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 1838885 times)

Offline rediplus

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7260 on: January 22, 2016, 10:47:26 AM »
Feb 3

Offline bznt

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7261 on: January 23, 2016, 09:46:50 PM »
My friends were booked on a paid flight  on united 91 1/25/16 -tlv - ewr. Flight got canceled. United offered to refund the money..
They need to be in new York for Tuesday morning for a bris. What are my options in J or in Y ? I can try to get any  points needed. Please help.

Offline sam28

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7262 on: January 25, 2016, 05:45:55 PM »
I need help to find 2 business class tickets NYC to Hawaii Jan 31 I have all kind of points don't mind with a stop if I have to ?

Offline smiley face

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7263 on: January 25, 2016, 09:40:32 PM »
I need 2 tickets Jan. 27th evening or the 28th from NYC-MIA (or FLL)
TIA

Offline mgmoonlight

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7264 on: January 26, 2016, 10:40:49 AM »
TLV->Houston, 1  stop, May 11th
Austin->MSP, nonstop, May 17th
MSP-TLV, 1 stop , May 27th

2 adults+ a baby on lap
$1248
Is this a good price?
Thanks!
« Last Edit: January 26, 2016, 10:47:57 AM by mgmoonlight »

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7265 on: January 26, 2016, 11:16:02 AM »
I need 2 tickets Jan. 27th evening or the 28th from NYC-MIA (or FLL)
TIA
There are multiple flights available on AA on the evening of the 27th.  Book for 7.5k a person on BA.

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7266 on: January 26, 2016, 12:21:23 PM »
This is to Canada. Is that considered domestic in regards to cancellation?
To Canada is the same $5.60. From Canada is more.

Offline smiley face

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7267 on: January 26, 2016, 12:34:10 PM »
There are multiple flights available on AA on the evening of the 27th.  Book for 7.5k a person on BA.
Did you see direct I only see with stopovers...

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7268 on: January 26, 2016, 01:04:09 PM »
Did you see direct I only see with stopovers...
Yes I see direct.
ETA. It shows on AA but not BA. I'd check AA to see which flights you want and then call BA and see if they see the space.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2016, 01:10:25 PM by Tom Brady »

Offline smiley face

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7269 on: January 26, 2016, 02:31:06 PM »
Yes I see direct.
ETA. It shows on AA but not BA. I'd check AA to see which flights you want and then call BA and see if they see the space.
Are you looking at award flights or paid flights?

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7270 on: January 26, 2016, 02:38:13 PM »
Are you looking at award flights or paid flights?
That. We are in the thread for award tickets. :)

Offline RefuaFan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7271 on: January 27, 2016, 12:30:00 AM »
Trying to book my honeymoon to Hawaii. I have the Citi Prestige and Premier, but it looks like cash prices for Hawaii flights are ridiculous. So I'm hoping to find award tickets. Help please! (Consider it a wedding gift ;-D)

Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: No real preference on number of stops.
From: Basically anything between MD (BWI or IAD) and NY could work. We'll be living in Baltimore, so BWI preferred.
To: KOA or ITO.
Departure dates: March 26 (After Shabbos, with enough time that we would not cross the time zones back into Shabbos) or March 27th.
Return airports: OGG preferred. Alternatively, LIH.
Return dates: April 10 or April 11.
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Additional Info: No loyalty benefits to any airline. I have the Citi Prestige, so flying American would give me admiral club access, but I also have priority pass, so can see if there's a club included along the way from that instead.

Available points to spend: 114K TY, 47K MR. (SPG and UR points are tied up for hotels along the stay).
Thanks!

Offline eliteflyer

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7272 on: January 27, 2016, 12:02:15 PM »
Two related questions:
I was able to hold an EY F ticket on AA for which EY was showing no "Guest" availability. Should I assume that ticketing will fail, or did I get lucky?

I'm attempting to book a return leg MLE-DOH-JFK for which each segment individually has only one award seat in business, but as married segments (on ba.com), there are three seats. I tried three different AA agents and each said that they could not marry the segments to show more than one seat. Is this a case of phantom availability on BA.com, incompetent AA agents, or a problem with AA booking systems?

Offline CS91

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7273 on: January 27, 2016, 12:12:29 PM »
Two related questions:
I was able to hold an EY F ticket on AA for which EY was showing no "Guest" availability. Should I assume that ticketing will fail, or did I get lucky?

I'm attempting to book a return leg MLE-DOH-JFK for which each segment individually has only one award seat in business, but as married segments (on ba.com), there are three seats. I tried three different AA agents and each said that they could not marry the segments to show more than one seat. Is this a case of phantom availability on BA.com, incompetent AA agents, or a problem with AA booking systems?
You're probably better off asking here: http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=45068.1725

Offline LeahB

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7274 on: January 28, 2016, 09:39:46 AM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: TLV
To: ZRH
Departure dates: August 21 (early morning)
Return dates: August 24 (night) or 25 (afternoon)
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Star/OneWorld

Available points to spend: 14K Avios, around 10K Star Alliance - will prob have to add $

Thanks!

Offline memyselfandani

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7275 on: January 29, 2016, 09:55:13 AM »
Hello, Appreciate any tips on how to best go about booking this trip.

One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non Stop preferred, 1 stop okay
From: NY/NJ Area
To: AMS
Departure dates: March 2 - March 3
Return airports: Same
Return dates: March 8 - March 10
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

I have 170k AmEx points to spend

Offline Sport

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7276 on: January 30, 2016, 08:42:58 PM »
I can really use help here, I've been searching for the past 2 weeks.
One way/round trip: round trip
From: NYC (pref isp, and cant fly out of ewr)
To: LA
Departure dates: Feb 11 - 14/2016(need to be in LA by 1:00 PM the 14th, prefer to fly Sat night/sun morning)
Return dates: Feb 15/2016
Class: pref business but will take what I can get.
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline:  I have plenty of AA, BA, ALASKA,  UA,  also have MR, UR and Starwood availble for transfer.
TIA.



Offline yudi1185

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7277 on: February 01, 2016, 05:34:47 AM »
One way/Round trip:      round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:    1 stop ok
From: All airports from which you can depart      tlv
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line         ewr jfk phl
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible.       march 30 any time
Return airports: If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets tlv
Return dates: Delete this line for One way tickets      may 4
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any        any
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2       1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with          any
 
  best price found $550 air france

Offline lifetimedeals

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7278 on: February 02, 2016, 12:12:07 AM »
Which way will be the least amount miles needed from JFK to BUD? Can be a short stop.

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7279 on: February 02, 2016, 09:06:06 AM »
best price found $550 air france
Do that.