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.
pointsyeah.com and awardtool.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.


« Last edited by baron on February 26, 2025, 02:50:47 PM »

Author Topic: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)  (Read 2363298 times)

Offline postoffice

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Are you signed in before you search?

That was it. Thank you!

Offline ASC

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What's the best way to book an award ticket from NYC to TLV?  Prefer to fly United.

Offline DeerFeet

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9602 on: August 02, 2024, 08:16:15 AM »
One way/Round-trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop
From: CUN, TQO
To: FLL, MIA, FXE
Departure dates: 8/23/24

Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Sitting on UR, CapO, ~20k JB

Offline arflights

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9603 on: August 02, 2024, 11:29:49 AM »
One way/Round-trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop
From: CUN, TQO
To: FLL, MIA, FXE
Departure dates: 8/23/24

Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Sitting on UR, CapO, ~20k JB

CUN-FLL 5,200 JetBlue.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline Glamette

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9604 on: August 19, 2024, 10:52:02 PM »
Hi! I'm looking for what seems to be impossible.
Round-trip or One-Way:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From:  JFK, LGA, or EWR
To: KIN, MBJ, OCJ
Departure dates: DEC 22 or 23
Return airports: JFK, LGA, or EWR
Return dates: JAN 03
Class: Any
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: any
I have 125k Amex points and 100k Chase

Offline Yr18

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9605 on: September 08, 2024, 04:21:32 PM »
Looking for tix to nyc to israel one way Oct 13th lots of points open to anything

Offline elyash90

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9606 on: September 10, 2024, 08:23:35 PM »
Need help getting a one way flight from TLV-LAX October 27th. Willing to book 2 separate flights if needed. Points or money.

2 Adults and infant under 2.

Thank you!

Offline DeerFeet

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9607 on: September 11, 2024, 08:37:10 AM »
One way/Round-trip: Round-trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop
From: EWR
To: CDG, ORY
Departure dates: 12/28/24 (depart after 730), 12/29/24
Return dates: 1/1/24,1/2/24
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Notes: have a bunch of AF, CO, UR points

Offline MountainWest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9608 on: September 15, 2024, 12:24:28 PM »
TLDR: Tix for Family from Anywhere in Western USA to SA.
Round-trip or One-Way: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From:  Anywhere in Western USA (I live in small town so I am open to driving/flying domestic to get to bigger airport)
To: JNB
Departure dates: Jan (anytime)
Return airports: Anywhere in Western USA
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: any
I have lots of UR. Basically looking for any way to get a family from Western USA to South Africa in Jauanry, any way possible.
I'm hoping for a Chase transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic, plus a Black Friday 33% off Virgin sale to scoop up tix from NY for 13k $300/way.
Any other ideas from Western USA?

Offline Azis Papa

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9609 on: September 18, 2024, 07:53:19 AM »
One way:
Up to one stop
From: TLV
To: JFK, LGA, EWR
Departure dates: November 3,4,or 5
Class: Any - lowest cost please
Seats: 1 Adult (senior)
Alliance/Airline: Any
Have UR, MR, TYP, AA, DLT, UA

Offline TzviL

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9610 on: September 22, 2024, 01:44:16 PM »
One way/Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:
From: DOM
To: EWR
Departure dates: Feb 3,4,5 2025

Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: United Mileage Plus

I would like to travel to dominica for winter vacation. Unfortunately, I mistakenly booked the wrong dates initially and the flight with Silver Airways from DOM to EWR with a stop in SJU is no longer available to be booked with miles from united. I booked a flight for the 6.
I tried contacting united through iMessage and no one says they can help me change it to tuesday. Is there any known workaround to get the ticket switched to a date that is showing unavailable?
Thanks

Offline TheGlobeTrotter

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9611 on: September 24, 2024, 02:58:38 AM »
One way/Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:
From: DOM
To: EWR
Departure dates: Feb 3,4,5 2025

Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: United Mileage Plus

I would like to travel to dominica for winter vacation. Unfortunately, I mistakenly booked the wrong dates initially and the flight with Silver Airways from DOM to EWR with a stop in SJU is no longer available to be booked with miles from united. I booked a flight for the 6.
I tried contacting united through iMessage and no one says they can help me change it to tuesday. Is there any known workaround to get the ticket switched to a date that is showing unavailable?
Thanks

If it's shown as unavailable, there's almost zero chance for you to switch it to that date, especially on a partnered flight.

Offline TheGlobeTrotter

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9612 on: September 24, 2024, 03:07:29 AM »
Hi! I'm looking for what seems to be impossible.
Round-trip or One-Way:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From:  JFK, LGA, or EWR
To: KIN, MBJ, OCJ
Departure dates: DEC 22 or 23
Return airports: JFK, LGA, or EWR
Return dates: JAN 03
Class: Any
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: any
I have 125k Amex points and 100k Chase

You don't have enough miles to redeem one-way for all four people. You need at least 140k Chase UR points.

United has a one-way EWR-MBJ on Copa Airlines on 12/22 for 35k + $49.60 per person in Y (transferring Chase UR to United MP). It's also available in reverse (same airports/airline) on 1/3 for 35k + $95.63.

You *could* get the rest of what you need for EWR-MBJ on 12/22 by transferring Amex MR to either Aeroplan or JetBlue, but that's a rather inefficient use of CC points.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2024, 03:12:56 AM by TheGlobeTrotter »

Offline Flash613

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9613 on: September 24, 2024, 04:16:49 PM »
Are there good ways to book RT flights to South Florida (PBI, FLL, or MIA) from CLE in early Feb 2025 (CLE winter break) using AA miles or Ulitimate Rewards? Thanks.

Offline TheGlobeTrotter

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9614 on: September 27, 2024, 05:31:05 AM »
Are there good ways to book RT flights to South Florida (PBI, FLL, or MIA) from CLE in early Feb 2025 (CLE winter break) using AA miles or Ulitimate Rewards? Thanks.

Stop cross-posting the same question across multiple boards. It's not going to help you get answers any faster.

Regarding this question, what have you looked at already for booking options?

Offline Flash613

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9615 on: September 29, 2024, 09:43:51 PM »
just directly on United or American

Offline WSC

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9616 on: September 30, 2024, 01:54:25 AM »
Looking for flights from Athens to nyc on October 8th nonstop

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9617 on: September 30, 2024, 06:54:21 PM »
Die hard met then can somebody please help me I live in in New York any airport in New York to Milwaukee tomorrow has to be a morning or very early afternoon flight and then come home Wednesday morning or Wednesday afternoon. I have points and credit card points on everything and deals to Milwaukee from New York.

Offline Dawie

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9618 on: September 30, 2024, 08:20:21 PM »
Fly to ORD and drive

Offline urielh36

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9619 on: October 06, 2024, 12:28:15 PM »
One way:
Up to two stops
From: TLV
To: JFK, LGA, EWR, PHL
Departure dates: OCT 27,28
Class: Any - lowest cost please
Seats: 1 Adult (senior)
Alliance/Airline: Any
Have UR, MR, TYP, AA, DLT, UA