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 1839011 times)

Offline MosheD

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How  many miles will it be ?
I was familiar with old ana, have not used new, but per ddms    http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/54287
55k/88k
You are allowed one stopover (more than 24 hours) and 2 connections each way
Open jaw may be tricky

P. S. Also miles take a couple days to transfer so unless you have ana miles no its not really shayich


Online etech0

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How hard is it to find / how far in advance would I need to book 2 united business tickets to Israel for Bein Hazmanim? With / without stopover.

Thanks!
bump
Only one of us currently has the Explorer card. Is it worth getting it now, so there will be better availability? (Have to book some tickets from each MP account)

Thanks
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline ygygold

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One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From: HKG
To: JFK
Departure dates: 11/11 - 11/12
Class: First/Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: No difference

I have 192K Chase Ultimate, 51,753 AA/USA with companion certificate, 57,439 Lufthansa.

I have tickets from the etihad glitch, but would want to upgrade for the return ticket.

Offline Palm5

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URGENT DUE TO THE BA DEVALUATION, PLEASE HELP!

One way/Round trip:RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:1
From: NYC, NEWARK, PHILLY
To: TLV
Departure dates: OCT 14>>>, NEED TO BE THERE FOR THE 24th, OTHERWISE DATES ARE FLEXIBLE
Return airports:NYC, NEWARK, PHILLY
Return dates: OCT 25>>
Class: BUSINESS
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: airkine with best biz class seats

Will be using SPG, CHASE, or SW POINTS

Thank you so much

Offline chucksterace

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One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From: HKG
To: JFK
Departure dates: 11/11 - 11/12
Class: First/Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: No difference

I have 192K Chase Ultimate, 51,753 AA/USA with companion certificate, 57,439 Lufthansa.

I have tickets from the etihad glitch, but would want to upgrade for the return ticket.

You can use Chase > United to fly in Business via Incheon(ICN). Just search on UAL.com
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Offline chucksterace

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One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops:non stop
From: NYC
To: Toronto (YYZ)
Departure date: 4/26/15 around 7pm
Return date: 4/28/15 around 7pm
Class: Economy unless business is a little more miles
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: ANY

TIA

IF you want to go non-stop just search the airlines websites. Nothing magic other people can bring up. Search AA, UA, Aeroplan, etc.
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Offline chucksterace

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Anyone able to help with United saver awards Economy to tel aviv.


Outbound: August 13 and on ( next week)
From: EWR
To: Tel Avuv
Maximum stops: 1
Return approx 2 weeks later
Seats: 2 people
Alliance: I have United miles 170,000

I do have United credit Card.

Was also looking at adding a stopover In EWR and then adding on last leg of trip in next 6 mos to west coast. If I book economy saver award with united using Air Canada do I forfeit the ability to add the additional leg with United? Any ways around this. Thank you

Still need help?
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Offline chucksterace

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So either you choose to ignore my ticket request or you have nothing to add..

I need to get to Zurich/ Switzerland .
Dates:
Outbound July 28 from nyc
Inbound: august 4-5 to Switzerland.
What's the best airline option to pull this off via points?

What class of travel? How many people?
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Offline ddfried

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What class of travel? How many people?
Thanks chuck.

I want to go ewr-vce (over shabbos)-zrh.. With a family of 4 -2 adults 2 kids and one infant in economy..
What airlines are my options. I want to keep switching planes to a minimum..
Your input is appreciated

Offline chucksterace

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URGENT DUE TO THE BA DEVALUATION, PLEASE HELP!

One way/Round trip:RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:1
From: NYC, NEWARK, PHILLY
To: TLV
Departure dates: OCT 14>>>, NEED TO BE THERE FOR THE 24th, OTHERWISE DATES ARE FLEXIBLE
Return airports:NYC, NEWARK, PHILLY
Return dates: OCT 25>>
Class: BUSINESS
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: airkine with best biz class seats

Will be using SPG, CHASE, or SW POINTS

Thank you so much

On 10/14 you have via WAW on LOT. Or you have on BA via LHR. (All business)

Return you have

On 10/26 with Royal Jordanian via AMM. (All business).

