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 1839702 times)

Offline MnM1130

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need help finding 4 tickets(2 adults, 2 children) from TLV-NYC 11/3-11/23 (24)
the chpst i found to pay for them is about 900$ a ticket (stopover)... i looked at a few award bookings but saw nothing great- than again i dont know how to search to well... (still learning) looking to book on any airline and the chpst way... (although no crazy stopover cus of the kids) and would love a straight flight. and would def not mind business ;) anyone care to help or direct me in the right place?
(for some reason i can NEVER find anything normal on CO award bookings.. what am i doing wrong?)

Offline ay

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Looking to book JFK - TLV on Delta through Flying blue (AF).

10/24 - 10/31 (can be a day before or after)

two adults.

Anyone see availability?

Thanks!


Offline sametfam

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need help finding 4 tickets(2 adults, 2 children) from TLV-NYC 11/3-11/23 (24)
the chpst i found to pay for them is about 900$ a ticket (stopover)... i looked at a few award bookings but saw nothing great- than again i dont know how to search to well... (still learning) looking to book on any airline and the chpst way... (although no crazy stopover cus of the kids) and would love a straight flight. and would def not mind business ;) anyone care to help or direct me in the right place?
(for some reason i can NEVER find anything normal on CO award bookings.. what am i doing wrong?)

thursday 11/3 - sunday 11/27 :)

Offline Daniel

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Can someone point me to the post/thread which discusses how to search for availability on delta using flying blue?
Is it as simple as searching delta.com for reward availability?

Offline MnM1130

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thursday 11/3 - sunday 11/27 :)
woops.. my bad. lol
but welcome!

Offline bestwatchman

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One way/Round trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: non stop preffered
From: Atl, nyc area
To: Tlv
Departure dates: Around march 12, pretty much anytime right after purim
Return dates: 8-10 days from departure
Class: if i have enough miles i'll do business, otherwise I'll suffer with coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have 207000 delta miles, and about 80000 amex mr plus however much they advance

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Offline Chaikel

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One way/Round trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: non stop preffered
From: Atl, nyc area
To: Tlv
Departure dates: Around march 12, pretty much anytime right after purim
Return dates: 8-10 days from departure
Class: if i have enough miles i'll do business, otherwise I'll suffer with coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have 207000 delta miles, and about 80000 amex mr plus however much they advance

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

3/12-21 is 120k Delta in First/Business Elite. Outbound is 2 stops, but you can probably get an agent to drop the ATL-EWR flight, and start from EWR
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Offline AsherO

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3/12-21 is 120k Delta in First/Business Elite. Outbound is 2 stops, but you can probably get an agent to drop the ATL-EWR flight, and start from EWR

Isn't that an extremely long overnight in AMS?
« Last Edit: July 25, 2011, 06:45:32 PM by AsherO »
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Offline Chaikel

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Isn't that an extremely low overnight in AMS?
Uh... yes...
Didn't realize. Cut me some slack, it's pro-bono  :P
« Last Edit: July 25, 2011, 06:51:17 PM by Chaikel »
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Offline AsherO

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Uh... yes...
Didn't realize. Cut me some slack, it's pro-bono :p

Was there a gentler way to alert you to that fact?
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Offline Chaikel

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Was there a gentler way to alert you to that fact?
No, hence the :P
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Offline savingrace

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DFW to NBO with AA
« Reply #191 on: July 25, 2011, 10:12:43 PM »
Round trip:
Any: Would prefer to stop for a night or whatever is needed on arrival flight.
From: Our home airports are MTJ or GJT, but it is probably not worth it to include this in mileage reward? So we can fly from nearly any airport. DFW and DEN are preferred.
To: NBO
Departure dates: 1/11/12 to 1/15/12
Return airports:
Return dates: Prefer 1/8/12, but can do 1/7/12
Class: First/Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: AA




Hi all - I need to be in Kenya for a safari on 1/18/11. Below is what I got using AA reservations. It would cost $1745 for coach, 50,000 miles for business upgrade on AA flights, and $700 co-payment.

And our home airport is GJT or MTJ, so we would have to add on the cost of that ticket. I thought it would be too difficult to include in award mileage.

I have 82,000 AA miles, and should soon have 50,000 chase saphire credits. Also 40,000 US Air in future.

