opinions on best option: multi-leg vs separate one ways

[belle]

Hi Forum,

I'm currently in London, with a return ticket booked back to NYC July 31. I would like to change my plans and go to Israel for 1 week. I've played around with what my options are, and I don't know the best way to proceed.
My options:

1) I can change my original flight from LHR-NYC for a $300 fee. I can fly round-trip from LHR-TLV for appx $700, or 70k amex points, which I have.

2) Forget about my return flight from LHR-NYC.
     a) buy two separate flights. LHR-TLV $500/50k points, then TLV-NYC $800/80k points, totalling 140k amex points
     b) buy a multi-trip LHR-TLV-NYC for 200k amex points

I also have 50k delta points, 100k ba/avios points, 47k aa points.

Thanks for any suggestions!

[YudiG]

Hi Forum,

I'm currently in London, with a return ticket booked back to NYC July 31. I would like to change my plans and go to Israel for 1 week. I've played around with what my options are, and I don't know the best way to proceed.
My options:

1) I can change my original flight from LHR-NYC for a $300 fee. I can fly round-trip from LHR-TLV for appx $700, or 70k amex points, which I have.

2) Forget about my return flight from LHR-NYC.
     a) buy two separate flights. LHR-TLV $500/50k points, then TLV-NYC $800/80k points, totalling 140k amex points
     b) buy a multi-trip LHR-TLV-NYC for 200k amex points

I also have 50k delta points, 100k ba/avios points, 47k aa points.

Thanks for any suggestions!

i'll let a specialist advise on flights...but the last thing you want to do is flush your Amex points down the loo especially in the quantities you're talking about...it would be criminal to get only 1 cent value...they're worth alot more than that!

Welcome to DDF and first lesson is to guard your miles and spend them wisely.


You can try getting a 40K mile AA award for LHR-TLV and then just pay change fee for existing ticket...unlikely to find availability but try.

what are your dates?

[belle]

thanks for the reply.

I want to fly LHR-TLV July 31 or August 1.
I want to fly back to NYC August 8, either TLV-NYC or TLV-LHR-NYC.

ANd, I've checked the AA 40k option; no go.

[YudiG]

thanks for the reply.

I want to fly LHR-TLV July 31 or August 1.
I want to fly back to NYC August 8, either TLV-NYC or TLV-LHR-NYC.

ANd, I've checked the AA 40k option; no go.

check kayak.com and report back

[belle]

I've checked yapta, and now added kayak to my search. Results look very similar between the two.

I can take easyjet for $600 lhr-tlv, and then pay $300 to change my original flight home.
I can take elal for for $650 lhr-tlv, same deal.
I can take alitalia for $1500 lhr-tlv-nyc and forfeit my orignal flight home (which was paid for by my company so not a big deal for me).

[aussiebochur]

I've checked yapta, and now added kayak to my search. Results look very similar between the two.

I can take easyjet for $600 lhr-tlv, and then pay $300 to change my original flight home.
I can take elal for for $650 lhr-tlv, same deal.
I can take alitalia for $1500 lhr-tlv-nyc and forfeit my orignal flight home (which was paid for by my company so not a big deal for me).

Makes no sense to pay $1500 if you can pay $950.

Fly ElAl (or EasyJet if you are on more of a budget) and change your flight.

[YudiG]

+1 go for the $950 option as easyjet will have baggage fees

[PlatinumGuy]

Use 30k United miles to fly LHR-XXX-TLV-EWR. If it doesn't work without a round trip, use 60k and you'll get a free flight NYC-LHR for use in the future.

[YudiG]

Use 30k United miles to fly LHR-XXX-TLV-EWR. If it doesn't work without a round trip, use 60k and you'll get a free flight NYC-LHR for use in the future.

details?

[PlatinumGuy]

details?

LHR-FRA-TLV-EWR on United should cost 30k miles and some taxes. Officially a stop in TLV isn't allowed on a one way, but if you're persistent enough it can be done. Worst case, book it as a LHR-NYC round trip for 69k miles, so the stopover is allowed, then you also get a free flight for the date of your choosing from NYC to LHR

[belle]

LHR-FRA-TLV-EWR on United should cost 30k miles and some taxes. Officially a stop in TLV isn't allowed on a one way, but if you're persistent enough it can be done. Worst case, book it as a LHR-NYC round trip for 69k miles, so the stopover is allowed, then you also get a free flight for the date of your choosing from NYC to LHR

I get lhr-fra-tlv-ewr for 87k points. How do i go about being persistent for the 20k? do i call?

as an aside, i dont have united miles but i assume it's fairly easy to arrange....

[belle]

+1 go for the $950 option as easyjet will have baggage fees

So I should pay the 950 as opposed to using amex points??

[YudiG]

So I should pay the 950 as opposed to using amex points??

absolutely, no question!

if you dont have United miles, Amex wont transfer so your only option is paying $950 and saving amex for future travel or transfer to BA when they have 50% bonus promotion...

[belle]

absolutely, no question!

if you dont have United miles, Amex wont transfer so your only option is paying $950 and saving amex for future travel or transfer to BA when they have 50% bonus promotion...

wow, thats a tough one to swallow, paying vs using amex points. but, i get it.

is there anything i should try to do with my existing return flight from lhr-nyc?

[YudiG]

wow, thats a tough one to swallow, paying vs using amex points. but, i get it.

is there anything i should try to do with my existing return flight from lhr-nyc?

i thought you're doing lhr-tlv roundtrip and then paying 300 to change existing return ticket? thats the best option for 950...

your 200K amex points can transfer to 300K BA points when the promo runs next enough for 40 (!!!) one ways from NY to DTW or ORD or cities with a similar distance...or even 12 roundtrip tickets on AA from jfk-lax...take the family to LA next vacation...

get a few Hotel CC's and your next vacation will be free making this paid ticket alot easier to swallow!

[belle]

So, I'm going to book Elal LHR-TLV, and then change my original flight.
Does it matter where i book it from? I guess I should just go directly to El-al, right?

[Ergel]

So, I'm going to book Elal LHR-TLV, and then change my original flight.
Does it matter where i book it from? I guess I should just go directly to El-al, right?

You can get extra points/cash back booking through a shopping portal such as ur mall or top cash back (thru Orbitz) our thru sapphire preferred booking tool

[smart brit]

Did u try using your Aa advantage for a elal award flight?

[belle]

Did u try using your Aa advantage for a elal award flight?

yes. no luck.