Going to Israel 2 weeks before Pesach. Should I book ASAP or wait?

[Uri]

I'm leaving from NYC.  I'm thinking of either returning 1 week before the chag or on chol hamo'ed.  In any case, should I book now or wait a while - in hopes of the airfare going down as the date approaches?  The best I've found so far is approx. $1100 nonstop on Delta.

Another question: I have 51,889 SkyMiles (not sure how the heck I got so many).  I'm a newbie at redeeming miles.  Would that be enough for a flight to Israel?  If it is enough, then I guess there's no point in waiting to book.

[AJK]

Another question: I have 51,889 SkyMiles (not sure how the heck I got so many).  I'm a newbie at redeeming miles.  Would that be enough for a flight to Israel?  If it is enough, then I guess there's no point in waiting to book.

Not enough.

[Uri]

Not even for coach?  How many do I need?  And can I use my 51,889 SkyMiles to pay for part of the ticket?

[AJK]

Not even for coach?  How many do I need?  And can I use my 51,889 SkyMiles to pay for part of the ticket?

Did you bother to look at the link I posted?

No. (Unless you want to buy the rest of the miles from DL or have a points that can be transferred into DL.)

[flyingace]

If you have an Amex Delta Gold card, you can use points and cash to pay for your ticket. The points are used as .01 per point. 50000 points=500.00.

[Uri]

Did you bother to look at the link I posted?

No. (Unless you want to buy the rest of the miles from DL or have a points that can be transferred into DL.)

No, I didn't notice that your comment was clickable.  (I rarely post here).  But according to that link, it looks like I DO have enough miles.  I'm not sure if Israel falls under Europe or Middle east, but they start at 30K and 40K miles, respectively.  Right?

[Uri]

If you have an Amex Delta Gold card, you can use points and cash to pay for your ticket. The points are used as .01 per point. 50000 points=500.00.

I don't have that card.  I have only 1 credit card, Citibank Mastercard.  (I do deals, but not credit card or travel deals, like most people on this forum.)

[Dan]

No, I didn't notice that your comment was clickable.  (I rarely post here).  But according to that link, it looks like I DO have enough miles.  I'm not sure if Israel falls under Europe or Middle east, but they start at 30K and 40K miles, respectively.  Right?

"Award mileage shown is each-way based on a required round-trip or multi-leg Award Ticket purchase."

[AJK]

I don't have that card.  I have only 1 credit card, Citibank Mastercard.  (I do deals, but not credit card or travel deals, like most people on this forum.)

You're either going to have to 1) transfer some miles in (seemingly not an option), or 2) sign up for a credit card which will award you DL miles or their equivalent, or 3) pay for your ticket.

(Or 4) find someone, friend or family member, who is willing to transfer enough miles into your account to top it off.)

"Award mileage shown is each-way based on a required round-trip or multi-leg Award Ticket purchase."

What he said.

[Uri]

You're either going to have to 1) transfer some miles in (seemingly not an option), or 2) sign up for a credit card which will award you DL miles or their equivalent, or 3) pay for your ticket.

(Or 4) find someone, friend or family member, who is willing to transfer enough miles into your account to top it off.)

What he said.

How would I do option 1 and why do you say it's "seemingly not an option"?  How much would it cost me to buy enough miles from Delta?  Also, I have lots of Thank-you points from Citibank.  Can they be used to get miles?

[AJK]

How would I do option 1 and why do you say it's "seemingly not an option"?  How much would it cost me to buy enough miles from Delta?  Also, I have lots of Thank-you points from Citibank.  Can they be used to get miles?

--Not an option because you don't seem to have any miles to transfer into your DL account (from an AMEX MR card as an example)
--Goooooogle (<----- yes, that's a link) is awesome.
--No. (Unless, of course, you sell them and buy DL miles with the cash  )

[Uri]

Thanks.  Is Israel considered Europe or Middle east?  I'll try to figure out how much it'll cost me to buy the miles.

[AJK]

Thanks.  Is Israel considered Europe or Middle east?  I'll try to figure out how much it'll cost me to buy the miles.

Israel is in the Middle East

[Uri]

Israel is in the Middle East

Hmm, so I need almost 29,000 miles.  Maybe I should just pay for this ticket and then I'll have enough miles for a free flight next time (I hope).

[Mocha]

Hmm, so I need almost 29,000 miles.  Maybe I should just pay for this ticket and then I'll have enough miles for a free flight next time (I hope).

My two cents. Use delta for a national flight one day and fly CO with $$. Deltas awards program is bad news.

[Dan]

My two cents. Use delta for a national flight one day and fly CO with $$. Deltas awards program is bad news.

As is Delta's ancient plane they fly to TLV.

[Chaikel]

As is Delta's ancient plane they fly to TLV.

Supposed to be retrofitted this year IIRC

[Uri]

My two cents. Use delta for a national flight one day and fly CO with $$. Deltas awards program is bad news.

What's CO?

[AJK]

What's CO?

Continental Airlines.

[Dan]

What's CO?

http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=10531.msg163429#msg163429