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 1839461 times)

Offline world2see

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THANKS!

Offline shmiel

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aeroplan didn't show up anything
ANA probably would be better for an itin with a long stopover

Offline world2see

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thanks will try!

Offline sawlw

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need skyteam/delta rewards help
i have a reservation on hold

From: tlv
To:nyc
Departure dates:Aug. 05 - midnight
Return dates: Aug. 28 - evening
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:skyteam- delta

for 145k
i cant seem to fig. out how to search delta to have my return nyc-tlv go via europe, i.e. stop in LHR/ATH/PRG for a day or 2?
which would make my return
From: nyc
To:LHR/ATH/PRG
Departure dates:Aug. 28

from :LHR/ATH/PRG
to:tlv
Departure dates: aug. 30
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:skyteam- delta

hope im clear
TIA

Offline aussiebochur

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need skyteam/delta rewards help
i have a reservation on hold

From: tlv
To:nyc
Departure dates:Aug. 05 - midnight
Return dates: Aug. 28 - evening
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:skyteam- delta

for 145k
i cant seem to fig. out how to search delta to have my return nyc-tlv go via europe, i.e. stop in LHR/ATH/PRG for a day or 2?
which would make my return
From: nyc
To:LHR/ATH/PRG
Departure dates:Aug. 28

from :LHR/ATH/PRG
to:tlv
Departure dates: aug. 30
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:skyteam- delta

hope im clear
TIA

Did you try using the multi-city tab?

How did you put it on hold without the return?

Offline YOSEF

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First off, I'd like to thank you for not abusing this thread, and first checking yourself, and also presenting your issue in a clear and concise way.

Of the three cities you mentioned, PRG is the only one with a direct flight to TLV.
However, Delta's search engine doesn't show OK (czech) availability. They usually have something within a day or two of what you need, and you sounded flexible....
The DL direct JFK-PRG is a red-eye, and so is the OK PRG-TLV, so maybe keep that in mind when booking.

My advice, would be to sign-up for an expertflyer account and use that to check the OK availability, and then call DL to book it. When you call, they probably will just use the search engine, and you need to tell them its not on there etc, and if they still say no, either hang up call again, or ask for a manager.

One last thing is, that because its using OK seats, even if they say they can hold it longer, you will lose the hold overnight (maybe midnight eastern?).

Good luck!
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 08:23:07 AM by YOSEF »

Offline sawlw

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First off, I'd like to thank you for not abusing this thread, and first checking yourself, and also presenting your issue in a clear and concise way.

Of the three cities you mentioned, PRG is the only one with a direct flight to TLV.
However, Delta's search engine doesn't show OK (czech) availability. They usually have something within a day or two of what you need, and you sounded flexible....
The DL direct JFK-PRG is a red-eye, and so is the OK PRG-TLV, so maybe keep that in mind when booking.

My advice, would be to sign-up for an expertflyer account and use that to check the OK availability, and then call DL to book it. When you call, they probably will just use the search engine, and you need to tell them its not on there etc, and if they still say no, either hang up call again, or ask for a manager.

One last thing is, that because its using OK seats, even if they say they can hold it longer, you will lose the hold overnight (maybe midnight eastern?).

Good luck!
thanks
signed up for EF
1) nothing on OK!
2) can i do the same for KL  via AMS? Does my flt from NYC have to be on delta?
 what would i tell delta when I call?
how would i extend my layover, (not take the 1st available connection, and wait a day or two in between?)
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 08:48:12 AM by sawlw »

Offline YOSEF

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Delta allows stopovers on an award ticket, so its about finding availability and then booking (online or on the phone).
The search engine should theoretically find KLM seats, so as aussie mentioned, try the multi-city tab, and see what happens. One thing to note is that a MC won't show you how many miles it will cost, therefore...
You can also search on DL.com by one ways, but keep in mind that the mileage is based off RT, so don't freak out about the prices.
If you find availability into AMS, but not TLV, EF may show KLM (not sure, but think so) so call up etc, but they definitely don't show DL award availability.
Also, I believe there are 2 KLM flights from JFK, and one DL each from JFK and EWR (EWR will need to be a different search on DL.com).
You can fly any ST member, but there has to be low availability on the partners.
« Last Edit: June 14, 2011, 09:02:11 AM by YOSEF »

Offline aussiebochur

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Try AF via CDG.

Offline sawlw

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Thanks again!
Just to clarify if I find a flt on another skyteam airline, delta WOULD book it for me??

Offline YOSEF

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Assuming its available at their low level.
(If its on EF- yes.)

Offline sawlw

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Did you try using the multi-city tab?

How did you put it on hold without the return?
Sorry didn't see ur post!
I booked a RT direct but I would prefer to stop in europe for a day or 2 on the return!
I'll try multi city whn I'm @ a computer! Thanx

Offline aussiebochur

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Thanks again!
Just to clarify if I find a flt on another skyteam airline, delta WOULD book it for me??
Correct.
Sun 8/28, JFK-PRG, DL210, 7:40pm-10:00am+1 day

Tues, 8/30, PRG-AMS, OK618, 5:15pm-6:50pm
Tues, 8/30, AMS-TLV, KL461, 9:05pm-2:25am

Also flights available to LHR if you want...

Offline bades

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From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: OCtober  3 -6
Return dates: october 23-25
Class: business
Seats: 2
preferably STAR Alliance with 1 stop max

Offline SuperFlyer

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As I got so many responses, I decided to try once again my luck:

YYZ-CDG on 6 or 7 September

CDG-YYZ 14, 15 or 16 September

1 seat, preferably First, otherwise Business class, max 1 stop.

Thanks

Offline sawlw

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no luck!!! can i get some help?

skyteam:
2 adult
depart: aug, 28
from: NYC- anywhere in Europe excluding swiss/paris/venice

depart aug 29 @ night or aug. 30
from: anywhere in europe excluding swiss/paris/venice - TLV

direct

return: i have tht booked, so either a one way or any random date!!
basically need help for routing with availability


Offline YOSEF

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Skyteam?
Delta miles?
I don't think you are able to do one-way with a stopover on ST.

Offline Smirk

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2 Adults
7/13  JFK-HKG  10:05am - 2:05pm +1   CX841
7/24  HKG-JFK  6:30pm - 10:25am +1   CX 846

I have these tickets on hold with AA  and am having a hard time finding in between flights:

I want to be in HKG for Shabbos either one - doesn't matter

Want to be in MLE for 5 days +/- 1 and other Shabbos
looks like only airline that flies directly HKG-MLE is Singapore Air. Seems like biggest stopover is SIN, i dont mind stopping there for a day (actually would be nice to be there for a day if possible but not needed)


My JFK-HKG-JFK i have in business, from what i hear the difference between biz and F is the same difference from coach to biz. I couldn't seem to find F availability, any tips or tricks?

Have Amex/SPG/CO/AA Points - I dont mind paying if need be but would rather use points


Offline YOSEF

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First off, I may be wrong, but that "direct" flight HKG-MLE actually does stop in SIN, and they just call it direct, but I'm not sure.

I didn't check availability, but can I suggest taking 2 OWs? Maybe OWorld there, and if Singapore has availability, *A back on Singapore?
Or vice versa.
That way, there is only one stop on the way back.

(This obviously won't work if you want to stop in SIN for more than 24hrs.)

Offline sawlw

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@yosef

No! I Have a flt. on delta from tlv to nyc on aug.5
I'm trying to workout my return!