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 2162433 times)

Offline Danlover111

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One waY
Non-stop
From: EWR
To:TLV
Departure dates: AUG 16/17/18
Class:Business
Seats: Total number 2
Alliance/Airline: ANY
TIA

Offline ganizzy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9161 on: September 06, 2020, 01:17:21 AM »
one way/round trip
LAX - JFK (EWR ok but not preffered)
tom sept 6 - late afternoon to red eye
return mon sept 7 - latest possible
cheapest option
not more then i stop, preferably non stop
i have points with chase, amex, BA
thanks so much

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9162 on: November 14, 2020, 07:55:54 PM »
One way/Round-trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non stop
From: LGA JFK
To: LAX SNA LGB
Departure dates: 11/22
Return dates: 11/24
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have points with chase, and a little from AMEX
My Tapatalk notifications don't always work.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9163 on: November 18, 2020, 10:47:07 PM »
One way/Round-trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non stop
From: LGA JFK
To: LAX SNA LGB
Departure dates: 11/22
Return dates: 11/24
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have points with chase, and a little from AMEX
I ended up booking through united (saver awards) using chase UR points. The total was 60,000 points + $22. Could I have done better?
My Tapatalk notifications don't always work.

Offline fluffy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9164 on: November 22, 2020, 09:41:46 PM »
One way/Round-trip: Round trip/ One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: One Stop
From: NYC
To: HNL
Departure dates: 1/17/2021 Flexible
Return dates: 1/24/2021 Flexible
Class: FIRST lay flat seats
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have points with chase reserve, and from United

Offline mnkyz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9165 on: November 30, 2020, 10:07:31 AM »
One way/Round trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: non stop
From: EWR
To: YYZ
Departure dates: 12/1- 12/2
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: any
Thanks!

Would like 10:55 Depart and Return 2:20

Offline sam28

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9166 on: December 02, 2020, 05:22:06 PM »
what's the best way to book with points NYC to LHR in 2 weeks from now ?

Offline Wizard

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9167 on: January 04, 2021, 04:55:32 PM »
Just a quick question... how do I know if I should pay approx $110 for a flight or use 9k Delta miles + $12? Meaning is that a good use of Delta miles or save them for something better? Thanks!
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9168 on: January 04, 2021, 05:30:49 PM »
Just a quick question... how do I know if I should pay approx $110 for a flight or use 9k Delta miles + $12? Meaning is that a good use of Delta miles or save them for something better? Thanks!
you come out slightly ahead using mikes taking into account points earned with paying on 3-5% back

Offline Wizard

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9169 on: January 04, 2021, 05:59:08 PM »
you come out slightly ahead using mikes taking into account points earned with paying on 3-5% back
Thanks @yeshivabucher . What value per mile are you counting?
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9170 on: January 04, 2021, 07:42:38 PM »
Thanks @yeshivabucher . What value per mile are you counting?
.9-1

Offline Wizard

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9171 on: January 04, 2021, 08:06:01 PM »
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

Online yeshivabucher

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9172 on: January 04, 2021, 08:07:24 PM »
Ok thanks!! That’s a good value?
thats there value you dont get much better unless rare mileage sales

Offline Wizard

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9173 on: January 04, 2021, 09:38:35 PM »
Got it. Thanks
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9174 on: January 07, 2021, 11:57:04 AM »
One way
Non-stop
From: FLL/MIA/PBI
To: JFK EWR LGA
Departure dates: 4/5/2021 or 4/6/2021
Class: Coach
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline jomaster28

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9175 on: January 07, 2021, 12:19:32 PM »
One way
Non-stop
From: FLL/MIA/PBI
To: JFK EWR LGA
Departure dates: 4/5/2021 or 4/6/2021
Class: Coach
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: Any

I found BA for 9k. Wondering if that is best option.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9176 on: February 04, 2021, 03:27:40 PM »
One way/Round trip:Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:ANY
From:  NYC
To: Cmn or Rak
Departure dates: Feb 17
Return dates: Feb 21
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any


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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9177 on: February 07, 2021, 11:45:08 AM »
best/easiest miles to use/collect to redeem for economy class tickets nyc-tlv?

best/easiest miles to use/collect to redeem for economy class tickets nyc-bkk?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9178 on: February 11, 2021, 11:05:20 PM »
Want to book specific Delta Business flight on 3/4 @ 11:59PM from LAX to JFK. 2 seats.
Have a lot of Sapphire Reserve/Ink UR points, Bonvoy points, Hilton points, Citi Thank you points, BA miles, AA miles and vouchers, Alaskan miles, JB miles and vouchers.....whats the cheapest way to do this?
TIA!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9179 on: February 11, 2021, 11:15:53 PM »
Want to book specific Delta Business flight on 3/4 @ 11:59PM from LAX to JFK. 2 seats.
Have a lot of Sapphire Reserve/Ink UR points, Bonvoy points, Hilton points, Citi Thank you points, BA miles, AA miles and vouchers, Alaskan miles, JB miles and vouchers.....whats the cheapest way to do this?
TIA!
buy dl points