Or you have with flying blue. Go onto their website to see.

Thats all I can tell with a quick search
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Offline chucksterace

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Thanks chuck.

I want to go ewr-vce (over shabbos)-zrh.. With a family of 4 -2 adults 2 kids and one infant in economy..
What airlines are my options. I want to keep switching planes to a minimum..
Your input is appreciated

Put your request in the format thats in the WIKI please. Thank you.
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Offline Palm5

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On 10/14 you have via WAW on LOT. Or you have on BA via LHR. (All business)

Return you have

On 10/26 with Royal Jordanian via AMM. (All business).

Or you have with flying blue. Go onto their website to see.

Thats all I can tell with a quick search

How much are they going for and which pts to use? What about fuel surcharge?

Thank you btw

Offline chucksterace

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How much are they going for and which pts to use? What about fuel surcharge?

Thank you btw

Look on Matrix to see what they are going for.

For the BA and AJ options Points would be AA or BA + Fuel fees.
For the outbound LOT option you can book at 80k on United + No fees.
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Offline ddfried

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Put your request in the format thats in the WIKI please. Thank you.
One way[/b]
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From: JFK,EWR, LGA
To: VCE
Departure dates: 07/30
Class: ECONOMY
Seats: 4

One way[/b]
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From:[/b VCE
To: ZRH
Departure dates: 8/2
Class: ECONOMY
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: No difference
Alliance/Airline: No difference

One way

Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From:[/b ZRH
To: JFK,EWR,LGA
Departure dates: 8/6
Class: First/BUSINESS
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: No difference

Offline chucksterace

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One way[/b]
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From: JFK,EWR, LGA
To: VCE
Departure dates: 07/30
Class: ECONOMY
Seats: 4

One way[/b]
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From:[/b VCE
To: ZRH
Departure dates: 8/2
Class: ECONOMY
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: No difference
Alliance/Airline: No difference

One way

Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max 1
From:[/b ZRH
To: JFK,EWR,LGA
Departure dates: 8/6
Class: First/BUSINESS
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: No difference

Economy using UA miles for all that should cost you 87.5k per person round trip.

NYC - VCE (Stopover)
VCE - ZRH (Destination)
ZRH - NYC (Return)

Now just gotta search flights. Unfortuntely I gotta go board my 12.5 hour flight soon and can't see some searched. Search on UAL.com and Aeropolan for flights. If you see flights on Aeroplan that do not show up via UAL.com call United and they can probably book it.

IF you don't have anything by Monday evening, Tuesday Afternoon I may have some time to search a bit. But now I gotta get on a plane. Best of luck.

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Offline ddfried

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Ok thanks tons.. I'll try to work on my own.. Have a safe trip..

Offline leaf

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What is the likelihood of CX ORD-HKG F or J partner award opening up in August?
Trying to decide between booking KE F JFK-ICN-HKG (available) with 80k UR versus CX Y JFK-ORD-HKG+ with AA with the hope that F or J open up. Rather burn AA than UR and with AA award I can add another destination at same price (don't need stopover).
Also, if I book CX JFK-ORD-HKG (Y) and JFK-HKG opens up (any class) can I switch flights without a fee?

Offline davidd75

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Im travelling nyc/phl to phoenix May 10 Ret may 13.  I am finding plenty of nonstop award flights from EWR(United miles) or PHL(avios or AA)  to Phoenix but coming up dry on the return on may 13.  Any other ideas? Maybe better to purchase one way tickets?  etc....

ONE WAY
PHOENIX - NYC/PHL
MAY 13, 2015
ECONOMY
2 PASSENGERS



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How do I search availability for JFK-MACL if I will be using AA points? Can I search for it on AA.com, or need to use another website?

Offline chucksterace

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How do I search availability for JFK-MACL if I will be using AA points? Can I search for it on AA.com, or need to use another website?

AA
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