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 1839655 times)

Offline KidOOO

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1700 on: January 30, 2013, 11:43:07 PM »
If your not elite in UA and they have availability on AA, that would be your best bet it terms of points.
Thanks

if i transfer UR points will they transfer right away?
and after booking the award flights, what happens if i want to cancel?

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1701 on: January 30, 2013, 11:45:44 PM »
Thanks

if i transfer UR points will they transfer right away?
and after booking the award flights, what happens if i want to cancel?
I never transferred UR to BA, but MR to BA are instant and is a better value.

Offline KidOOO

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1702 on: January 30, 2013, 11:50:20 PM »
I never transferred UR to BA, but MR to BA are instant and is a better value.

Thanks, any idea about cancellation policy

Offline MEIR613

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1703 on: January 30, 2013, 11:55:56 PM »
Thanks, any idea about cancellation policy
Officially with 24 hours of the reservation you can cancel and get refunded the miles and taxes, after that its $40 to cancel, but usually they dont charge, just dont refund the tax. 

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1704 on: January 30, 2013, 11:56:59 PM »
Officially with 24 hours of the reservation you can cancel and get refunded the miles and taxes, after that its $40 to cancel, but usually they dont charge, just dont refund the tax. 

Even if the flight is within 7 days - in this case 3 days?

Offline KidOOO

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1705 on: January 31, 2013, 01:21:24 AM »
Even if the flight is within 7 days - in this case 3 days?

good point, anybody?

Offline ryg

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1706 on: January 31, 2013, 02:06:42 AM »
BUMP
I need tickets from PDX to NYC on 03/21 returning on 04/7
Any ideas?

Offline ari9

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1707 on: January 31, 2013, 10:06:28 AM »
I'd like to go TLV - CDG(stop 2-3 days) - AMS(stop 1-2 days) - NYC (over pesach) - VCE (stop over shabbos) - TLV
I don't really understand the UA OJ rules - how much of this trip can I do on a UA award?
I can use avios to do part

dates:
TLV-CDG  3/10 night or 3/11
CDG-AMS 3/12 or 3/13 (can AMS be done as a layover?)
AMS-NYC 3/14
NYC-VCE 4/10
VCE-TLV 4/14

class-coach
seats-2
I have united, chase, avios, some spg (would rather save for hotels)
I would pay for a segment that can't be included in the award

obviously it all depends on availability, but if anyone can help me with best way to do this would greatly appreciate it

I previously posted about this trip. I don't have too many points, so I decided to cut out the AMS part and this is what I found that works for my (not so flexible) schedule:

TLV-ATH-CDG 3/11 - United award
CDG-LHR 3/14 - same United award
LHR-JFK 3/14  - paid ticket
JFK-LHR 4/10 - paid ticket
(spend day in London)
LGW-VCE 4/11 - avios
VCE-TLV 4/14 - same United award

Total cost for 2 people
70,000 UA + $360 taxes and fees
1,500 avios + $45 taxes and fees
1320 ticket - $500 AA voucher = $820

2.5 days in Paris
~4 weeks in NY
1 day in London
2.5 days in Venice (over Shabbos)


1. is this a decent itinerary/value for the price?
2. I have a lap infant - how do I know how much more it will cost?
3. Because of the lap infant, do the awards have to be booked on the phone?
4. If better United flights open up closer to the dates, can I change for free?
5. I like having amex baggage insurance- is there any way to get it for a trip like this?

Offline Yungerman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1708 on: January 31, 2013, 10:39:05 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 Maximum stop
From: : MIA, FLL
To:  SFO, SJC, OAK
Departure dates: 2/25 EARLY
Return dates: 2/28 LATE(red-eye arriving 2/29)
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline KidOOO

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1709 on: January 31, 2013, 11:07:45 PM »
HELP!

so I booked a one way flight at about 1 am last night on BA.com for AA and now i want to cancel it, but BA lines are closed, i did try calling at 10:30 pm but they said high call volume and to call back.

when i try to cancel the flight online it says

"We are unable to process a refund for you online. Please contact us for all refund enquiries."

by tomorrow my 24 hour window will be over

what do i do

Offline btab

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1710 on: January 31, 2013, 11:08:51 PM »
HELP!

so I booked a one way flight at about 1 am last night on BA.com for AA and now i want to cancel it, but BA lines are closed, i did try calling at 10:30 pm but they said high call volume and to call back.

when i try to cancel the flight online it says

"We are unable to process a refund for you online. Please contact us for all refund enquiries."

by tomorrow my 24 hour window will be over

what do i do

Make sure you take a screenshot!
learning about churning

Offline KidOOO

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1711 on: January 31, 2013, 11:19:34 PM »
Make sure you take a screenshot!

OK that's a start i guess. but there gotta be some BA number that works 24/7

i need the points to re-book another flight which may not be available by tomorrow, any ideas?

I also tried calling AA she found my ticket in the system but couldn't refund my miles for me
« Last Edit: February 01, 2013, 12:08:40 AM by KidOOO »

Offline meshugener

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1712 on: February 01, 2013, 09:15:35 AM »
I had the same issue.
I called AA to 'cancel' the ticket, and later in the morning I called BA to refund the miles.
Love me or hate me. I still love you.

Offline Cbs

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1713 on: February 01, 2013, 01:19:12 PM »
Round trip
Stops Preferably Non Stop
From: YUL
To: CDG
Departure dates: 4/22 or 4/24
Return dates: 4/29
Class: Business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: i dont care

A friend asked me to find for him, and he can get miles.

what would be the best (cheapest) way to do this?

Offline AJK

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1714 on: February 03, 2013, 01:43:51 AM »
Probably ANA. 43K.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1715 on: February 03, 2013, 06:53:41 AM »
Probably ANA. 43K.
isnt that economy?
and business is 68k it says.

if so how do i check availability? its not letting me from my account


EDIT: i see now , econ is 38k RT.
« Last Edit: February 03, 2013, 07:40:28 AM by Cbs »

Offline AJK

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1716 on: February 03, 2013, 02:02:43 PM »
isnt that economy?
and business is 68k it says.

if so how do i check availability? its not letting me from my account


EDIT: i see now , econ is 38k RT.

YUL-CDG = 3442 mi.

Thus, it'd be 43K OW (though "technically" OWs are not allowed).

A RT in business would be 63K.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1717 on: February 04, 2013, 01:28:03 PM »
looking for the following dates:

NYC- Paris 3/27/13
Brussels-Venice 4/4/13
venice - london 4/5/13 ( maybe)
london nyc 4/7/13

2 adults
Econmony

miles availability: with MR United BA ( AA if they post soon enough)


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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1718 on: February 04, 2013, 03:39:05 PM »
Looking for 2 last minute tix, SF Bay Area - Las Vegas, Feb 8-10, best I see right now is 20K mi. apiece R/T w/ United, any reason to hold out for AA Saver availability so I can use BA miles?

Offline blue eyes

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1719 on: February 05, 2013, 11:09:40 AM »
looking for the following dates:

NYC- Paris 3/27/13
Brussels-Venice 4/4/13
venice - london 4/5/13 ( maybe)
london nyc 4/7/13

2 adults
Econmony[/b]
miles availability: with MR United BA ( AA if they post soon enough)

Bump