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 2059862 times)

Offline Calculations

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9380 on: February 06, 2023, 12:09:16 AM »
No direct flight from NYC to VIE is eligible to be upgraded with UA miles.
Even if I book it through United in first place?

Offline arflights

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9381 on: February 06, 2023, 02:19:28 PM »
Even if I book it through United in first place?

No difference.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline Calculations

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9382 on: February 06, 2023, 03:02:52 PM »
No difference.
Wow thanks.

Are you sure?
Where could I see which flight is possible to upgrade and which flight not?

Offline arflights

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9383 on: February 07, 2023, 12:37:50 AM »
Wow thanks.

Are you sure?
Where could I see which flight is possible to upgrade and which flight not?

On DDF ;)
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline YOSSI170

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9384 on: February 08, 2023, 12:57:11 PM »
Round-trip:
Non-stop:
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: Mar 13
Return dates: Mar 16
Class: Business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: have UR and MR

Offline stendzzz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9385 on: February 10, 2023, 12:16:50 AM »
One way
Non-stop
From: cdg (or anywhere in paris)
To: nyc
Departure dates: august 2,3,4
Class: Any
Seats: 2 + infant
Alliance/Airline: have chase, citi, cap1 points
so far all ive found was around 65k + $80 ish and hoping to find cheaper
TIA

Offline arflights

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9386 on: February 10, 2023, 12:32:34 PM »
One way
Non-stop
From: cdg (or anywhere in paris)
To: nyc
Departure dates: august 2,3,4
Class: Any
Seats: 2 + infant
Alliance/Airline: have chase, citi, cap1 points
so far all ive found was around 65k + $80 ish and hoping to find cheaper
TIA

Probably worth your while just booking cash with French Bee (ORY-EWR) for $500 (incl bags and all). Using Points to pay yourself back will come out to "only" 50k.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline yaakovely

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9387 on: February 10, 2023, 01:35:46 PM »
One way
Non-stop
From: TLV
To: NYC, PHL
Departure dates: March 25-27
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: UA, UR, Cap1, MR / Any

Offline arflights

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9388 on: February 10, 2023, 02:55:21 PM »
One way
Non-stop
From: TLV
To: NYC, PHL
Departure dates: March 25-27
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: UA, UR, Cap1, MR / Any

There are no direct flights between TLV and PHL.
1 seat in premium is available in saver for EL AL on the 27th to JFK. Bookable with Quantas 70.8k +60 Eur.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline Yaakov7

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9389 on: February 11, 2023, 05:47:07 PM »
Looking for nyc-tlv could be up to 1 stop
 business class
April 23 or 24 1 way
Preferably Amex but also have chase and citi
bump
כל מקום שאני הולך, אני הולך לארץ ישראל

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9390 on: February 11, 2023, 09:05:09 PM »
bump

You can book EWR-ATH for 78.5k AC +73 CAD, and book a separate ticket with Aegean from ATH to TLV for $100-$150 in coach or $350-$400 in Business.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline yaakovely

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9391 on: February 13, 2023, 02:24:02 PM »
One way
Non-stop
From: TLV
To: EWR
Departure dates: March 27
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: UA Silver, UR, Cap1, MR / Any

Offline Wizard

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9392 on: February 14, 2023, 01:36:37 AM »
Round-trip
Non-stop
From: LGA JFK EWR (PHL etc)
To: MIA FLL
Departure dates: 02/20 morning
Return dates: 02/22 evening
Class: Any
Seats: 2

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

Offline MrsZev

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9393 on: February 20, 2023, 09:57:27 AM »
Pesach pipe dreams...

RT
Max 1 stop; No overnight layovers
From Chicago
To TLV
Departure March 29 or 30 (landing in time for Shabbat, which is 31st)
Return April 9 or 10 (landing in time for yontif, which is 11th PM)
Class: Any
Seats 6
Whatever status comes with AA CC, otherwise none; UR 700K, United 200K, nominal in other programs

Offline Shmelly

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9394 on: February 20, 2023, 11:49:51 AM »
Round-trip
Non-stop
From: JFK
To: TLV
Departure dates: 8/7-8/10
Return dates: 8/21-8/24
Class: Any
Seats: 6
I am likely looking for some award tickets and some paid - I have ~500K Marriott, 300K Chase, and 200K Cap1 Venture points. Best I am finding is about $1300 with AA or ElAl.
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. - Dr. Seuss

Offline gtyossi

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9395 on: February 21, 2023, 08:31:04 PM »
Round-trip
From: DTW
To: KRK
Departure dates: 3/12
Return dates: 3/16
Class: Any
Seats: 2

Offline smaxber

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9396 on: February 22, 2023, 12:07:39 AM »
Round trip
NYC-MEX
MAY 11 PM/MAY 12 AM
RETURN: May 14PM/May 15 AM
Economy
1 ticket
Have chase amex citi cap1, AA

CASH price is about 600-650 with SP comes to around >50,000 points. Anything cheaper?
« Last Edit: February 22, 2023, 12:16:24 AM by smaxber »

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9397 on: February 22, 2023, 06:36:19 AM »
I'm looking for a one way direct flight from LON to TLV on april 16 using avios. I can't seem to find any availability, is there a better way to search other that BA.com?
PM me for airline compensation help. Your case is not lost!

Offline rzil

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9398 on: February 22, 2023, 12:54:53 PM »
Looking for ticket Tvc-nyc in time for shabbat in Brooklyn Feb 24-26. There is a good delta flight in the morning but trying to figure out another way besides delta points

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9399 on: February 24, 2023, 12:44:05 PM »
Round-trip:
Non-stop or max 1 stop
From: EWR JFK lga phl
To: TLV
Departure dates: April 24
Return airports:
Return dates: May 1
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: AA (we have some AA miles)
We are flexible with the dates to get the most out of the few miles we have. So 6-7 days departing between April 23 and returning May 18.

Thanks so much for your help, as I am.no5 so good at this.
Haven't been to EY in a very long time and would really love to go!