I would rather have business the whole way  :), but if not I would rather have business class on the NBO to LHO on departure.
And I know it costs more to fly through London, so any European city to stop for a night or so is fine. So if anyone can think of a better way to do this than upgrading with AA, I would appreciate it. And I am flexible on the departure date, as long as I am Nairobi by the 17th.

I truly think learning Swahili would be easier than trying to learn how to use airline miles the best way. Thanks so much in advance for any help. - Cheryl

Date:   11 JAN 12 - WEDNESDAY
Flight :   American Airlines 78 BOEING 767 300
Departure:   DALLAS FT WORTH 8:15 PM          9HR 20MIN
Arrival:   LONDON HEATHROW 11:35 AM TERMINAL 3 NON-STOP  12 JAN 12 - THURSDAY
BUSINESS AADV/
FF#: AA-   

Date:   15 JAN 12 - SUNDAY Flight :   British Airways 65 BOEING 777
Departure:    LONDON HEATHROW  10:15 AM  TERMINAL 5   8HR 25MIN
Arrival:   NAIROBI KENYATTA  9:40 PM  NON-STOP
EURO/WORLD TRA
FF#: AA-   

Date:   07 FEB 12 - TUESDAY Flight :   American Airlines 6654 BOEING 777
Departure:    NAIROBI KENYATTA  11:30 PM 8HR 50MIN
Arrival:   LONDON HEATHROW 5:20 AM   TERMINAL 5  NON-STOP   08 FEB 12 - WEDNESDAY   
OPERATED BY BRITISH AIRWAYS
ECONOMY
FF#: AA-

Date:   08 FEB 12 - WEDNESDAY Flight :   American Airlines 51  BOEING 777
Departure:    LONDON HEATHROW 9:45 AM TERMINAL 3 10HR 20MIN
Arrival:   DALLAS FT WORTH 2:05 PM  NON-STOP
BUSINESS AADV/
FF#: AA-   



Offline sbd

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Trying to figure out my best option to go to TLV.
Ideally leaving from ATL but LAX or any NY airport is also ok.

Any time in November for about 10 days - 2 weeks

2 adults 1 child (not infant)

We have 205,000 BA miles

Whats our cheapest options?

Offline aarony

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One way/Round trip: round trip (two one ways)
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:1
From:  any NYC or PHL
To: TLV
Departure dates: July 25, 2012 thru August 4, 2012
Return dates: 2-3 weeks laster
Class:Buisness (or coach if i have to)
Seats: 6 but we can split up if need be to 3/3 or 4/2
Alliance/Airline: have approx 380k continental; 320K AA; 150K SPG

i don't think this is bookable yet, but i am trying to strategize...
i would imagine i should try to book one way on AA (elal) and one way on Continental (US Air or Continental) -
question is, when does availability start for my dates and which direction am i better off booking through AA -
i also have 300K BA - taxes coming back are between 250-300 per ticket which would not be terrible, but due to the olympics flying through LHR next summer may be difficult to get....

Offline Monsey

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Looking for 4 one way  tickets in economy from msq-dtw (if nothing available then to nyc is also fine) on august 28th or 29th using co miles. Tried but could really find anything except msq-fra-mia but cant find anything out of mia. Thanks

Offline Moishebatchy

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Need help with two one-way tickets...

From: NYC area airports (JFK, EWR, LGA, possibly PHL)
To: TLV
Departure dates: October 3, 4, or 5, 2011
Class: Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any, but preferably Star

Thanks!

Offline PlatinumGuy

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CO has OW awards. USair doesn't. I'm assuming you have Amex MR and can transfer to any partner?
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline PlatinumGuy

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CO has OW on the 3rd and 4th.

EWR: for the higher priced rewards 150,000 per person. Either direct from EWR (departing 10:30PM) or thru Germany (7:30Pm 24hr travel time)>

JFk: 3rd: 60k miles, departing 7:30pm thru germany with 22hr travel time

good luck
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline PlatinumGuy

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@ay - FB has ridiculous taxes and fees (approx. $500).
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Chaikel

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@ay - FB has ridiculous taxes and fees (approx. $500).
Not ridiculous as spending 150k CO on a oneway,
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