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 1839187 times)

Offline mow

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round trip
Non-stop
From: nyc
To: yvr  (vancouver)
Departure dates: aug 21-22
Return date: aug 28 - 30
Seats: 2
I have aa miles, continental miles, starwood points , amex mr and chase sapphire
what is the best way aa does not have any 12500 miles on those dates , continental has but the way back is a stopover and the charge 243 on top of the miles
any help will be greatly appreciated

Offline PlatinumGuy

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can you fly to Seattle and drive (120 miles) to Vancouver? - Seattle is an awesome place, and it would be a domestic award so it won't cost you 243 (international fees are higher)
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline mow

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Yes I think I can if u can take a rent a car over the border
150 of the fees are from booking within 21 days on continental so don't think I'm gonna save much there but maybe another airline any ideas?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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You can try Delta.
״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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If I were you I'd go one way through Seattle just to see it.
״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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Also I'd take a stopover - It will only add an hour or two to your total travel time and it helps break up the trip - two 2 hour flights are much better than a 5 hour flight.

I think OnePass Elite members aren't charged the  $75 fee, so if you know someone who has it, they can book it for you (with your names on the tickeets) and you just transfer your MR to HIS CO acct. ( I don't have 1)
 

anyway sounds like an awesome trip - I'm jealous
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline mow

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sounds like a great idea now to find someone that has elite
is seatle that nice that its worth it

Offline PlatinumGuy

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I've never been to Seattle but I'm trying to arrange a trip with a friend around those dates...

there's a CO nonstop 12,500 return on the 28th from Seattle at 4 PM.


this Itinerary cost 50,00 miles and $160. not sure if it includes all the fees.


OnePass Platinum members don't pay those 21-day fees


Mon., Aug. 22, 2011 | New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) to Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR)
Depart:
7:30 a.m.
Mon., Aug. 22, 2011
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Arrive:
10:33 a.m.
Mon., Aug. 22, 2011
Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR)
Travel Time:
6 hr 3 mn   
Flight: CO1711
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900
Fare Class: Economy (X)
Meal: Food for Purchase
No Special Meal Offered.
Rail service available between Newark Liberty Airport and Manhattan.
Sun., Aug. 28, 2011 | Seattle, WA (SEA) to New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Depart:
4:00 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 28, 2011
Seattle, WA (SEA)
Arrive:
11:55 p.m.
Sun., Aug. 28, 2011
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)
Travel Time:
4 hr 55 mn   
Flight: CO1991
Aircraft: Boeing 767-400ER
Fare Class: Economy (X)
Meal: None
Note: You are arriving Vancouver, BC Canada (YVR) and departing Seattle, WA (SEA).
Rail service available between Newark Liberty Airport and Manhattan.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline mow

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thanks for the help

Offline PlatinumGuy

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

Offline dovidb

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ticket from tlv to nyc using aa miles
« Reply #230 on: August 21, 2011, 03:03:10 PM »
Round trip:
Any:
From:tlv
To: any tri state area inc. phili
Departure dates:from the 9th to the 11th of october
Return dates: 25th thru 29th octtober
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: aa one worl miles

Offline karen

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If I want to visit China from Boston. Is it possible to stopover in Hawaii in a reward ticket? If it is possible, which airline and what points will work? Thanks!

Offline goodenglewood

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O/W
From:ord
To: tlv
Departure dates:from the 9th to the 11th of october
Class: Biz
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: *A
Thanks

Offline PlatinumGuy

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O/W
From:ord
To: tlv
Departure dates:from the 9th to the 11th of october
Class: Biz
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: *A
Thanks

from CO.com


Tue., Oct. 11, 2011 | Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) to Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
Depart:
6:32 p.m.
Tue., Oct. 11, 2011
Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare)
Arrive:
9:55 a.m. +1 Day
Wed., Oct. 12, 2011
Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
Travel Time:
8 hr 23 mn   
Flight: UA940
Operated by United Airlines.
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
Fare Class: Business (C)
Meal: Dinner
No Special Meal Offered.
Wed., Oct. 12, 2011 | Frankfurt, Germany (FRA) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
Depart:
10:25 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 12, 2011
Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
Arrive:
2:20 a.m. +1 Day
Thu., Oct. 13, 2011
Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
Travel Time:
3 hr 55 mn   
Flight: LH690
Operated by Lufthansa.
Aircraft: Airbus A340-600
Fare Class: Business (I)
Meal: Meal
No Special Meal Offered.
Note: You are departing Chicago, IL (ORD - O'Hare) and arriving Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV).



its pricing out for me at a ridiculous price - 300k. Call them to correct it.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Candy

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Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: non stop or one stop
From: NY, EWR, Philadelphia
To: TLV
Departure dates: 12/11
Return airports: EWR, NY, Philadelphia
Return dates: 12/21 or 12/22
Class: (business)Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: any

I am new to this and checked Continental and US Airway and see only one way for 75,000 points- 2 ways for 1500?? Am I doing something wrong? I am spending hours looking over all these forums...
I also have an infant.
I don't have the points yet but hope to get them soon.... Will have about 175000 MR and 30000 SPG and 80000 Chase Ultimate Rewards
Thanks so much.

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Anyone with AA status?
Please, can you check availability for a 12.5k reward MIA>NYC AUG 28?

I'm trying to convert a LAX>JFK 25k to Shabbos in Miami. I have LAX>MCO AUG 25 12.5k, now looking to get back to ny after shabbos.

Its not giving me any flights until tuesday which makes me think they're limiting bookin for available inventory.

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

Offline Dan

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Only AA EXP gets added inventory by calling the EXP AAngel desk.
Doubt we have too many (any?) EXPs here on DDF.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline yare

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Only AA EXP gets added inventory by calling the EXP AAngel desk.
Doubt we have too many (any?) EXPs here on DDF.
what, you didn't hit 10mm from citicard churning??

Offline Dan

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what, you didn't hit 10mm from citicard churning??
There is no EXP at 10mm AFAIK.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Only AA EXP gets added inventory by calling the EXP AAngel desk.
Doubt we have too many (any?) EXPs here on DDF.


Thanks. Plan aborted.

but that wouldn't have helped much because by calling the desk they would free up seats - and that wouldn't help me with changing this award, which is already booked.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים