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 1839618 times)

Offline ddfried

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Hey! Thanks for starting this.. if anyone can help that would be great!


One way
Non-stop
From: JFK, LGA, EWR
To: Den
Departure dates: August 5/6
Class: Prefer coach
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: I have miles with AA, BA, southwest, city thank you


Thanks in advance for all the help!!!!!!

Offline dbel23

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As of now there is nothing good for your departure, though there is a flight available with aa for your return. The 9:25 am flight from MIA to LGA on 12/31 has your seats available. It's 7.5k pp with BA miles, which I would recommend that you transfer from MR. (definitely don't use AA miles for this flight).

thanks a lot! i'll check it out

Offline ddfried

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There are no wanna get away seats available on southwest for a one way trip to Denver. What are my other cheap points options?

Direct. One way, nyc-den.
5 tickets
August 6

Offline Tom Brady

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There are no wanna get away seats available on southwest for a one way trip to Denver. What are my other cheap points options?

Direct. One way, nyc-den.
5 tickets
August 6

Delta and United both fly that route, but there's no saver availability. As far as Southwest, since it's revenue based and the cost of points increases with the cost of tickets, the price will likely only go up closer to the flight.

Offline shoobi

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One Way
From: ORD
To: NYC area or PHL (Lakewood)
Date: 7/26
Seats: 1
Preferably nonstop

I have all currencies and lots. Would rather use MR, not UR, def not SPG
Trying with Avios but seeing nothing except a 6am flight which won't work. Anyone want to help/ have better ideas?

(yes I know it's 9 Av)

Update: ended up booking the JFK flight with DL, 12.5K MR, as suggested by Tom Brady (thanks)
Nothing opened up in AA

Offline ddfried

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Delta and United both fly that route, but there's no saver availability. As far as Southwest, since it's revenue based and the cost of points increases with the cost of tickets, the price will likely only go up closer to the flight.
Thanks to Tom.. Southwest already went up:-( .. As for united you think availability will open up closer to departure!

Offline Tom Brady

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Update: ended up booking the JFK flight with DL, 12.5K MR, as suggested by Tom Brady (thanks)
Nothing opened up in AA
You're welcome, though I apologize in advance for making you book this, for when your aa flight opens up motzei shabbos☺

Offline Tom Brady

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Thanks to Tom.. Southwest already went up:-( .. As for united you think availability will open up closer to departure!
Availability generally does open up within the few days before departure. It's hard to predict though, and even if seats open up, could very well be less than 5.

Offline youG

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Looking to book a flight thats available on google flights but says need travel agent to book, Anyone here able to do that for me?

Offline shoobi

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You're welcome, though I apologize in advance for making you book this, for when your aa flight opens up motzei shabbos☺

Can I cancel a DL award for free?

Offline coralsnake

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Can I cancel a DL award for free?
Not unless you have status with DL
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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I enjoy flying Transcons in lie-flat. Does anyone have any luck scoring availability with SkyMiles?
Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. –J. Paul Getty

Offline flyhigher

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Round trip
no stops
nyc-all airports
mco-or something close like tempa
jan 17
jan 22
couch
2 seats
prefer southwest or ba (have ur points) because of cancelation policy

Offline coralsnake

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I enjoy flying Transcons in lie-flat. Does anyone have any luck scoring availability with SkyMiles?
Much better availability on UA or AA.
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline MrPrime1

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Generally speaking, what would be the best mileage program to use to fly from NYC to Thailand? Specifically ko Samui and phuket?

Offline Mogee

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Round trip
Stop in LA
LGA, JFK, Newark
Hawaii
August 6-9 LA
9-16 to Hawaii
16 back to NY
2 seats
Have chase ink points
Thanks!

Offline grodnoking

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can we place a link for the paid addition of this thread in the wiki because I can't seem to find that thread on the search engine
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline yochiek93

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can we place a link for the paid addition of this thread in the wiki because I can't seem to find that thread on the search engine
its already in the wiki

Offline grodnoking

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its already in the wiki
Ah. Didnt see it
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline mena613

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Anyone have Avois points or vouchers/upgrades they want to sell for the attached flight with Air Berlin ? Need it for two passengers and an infant !