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 1839660 times)

Offline yeshivaman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #400 on: November 29, 2011, 03:29:53 PM »
Are you over 25? Have you rented before?
yes yes
i wish i knew what i was doing...

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #401 on: November 29, 2011, 03:38:31 PM »
Economy and Compact Size Car from thrifty for $44.24.

According to Autoslash.com
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline yeshivaman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #402 on: November 29, 2011, 03:54:35 PM »
Economy and Compact Size Car from thrifty for $44.24.

According to Autoslash.com
thanks
i wish i knew what i was doing...

Offline ilikedeals

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #403 on: November 30, 2011, 03:38:39 PM »
Hi, I want to go to Israel from NY for Chanukah is possible. I have 300k AA, 150k Starwood, 105k British.

anyone know of any award tickets I can get. What is the best one to use? Would rather fly direct and maybe business if its not to many more miles.

If not I would want to go Feb15-22.

Thanks!!!

Offline rm

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #404 on: November 30, 2011, 11:01:42 PM »
I am looking for a ticket to Israel from NY  around, Dec. 25-Jan. 2nd. I only have about 103k British miles. Is there any possibility?

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #405 on: November 30, 2011, 11:26:34 PM »
Hi, I want to go to Israel from NY for Chanukah is possible. I have 300k AA, 150k Starwood, 105k British.

anyone know of any award tickets I can get. What is the best one to use? Would rather fly direct and maybe business if its not to many more miles.

If not I would want to go Feb15-22.


Thanks!!!

What are your dates for chanukah?
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #406 on: November 30, 2011, 11:40:23 PM »
I am looking for a ticket to Israel from NY  around, Dec. 25-Jan. 2nd. I only have about 103k British miles. Is there any possibility?


This is what is available with your British Airways Avios Points.

Outbound

18:55 26 Jan
JFK
06:55 27 Jan
LHR
British Airways
BA0174
World Traveller
   
08:15 27 Jan
LHR
15:00 27 Jan
TLV
British Airways
BA0165
World Traveller
1 flight connection, total journey time: 13 hours 05 minutes.

Inbound

07:45 5 Feb
TLV
08:30 5 Feb
AMM
Royal Jordanian
RJ0343
Economy
   
10:45 5 Feb
AMM
16:30 5 Feb
JFK
Royal Jordanian
RJ0261
Economy
1 flight connection, total journey time: 15 hours 45 minutes.


Your Cost:
67000 Avios + $ 780.05
60300 Avios + $ 880.05
53600 Avios + $ 965.05
46900 Avios + $ 1,050.05
40200 Avios + $ 1,135.05
33500 Avios + $ 1,220.05

Not such a great value.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #407 on: November 30, 2011, 11:49:52 PM »
Hi, I want to go to Israel from NY for Chanukah is possible. I have 300k AA, 150k Starwood, 105k British.

anyone know of any award tickets I can get. What is the best one to use? Would rather fly direct and maybe business if its not to many more miles.

If not I would want to go Feb15-22.

Thanks!!!

You can use 85,000 Starwoods Points for this:

FLIGHT
Newark - (EWR), Newark, NJ, United States
to Tel Aviv-Yafo Ben Gurion - (TLV), Tel Aviv, Israel
Depart:   3:52PM   Newark - (EWR)   Wed 02/15/12
   United Airlines 84
operated by CONTINENTAL AIRLINES

Nonstop
Arrive:   9:20AM   Tel Aviv-Yafo Ben Gurion - (TLV)   Thu 02/16/12
Duration: 10 hr 28 min
    Coach (T)       Plane: 777
FLIGHT
Tel Aviv-Yafo Ben Gurion - (TLV), Tel Aviv, Israel
to Newark - (EWR), Newark, NJ, United States
Depart:   11:20AM   Tel Aviv-Yafo Ben Gurion - (TLV)   Wed 02/22/12
   United Airlines 85
operated by CONTINENTAL AIRLINES

Nonstop
Arrive:   4:37PM   Newark - (EWR)   Wed 02/22/12
Duration: 12 hr 17 min
    Coach (L)       Plane: 777


You can also transfer your SPG to your frequent flyer program. Get 5,000 Bonus Points for every 20,000 you transfer. Most airlines are 1:1
« Last Edit: December 01, 2011, 12:46:03 AM by Mordy788 »
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline DBpoints

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #408 on: December 01, 2011, 08:37:37 AM »
I am attempting to plan a trip for 2 to Maui in March with a stopover in sfo. I live in between mia and fll so either is fine to leave from.

I have plenty of AA miles (highest accumulation) , MR Points, UR points,  a few continental (can transfer from ur) and a few Starwood

From what i've read it  seems that continental is the best way to go, accurate?

aside from maui I would like to spend 2-3 days in either (sfo-san-pdx)
 
So far what i've come up with as far as award seats is the follows: (also trying to avoid to many stopovers)
Continental:
3/9/12 Fll-ORD/ord-sfo (25k b/f saverpass)
3/12/12 sfo-ogg (40k b/f saverpass)
3/16/12 ogg-den (40kb/f saverpass)
3/18/12 den-fll (25k e easypass or 50k b/f easypass)

When I try to book it as a multi trip it doesn't seem to come out right so I found these all searching one ways.

