Getting To Israel With Miles

[coralsnake]

Going back to the basic question for this post - what is the best airline to transfer 250,000 Chase points to for travel to Israel (preferabley business class).  Thank you.

SQ for travel on UA. Although J availability can be hit or miss.

UA for no-YQ with good availability on a variety of airlines especially close-in.

[ExGingi]

SQ for travel on UA. Although J availability can be hit or miss.

UA for no-YQ with good availability on a variety of airlines especially close-in.

If you have a Chase United co-branded credit card UA is probably your best bet as you have better chances to find availability. The best part is that transfers are instant so you can wait to transfer until you're ready to book.

After accounting for YQ I am not sure SQ is such a great option (except for UA which has very little saver availability in J) I am not sure the math makes sense vs buying a revenue ticket on TK (and sometimes if you're willing to start travel outside of NYC (such as YTO, WAS or BOS) you could get an excellent deal on a DL or UA J fare to TLV that connects in NYC (giving you a non stop NYC-TLV in a widebody J, rather than switching in Europe to something else).

[BWG]

Seeing plenty of availability on United through Turkish Air.  How is that airline in business or in coach?

[David Smith]

Seeing plenty of availability on Turkish through United.  How is that airline in business or in coach?

Good.

[Dave A]

Seeing plenty of availability on United through Turkish Air.  How is that airline in business or in coach?

Good.

Also see a lot of these - does it make sense to try to book with ANA, or are the fuel surcharges too high?

[ExGingi]

Also see a lot of these - does it make sense to try to book with ANA, or are the fuel surcharges too high?

Last time I checked ANA was not a transfer option for Chase UR.

Also, are you seeing TK in J or in Y?

From what I hear from others, TK Y is much better than a lot of other airlines. I've flown TK J (revenue) with high expectations and was disappointed.

[Ydad]

From what I hear from others, TK Y is much better than a lot of other airlines. I've flown TK J (revenue) with high expectations and was disappointed.

-1 My experience with turkish was alot better than expected. But that was flying cattle, so maybe I had low expectations .

[Dave A]

Last time I checked ANA was not a transfer option for Chase UR.

Also, are you seeing TK in J or in Y?

From what I hear from others, TK Y is much better than a lot of other airlines. I've flown TK J (revenue) with high expectations and was disappointed.

Would trx MR.  Economy. 

[ExGingi]

-1 My experience with turkish was alot better than expected. But that was flying cattle, so maybe I had low expectations .

Which is why I said:

From what I hear from others, TK Y is much better than a lot of other airlines. I've flown TK J (revenue) with high expectations and was disappointed.

[ExGingi]

Would trx MR.  Economy.

Yet the question was:

Going back to the basic question for this post - what is the best airline to transfer 250,000 Chase points to for travel to Israel (preferabley business class).  Thank you.

[Dave A]

Yet the question was:

Cool. I guess I'm asking a different question. Are surcharges not worth it when booking Turkish to TLV w ANA points?

[ExGingi]

Cool. I guess I'm asking a different question. Are surcharges not worth it when booking Turkish to TLV w ANA points?

In my experience Time Spent + Market Value of points (even on low end) + Fuel Surcharges is rarely a better option than what's available in revenue on NYC-TLV route in Y

[Dave A]

In my experience Time Spent + Market Value of points (even on low end) + Fuel Surcharges is rarely a better option than what's available in revenue on NYC-TLV route in Y

Is there an easy way (other than calling ANA) to know what the fuel surcharges would be?  Here, time spent isn't an issue, given the availability is there and I want to book. 

[Denverite]

Is there an easy way (other than calling ANA) to know what the fuel surcharges would be?  Here, time spent isn't an issue, given the availability is there and I want to book.

I've checked and I believe the fees were about $400 RT.  Can't remember exactly and they weren't cheap but they also weren't insane like the $900 fees on Lufthansa.

[elya]

If you have a Chase United co-branded credit card UA is probably your best bet as you have better chances to find availability. The best part is that transfers are instant so you can wait to transfer until you're ready to book.

After accounting for YQ I am not sure SQ is such a great option (except for UA which has very little saver availability in J) I am not sure the math makes sense vs buying a revenue ticket on TK (and sometimes if you're willing to start travel outside of NYC (such as YTO, WAS or BOS) you could get an excellent deal on a DL or UA J fare to TLV that connects in NYC (giving you a non stop NYC-TLV in a widebody J, rather than switching in Europe to something else).

No expanded availability for UA card holders in J!

[ExGingi]

No expanded availability for UA card holders in J!

But expanded Y availability, and possible plan B. Also no ridiculous YQ.

[elya]

But expanded Y availability, and possible plan B. Also no ridiculous YQ.

He specifically asked about flying J, thereby rendering the point "expanded availability for card holders" moot.

UA never charges YQ!

[asks]

Delta OW availability TLV to JFK: looking at award booking (i know Delta is usually awful)
If prices are hovering between 50-85k, does it typically get lower to the 50k level closer to travel date?

[coralsnake]

Delta OW availability TLV to JFK: looking at award booking (i know Delta is usually awful)
If prices are hovering between 50-85k, does it typically get lower to the 50k level closer to travel date?

Usually goes up.

[rileywiles23]

Cool. I guess I'm asking a different question. Are surcharges not worth it when booking Turkish to TLV w ANA points?

If your transferring amex them why don't you use AC for TK flights, which have no YQ ?