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 1839862 times)

Offline fluffy

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  • Location: Brooklyn NY
One way/Round-trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferred direct
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: Oct 2nd (or 3rd or 5th late at night)
Class: Coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: Any

I have united and chase sapphire reserve points

Offline mgmoonlight

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  • Location: Israel
TLV -> MSP -> TLV
« Reply #9281 on: May 26, 2022, 03:03:55 AM »
One way/Round-trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: up to 1 stop
From: TLV
To: MSP
Departure dates: 2nd week of August (slightly flexible)
Return airports:MSP
Return dates: Last week of August/ first week of September
Class: any
Seats: 4 (2 adults, 2 kids)
Alliance/Airline: any
Willing to pay up to $4k
Stops length should be up to 4 hours
Thanks!

Offline ritz

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  • Location: lakewood, NJ
One way/Round-trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop max
From:  NYC / NJ area
To: TLV
Departure dates: 6.29 evening or 6.30 morning
Return airports: NYC / NJ area
Return dates: 7.11 morning or 7.10 evening
Class: Coach
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: I have Chase and American points, seeking my best option.

thank you

Offline Samy1716

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  • Location: Lakewood NJ
One way/Round-trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferred direct
From: NYC
To: VCE
Departure dates: Aug 24th- Sept 1st
Class: Coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: Any

I have amex and capital one points

Offline JT27MP

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One way/Round-trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferred direct
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: Oct 2nd (or 3rd or 5th late at night)
Class: Coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: Any

I have united and chase sapphire reserve points

TAP Portugal - oct 2 -J class 120K sapphire reserve points per ticket
JFK-LIS 4 1/2 hr stopover 10:30 PM-10:25 AM
LIS-TLV 2:50 PM-10:15 PM

Offline YOSSI170

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  • Location: Brooklyn
One way/Round-trip: Multi city
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Nonstop
From:  JFK
To:  VIE
Departure dates: July 4
Return airports: WAW to NYC
Return dates: July 7
Class: Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Star alliance

Offline aspitz6342

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  • Location: Brooklyn NY
One way/Round-trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 or Less
From:  NYC
To:  TLV
Departure dates: June 22
Return dates: June 27
Class: Economy or Business (Still deciding)
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

I have the following points/miles = United, MR Bonvoy and BA Avios

Offline fluffy

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Thanks

TAP Portugal - oct 2 -J class 120K sapphire reserve points per ticket
JFK-LIS 4 1/2 hr stopover 10:30 PM-10:25 AM
LIS-TLV 2:50 PM-10:15 PM

Offline arijay

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  • Location: Far Rockaway, NY
One way/Round trip: round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NS, 1 Max stop
From: JFK
To: TLV
To: Tuscany
To: JFK
Departure dates: June 30
Return airports: JFK
Return dates: July 7
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Chase UR, Amex, Cap1, Delta, AA, Bonvoy

Offline chopapeih

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One way/Round trip: Round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NS, 1 Max stop
From: NYC
To: VIE
Departure dates: September 15
Return airports: NYC
Return dates: September 19
Class: Business/First
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Chase UR, Amex, United

Offline YOSSI170

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  • Location: Brooklyn
One way/Round trip: Round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NS, 1 Max stop
From: NYC
To: VIE
Departure dates: September 15
Return airports: NYC
Return dates: September 19
Class: Business/First
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Chase UR, Amex, United

There is saver award available on United for way going, EWR-WAW-VIE

Offline YOSSI170

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  • Location: Brooklyn
One way/Round trip: Round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NS, 1 Max stop
From: NYC
To: VIE
Departure dates: September 15
Return airports: NYC
Return dates: September 19
Class: Business/First
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Chase UR, Amex, United

Way back there also availability, check on united.com

Offline Traveler718

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One way/Round trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1 stop (<6 hours, non-Arab country - for DS)
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: July 31 - Aug 4 (preferred) or Aug 8-9
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

Best I've found is AA 60k non-stop - anything better, possibly with a stopover?

Offline lifetimedeals

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  • Location: NY
One way/Round trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NS / Prefer NON STOP But Would Do 1 Stop
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: September 14
Return airports: NYC
Class: Business/First
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Chase UR, Amex, United

Offline lifetimedeals

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  • Location: NY
One way/Round trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NS
From: EWR / JFK
To: ZRH
Departure dates: September 4
Class: Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Chase UR, Amex, United

Offline nynick12

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  • Location: Lakewood
One way/Round-trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: upto 1 stop
From:  NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: 6/26
Return airports:NYC
Return dates: 6/28 early morning
Class: Business / Premium Economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

I have Amex, Chase and Capital One points

Offline Moish613

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One way/Round-trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: July 3
Return dates: July 11
Class:Coach
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline Yr18

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  • Programs: AA Executive Pat, United Premier Platinum
One way/Round-trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: NYC area
To: ogg
Departure dates:july/aug any flight sunday- thursday
Return dates: 5 day trip can do 4 possibly also
Class: any
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline Ulitkany

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  • Location: New York
Guys, could you please help me find an award ticket (preferably direct). Lot and Turkish fly this destination. United chart doesn't show any direct availability. Any advice what is the best program value wise to book these airlines? Turkish Miles & Smiles show 15K miles  +$45 one way. Any better way to book this ticket?

One way/Round-trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: WAW
To: IST
Departure dates: preferably sometime btw June 26-29
Class: economy
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline 019283

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Round-trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:non stop
From: NYC
To: CUN
Departure dates: 8/21

Return dates: 8/25
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: ANY- have points with UR, Mileageplus, and BA avios
PLEase help! I cant find any award availibilty except on united which is a crazy amount. Thnak you!