Now here is my question:

Do I have to pay for each segment the rewards amount shown or can they just be added in as stopovers on a fll-ogg round trip? If so does that mean that you pay the reward amount from the priciest segment of the trip? For instance with the flights I have listed would it be 40k there (mia-ord-sfo-ogg) in b/f total? and 40k back (ogg-den-fll) so a total of 80k miles for flying business/first the whole way?

Additionally: How exactly does the b/f saverpass work? Do you nly get it if seat is unsold at time of departure or confirmed beforehand? If you end up in economy are you still charges the full saverpass rate for b/f?

Is it even worth trying to get b/f for the flight segments I plan on taking or should I just go with economy (good redemption value?- b/f anything special on those flights?)

Any assistance would be appreciated....



Can anyone add some insight ?

Offline youG

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #409 on: December 01, 2011, 02:48:01 PM »
I am thinking about a trip NYC(EWR preferred) to LA(or surrounding) dec 23- 28. for 2ppl.
 I have BA points to use but can't seem to find any availability
any help is greatly appreciated
( I originally wanted to fly to NYC-LA then Hawaii for from 25-28 - nyc but that seems to be too hard to find this time of year!)
Thanks i  advance

Offline rm

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #410 on: December 02, 2011, 12:15:52 AM »

This is what is available with your British Airways Avios Points.

Outbound

18:55 26 Jan
JFK
06:55 27 Jan
LHR
British Airways
BA0174
World Traveller
   
08:15 27 Jan
LHR
15:00 27 Jan
TLV
British Airways
BA0165
World Traveller
1 flight connection, total journey time: 13 hours 05 minutes.

Inbound

07:45 5 Feb
TLV
08:30 5 Feb
AMM
Royal Jordanian
RJ0343
Economy
   
10:45 5 Feb
AMM
16:30 5 Feb
JFK
Royal Jordanian
RJ0261
Economy
1 flight connection, total journey time: 15 hours 45 minutes.


Your Cost:
67000 Avios + $ 780.05
60300 Avios + $ 880.05
53600 Avios + $ 965.05
46900 Avios + $ 1,050.05
40200 Avios + $ 1,135.05
33500 Avios + $ 1,220.05

Not such a great value.

Is all availability gone for late Dec-early Jan? I also have Amex Gold miles.....

Offline ilikedeals

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #411 on: December 02, 2011, 12:30:29 AM »
What are your dates for chanukah?

the last week of december any time as long as I am back jan5th...

Thanks!

Offline jh1945

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #412 on: December 03, 2011, 10:07:50 PM »
Hi first time poster will appreciate all the help i can get
I have 74000 AA miles
and I have 64000 continental miles
My wife has 65000 american and
56000 chase bluepoints
I am looking for something around 2/19/12- 2/26/12

One way/Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: Any Nyc
To: SJO costa rica
 UVF saint lucia
 SXM saint Marten
 NAS
 PUJ  punta cana
 SPB saint thomas
 The pattern is anywhere hot open to all suggestions
Departure dates:   2/19/12
Return airports: NYC
Return dates:  02/26/12
Class:  Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: AA or continental and their alliances

Offline Jay the PRESIDENT

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #413 on: December 05, 2011, 01:28:00 PM »
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:ANY
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: 3/21/12
Return dates: 4/15/12
Class: coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: any

THANX!!!

Offline Charlie Brown

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #414 on: December 05, 2011, 02:21:04 PM »
Is there any way I could still get 2 mileage tickets to hawaii for the week of the 25th Dec? I have 80k+ with continental, AA, and BA.
Thanks guys

Offline joshhoward

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #415 on: December 10, 2011, 08:28:37 PM »
hey guys, I've done some searching, but wonder if there is any additional wisdom that I am missing. Thank you in advance!

One way/Round trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From: mia or fll
To: rome, athens, or paris
Departure dates: 7/15/12 to 7/19/12
Return airports: mia or fll
Return dates: 8/10/12 to 8/14/12
Class: cheap!
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: BA, AA, or Delta

Basically trying to do a Eurotrip from mid-Juy through early-mid August. Intra-europe travel would be arranged separately, but my gateway city could be either athens, rome, or paris.

Miles I have are
~150k avios
~125k AA
~50k Delta
~25 United

Any thoughts about where I should start searching?

Offline gold

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #416 on: December 11, 2011, 08:11:31 AM »
One way/Round trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From: TLV
To: YUL
Departure dates: 05/02 OR 05/03
Return airports:
Return dates: 05/06 OR 05/07
Class: BUSINESS
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: STARALLIANCE

THANKS

Offline edgeman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #417 on: December 11, 2011, 09:33:15 AM »
I'm looking for a ticket for 25k miles on any airline from jfk/lga to yyc (calgary) dec 22nd to dec 26

Offline momo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #418 on: December 11, 2011, 08:22:54 PM »
Hi I could use some help. 2Roundtrips Nyc-Tlv
 Biz class  Jan 14 or 15 return on the 23 Have AA BA CO AND SPG so i guess any alliance is ok Prefer non stop but willing to stop. So far not really seeing anything on ba site

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #419 on: December 11, 2011, 09:28:40 PM »
Hi I could use some help. 2Roundtrips Nyc-Tlv
 Biz class  Jan 14 or 15 return on the 23 Have AA BA CO AND SPG so i guess any alliance is ok Prefer non stop but willing to stop. So far not really seeing anything on ba site
There is EasyPass Award availability on Continental and AAnytime and MileSAAver Award Availability on American Airlines.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky