:19:06 PM »
not worth tarnsfering amex into elal>?

Offline db23

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8347 on: October 09, 2017, 01:20:11 PM »
is RJ a good / safe choice jfk-tlv business>70k?

Offline ludmila

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8348 on: October 09, 2017, 01:29:51 PM »
is RJ a good / safe choice jfk-tlv business>70k?
It is OK, I few RJ to TLV  a couple of times, decent biz class, pretty safe, no issues.
I was the Best,still the Best, and will always be the Best.
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Offline db23

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8349 on: October 09, 2017, 01:32:11 PM »
It is OK, I few RJ to TLV  a couple of times, decent biz class, pretty safe, no issues.

70k one way, good value?
i like the $12 in fees

kosher option on plain?

business seems up to date

do they have a lounge? i have pass card , it will be a 3 hr or so layover.

Offline ludmila

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8350 on: October 09, 2017, 09:58:38 PM »
70k one way, good value?
i like the $12 in fees

kosher option on plain?

business seems up to date

do they have a lounge? i have pass card , it will be a 3 hr or so layover.
Yes, 70k is good.
Biz class is decent.
2 priority pass lounges, here is the link   https://www.prioritypass.com/en/Lounges/Middle-East/Jordan/Amman/Amman-Queen-Alia-International
yes they offer kosher meals, make sure to preorder to be safe, here is the list of meals they offer
Special Meals offered on board long haul flights:

Bland Meal
Diabetic Meal
Gluten Free Meal
High Fiber Meal
Low Calorie Meal
Low Cholesterol , Low Fat
Low Protein Meal
Low Sodium No Salt
Non Lactose Meal
Western Vegetarian Meal
Indian Vegetarian Meal
Seafood Meal
Kosher Meal
Hindu Meal
Moslem Meal
Children Meal
Baby Meal
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8351 on: October 10, 2017, 08:39:12 PM »
I am trying to book a business class ticket with my grandfathered 50% back amex business plat card, but I am getting a few different answers from the agents and I wonder if anyone here knows the answer. I am trying to go jfk-tlv in march in business class.  if I book now and when it gets closer to the time of departure I am unable to go, do the points go back into my account?? thanx in advance!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8352 on: October 10, 2017, 08:52:56 PM »
I am trying to book a business class ticket with my grandfathered 50% back amex business plat card, but I am getting a few different answers from the agents and I wonder if anyone here knows the answer. I am trying to go jfk-tlv in march in business class.  if I book now and when it gets closer to the time of departure I am unable to go, do the points go back into my account?? thanx in advance!
first of all why are you dealing with an agent when you are booking with points? Second of all when you book with BP it is as if you re redeeming for cash so after 30 days you will get the 50 percent back. If you have to cance your ticket you deal with the airline. So they will charge a fee and then give you the rest as travel bank. You will not get your original points back.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8353 on: October 16, 2017, 01:04:32 AM »
One way/Round trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: BKK
To: JFK
Departure: 11/24/17
Return dates: N/A
Class: J or F
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any safe comfortable and reliable airline.

I have SPG, AS, AA, BA, DELTA.   Willing to go 110K per ticket.  I have 1 CX F booked but since the date is not flexible I am trying to find a backup plan.  I could transfer 90K SPG and get 160K UA (after combining with my UA account which has 35K) and then flying through TG and CA but I am not a big fan of CA and hate to fly redeye.   Any other suggestions?  I did not see many openings on EK openings recently with AS booking, unfortunately.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8354 on: October 16, 2017, 01:26:12 AM »
One way/Round trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: BKK
To: JFK
Departure: 11/24/17
Return dates: N/A
Class: J or F
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any safe comfortable and reliable airline.

I have SPG, AS, AA, BA, DELTA.   Willing to go 110K per ticket.  I have 1 CX F booked but since the date is not flexible I am trying to find a backup plan.  I could transfer 90K SPG and get 160K UA (after combining with my UA account which has 35K) and then flying through TG and CA but I am not a big fan of CA and hate to fly redeye.   Any other suggestions?  I did not see many openings on EK openings recently with AS booking, unfortunately.
As on cx?
"In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take"

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8355 on: October 16, 2017, 08:20:14 AM »
As on cx?

That's the plan but I need a backup plan because:

1. CX availability seemed to be dwindling close in (from checking Fridays openings in the past couple of weeks), plus waiting til T-3 seemed always nerveracking
2. Pax needs to be on the same plane since one is a minor (14Y?).

Anyway how many AA miles need on EY from BKK-DXB-JFK, 70K in J?  or does that need two awards?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8356 on: October 16, 2017, 10:54:27 AM »
That's the plan but I need a backup plan because:

1. CX availability seemed to be dwindling close in (from checking Fridays openings in the past couple of weeks), plus waiting til T-3 seemed always nerveracking
2. Pax needs to be on the same plane since one is a minor (14Y?).

Anyway how many AA miles need on EY from BKK-DXB-JFK, 70K in J?  or does that need two awards?

Never mind. CX seats opened up today.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8357 on: October 17, 2017, 04:58:46 PM »
I'm trying to get my niece awards seats on specific flights to be with her aunt on Turkish Air using United Miles (Also have SPG points if that helps).  I have found space on 3 of the 4 legs but I can't find for the initial leg.

Turkish Air Flight 785
TLV -->  IST
Depart: 10:20am
Arrive: 13:35

Any help is greatly appriciated.  TIA.

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8358 on: October 17, 2017, 05:03:01 PM »
I'm trying to get my niece awards seats on specific flights to be with her aunt on Turkish Air using United Miles (Also have SPG points if that helps).  I have found space on 3 of the 4 legs but I can't find for the initial leg.

Turkish Air Flight 785
TLV -->  IST
Depart: 10:20am
Arrive: 13:35

Any help is greatly appriciated.  TIA.
A date would help...
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8359 on: October 17, 2017, 05:09:55 PM »
A date would help...
Haha yes that would be helpful.

11/16

Thanks.