Most award redemptions on one itinerary to TLV

[kivabb]

Tried to find on previous post but unsuccesful.

Closing in on 600K Continental miles and have a dream of taking my wife and 6 kids to the Holy Land. What's the most award seats (on economy) that anyone got on one flight itinerary? I don't want to split up the family and go on 2 different flights. Especially with a realistic stop over somewhere in Europe and too many little ones. I'd rather do the best I can and buy the rest of the tickets. But that magic number can make the differnce if I can afford going or not. Anyone that can post experineces or advice would be appreciated.

[Dan]

I don't think there is a magic number.
I once helped a family of 8 all get on the same flight.  It's just a matter of luck though.
It helps to be willing to split up the group between Y, J, and F if multiple classes are available on the same flight.

You can search on CO.com for up to 8 pax, but ANA only supports 4.

[kivabb]

You can search on CO.com for up to 8 pax, but ANA only supports 4.

I can search on Continental for 8 partner airlines as well?

[Dan]

I can search on Continental for 8 partner airlines as well?

Yes, but CO doesn't search all Star partners.  Lufthansa and Swiss won't show up for example.
And CO themselves usually won't open up awards until close to the flight.

[kivabb]

So is my best bet a phone call to CO and beg that they give me courtesy and don't charge me fee for making reservation on phone to see my best options on up to 8 seats?

[Dan]

So is my best bet a phone call to CO and beg that they give me courtesy and don't charge me fee for making reservation on phone to see my best options on up to 8 seats?

Call the CO.com desk or have them call you.
They've waived fees for me in the past on award bookings not bookable online.

[kivabb]

Thanks!

[kivabb]

Do the European airlines usually open up seats they will have available 330 days in advance, or do the sporatically add seats and therefore worth calling every other day? How do you balance hoping more seats will open up against how many seats will fill. Is it all luck? Is there a cutoff of when you just jump in? I don't mind calling everyday. But when do I take the plunge?

[deals]

my brother in law got 6 seats but with a stopover in zurich on the way back he just called every single day

[sl]

8 seats on Swiss/Lufthansa for sukkos this year

[kivabb]

8 seats on Swiss/Lufthansa for sukkos this year

How long before did you reserve? Did you call daily?

[deals]

8 seats on Swiss/Lufthansa for sukkos this year

swiss/lufthansa have much more availability

[kivabb]

swiss/lufthansa have much more availability

Do they have any sort of pattern like Continental which opens late? 330 days before? Or randomly in between?

[flyingace]

I got nine seats on the same flights to TLV. I originally booked with a stop over and paid to change to CO direct when it opened. It depends how badly you want to get there and how fixed your dates are. If you really want to get there you'll be more flexible. I have found that when the European flights open up you have the best chances of all getting on one flight. I called all the time and booked the first acceptable routing that was available. Yes, it was ten months out.

[kivabb]

I got nine seats on the same flights to TLV. I originally booked with a stop over and paid to change to CO direct when it opened. It depends how badly you want to get there and how fixed your dates are. If you really want to get there you'll be more flexible. I have found that when the European flights open up you have the best chances of all getting on one flight. I called all the time and booked the first acceptable routing that was available. Yes, it was ten months out.

You found 9 seats on CO? How long before date? What was charge to change from partner reservation?

[moish]

i booked with a continental agent it tel aviv and wasnt charged a phone fee

[flyingace]

It was 60.00 pp to change, through Flying Blue. It opened up in March for August flights. CO does not charge to change before 21 days out as long as the city pairs stay the same. You have CO miles, so call them and see what your options are. You can then decide if it's worth it to change at a later date.

[Dan]

By the way I just searched CO.com for 8 people for November/December and there's tons of availability on CO metal.

[kivabb]

By the way I just searched CO.com for 8 people for November/December and there's tons of availability on CO metal.

Flying in August, so I would probably look for European carrier 10-11 months out (seems Swiss & Lufthansa have more avaiability), and then call CO every other day as it gets closer to see if they open up availability. As long as I'm 21 days out, I can change without a fee and hope I can pick up a direct flight. This way at least I have a fallback position and don't have all my eggs in one basket that CO will open up. Make sense?

[deals]

Flying in August, so I would probably look for European carrier 10-11 months out (seems Swiss & Lufthansa have more avaiability), and then call CO every other day as it gets closer to see if they open up availability. As long as I'm 21 days out, I can change without a fee and hope I can pick up a direct flight. This way at least I have a fallback position and don't have all my eggs in one basket that CO will open up. Make sense?

yes go for it