What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?

[Kobe Bryant]

JFK-TLV

DL J 339

72k FB x2

This is massive news. And I’m not talking about booking J class.

[beastieb]

Hoping they open French Polynesia in time but I booked the below the other day. Interestingly QF couldn't see some of the J TN availability AA saw and vice versa.

2 people
LAX-PPT  TN J - 69,000 QF + $199 / pp
PPT-LAX  TN J - 80,000 AA + $53 / pp

[moe8555]

TLV-JFK (via CDG) using FB miles on AF for immediate travel: 137,500 miles + $300 or so in business
JFK-TLV (via CDG) using FB miles on AF for return a week later: 53,000 miles + $200ish, business

Absolutely 0 availability on my required dates using Qantas, AA, or Aegean miles (I have decent stashes of them all), so props to AF for even offering the space during this period of high demand to/from TLV.

Sadly still narrow-body on the TLV-CDG legs.

Bummer about the high price on the outbound, but getting in a quick visit to the family in NY after not seeing them for over a year now, before they close the skies again after elections.  At least I snagged saver on the return.  Overall happy to be in the miles/points game, which enabled me to not pay through the nose cash and sit in economy.

OT: Any tips on where to get a PCR covid test in NY (ideally upstate NY) with a near certain 48 hour or less turnaround would be highly appreciated!

[Dan]

OT: Any tips on where to get a PCR covid test in NY (ideally upstate NY) with a near certain 48 hour or less turnaround would be highly appreciated!

Is NAAT acceptable?

[moe8555]

Is NAAT acceptable?

The official gov't site says PCR taken 72 hours or less prior to departure, and I couldn't find any fine print or official document with any expanded guidelines...

On the outbound, I have no problem doing the airport drive-thru test for only 45 shekels or so with results within 14 hours.

[Dan]

The official gov't site says PCR taken 72 hours or less prior to departure, and I couldn't find any fine print or official document with any expanded guidelines...

On the outbound, I have no problem doing the airport drive-thru test for only 45 shekels or so with results within 14 hours.

Can you ask about NAAT?

[moe8555]

Can you ask about NAAT?

I honestly don't even think it's worth trying.  The uncertain level is wayyyy too high right now, and I can easily see the airline or border people refusing to acknowledge even written confirmation that NAAT is acceptable since it isn't mentioned anywhere in the official literature.

[moe8555]

Can you ask about NAAT?

As a follow-up and in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation, I found the following provider with offices in multiple NYC locations that can provide a real PCR test (the type required by Israel) with results in an hour.  Unfortunately, it costs $225 for the privilege, but good to know that there's some kind of Plan B (not United...  ) if the test(s) I do upstate doesn't come back in time.

https://www.medicalofficesofmanhattan.com/rapid-pcr-covid-test/

*Not affiliated with them in any way and never used their services before (and hope not to!)

[moe8555]

Follow-up #2:
I ended up doing 2 tests here in upstate NY to play it safe in terms of turnaround time (both free even for uninsured): a NYS-provided drive-thru test at the local SUNY and a drive-thru test at a Rite Aid in partnership with the Google Baseline project.  Both were the correct PCR type required by Israel.

Rite Aid test came back after only 23 hours (done at 10AM, results received 9AM next day).  The NYS test turnaround was 34 hours (done at 8AM, results received 6PM next day).

However, very good decision to do two tests: the specimen collection time was omitted in error (listed as 00:00) from the NYS test and would not have been accepted for travel!

[Kobe Bryant]

UA 77W I/IN EWR-TLV
UA 77W I/IN TLV-EWR
6 pax=900K UA

Is it safe to assume you rescheduled?

[Dan]

Is it safe to assume you rescheduled?

Planning on cancelling when the NOTAM is extended

[yelped]

Planning on cancelling when the NOTAM is extended

So you're holding for the 3% chance that it won't be extended like me?

[Dan]

So you're holding for the 3% chance that it won't be extended like me?

I don't think there's any chance, but nothing to lose by waiting.

[Kobe Bryant]

I don't think there's any chance, but nothing to lose by waiting.

Succos?

[moe8555]

JFK-DCA-ALB for later this month in First Class on AA (arriving to JFK via the AA flight from TLV and the Amtrak to ALB would require a 4+ hour wait, 2.5 hour trip, and of course the schlep/cost from JFK to Penn Station).  Despite the need for a brief connection in DCA, this flight was timed well, only 1:45 after landing in the same Terminal 8 and getting to ALB earlier than the Amtrak option would.  With Global Entry and TSA Pre, not too worried about missing the flight.

Cash price = $381 at time of search, now up to $500!
Booked with Qantas for 18400 miles + $5.60 (AA wanted 25K + $5.60, or 24K + $5.60 had I used the AA credit card reduced mileage award).  Outstanding value as far as I'm concerned since those Qantas points were transferred in when a transfer bonus was being offered.

[yelped]

I don't think there's any chance, but nothing to lose by waiting.

How do I check if it was extended?

[yelped]

How do I check if it was extended?

Follow DDMS.
https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/israel/israel-will-remain-closed-foreign-nationals-least-may-6th/

ETA: I need to cancel my Shavous flights and would like to try for a refund. Booked AA $528 flights through Amex Travel (biz plat 35% back). There was an hour plus schedule change. Is my best bet calling AA and requesting a refund due to the schedule change?

[Dan]

JFK-TLV DL J 105K x 6
TLV-ORD-CLE UA J 75K x 6

CLE-IAD-TLV UA J 75K x 6
TLV-IAD-CLE UA J 75K x 6

[JACKBLUE]

JFK-TLV DL J 105K x 6
TLV-ORD-CLE UA J 75K x 6

CLE-IAD-TLV UA J 75K x 6
TLV-ORD-CLE UA J 75K x 6

Dates? At least the month?

[Dan]

Dates? At least the month?

2022