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 1838854 times)

Offline JFEADV

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looking for 2 tickers nyc- tlv sun 6/9 from 6pm in bus or 1st returning 6/13 or 14 with amex or cont points cheaper version

Offline MEIR613

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Re: I offer reward 4 Help with this Itineadry
« Reply #2161 on: April 24, 2013, 01:39:12 PM »
I you can find me a routing that works for me I will PP you $100.

Here is what I have and what I'm looking for:

I have been trying to get MIA  <--> TLV using Start Alliance points. The only they seem to find is:
MIA -> FRA
FRA -> IST
IST -> TLV
Return:
TLV -> IST (with almost 7 hour connect)
IST -> EWR
EWR -> MIA
Since I’m traveling with two kids under 7 the two stops seems like it will be too much.

Anyone have any suggestions how I might go about finding other routs that will give me 1 stop?
My outgoing dates June 9 – 13, and return Aug 4 – 19.
I have 350,000 star alliance points.
The above itinerary is on hold until tomorrow night.
If you can trade to AA miles.

Elal has 4 tickets open on 6/9


Offline MEIR613

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looking for 2 tickers nyc- tlv sun 6/9 from 6pm in bus or 1st returning 6/13 or 14 with amex or cont points cheaper version
Elal has 2 "F" seats 6/10 2:30 AM flight

Offline sun365

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Re: I offer reward 4 Help with this Itineadry
« Reply #2163 on: April 24, 2013, 01:49:27 PM »
If you can trade to AA miles.

Elal has 4 tickets open on 6/9

I doubt. I have 200+ with UR and 100+ with United. I don't have any with AA.

Offline MimiSales

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  • Location: Los angeles
LAX- Tel Aviv in the summer.
2 adults, 4 children.
Dates:We are flexible on the dates but ideally would like to go for a month or longer at the end of June. Looking for the cheapest option but if possible would like to stop in Europe on the way there for two- three days.
Miles:
Delta: 60,640, 39,554, 96,556, 35,170
American Express- platinum- 95,834
American Express- Gold- 95,834
Starwoods: 152840

Thank you!!
jam@ucsd.edu

Offline Ergel

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Offering $75

One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop on departure, I guess one on the way back
From: ORD
To: LHR
Departure dates: June 13th dates are flexible
Return from airports: DUB, LHR
Return to airports: ORD
Return dates: June 30th dates flexible
Class: prefer business, willing to split
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: tons of amex
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline plainbachur

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LAX- Tel Aviv in the summer.
2 adults, 4 children.
Dates:We are flexible on the dates but ideally would like to go for a month or longer at the end of June. Looking for the cheapest option but if possible would like to stop in Europe on the way there for two- three days.
Miles:
Delta: 60,640, 39,554, 96,556, 35,170
American Express- platinum- 95,834
American Express- Gold- 95,834
Starwoods: 152840

Thank you!!
jam@ucsd.edu
tried aa for availability on elal?

Offline Fish Tank

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I'd like to book a ticket from NYC-DTW RT.

Just to make sure I have this right, its going to cost me 9k BA/(7K MR) + $5 Tax?


Offline MEIR613

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I'd like to book a ticket from NYC-DTW RT.

Just to make sure I have this right, its going to cost me 9k BA/(7K MR) + $5 Tax?
Yep

Offline Fish Tank

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Yep
Thank you.

One more question - I can leave from PHL, JFK, LGA , EWR, Atlantic city.

With which of the above airports can I go for the 9k BA?

Offline MEIR613

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Thank you.

One more question - I can leave from PHL, JFK, LGA , EWR, Atlantic city.

With which of the above airports can I go for the 9k BA?
LGA

Offline Sdd

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NYC - Tlv!! Please help!!
« Reply #2171 on: April 24, 2013, 04:09:56 PM »
I need 3 seats - leaving tonight or tmrw. Returning sometime mid next week.
Whats my best business or coach? Willing to pay and/or Have acces to any type of miles..

Offline Finckmyster

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Re: NYC - Tlv!! Please help!!
« Reply #2172 on: April 24, 2013, 04:22:07 PM »
120K United (Business Class)


Offline robi

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Re: NYC - Tlv!! Please help!!
« Reply #2173 on: April 24, 2013, 04:25:38 PM »
120K United (Business Class)


thats not showing on my end, what am I doing wrong?
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, then loved for who I'm not"

Offline Finckmyster

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Re: NYC - Tlv!! Please help!!
« Reply #2174 on: April 24, 2013, 04:34:04 PM »
thats not showing on my end, what am I doing wrong?

Ticket is gone already!, That was super fast. (I checked under 10 Minutes ago)

Offline robi

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Re: NYC - Tlv!! Please help!!
« Reply #2175 on: April 24, 2013, 04:34:47 PM »
Ticket is gone already!, That was super fast. (I checked under 10 Minutes ago)
as I suspected. Oh well, last minute lag baomer was enticing...
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, then loved for who I'm not"

Offline MEIR613

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There are still a couple options open via TXL and AMM before shabbos.

Offline smart brit

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Offering $75

One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop on departure, I guess one on the way back
From: ORD
To: LHR
Departure dates: June 13th dates are flexible
Return from airports: DUB, LHR
Return to airports: ORD
Return dates: June 30th dates flexible
Class: prefer business, willing to split
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: tons of amex
With a stop on both way's you have ton of availibilty

Offline Cashman

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Can anyone help me need to fly tonight
One way
Lax
JFK
April 24th
1 passenger
Business class
United or AA saver

Offline plainbachur

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Can anyone help me need to fly tonight
One way
Lax
JFK
April 24th
1 passenger
Business class
United or AA saver
did u start looking?