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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 1839209 times)

Offline aryeh1

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3000 on: October 27, 2013, 09:12:53 AM »
One way/round trip: round trip
Non stop/maximum stops/any: non stop
From: jfk, lga ewr
To: Denver
Departure dates: nov 4
Return dates: nov 5
Class: economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/airline: any

Offline jaywhy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3001 on: October 27, 2013, 09:41:41 AM »
One way/round trip: round trip
Non stop/maximum stops/any: non stop
From: jfk, lga ewr
To: Denver
Departure dates: nov 4
Return dates: nov 5
Class: economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/airline: any
SW has cheap non-stops both ways for your dates. 10k out, 7.5k in
LGA-DEN

Offline Feivish

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3002 on: October 28, 2013, 06:30:25 PM »
One way/round trip: round trip
Non stop/maximum stops/any: maximum 1 stop
From: jfk, lga ewr
To: pvg
Departure dates: nov 2 (after 930pm)
Return dates: nov 7
Class: economy/business
Seats: 1
Alliance/airline: any

Offline hertzinstl

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3003 on: October 30, 2013, 06:49:58 AM »
One way/round trip: OW
Non stop/maximum stops/any: maximum 1 stop
From: TLV
To: USA (doesn't make a difference, in the end I'll be flying into a small non international airport)
Departure dates: Mar 26
Return dates:
Class: economy/business
Seats: 1
Alliance/airline: any

Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3004 on: October 31, 2013, 06:11:41 PM »
One way/round trip: round trip
Non stop/maximum stops/any: maximum 1 stop
From: prefer EWR
To: TLV
Departure dates: March 10
Return dates: March 18
Class: economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/airline: 80000 UR points

So far found through Vienna from JFK. Thanks!
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline ayman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3005 on: November 03, 2013, 02:20:41 PM »
Trying to book a one way w/ oneworld from MIA-NYC-TLV. (stopover for 4 months) I'm finding availability for NYC-TLV when I try to do a multi-city trip, but no MIA NYC avail for a year. If I break it into two one ways (MIA-NYC, and NYC-TLV) then I get availability for both flights. What am I doing wrong?
TIA
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Offline AJK

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3006 on: November 03, 2013, 05:23:33 PM »
PUTPAC
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 philbenjoe

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3007 on: November 03, 2013, 07:17:49 PM »

One way/Round trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: prefer non-stop, maximum one stop
From: All airports from which you can depart, TLV
To: All airports which you can arrive at. YYZ
Departure dates: 12/19
Return airports: If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets
Return dates: 12/29 12/30 AND IF NOTHING 12/26
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any. coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: aeroplan without YQ or avios. (i do have some amex points not sure if i can get enough)

so far no luck finding anything w/o YQ under $400
TIA

"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss

Offline ayman

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Offline Ergel

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3009 on: November 03, 2013, 10:31:30 PM »
One way/Round trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: prefer non-stop, maximum one stop
From: All airports from which you can depart, TLV
To: All airports which you can arrive at. YYZ
Departure dates: 12/19
Return airports: If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets
Return dates: 12/29 12/30 AND IF NOTHING 12/26
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any. coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: aeroplan without YQ or avios. (i do have some amex points not sure if i can get enough)

so far no luck finding anything w/o YQ under $400
TIA


Only way to lower YQ would be to fly UA via EWR or US via PHL
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline philbenjoe

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3010 on: November 03, 2013, 11:03:57 PM »
Only way to lower YQ would be to fly UA via EWR or US via PHL
did u find any flights thru ewr or phi?
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss

Offline Ergel

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3011 on: November 03, 2013, 11:10:21 PM »
did u find any flights thru ewr or phi?
I honestly did not check for you. Sorry. Not likely to find four seats together, if at all
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline philbenjoe

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3012 on: November 03, 2013, 11:31:24 PM »
I honestly did not check for you. Sorry. Not likely to find four seats together, if at all
do u think i stand a better chance with avios or flying blue?
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" Dr Seuss

Offline es21729

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3013 on: November 04, 2013, 05:28:57 PM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: JFK/LGA
To: FLL (hate MIA!!)
Departure dates: 11/21 morning
Return airports: same
Return dates: 11/25 evening
Class: Business or Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Jetblue or any decent airline

Offline APoshiterYid

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3014 on: November 04, 2013, 08:50:42 PM »
One way/round trip: Rt
Non stop/maximum stops/any: 1
From: CHS
To: LHR
Departure dates: 11/7
Return dates: 11/11, 11/12
Class: Economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/airline: Any

TIA!
If you have my email PLEASE don't PM me :)

Offline stevenk

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3015 on: November 05, 2013, 09:06:04 AM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: JFK
To: TLV
Departure dates: 12/15
Return airports: same
Return dates: 12/21 Late evening
Class: Business or Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: El Al, Delta, AA, any other strong secure airlines.
I have Starwood and Chase points to use.
I thank you all in advance for your ideas!

Offline solmeir

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3016 on: November 05, 2013, 11:16:10 AM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: nyc
To: dtw
Departure dates: 10/10 early morning
Return airports: same
Return dates: 10/11 early morning
Class: Business or Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any
I have Amex and Chase points to use.
I thank you all in advance for your ideas!

Offline milenakt

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3017 on: November 05, 2013, 01:51:48 PM »
Help! Trying to get my family to Israel and back.... Have 300,000 Amex Points

Round trip:
Maximum stops 1
From:LAX
To:Tel Aviv
Departure dates: From June 17, 2014 to July 13, 2013
Return airports:LAX
Return dates: 16 days after departure
Class: Coach
Seats: 5 (but will settle for 3)
Alliance/Airline: El Al (unfortunately, I transferred some miles to El Al's Matmid so have to use those for at least one way)

Thank you so much for your help.

Offline Meni

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3018 on: November 05, 2013, 07:40:50 PM »
Please help me I need to book tickets soon. Thank you very much, in advance.
One way/Round trip:Roundtrip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Any
From: BWI/IAD/LGA/JFK/EWR
To: London
Departure dates: November 13th or 14th.
Return dates: November 20th or 21st
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: I have over 300k  Amex points. What's the best method for using Amex points for such a trip? Taking into account mileage it will cost and taxes and fees.  What would be my best options?
        Thanks
« Last Edit: November 05, 2013, 08:34:41 PM by Meni »

Offline yuneeq

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #3019 on: November 06, 2013, 09:41:21 AM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: NYC
To: SJD
Departure dates: 1/19
Return airports: same
Return dates: 1/26
Class: Any
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: United is the only airline with direct flights. Enough Chase/United points, but they are charging 52,000 points, while regular ticket is going for $790 so it's not worth it to use points.

$50 to anyone that finds availability for the flights at $740 or less, or 46,000 points or less. Doesn't matter what shtick you need to pull.
Thanks
« Last Edit: November 06, 2013, 09:46:34 AM by yuneeq »
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