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 1838750 times)

Offline moshbosh91

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7000 on: September 30, 2015, 12:40:40 PM »
check united and ba for availibility

Thanks for the reply!

Do you think I would have better luck with United vs. Hawaiian air (transfer to Korean and use Korean miles for Hawaiian)?

And when I checked tickets from British Airways it said there are no routes to Hawaii from NY.  What am I doing wrong?

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7001 on: September 30, 2015, 01:00:10 PM »
Thanks for the reply!

Do you think I would have better luck with United vs. Hawaiian air (transfer to Korean and use Korean miles for Hawaiian)?

And when I checked tickets from British Airways it said there are no routes to Hawaii from NY.  What am I doing wrong?
You can check but you probably have a better chance with united as I see they have availability now as for ba the sites down for me now so I'll check when I can

Offline Thingywingy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7002 on: September 30, 2015, 01:32:06 PM »
I remember there being a dedicated thread about transfer partners but cant seem to find it. How long does it take from UR to BA?
I am sometimes accused of overthinking things. I am still mulling over whether that accusation has merit.

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7003 on: September 30, 2015, 04:22:28 PM »
I remember there being a dedicated thread about transfer partners but cant seem to find it. How long does it take from UR to BA?
Ask here

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7004 on: October 01, 2015, 12:04:47 PM »
Aa domestic flight is not available for saaver.
Any way to get it wthout shelling out cash or 25k points? Any other airlines have access to non saaver seats?
^^^

Offline username

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7005 on: October 01, 2015, 09:08:40 PM »
Aa domestic flight is not available for saaver.
Any way to get it wthout shelling out cash or 25k points? Any other airlines have access to non saaver seats?

Offering a $1 loaded redcard to whoever can help me first-if your advice leads to my ticketing this..(.and yes, I am quoting myself...whats wrong with that?)
^^^

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7006 on: October 01, 2015, 09:28:45 PM »
Offering a $1 loaded redcard to whoever can help me first-if your advice leads to my ticketing this..(.and yes, I am quoting myself...whats wrong with that?)
If aa doesn't show availability  saver no. You can check BA almost no chance of it showing though.
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline username

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7007 on: October 01, 2015, 11:17:56 PM »
If aa doesn't show availability  saver no. You can check BA almost no chance of it showing though.
Ha! It shows on BA, but its phantom availability! CLE-PHL 10/11. No matter what i try on BA, it wont complete. CC, paypal and call in all dont work.
^^^

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7008 on: October 03, 2015, 09:50:42 PM »
Looking for a ticket
NYC - YYZ 12/17-12/18
AA saying they don't fly that route. Anyone know about this ?

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7009 on: October 03, 2015, 10:35:46 PM »
Looking for a ticket
NYC - YYZ 12/17-12/18
AA saying they don't fly that route. Anyone know about this ?
on the phone they are saying that?
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


― Aristotle

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7010 on: October 03, 2015, 11:09:15 PM »
on the phone they are saying that?
no online looked at reward and revenue

Offline yochiek93

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7011 on: October 03, 2015, 11:20:24 PM »
no online looked at reward and revenue
ow or rt?

Offline Cashman

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Offline yochiek93

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7013 on: October 03, 2015, 11:24:57 PM »
RT
thats why you didnt find.
the flight from jfk to yyz ow there is but its not direct

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7014 on: October 03, 2015, 11:27:13 PM »
Just tried that. Still now showing from 12/17 and on

Offline Yehuda25

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7015 on: October 03, 2015, 11:40:59 PM »
Just tried that. Still now showing from 12/17 and on
PUTPAC
“To avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”


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Offline berele

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7016 on: October 03, 2015, 11:46:38 PM »
Hey guys I'm looking to fly from NYC/PHL to MIA/FLL/PBI (I'm trying to be flexible...) at the end of December. Yes, I know that is the most expensive time to go, but I was wondering if anyone knows any ways to work it out  I have plenty BA points, Some MR, United, AA points, and lots of Ultimate Rewards points. I am happy to book revenue ticket for a reasonable price. Obviously there is no BA/United avaliability. Any ideas?
« Last Edit: October 03, 2015, 11:59:11 PM by berele »

Offline MeToo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7017 on: October 04, 2015, 12:42:47 AM »
One way/Round trip: Multi stop
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any (least possible)
From: MIA
To: TLV
Departure dates:12/16/15
From:TLV
To: BCN
Departure Dates:  Anytime from 12/28-12/31
From: BCN
To: MIA
Return dates: Two days after arrival in BCN, if 12/31 then 1/3/16
Class:      Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Have MR points to transfer

Offline yys

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7018 on: October 06, 2015, 07:56:31 AM »
One way/Round trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From: Syd
To:HKT, BKK, USM
Departure dates: flexible from early january
Return dates: 15-20 jan
Class: coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: one world

ANY HELP WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED

Offline milechazzer

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7019 on: October 07, 2015, 03:16:15 AM »
My apologies if this is the wrong place for this question, but can someone advise what airline(s) have the best award rates/redemptions for coach flights from the US to Europe?

thx