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 1839002 times)

Offline ygygold

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Any way to book HA with UR? I currently have UR/some AA. (Wrong thread?)

Offline ShaindyR

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Hi looking for a ticket, just cant find any award availability

NYC/MEL

Business class

One way/one passenger

Aug 2 2015

Offline Montreal

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Roundtrip
Don't care how many stops
YUL (Montreal) or nearby airports even NYC airports
TLV
I have a wedding Aug 25
so any time from Aug 18/23
Return dates: August 24 to sep 1
economy class
2 people
any airline
I have Amex and Aeroplan points

Offline tjak

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One way

Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: no preference

From: EWR, JFK, PHL
To: TLV

Departure dates: Aug 11 or 12

Class: Business

Seats: 1

Alliance/Airline: one world.

Offline jsdinsd

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One way/Round trip:RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: As few as possible
From: All airports from which you can depart: San Diego
To: All airports which you can arrive at.: TLV
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. somewhat flexible but around Nov. 22, 2015
Return dates: Somewhat flex but around Nov. 29, 2015
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: While business would be lovely prob Coach unless an upgrade is a bargain.  :)
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 2
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with: Flexable
Booking on AMEX points.
Thanks a million!!! Dan, You Rock!  :D

Offline sruly

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One way/Round trip:RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:2
From: LAX
To: TLV
Departure dates: AUG 5
Return dates: AUG 9-11
Class: First/Business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: ANY- PLENTY OF POINTS AVAIL

Offline CHI

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  • Location: Chicago
One way- ORD - HAN
If needed will fly to JFK
Maximum stops- 2
Departure dates: Nov 1st 2015
Class: First/Business
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: Star-  One World open to others too
Have points -CITI Thank you, UR , MR
Have Miles - UA and AA

Thanks!!!!

Offline LoLo

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Looking for evening flight Aug 20 ZRH -NYC, no availability on aeroplan so far, any chances of opening up?

Offline vague

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One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Prefer non-stop but willing to make one stop
From: PHL
To: FLL
Departure dates: 8/7/2015
Return dates: 8/9
Class: Business…?
Seats: 1

I have a decent amount of UR to work with, and some actual flown miles on American and United.
idk if this is a thing that people do, but I’m willing to offer a $20 cash (or equivalent) reward for helping me find this.

Offline vin3

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need help finding award tickets
« Reply #6869 on: July 31, 2015, 12:54:29 PM »
Newbie needs help. Trying to book:5 tickets with an abundance of miles!If I could max out an additional trip via open jaw, all the better!
Round Trip
Any stops
From: CLE, JFK, EWR, Chicago, PHL
To: TLV
Departure dates: Between 12/19 and 12/21
Return dates: 12/31 to 1/3/16
Class: Any
Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 5 seats
Alliance/Airline: I have plenty of American Express miles. prefer not on BA cus of fuel surcharge.

Offline mileagejunkie

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Re: need help finding award tickets
« Reply #6870 on: July 31, 2015, 01:00:19 PM »
Newbie needs help. Trying to book:5 tickets with an abundance of miles!If I could max out an additional trip via open jaw, all the better!
Round Trip
Any stops
From: CLE, JFK, EWR, Chicago, PHL
To: TLV
Departure dates: Between 12/19 and 12/21
Return dates: 12/31 to 1/3/16
Class: Any
Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 5 seats
Alliance/Airline: I have plenty of American Express miles. prefer not on BA cus of fuel surcharge.

Welcome to the forums! Post on the award flight master thread!

Offline CHI

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  • Location: Chicago
One way- ORD - HAN
If needed will fly to JFK,YYZ, EWR
Maximum stops- 2
Departure dates: Nov 1st 2015
Class: First/Business
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: Star-  One World open to others too
Have points -CITI Thank you, UR , MR
Have Miles - UA and AA

Thanks!!!!

Offline zionest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6872 on: August 02, 2015, 02:13:31 AM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Maximum stops 2
From: NYC (JFK EWR ETC.) PHL
To:LAS
Departure dates: 8/2/15
Return dates: 8/5/15
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: ANY (I HAVE MILES WITH MULTIPLE CARRIERS)

Offline coralsnake

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6873 on: August 03, 2015, 09:39:38 AM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Maximum stops 2
From: NYC (JFK EWR ETC.) PHL
To:LAS
Departure dates: 8/2/15
Return dates: 8/5/15
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: ANY (I HAVE MILES WITH MULTIPLE CARRIERS)

Since you wanted to leave yesterday I assume you did. But for the return on 8/5 AA 210 LAX-JFK has availability.
"Here at DansDeals we don’t do buses." -Dan

Offline nbnuti

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6874 on: August 03, 2015, 01:14:45 PM »
Round trip- NYC-MIA (or anywhere nerby)
If needed will fly From PHL
Maximum stops- 2
Departure dates: AUG 6th or 7th 2015
Return Date Aug 9th or 10th early morning.
Class: economy
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: Star-  BA One World open to others too
Have points -SPG, UR , MR
Have Miles - BA UA and AA

Thanks!!!!

Offline CholentTheTraveler

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6875 on: August 04, 2015, 01:51:11 PM »
Looking for a flight LAX>PNH
1 pax
Leaving 30th November 2015 and returning December 2nd 2015
Economy or business (got plenty of MR/UR etc)

Offline eagertolearn

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6876 on: August 04, 2015, 05:49:18 PM »
Round trip:
No preference for stops
From: LAX
To: JFK and surrounding airports
Departure dates: Week of August 9: the day that is the cheapest.
Return dates: Week of August 23
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any airline works.
I am looking to get this ticket for my friend. He wants a flight ASAP.
Thanks so much

Offline newdaybegin@gmail.com

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6877 on: August 05, 2015, 01:40:19 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip or one way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Maximum stops it doesn't matter i am ok with everything
From: SEA
To: MLE
Departure dates: any date from Jan  to April 2016
Return dates: try to get a trip for 6-8 day
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any w/o  fuel surcharges (i had aa and united and Chase and Amex reward as well)

Thank in advance

Offline elimmm

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6878 on: August 05, 2015, 02:13:30 PM »
One way
Non-stop preferred, Maximum 1 short stop
From: NYC or  PHL
To: TLV
Departure dates: 8/25/15 (plus/ minus 1 day)
Class: Business
Seats:3
Alliance/Airline: ANY

Any leads would be appreciated
i've only found 162.5k DL, 187k AF, 125k AA
Thank you!

Offline emak

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6879 on: August 05, 2015, 08:50:52 PM »
One Way.
 Vancouver (or Seattle if necessary)
to: NYC/ PHL
Aug. 13/14
Any airline, looking for saver eco/biz
Preferably Direct
TIA