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 1838742 times)

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8480 on: January 22, 2018, 02:08:40 PM »
Hi,
What's the best reward redemption options for flights from Israel to Europe (Star alliance)?
Thanks
11k Aegean in Y
Transfer from SPG
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Offline shloim4334

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8481 on: January 24, 2018, 03:19:11 AM »
11k Aegean in Y
Transfer from SPG
Thanks. But my question is how much cheaper will it be with the UQ surcharge than united's 25k without the YQ?

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8482 on: January 24, 2018, 03:23:54 AM »
Thanks. But my question is how much cheaper will it be with the UQ surcharge than united's 25k without the YQ?
Question is impossible tp answer as is. Route specific.
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Offline Abka

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8483 on: January 25, 2018, 04:47:20 PM »
Hello,

Round-trip
Non-stop
From: NYC
To: LON
Departure dates: 05/30/2018
Return airports:LON
Return dates: 06/04/2018
Class: Coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: Any using Chase UR & Amex MR

Thanks a lot guys!

Offline eriqueiii

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8484 on: January 31, 2018, 12:33:41 PM »
Does anyone know if the seat map on United is any indicator of whether saver awards will become available?  I would like to fly from TLV to EWR and the seat map is showing 42 seats available in business class.  The flight is within 3 weeks.
Thanks

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8485 on: January 31, 2018, 12:34:38 PM »
Does anyone know if the seat map on United is any indicator of whether saver awards will become available?  I would like to fly from TLV to EWR and the seat map is showing 42 seats available in business class.
Thanks
Almost never an indicator.
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Offline nafnaf12

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8486 on: February 01, 2018, 06:38:02 AM »
Any help would be much appreciated.
Trying to find a flight from one way
TLV-LYS on March 11
Need to arrive by noon

Preferably start alliance

I checked on UA only options I can find are 25k plus YQ of $60+
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Offline yelped

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8487 on: February 01, 2018, 02:23:53 PM »
Any help would be much appreciated.
Trying to find a flight from one way
TLV-LYS on March 11
Need to arrive by noon

Preferably start alliance

I checked on UA only options I can find are 25k plus YQ of $60+
I think Lifemiles is zone based. Did you try them? You can search online these days.

Offline hyman.chaim

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8488 on: February 04, 2018, 01:27:26 PM »
I need help.
I want to book to roundtrip business class tickets from MIA ~ BKK at the end of this month for about 10 days using 320k Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
How do I do this?
I opened a Kris Flyer account for Singapore, BA, Skypass for Korean Air and I'm just not seeing a good option with those. I need your help please...all suggestions appreciated!

Offline mochjas

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8489 on: February 05, 2018, 05:55:35 AM »
I need help.
I want to book to roundtrip business class tickets from MIA ~ BKK at the end of this month for about 10 days using 320k Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
How do I do this?
I opened a Kris Flyer account for Singapore, BA, Skypass for Korean Air and I'm just not seeing a good option with those. I need your help please...all suggestions appreciated!
post exact dates so we can help.

Offline hyman.chaim

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8490 on: February 05, 2018, 09:19:05 AM »
post exact dates so we can help.

You're so right.

Departing Feb 21 and returning March 5th. Departure date is flexible 2-3 days and return date is flexible for 2-3 days but must be after the 4th.

TIA

Offline Abelefko1

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8491 on: February 05, 2018, 10:13:26 AM »
You're so right.

Departing Feb 21 and returning March 5th. Departure date is flexible 2-3 days and return date is flexible for 2-3 days but must be after the 4th.

TIA
Good *a availability feb 22

Offline hyman.chaim

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8492 on: February 05, 2018, 11:56:02 AM »
@Abelefko1 can you explain ?

Offline Abelefko1

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Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8493 on: February 05, 2018, 01:17:36 PM »
@Abelefko1 can you explain ?
Ok ok lemme spoon feed ya
Head over to United search your route in one ways if you don’t find what ur looking for search segments ex mia to fra to bkk (each separately and then combine) once you found you’re desired  segments/one ways combine them using round trip or multi city. transfer ur chase points to United and voila you book it !
There you go , done my chesed for the day

Offline hyman.chaim

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8494 on: February 05, 2018, 01:43:19 PM »
I checked it out. So 90k plus $100+ for business makes sense accross the board if I were to transfer my UR to United ?

Offline Abelefko1

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8495 on: February 05, 2018, 01:52:20 PM »
I checked it out. So 90k plus $100+ for business makes sense accross the board if I were to transfer my UR to United ?
There’s no across the board every program is different. But in this case it’s the best option and great value for you’re miles

Offline hyman.chaim

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8496 on: February 05, 2018, 01:53:21 PM »
Better than Singapore or Korean ?

Offline Abelefko1

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8497 on: February 05, 2018, 02:00:50 PM »
Better than Singapore or Korean ?
You could save 25k using Korean but since you sound like a noob I wouldn’t recommend it ... you can go ahead and google it but I’m not gonna explain the whole process it’s a schlepp

Offline hyman.chaim

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8498 on: February 05, 2018, 02:02:16 PM »
You're incredible.

Offline beirush228

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8499 on: February 05, 2018, 11:29:26 PM »
ONE WAY: Buisiness (U)

LAX to BKK

02/13/2018 midnight flight 10 pm-2 am

1 Passenger

All Alliances including (especially Alaska on CX if someone can find availability on the HKG to BKK leg)