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 1839693 times)

Offline Iz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6940 on: September 05, 2015, 10:14:39 PM »
You're not doing anything wrong. It's because the cheaper amounts are only if there is saver availability, of which there is usually just about zero on those routes.
Thanks a lot for the reply. Ok, so now what would you suggest? Is this whole idea of using miles to TLV on J foolish?

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6941 on: September 05, 2015, 10:23:32 PM »
Thanks a lot for the reply. Ok, so now what would you suggest? Is this whole idea of using miles to TLV on J foolish?
No problem. Btw I realize I was unclear. There is just about zero saver availability on those specific nonstop flights, but if you're willing to take a stop, there are usually several options.
So to answer your question, it may be foolish to plan to fly to TLV nonstop in J on points. If you're willing to take a stop though, then it's not foolish at all.
I see for your return there is availability on Austrian Air in J, with a short connection. It's 80k United miles one way if you're interested. I'm looking for your departure now.

Offline Iz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6942 on: September 05, 2015, 10:45:50 PM »
No problem. Btw I realize I was unclear. There is just about zero saver availability on those specific nonstop flights, but if you're willing to take a stop, there are usually several options.
So to answer your question, it may be foolish to plan to fly to TLV nonstop in J on points. If you're willing to take a stop though, then it's not foolish at all.
I see for your return there is availability on Austrian Air in J, with a short connection. It's 80k United miles one way if you're interested. I'm looking for your departure now.
Understood. Thanks loads!

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6943 on: September 06, 2015, 03:18:27 PM »
Looking for opinions....
Book flights for 4 people MCO-LGA using 10k ultimate rewards and pay $100 in checked luggage or book 2 delta at 12.5k and 2 at 17.5k with free baggage.I know delta is worth less than ur but this is almost 20k points more and saving $100 cash
I saw a bunch of delta availability last week at 12.5k and now theyr almost all gone
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Offline Iz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6944 on: September 06, 2015, 04:17:04 PM »

Round trip
Non-stop
From: EWR preferably (or PHL or JFK)
To: TLV
Departure dates: Oct 7
Return airports: Same
Return dates: Oct 12
Class: Business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any
BUMP

Offline princea143

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6945 on: September 06, 2015, 04:31:35 PM »
I'm looking on googleflights and see BA partners (AB and Iberia) for London-MUC and MUC-London, but ba.com does not show any availability for any of the dates that my wife and I need to fly.  Do I now look in Iberia's, AB's or AA's site to find availabilities? I hope I'm doing it right.  If you can help lead me to the right place and the process or just help me outright, I'd appreciate it.  The info is as follows:

One way/Round trip: RT but if it is better to book 2 separate OW, then the latter
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: London
To: MUC
Departure dates: 9/18 late or 9/19 early
Return dates: 9/20 late or 9/21 very early (we have an EY12 first apartment flight at 09:30 on 9/21, LHR-AUH is why)
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:
AA - 105k
DL - 35k
BA - 11k
UR - 90k (would rather save these for Hyatt stays)
MR - 205k

Thanks for your help!

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6946 on: September 06, 2015, 05:35:54 PM »
Looking for opinions....
Book flights for 4 people MCO-LGA using 10k ultimate rewards and pay $100 in checked luggage or book 2 delta at 12.5k and 2 at 17.5k with free baggage.I know delta is worth less than ur but this is almost 20k points more and saving $100 cash
I saw a bunch of delta availability last week at 12.5k and now theyr almost all gone
As far as strict value goes, I would say Delta would be a sightly better option, as my understanding is that most people value UR at least 1.5x more than Delta. Obviously though it also depends on your current situation, like how much you have of each, and what you would be using them for otherwise.

Offline Tom Brady

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6947 on: September 06, 2015, 05:51:58 PM »
I'm looking on googleflights and see BA partners (AB and Iberia) for London-MUC and MUC-London, but ba.com does not show any availability for any of the dates that my wife and I need to fly.  Do I now look in Iberia's, AB's or AA's site to find availabilities? I hope I'm doing it right.  If you can help lead me to the right place and the process or just help me outright, I'd appreciate it.  The info is as follows:

One way/Round trip: RT but if it is better to book 2 separate OW, then the latter
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: London
To: MUC
Departure dates: 9/18 late or 9/19 early
Return dates: 9/20 late or 9/21 very early (we have an EY12 first apartment flight at 09:30 on 9/21, LHR-AUH is why)
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:
AA - 105k
DL - 35k
BA - 11k
UR - 90k (would rather save these for Hyatt stays)
MR - 205k

Thanks for your help!
BA.com is the place to look (or aa.com for Air Berlin, but will be the same availability). The only thing is that if you're looking for flights with connections, it's best to lookup each segment separately. If there is no availability then there is no availability.

