Author Topic: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?  (Read 883474 times)

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5020 on: February 22, 2021, 02:19:07 PM »
JFK-TLV

DL J 339

72k FB x2
This is massive news. And I’m not talking about booking J class.

Offline beastieb

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5021 on: March 02, 2021, 11:59:08 PM »

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

Offline moe8555

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5022 on: March 10, 2021, 12:01:27 PM »
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!
« Last Edit: March 10, 2021, 12:05:22 PM by moe8555 »

Offline Dan

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5023 on: March 10, 2021, 12:06:00 PM »
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?
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 moe8555

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5024 on: March 10, 2021, 12:10:59 PM »
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.

Offline Dan

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5025 on: March 10, 2021, 12:13:23 PM »
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?
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 moe8555

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5026 on: March 10, 2021, 12:57:20 PM »
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.

Offline moe8555

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5027 on: March 11, 2021, 05:23:09 AM »
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...  :D) 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!)

Offline moe8555

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5028 on: March 19, 2021, 12:15:25 AM »
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!

Offline Kobe Bryant

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5029 on: May 05, 2021, 07:39:11 PM »
UA 77W I/IN EWR-TLV
UA 77W I/IN TLV-EWR
6 pax=900K UA
Is it safe to assume you rescheduled?

Offline Dan

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5030 on: May 05, 2021, 07:49:31 PM »
Is it safe to assume you rescheduled?
Planning on cancelling when the NOTAM is extended :(
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Offline yelped

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5031 on: May 05, 2021, 08:00:05 PM »
Planning on cancelling when the NOTAM is extended :(
So you're holding for the 3% chance that it won't be extended like me?

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5032 on: May 05, 2021, 08:34:25 PM »
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.
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 Kobe Bryant

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5033 on: May 05, 2021, 08:36:17 PM »
I don't think there's any chance, but nothing to lose by waiting.
Succos?

Offline moe8555

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5034 on: May 06, 2021, 02:08:17 AM »
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.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2021, 02:12:38 AM by moe8555 »

Offline yelped

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5035 on: May 06, 2021, 10:17:40 AM »
I don't think there's any chance, but nothing to lose by waiting.
How do I check if it was extended?

Offline yelped

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5036 on: May 06, 2021, 01:42:37 PM »
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?
« Last Edit: May 06, 2021, 02:21:13 PM by yelped »

Offline Dan

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5037 on: May 31, 2021, 11:45:40 PM »
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


« Last Edit: May 31, 2021, 11:53:40 PM by Dan »
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Offline JACKBLUE

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5038 on: May 31, 2021, 11:48:44 PM »
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? ;)

Offline Dan

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Re: What Award Itinerary Did You Just Book/Hold?
« Reply #5039 on: May 31, 2021, 11:51:31 PM »
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.