Author Topic: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket  (Read 1198 times)

Offline rivkag

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Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« on: October 15, 2020, 09:47:08 PM »
United EWR to TLV is 85K points or around 930 dollars.
I need special permission to get in (birh of grandkid exception).
I also need permission from work from Israel while being quarantined.
Would you use points which have 125 redeposit fee or get a 1 year credit of fare?

Offline Alex1974

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2020, 09:50:34 PM »
I would arrange all the permissions first and then book last minute.
I don't think flights will be full.

Offline rivkag

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2020, 09:53:02 PM »
You need proof of travel, such as a booked plane ticket or confirmed travel itinerary. So that won't work.

Offline mileagejunkie

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2020, 10:27:33 PM »
You need proof of travel, such as a booked plane ticket or confirmed travel itinerary. So that won't work.
Book refundable fare if possible, get papers, refund and book cheaper fare.

Offline Alex1974

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2020, 08:20:31 AM »
Book refundable fare if possible, get papers, refund and book cheaper fare.

Great idea. In fact all flights booked on the major sites are refundable within 24 hours. Priceline is very easy to refund online and always recommend by Dan.

Offline Kachnik

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2020, 05:37:26 PM »
United EWR to TLV is 85K points or around 930 dollars.
I need special permission to get in (birh of grandkid exception).
I also need permission from work from Israel while being quarantined.
Would you use points which have 125 redeposit fee or get a 1 year credit of fare?
If you book on Orbitz Thursday after midnight PST  you have until Monday night at 11:59 PST for free cancellation you also can book on United and use alternative  payment methods and state you are paying at the airport they will hold the ticket without payment

Offline nucheiner

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2020, 08:33:00 PM »
If you book on Orbitz Thursday after midnight PST  you have until Monday night at 11:59 PST for free cancellation you also can book on United and use alternative  payment methods and state you are paying at the airport they will hold the ticket without payment
How long does United hold for? And can you change payment method and book online later?

Also can you explain how that orbitz policy gets you that long?

Offline nucheiner

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2020, 08:33:06 PM »
If you book on Orbitz Thursday after midnight PST  you have until Monday night at 11:59 PST for free cancellation you also can book on United and use alternative  payment methods and state you are paying at the airport they will hold the ticket without payment
How long does United hold for? And can you change payment method and book online later?

Also can you explain how that orbitz policy gets you that long?

Offline Kachnik

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #8 on: October 18, 2020, 01:26:25 AM »
How long does United hold for? And can you change payment method and book online later?

Also can you explain how that orbitz policy gets you that long?
They don't actually state it, but I've done it over a hundred times due to "next business day" I use it in particular if the date is far away  and I want to protect against a price increase. Yes, you can change payment method later, length of hold YMMV. Unlike AA holds, with  United you then have another 24 hours to cancel. A United rep actually told me about this when I was having trouble making a reservation because of a glitch in their system. It's a work around to get a reservation PNR they need your PNR to help you with your reservation which you haven't even paid for yet! Also, use Google Flights to find the price, the United site doesn't give the lowest prices, but the United reps can see the lower price generated by Google Flights
« Last Edit: October 18, 2020, 01:31:24 AM by Kachnik »

Offline ah giten

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #9 on: October 18, 2020, 02:00:20 AM »
They don't actually state it, but I've done it over a hundred times due to "next business day" I use it in particular if the date is far away  and I want to protect against a price increase. Yes, you can change payment method later, length of hold YMMV. Unlike AA holds, with  United you then have another 24 hours to cancel. A United rep actually told me about this when I was having trouble making a reservation because of a glitch in their system. It's a work around to get a reservation PNR they need your PNR to help you with your reservation which you haven't even paid for yet! Also, use Google Flights to find the price, the United site doesn't give the lowest prices, but the United reps can see the lower price generated by Google Flights
@Dan posted it on DDMS multiple times, RE priceline. but Orbitz has the same policy.
Just make sure you are at 12am "PST". I learned it the hard way.

Offline Kachnik

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Re: Flying from Israel from US use miles or pay for a ticket
« Reply #10 on: October 18, 2020, 02:22:54 AM »
I almost never use Priceline 1) their cutoff is 11PM EST. 2) no rebate on bookings as with Orbitz 2% stackable  for future hotel bookings 3) Priceline CSR's are unforgiving,  unlike Orbitz where you often can get a $25 coupon as a payment for your troubles when there are issues. Also, after you make a booking on Orbitz you can go in and see the deadline for free cancellation and take a screenshot in case you're paranoid about the cutoff time.