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 1839835 times)

Offline hvaces42

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That takes time, meant someone that has available miles and can book instantly.
So you want to buy miles? Not allowed here.
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Offline dovigoldberger

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Ok, thanks for letting me know.
Sorry.

Offline hvaces42

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Offline shimino1

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  • Location: israel
One way/Round-trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: BKK, DMK, CNX
To: TLV
Departure dates: 29 March only
Class: Business
Seats: 2


Need help ASAP. Stuck in the airport and am trying to get home for Pesach.
I have all the major currencies. Best flight I found so far gets in 2:35 pm erev chag!

Offline Abey

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One way/Round-trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: BKK, DMK, CNX
To: TLV
Departure dates: 29 March only
Class: Business
Seats: 2


Need help ASAP. Stuck in the airport and am trying to get home for Pesach.
I have all the major currencies. Best flight I found so far gets in 2:35 pm erev chag!
If you’re willing to buy a ticket, you can get back with tk at 8:40 am

Offline shimino1

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If you’re willing to buy a ticket, you can get back with tk at 8:40 am
Thanks but I stuck with the 2:35 and made it back in time.

Offline smaxber

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Nyc-MCO
APRIL 15 or APRIL 22 RT same day
All currencies available.
Currently don’t see any SAAVER rates :/

Offline twentie4hrs

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Want to fly in First class from ORD->ZRH on May 5th (Motzei Shabbos) an 1 1/2 hours at least or so after Shabbos or leave on May 6th (Sunday) and be there (in Zurich) for two full days, returning to ORD on Wed (Early as possible).

Need two tickets

Have a 200K in UA, around 200K in AA and 200K SPG.

I am having trouble finding any first available on any airline.

Thanks
A penny saved is 1 cent

Offline hvaces42

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Want to fly in First class from ORD->ZRH on May 5th (Motzei Shabbos) an 1 1/2 hours at least or so after Shabbos or leave on May 6th (Sunday) and be there (in Zurich) for two full days, returning to ORD on Wed (Early as possible).

Need two tickets

Have a 200K in UA, around 200K in AA and 200K SPG.

I am having trouble finding any first available on any airline.

Thanks
Better to stick to proper format because no info on flexibility i.e. stops

F only opens for partners 14 days prior on LH. LX does not release F except to HON Senators. You can use 90k SPG>Marriott>LH and probably see better F availability but you will pay an arm and a leg in YQ. UA and AA do not operate F AFAIK on any nonstop route to ZRH.
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Offline Thetcgang

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Hi, thx in advance

One way/Round-trip: one way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  ns or 1s
From: All airports from which you can depart       ewr, but will take another nyc airport, lga or jfk if really good
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line   tlv
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible.    4/12 but cant arrive in tlv after 2pm friday
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets   

Class: First/Business/Coach/Any   coach or better preferred
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2   1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with  any, have chase points, american, united

Offline aygart

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Hi, thx in advance

One way/Round-trip: one way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  ns or 1s
From: All airports from which you can depart       ewr, but will take another nyc airport, lga or jfk if really good
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line   tlv
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible.    4/12 but cant arrive in tlv after 2pm friday
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets   

Class: First/Business/Coach/Any   coach or better preferred
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2   1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with  any, have chase points, american, united
It doesn't show anything with stop in Europe searching on United?
Feelings don't care about your facts

Offline davidrotts63

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It doesn't show anything with stop in Europe searching on United?
Just a shabbos afternoon arrival.
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Offline helpyouamdme

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Looking for EWR-OMA round trip on Apr. 16-18 UA has availability in Saver Award, what's the best Star Alliance miles to use for it?

Offline davidrotts63

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Looking for EWR-OMA round trip on Apr. 16-18 UA has availability in Saver Award, what's the best Star Alliance miles to use for it?
What class? Y?
IINM J should be LH 17.5k or SQ 20k
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline helpyouamdme

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What class? Y?
IINM J should be LH 17.5k or SQ 20k
and for J?

Offline davidrotts63

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and for J?
That's for J. For Y I'm not sure but they should all be similar, aside from UA if there is a close in booking fee.
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Offline helpyouamdme

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That's for J. For Y I'm not sure but they should all be similar, aside from UA if there is a close in booking fee.
Thanks

Offline eljay07

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Looking for help finding 6 good award tix for NYC-TLV in November.
Thanks.

One way/Round trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: nonstop preferred; 1 if great value
From: NYC or close
To: TLV
Departure dates: November 12, 13, or 14
Return dates: November 25 or 26
Class: Any
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: Any (have SPG, MR, UR)

Offline hvaces42

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Looking for help finding 6 good award tix for NYC-TLV in November.
Thanks.

One way/Round trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: nonstop preferred; 1 if great value
From: NYC or close
To: TLV
Departure dates: November 12, 13, or 14
Return dates: November 25 or 26
Class: Any
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: Any (have SPG, MR, UR)
Rare to find that many seats except close-in.
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Offline Abey

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Rare to find that many seats except close-in.
In y ?