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 1838777 times)

Offline tanipollak

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Looking for a 1 way ticket from TLV to NYC Saturday night, August 20, After 10:30PM or EARLY Sunday morning, August 21 that arrives in NYC no later than 3PM. Which flight is the least amount of miles? I need to book for 2 tickets and I have 110,000 UR points. TIA

Offline Z56

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Looking for a 1 way ticket from TLV to NYC Saturday night, August 20, After 10:30PM or EARLY Sunday morning, August 21 that arrives in NYC no later than 3PM. Which flight is the least amount of miles? I need to book for 2 tickets and I have 110,000 UR points. TIA

United has availability with Turkish airlines for 80k
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

Offline tanipollak

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Is there anything cheaper?? Will it go down at all?? Can I use points and cash with United??

Offline Dave A

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One way
Maximum stops: 1
From: TLV
To: ORD
Departure dates: Jan. 4 or 5
Class: Coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: Any

Offline Z56

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Is there anything cheaper?? Will it go down at all?? Can I use points and cash with United??

you can find economy on saver award for 42k with united or SQ for 37k

you cant use points and cash with united   
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

Offline tuy12

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Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:0-1
From:nyc
To: tlv
Departure dates: aug 16 give or take day or two   

Return dates:aug 31 give or take day or two
Class: economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: i have 200,000 amex point

Offline Take it easy

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a gut voch!
hoping to make it for my sister's bas mitzvo -  I'D REALLY APPRECIATE ANY ADVISE I CAN GET!
Round trip:
 stops:any
From:nyc
To:tlv
Departure dates:sep 19\20 need to arrive before noon of  sep 21
Return dates: sep 25
Class:Coach
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: thinking of using elevate miles (20k + 147$ : is that correct?)  on Singapore to FRA.
hoping that is a goon option.
if so, looking to book FRA - TLV - FRA.
HOLDING- 30K ELEVATE, 11.7K M&M, 5k spg.
i know its not much to work with...  :-[ but perhaps one of you wizard / genius/  miracle workers would advise me on my best options here???
TIA!

Offline Take it easy

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SORRY,
i forgot to mention about 11k MR. and some 20k UR but no saphire/ ink yet..

AND ALSO, I just read on DD that a sweet spot in award booking is around a month ahead.
 would it be best to check back then?

i also read that i might offer some incentive/compensation for your help.
that definitely sounds acceptable to me.

Offline Reuven E

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Hi,
I am sending my daughter to seminary in EY this year IY"H. I was told that now is the time to start looking for cc points tickets for my wife and I to visit in the winter. I am not experienced with this and would greatly appreciate if anyone could help me out with this. below is the basic info that I have to work with.

One way/Round trip: ROUND TRIP
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NON STOP (PREF)
From: ALL NY AIRPORTS
To: ISRAEL
Departure dates: 2/1/17
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets
Return dates: 2/6/17
Class: FIRST
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: WHICHEVER HAS THE BEST FIRST CLASS SERVICE WITHIN THE CC POINTS THAT I HAVE TO WORK WITH (I WOULD COMBINE CASH WITH MY CC POINTS IF NECESSARY)

Here are the points that I have to work with
Amex - 300,000
CapitalOne - 107,182
Delta miles - 122,475

Thanks
Reuven

Offline Z56

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Hi,
I am sending my daughter to seminary in EY this year IY"H. I was told that now is the time to start looking for cc points tickets for my wife and I to visit in the winter. I am not experienced with this and would greatly appreciate if anyone could help me out with this. below is the basic info that I have to work with.

One way/Round trip: ROUND TRIP
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NON STOP (PREF)
From: ALL NY AIRPORTS
To: ISRAEL
Departure dates: 2/1/17
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets
Return dates: 2/6/17
Class: FIRST
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: WHICHEVER HAS THE BEST FIRST CLASS SERVICE WITHIN THE CC POINTS THAT I HAVE TO WORK WITH (I WOULD COMBINE CASH WITH MY CC POINTS IF NECESSARY)

Here are the points that I have to work with
Amex - 300,000
CapitalOne - 107,182
Delta miles - 122,475

Thanks
Reuven

Try SQ with your Amex points, fly with SQ (A380 suite) to FRA and take LH to TLV
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

Offline Reuven E

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Thank you for the reply
Should I book all of that on Amex rewards travel or transfer the points from Amex to SQ and LH and then book the tickets there?

Offline David Smith

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Thank you for the reply
Should I book all of that on Amex rewards travel or transfer the points from Amex to SQ and LH and then book the tickets there?
Transfer and book
Make sure there's availability first before transferring.
Who do you think you are fooling? You think you are going to pull a quick one on your Creator? Good luck with that.
JTZ

Offline mochjas

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Transfer and book
Make sure there's availability first before transferring.
and you are not transferring Amex to LH you are booking the whole trip using sq miles

Offline Reuven E

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Ok, so I transfer points to SQ and then book both segments on SQ's site (after i make sure the seats are available)?

Offline lubaby

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Ok, so I transfer points to SQ and then book both segments on SQ's site (after i make sure the seats are available)?
You can't book partner awards on the SQ site. Need to do that on the phone.

Offline Reuven E

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Got it.
Thanks so much!

Offline Z56

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Ok, so I transfer points to SQ and then book both segments on SQ's site (after i make sure the seats are available)?



You will have to book on the phone. Make sure there is availability beforehand
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

Offline chinagel

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i have 35k spg looking for a rt fra to tlv what would be the best way to go

Offline Dave A

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One way
Maximum stops: 1
From: TLV
To: ORD
Departure dates: Jan. 4 or 5
Class: Coach
Seats: 4
Alliance/Airline: Any

BUMP.  Even if no specific advice on those dates, any tips on piecing together a TLV--ORD flight would be very helpful (without making an extra stop through NY if there's already a Europe stop).  Thanks   

Offline mechayamom

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Anyway to book a ticket from TLV to Sydney to NYC and then back to TLV?
What would be the most efficient use of miles and which airline?
Tia

BUMP