Topic Wiki

Please follow the following rules when posting in this thread. Failure to do so may result in you request being ignored or deleted.

(If you are looking to purchase a paid ticket, please post here)

FAQs:

Q: How can I use my credit card points to book a USA-TLV ticket?
A: Please read Dan's very helpful and informative guides found here and here

Great tool to see the mileage cost for a route http://www.awardhacker.com

Q: Do I have to pay a lot of money when using miles for a ticket?

A: Sometimes. For more information read this

Q: How do I find award availability?
A: For Star Alliance (United, AirCanada, Lufthansa, Swiss, and others) see this guide

For OneWorld (AmericanAirlines, BritishAirways, Iberia, Malev, and more) You can use BA's award search engine (you need to have a free BA account to access the engine). In addition, you can use Qantas' engine (free account needed as well), which will (to an extent) search Elal. As of this posting, the Elal business flights that show up are coach, and vice verse.

For Delta and AirFrance, use their respective sites. While not perfect, they are quite manageable for the casual searcher.

And of course, many of us here will take time out to help someone who is trying to learn.

Q: All this searching is making me crazy. Is there an easier way?
A: Yes, but it might cost you. Check out AwardNexus.com, KVStool.com, and expertflyer.com.

Q: I see AirCanada availability, but when I call AirCanada they say I can't use my United miles with them. Aren't they partners?
A: You can only use miles with the airline that issued them. Through that airline (in our case United) they can issue a ticket on a partner (ie AirCanada). Trying to call AirCanada with United miles, is like trying to use shekels in Mexico.

Q: I can't find availability on my dates. What should I do?
A: You should try to be as flexible as possible. Can you add a stop or 2? Can you be more flexible with your dates? The airports?
If all else fails, keep trying. Availability is constantly opening up.

Q: Can someone please help me find a ticket?
A: No! Find it yourself.  ;D ;D Just kidding. Please copy the following lines, delete the non bolded parts, and fill it out in your post.

One way/Round-trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:
From: All airports from which you can depart
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible.
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets
Return dates: Delete this line for One-way tickets
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with

IF you have any airline status or credit cards (Ie, United CC or status) that gives extended seat availability, please add that. Would be helpful to find you correct availability.

An additional note about using miles for direct flights from NYC-TLV

NYC-TLV is only served by 3 carriers non-stop, United, Delta, and El Al. Saver availability on Delta is non-existent. Saver availability on United is rare but sometimes available close-in. It is almost never available on or near holidays or holiday weekends, or around yomim tovim. Any award space that opens will be snatched up immediately so you have to constantly be checking if you hope to snag it if/when it opens. El AL awards are more readily available but prohibitively expensive using Matmid points (El Al's frequent flyer program) but may be able to be booked using Quantas points (transfers from Citi & Amex) at a much more reasonable rate.

This leaves the following options if no saver availability:

The Chase travel portal will let you use Ultimate Rewards, or a combination or UR and cash to book flights. If you have a Sapphire Reserve or a Sapphire Preferred, the redemption rate will be 1.5 cents per point or 1.25 cents per point respectively, instead of the regular 1 cent per point without them. (A, Ink cash or Ink Preferred will also give you the 1.25 cpp redemption rate.)

The Amex travel portal will let you redeem points at 1 cent per point towards the cost of air travel. If you have a grandfathered Business Platinum card, you will get 50% of the points you redeem back around a month after you book the ticket. If you have a non-grandfathered card, you will get 35% of your points back. (This is only available when redeeming points for tickets on your selected American carrier in economy class or on any airline in business or first class.)

The Citi travel portal also lets you redeem points at 1 cent per point towards travel and seems to have better pricing on El Al in business class.

Alternatively, you can sell your points (not here on DDF) and use the cash to buy regular tickets. This is usually the best option for people without either a Chase Sapphire Reserve or grandfathered Business Platinum who are flying economy.

Those are your only options for nonstop travel. For options with a stopover and more information in general, see https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/the-ultimate-israel-mileage-award-chart/

This keeps on getting asked over and over. Besides Dan's comprehensive list of how to get to, or from, TLV here is a short list of options for travel to or from NYC in Y:
Lowest point per RT is FB 50K (less with promo, but YQ of ~$500 unless you can find unicorn DL availability), AA 80k (AA metal for transatlantic), AC 80k (LX or LO for low YQ) and UA 85k. Half that for OW.

Please add any other information to this wiki that you feel might be useful.



Author Topic: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)  (Read 2060063 times)

Offline WhyAich

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2594
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
How much is he paying finders fee or what is your question?

question was what did he find as a lowest price
For great Airfare deals - PLEASE contact me via PM or email: whyaich@gmail.com

Offline txtmax4

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 6961
  • Total likes: 12
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
question was what did he find as a lowest price
Cheapest result on Kayak for those dates (without getting into any details) is $431..
If You See Something, Say Something!!

Offline WhyAich

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2594
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Cheapest result on Kayak for those dates (without getting into any details) is $431..

thats not bad
For great Airfare deals - PLEASE contact me via PM or email: whyaich@gmail.com

Offline wanna good ticket

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 2
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: ny
looking for better......

Offline Mordy

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 640
  • Total likes: 4
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Its embarrassing that I'm such a newb at this airline mile thing. But to anyone who is able to help, I will be eternally grateful.


One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: BOS
To: Myrtle Beach, SC
Departure dates: Aug 6th
Return airports: same as depart.
Return dates: Aug 10th
Class:Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Anything that takes Starpoints.
Mobile Enthusiast Extraordinaire

Visit one of the Tech Blogs I write: http://www.techcitement.com

Offline ShlomoR

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 195
  • Total likes: 1
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Nyc
My parents bought a one way flight from NY to Shanghai, China for around 500$ and now they are looking for a one way flight back and everything is very expensive, in the 1500-2000$ range.
They are looking to come back with a direct flight from either Shanghai or Beijing to NY any time from August 9 to 13.
I'm looking to spend around 500-1000$ on the one way flight and I have 100k MR points on my Amex gold and I have 70k united miles.
I appreciate any help,
Best,
Shlomo

Offline john

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 274
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Programs: United 1K
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1066 on: August 02, 2012, 06:09:32 PM »
Need Award ticket as foollows.

IAD/DCA/BWI - MRU.
Dates : 04/06/2013 - 04/06/2013. flixible by 1-2 days.
Class - Any.

I have enough miles on United and Us Airways. Also have enough on Avios and AA. so can travel by *A or OW.

Any help appreciated.

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 70362
  • Total likes: 19658
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1067 on: August 02, 2012, 08:00:24 PM »
Need Award ticket as foollows.

IAD/DCA/BWI - MRU.
Dates : 04/06/2013 - 04/06/2013. flixible by 1-2 days.
Class - Any.

I have enough miles on United and Us Airways. Also have enough on Avios and AA. so can travel by *A or OW.

Any help appreciated.
*A to JNB, OW to MRU
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 Dovi84w

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 35
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1068 on: August 03, 2012, 02:33:55 PM »
hi looking for new york/nj/philly  area flight using AA miles for wife 10 month old and myself to Israel leaving september 27th if possible or the few days before or after and returning october 10th or 11th to same area but would like to do dans idea of stopover on way to hawaii thing if possible ;) not having any luck routing through london and getting elal flight from there or through paris. any suggestions? much appreciated! open to various stopovers

Offline Dovi84w

  • Dansdeals Bronze Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: May 2011
  • Posts: 35
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1069 on: August 03, 2012, 05:34:08 PM »
hi looking for new york/nj/philly  area flight using AA miles for wife 10 month old and myself to Israel leaving september 27th if possible or the few days before or after and returning october 10th or 11th to same area but would like to do dans idea of stopover on way to hawaii thing if possible ;) not having any luck routing through london and getting elal flight from there or through paris. any suggestions? much appreciated! open to various stopovers
I have enough united and ba miles too but would prefer using AA if possible (got enough of those too) but if only availible on the others would use them as last resort

Offline yybyosi

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 1
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: new york
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1070 on: August 06, 2012, 05:35:52 PM »
4 Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum 1 stops
From: new york
To: Israel
Departure dates: 26/11/12     or 27/11/12
Return airports:  tel aviv israel
Return dates:  03/12/12   -   06/12/12

Class: Coach
Seats: 4

Offline rufieg3

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite
  • ****
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 335
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: brooklyn, ny
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1071 on: August 06, 2012, 10:16:24 PM »
If anyone can help would be gr8
 round trip
prefer nonstop
From: NY area
To:  Mexico City
Departure dates:  August 22
Return airports: NY area
Return dates: Aug 26 or 27th
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: 4 ppl
Alliance/Airline: have UR, MR, United, Avios...so any airline will do


Offline myairplane

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2010
  • Posts: 11
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1072 on: August 09, 2012, 07:40:57 PM »
I need to fly from NYC to Dayton, OH. I found great tickets on United, I would need 70k miles.
Go and return 8/16/2012
I have tons of points in AMEX, SPG, and BA. Any ideas how to make this happen?

Offline sam23

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 14
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1073 on: August 15, 2012, 03:40:47 PM »
Need two tickets from TLV to JFK on 11 september
returning on 27 september to LON and then onto TLV on 14 october.

Any good ideas?
most of my mileage is with United...

Thanks for all the help guys!

Offline WhyAich

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2594
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1074 on: August 15, 2012, 03:54:12 PM »
Need two tickets from TLV to JFK on 11 september
returning on 27 september to LON and then onto TLV on 14 october.

Any good ideas?
most of my mileage is with United...

Thanks for all the help guys!

business class?/coach?
For great Airfare deals - PLEASE contact me via PM or email: whyaich@gmail.com

Offline AI-TRAVEL

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 1573
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
  • Location: New jersey
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1075 on: August 15, 2012, 06:37:42 PM »
need ticket from nyc or phl to tlv.aug19or 20. stopovers are fine.one way. cash or amex points. thanks

Offline ReadsTheT&C

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 692
  • Total likes: 45
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 6
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1076 on: August 16, 2012, 12:50:09 AM »
Already have flight booked MDW-EWR 8/24-9/1.  Question is I need to change the 2nd leg to EWR-LAX on 8/29 or 8/30 (or BUR) and then from LA back to Chicago.  I've already got the 15k Avios invested.  It appears BA.com will let me cancel the whole thing, redeposit the miles and lose only the $5 I've already invested.  I have an abundance of Amex MR (transfer to Avios) points and SW points.
The best I can think of is take the $5 hit, transfer another 5k miles which would get me the ORD-EWR and EWR-LAX (albeit on 8/29) and then biting the bullet and paying ~$200 for a Spirit Airlines flight (and booking it at ORD to save $17 on the web booking fee) since I can't leave LA before 7pm which means options are extremely limited.
What do you think?

Offline romancegee

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 8
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: nyc
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1077 on: August 16, 2012, 02:31:42 AM »
emergency,
need a ticket asap leaving thursday after 4pm till sunday early am
jfk or nyc area to yul
8/18-8/20
please text me asap if u can do it on points
201-589-1391

thanks

Offline MayThirty1

  • DansDeals Copper Elite
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2012
  • Posts: 23
  • Total likes: 0
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: New York, NY
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1078 on: August 16, 2012, 10:33:14 AM »
I need 2 adult tickets from JFK to NAS (Bahamas) for Monday August 20th (early AM) and arriving back at JFK Thursday August 23rd.
Non stop only.
Cheapest I can find is over $600 per ticket!
Please help me find for a normal price!

Offline txtmax4

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Dec 2009
  • Posts: 6961
  • Total likes: 12
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
    • View Profile
Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1079 on: August 16, 2012, 05:00:55 PM »
4 Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum 1 stops
From: new york
To: Israel
Departure dates: 26/11/12     or 27/11/12
Return airports:  tel aviv israel
Return dates:  03/12/12   -   06/12/12

Class: Coach
Seats: 4

Which miles do you want to use?
If You See Something, Say Something!!