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 1838804 times)

Offline smart brit

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Offline meshugener

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on fb its 25k
How do I find that out for DL?
How do I even search for that?
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Offline smart brit

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How do I find that out for DL?
How do I even search for that?
do you have a delta account? that is where you start

Offline creditor

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oh. so if fb shows 25 that means dl should show low availability
I'm just say'in©®

Offline smart brit

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oh. so if fb shows 25 that means dl should show low availability
that's why i was searching on fb it's easier to navigate imo

Offline creditor

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that's why i was searching on fb it's easier to navigate imo
unless the fb availability you're talking about is on klm [which also has 25k + approx $50]

I was thinking OP did the basic search for dl. but if he didn't he should first try that then try different/crazy routings I he wishes. otherwise he's out of luck IMHO.
unless he turns to one of those award searchers
I'm just say'in©®

Offline smart brit

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unless the fb availability you're talking about is on klm [which also has 25k + approx $50]

I was thinking OP did the basic search for dl. but if he didn't he should first try that then try different/crazy routings I he wishes. otherwise he's out of luck IMHO.
unless he turns to one of those award searchers

I tried searching with fb and it showed up dl 034 from ewr to ams 0415 545pm arriving 725am  or the 820pm flight out of jfk to ams and then with klm to bud 850pm
Ime when it shows up on fb it should be available to book on delta
I specifically wrote the delta flights as they are what he is looking for

Offline meshugener

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When I search on Delta.com as a multi city it allows me to select all the fights, but after selecting the last segment, it says 'part of your itin were just sold out'.
That's why I turned here for help.
It seems like the system doesn't allow such a routing.
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Offline smart brit

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When I search on Delta.com as a multi city it allows me to select all the fights, but after selecting the last segment, it says 'part of your itin were just sold out'.
That's why I turned here for help.
It seems like the system doesn't allow such a routing.
call and complain they should book it for you

Offline creditor

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I specifically wrote the delta flights as they are what he is looking for
I missed that
I'm just say'in©®

Offline smart brit

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Offline meshugener

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Update?
Just hung up the phone with them.
Slightly different itin, they priced it for 257,500.
The inbound is on the highest rate, and outbound with the lowest.
Is that too much?
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Offline smart brit

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Just hung up the phone with them.
Slightly different itin, they priced it for 257,500.
The inbound is on the highest rate, and outbound with the lowest.
Is that too much?
? That's why pesos are worthless

Offline meshugener

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? That's why pesos are worthless
We'll make a decision shortly.
Thanks so much for your help.
Highly appreciated!!
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Offline ez1985

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I would like  2 round trip BUSINESS tickets to Israel from Baltimore or as close as possible.  Could even be NY. 
I have 200k MR points and I can spend a little cash if necessary. 
I am looking to fly on or around jun 12 - jun 20.
Airline doesn't really matter. 

Is this at all possible?

Offline AJK

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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

Offline meshugener

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? That's why pesos are worthless
How much would be taxes and fees, flying DL and KLM?
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How much would be taxes and fees, flying DL and KLM?
on fb it's roughly 40$

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on fb it's roughly 40$
So I can guess its around the same with DL?
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So I can guess its around the same with DL?
should be