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 1839148 times)

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #420 on: December 11, 2011, 09:34:23 PM »
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

There is Availability on Continental Airlines.
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 #421 on: December 11, 2011, 09:37:22 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!!!

there is availability on Continental and Swiss Airlines.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline gold

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #422 on: December 13, 2011, 10:17:16 AM »
There is Availability on Continental Airlines.

IN C CLASS?
THANKS

Offline Mordy788

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Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #424 on: December 13, 2011, 05:40:12 PM »
There is Availability on Continental Airlines.
Please let me know how to find saver CO seats in business for those dates.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline yossi4k

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #425 on: December 13, 2011, 10:19:29 PM »
looking for a roundtrip flight for lax-cle dec 15-18th ..any good ideas?

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #426 on: December 13, 2011, 11:52:48 PM »
Please let me know how to find saver CO seats in business for those dates.

I use expertflyer.com
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline Mocha

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #427 on: December 14, 2011, 11:29:23 AM »
If I'm flying from NYC-CDG-TLV (or vice-versa TLV-CDG-NYC), will AA consider that 2 different awards, or can it be combined into a one-way?

Offline gold

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #428 on: December 14, 2011, 12:19:13 PM »
I use expertflyer.com

Thanks for your help but i don't see the seats on co.com or KVS tool or aeroplan, can you post a screenshot please- THANKS

Offline nikone

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #429 on: December 14, 2011, 12:53:39 PM »
One way/Round trip: Roundtrip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-Stop (flying with a 2 year old)
From: JFK, LGA
To: FLL, MIA
Departure dates: Feb 16, 17, 18
Return dates: Feb 26 night time after 4:00pm, Feb 27, 28
Class: Any, the cheaper the better
Seats: 2 Adults 1 Child over 2 = 3 Seats
Alliance/Airline: Have AA miles (175k between wife and me), and I can get BA miles (100k from a friend), and I have 50k UR points, I have 50k Starpoints
Palm5 says: Uhhhh what's blackberry?

philbenjoe says: A handheld celluar device. What's your question

Offline mb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #430 on: December 14, 2011, 01:32:21 PM »
What's the cheapest way to go from NYC-HKG (max. 1 stop) from 12/18 to 1/1/12?

My friend has 75g amex miles and 80g continental right now.

Please advise asap as its very last minute!  Thanks!!

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #431 on: December 14, 2011, 07:35:43 PM »
Thanks for your help but i don't see the seats on co.com or KVS tool or aeroplan, can you post a screenshot please- THANKS

Only EasyPass available.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #432 on: December 14, 2011, 07:55:36 PM »
Here on DDF we only post if there is saver awards.
Thanks
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Mordy788

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #433 on: December 14, 2011, 07:58:12 PM »
Sorry about that.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. –Wayne Gretzky

Offline HarryPotterFan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #434 on: December 15, 2011, 11:28:05 AM »
One way/Round trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: ORD, MDW
To: FLL or MIA
Departure dates: 01/13/12 arrive no later than 1PM
Class: coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: I have points with AA, Continental, Delta (doesn't help I guess since they don't offer one ways) and Membership Rewards. Looking for ideas as the cheapest one way I found was $180- holiday weekend.

Offline boruch

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #435 on: December 15, 2011, 11:50:50 AM »
Is it possible to use UR for award travel on AA? (Trough transferring UR to BA ?)

I'm looking for tickets from NYC to AMS for Pesach (Apr 4-5 till Apr 15-16) and CO has only availability with a stop-over. I have a 15 month old daughter and would prefer to fly direct.
Thanx!

Offline gold

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #436 on: December 15, 2011, 01:07:16 PM »
Here on DDF we only post if there is saver awards.
Thanks

wow! to the point-

Offline rm

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #437 on: December 15, 2011, 01:55:26 PM »
Looking for bwi - phx. Dec 25 to jan 2. Have 69k united. 103k avios , and around 75k aa. 

Offline twentie4hrs

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #438 on: December 15, 2011, 09:15:31 PM »
I am looking for a 2 tickets ...either miles or $ (almost any airline) , to Hawaii during this coming summer.
Any help is much appreciated
A penny saved is 1 cent

Offline mguy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #439 on: December 16, 2011, 08:28:56 AM »
Is it possible to use UR for award travel on AA? (Trough transferring UR to BA ?)

I'm looking for tickets from NYC to AMS for Pesach (Apr 4-5 till Apr 15-16) and CO has only availability with a stop-over. I have a 15 month old daughter and would prefer to fly direct.
Thanx!

My understanding is that you can do it, but BA will charge fuel surcharges (since it's not domestic/South America). That hurts, especially because AA itself doesn't charge it f using AA miles.