Offline princea143

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6948 on: September 06, 2015, 06:13:33 PM »
BA.com is the place to look (or aa.com for Air Berlin, but will be the same availability). The only thing is that if you're looking for flights with connections, it's best to lookup each segment separately. If there is no availability then there is no availability.
Already looked on BA and AA.  You are right though; I should check segments.  I haven't been able to find anything direct.  Have any clue what segments I should look into?  I'm trying to keep away from the cash $250+/- ow pax.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6949 on: September 06, 2015, 06:18:08 PM »
Already looked on BA and AA.  You are right though; I should check segments.  I haven't been able to find anything direct.  Have any clue what segments I should look into?  I'm trying to keep away from the cash $250+/- ow pax.
Not sure. If there are no flights available, and you want something not too expensive, a train may be a good option.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6950 on: September 06, 2015, 07:42:38 PM »
Not sure. If there are no flights available, and you want something not too expensive, a train may be a good option.
OK, I found 2 itineraries, and let me know if BA would merge them together in one. 9/19 LHR-DUS 07:20-09:40 on BA and DUS-MUC 10:20-11:35 on AB. They price out at 4k Avios + $27.50 and 4,500 Avios + $39 pax respectively. The worry that I have is the 40 minute buffer being too short, so I would like to merge so that they transfer our checked-in luggages to the next flight. If they could do it, that would be fantastic as flights are pricing out at $250+/- ow pax.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6951 on: September 06, 2015, 08:55:30 PM »
As far as strict value goes, I would say Delta would be a sightly better option, as my understanding is that most people value UR at least 1.5x more than Delta. Obviously though it also depends on your current situation, like how much you have of each, and what you would be using them for otherwise.
That was my thinking as well. We don't fly that often or go away to often, I am on target to max my 5X on 2 inks this year, and once i finally close on a mortgage in the next couple years i'll start building my points again. As it is, by the end of the year, I hope to have over 1M UR so i may as well save delta since i have only about 500K of those.
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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...READS THE WIKI!!!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6952 on: September 06, 2015, 09:21:43 PM »
That was my thinking as well. We don't fly that often or go away to often, I am on target to max my 5X on 2 inks this year, and once i finally close on a mortgage in the next couple years i'll start building my points again. As it is, by the end of the year, I hope to have over 1M UR so i may as well save delta since i have only about 500K of those.
Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I would tend to disagree with your logic in this instance. I would think most people would find use for 1M UR, much faster than they would find use for .5M Delta, so if I'm in your situation I would definitely prefer to burn the Delta. Also if you ever need more Delta in the future, you can always transfer from MR, which are the easiest points to get.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6953 on: September 06, 2015, 09:33:09 PM »
Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I would tend to disagree with your logic in this instance. I would think most people would find use for 1M UR, much faster than they would find use for .5M Delta, so if I'm in your situation I would definitely prefer to burn the Delta. Also if you ever need more Delta in the future, you can always transfer from MR, which are the easiest points to get.
But if I'm planning to hold on to them long term and don't travel internationally, I can probably earn much more in a given year than I can spend.
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6954 on: September 06, 2015, 09:38:46 PM »
But if I'm planning to hold on to them long term and don't travel internationally, I can probably earn much more in a given year than I can spend.
I hear you. But wouldn't you say the same with Delta/Amex?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6955 on: September 06, 2015, 09:44:36 PM »
I hear you. But wouldn't you say the same with Delta/Amex?
All other things being equal, yes, however the 5x on two ink cards changes that. Since all my points are from spending for the time being it's actually easier for me to get ur then Mr or delta.
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6956 on: September 06, 2015, 10:14:54 PM »
All other things being equal, yes, however the 5x on two ink cards changes that. Since all my points are from spending for the time being it's actually easier for me to get ur then Mr or delta.
I hear you. Though I meant in proportion to spending them (for example: say it's twice as easy for you to earn UR points than DL points, but you are still 3x more likely to spend UR points, therefore it would make more sense to save them over the DL).

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6957 on: September 06, 2015, 10:58:01 PM »
Looking for help getting my brother to Uman for yomtov, and am looking to use UR or amex points. Thank you in advance!

Round trip:
Stopovers: Any
From: NYC
To: Keiv/Uman (no airport in uman?)
Departure dates: September 9th or so.
Return airports: NYC
Return dates: September 17th or so
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline noturbizniss

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6958 on: September 06, 2015, 11:21:07 PM »
Looking for help getting my brother to Uman for yomtov, and am looking to use UR or amex points. Thank you in advance!

Round trip:
Stopovers: Any
From: NYC
To: Keiv/Uman (no airport in uman?)
Departure dates: September 9th or so.
Return airports: NYC
Return dates: September 17th or so
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any
How many points does he have and is willing to use?
READ THE DARN WIKI!!!!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6959 on: September 06, 2015, 11:22:53 PM »
Looking for help getting my brother to Uman for yomtov, and am looking to use UR or amex points. Thank you in advance!

Round trip:
Stopovers: Any
From: NYC
To: Keiv/Uman (no airport in uman?)
Departure dates: September 9th or so.
Return airports: NYC
Return dates: September 17th or so
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any
Look on UA and FB