Author Topic: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points  (Read 50353 times)

Offline Miami00

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Hi,

Dan, we love your site.

Can someone give me advice using Amex Membership Rewards points to Israel.

Here's the situation. I have a lot of reward points and am planning a bar mitzvah in January 2012. There are so many options with the various airlines that Amex MR transfers to. I am hoping someone can give me direction into which airlines offer the most efficient use of reward points for both Business and Coach. Which Business Class costs the fewest points? We are travelling from Miami.

Thanks,
Miami00
« Last Edit: October 14, 2010, 10:27:18 PM by Dan »

Offline Dan

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Re: Israel with Amex Membership Reward Points
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2010, 11:28:28 AM »
This must be one of the most common questions out there, maybe this will settle it once and for all?
If I'm missing any good AMEX transfer methods or if there any mistakes let me know!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Star Alliance:
Using ANA miles
-If there is availability on Continental or USAirways for your dates: Transfer 60,000 points per ticket to ANA for coach or 90,000 points per ticket for business.  If you redeem ANA miles to go to Israel on airlines besides for Continental or USAirways you will be hit with fuel surcharges.

Using Continental miles
-If there is Star Alliance availability besides for Continental and USAirways, transfer 75,000 points per ticket to Continental for coach or 115,000 points for business.  Continental never charges fuel surcharges.  Continental also gives its own elite members expanded award availability for travel on Continental.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OneWorld:
Using BA miles
-If there is OneWorld availability, transfer 65,000 points per ticket to BA for coach or 130,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay additional fuel surcharges if your travel includes flying on BA.  There won't be fuel surcharges if you only travel on partner airlines.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skyteam:
Using Alitalia miles
-If there is Skyteam availability transfer 50,000 points per ticket to Alitalia for coach or 80,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay fuel surcharges.

Using Flying Blue miles
-If there is a promo award available on Flying Blue for your dates and you're ready to work hard to get them to honor it and cut through red tape: Transfer 25,000 points to Flying Blue per ticket for coach or 50,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay fuel surcharges.

Using Delta miles
-You can also transfer to Delta Skypesos to avoid fuel surcharges for travel originating in the US (Delta charges fuel surcharges for travel originating outside of the US), but their mileage rates are variable.  Coach can be between 80,000 and 190,000 and business can be between 120,000 and 370,000.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other:
Using El Al miles
-If there is El Al availability transfer 98,000 points per ticket to El Al for coach or 210,000 points per ticket for business, plus expect to pay fuel surcharges.
« Last Edit: October 14, 2010, 10:49:32 PM by Dan »
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline judylbay

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2010, 06:48:16 PM »
We are plannig to go to israel in May and would like to fly ElAl.How many points do I need for an ELAL ticket. I have 115,000 Amex points. Can I use them for one of our tickets? What is mitmat?Do I have to transfer my points to mitmat. What is ANA?
Thanks for any info you can provide me with.

Offline md

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2010, 07:05:41 PM »
Matmil is ELAl's frequent flyer program. You put an ELAL ticket on hold then transfer from Amex to Matmid. ELAL is currently running a promo where they are giving you 25% more points when you transfer from Amex. See the ELAL site for details.

Offline judylbay

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2010, 10:27:34 PM »
Thank you for your quick reply MD. Does anyone know how many Amex points you need to get an ELAl ticket?

Offline AsherO

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2010, 11:56:58 PM »
Matmil is ELAl's frequent flyer program.

It's actually called מתמיד (Matmid), Which means frequent in modern Hebrew.

Thank you for your quick reply MD. Does anyone know how many Amex points you need to get an ELAl ticket?

I think it's 100,000.
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Offline Dan

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2010, 12:03:21 AM »
I think it's 100,000.
Plus hundreds of dollars in fuel surcharges.

Either find a way to trade for AA miles or Starpoints to fly on El Al without surcharges or stick with another airline to Israel.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline AsherO

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2010, 12:06:56 AM »
Plus hundreds of dollars in fuel surcharges.

He asked how many Amex points. But alas you're right.
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Offline md

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2010, 08:56:31 AM »
FYI I'm pretty sure that Amex is the only way to get ELAL First class via points.

Offline judylbay

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #9 on: November 03, 2010, 11:49:00 AM »
Thank you for your responses.

Offline Dan

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #10 on: November 04, 2010, 06:47:17 PM »
Reposted with more details here:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/10371
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Miami00

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #11 on: December 28, 2010, 10:54:42 PM »
Does anyone know how long in advance these tickets can be gotten with MR Points?

We dont want to miss out by waiting too long.

Offline AsherO

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #12 on: December 28, 2010, 10:59:48 PM »
Does anyone know how long in advance these tickets can be gotten with MR Points?

We dont want to miss out by waiting too long.

Please don't double post, it's against the rules.
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Offline avrlev

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2011, 12:58:16 AM »
FYI I'm pretty sure that Amex is the only way to get ELAL First class via points.
no that's not the case, you can use HAS Advantage point as well
and BTW it tranfers much better
Amex 70 points = 1 ELAL
HA 40 points = 1 ELAL
also it doesn't have an annuel fee, and it a visa not Amex which means it gets accepter everywhere, not like Amex thet isn't acceptet all over
(but Amex go to a lot of programs VS HA is only good for ELAL)

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #14 on: January 07, 2011, 01:01:15 AM »
no that's not the case, you can use HAS Advantage point as well
and BTW it tranfers much better
Amex 70 points = 1 ELAL
HA 40 points = 1 ELAL
also it doesn't have an annuel fee, and it a visa not Amex which means it gets accepter everywhere, not like Amex thet isn't acceptet all over
(but Amex go to a lot of programs VS HA is only good for ELAL)

But you can't compare US Bank with Amex when it comes to customer service and benefits.
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Offline avrlev

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #15 on: January 07, 2011, 01:04:06 AM »
Plus hundreds of dollars in fuel surcharges.

Either find a way to trade for AA miles or Starpoints to fly on El Al without surcharges or stick with another airline to Israel.
El Al's fees on bonus tickets is 345 to 352 (besides last min. booking that can be additional 75 a way)

Offline avrlev

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #16 on: January 07, 2011, 01:06:55 AM »
But you can't compare US Bank with Amex when it comes to customer service and benefits.
that's true, but for "el al" they are still the best

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #17 on: January 07, 2011, 02:17:06 AM »
that's true, but for "el al" they are still the best
Perhaps for spending, but then again for spending you should be using SPG (or something like AMEX Premier for travel, gas, and groceries with 3x or 2x points).

For churning AMEX gives 50K for opening a card.  What is HAS giving you?
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Offline arie

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2011, 09:46:04 PM »
quick question. i want to transfer my amex points because i want to cancel my card. i want to fly to israel in the next couple of months but i dont have concrete dates. which is better to transfer to, continental or ana -  which one has a better chance of having availability? thanks

Offline Monsey

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Re: Master Thread: Getting To Israel Using AMEX Membership Rewards Points
« Reply #19 on: January 09, 2011, 12:41:26 AM »
They have the same availability. If you dont travel on us or co then ana will charge a fuel surcharge