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 1839382 times)

Offline mimb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7940 on: February 21, 2017, 09:07:23 AM »
Looking for 2 One way tickets, Coach,  to LIH from EWR/JFK/PHL.
Have plenty SPG.
(also have AS miles but using them for return flight)

Singapore? Flying Blue? How do i search?
TIA

Why not book using Korean to fly on Delta?

Online yoohoo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7941 on: February 21, 2017, 11:39:07 AM »
Thanks but times and # of stops don't work for me.

Offline mimb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7942 on: February 21, 2017, 12:21:10 PM »
Thanks but times and # of stops don't work for me.

For Singapore, I believe you need to search through United.com and if there's a united flight available you can use Singapore miles to book that flight. Flying Blue I think has it's own website to see availability but I would assume is the same as delta?

Online yoohoo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7943 on: February 21, 2017, 01:39:57 PM »
For Singapore, I believe you need to search through United.com and if there's a united flight available you can use Singapore miles to book that flight. Flying Blue I think has it's own website to see availability but I would assume is the same as delta?
for Singapore, Is there a mileage chart or a thread here you can refer me to? Is it bookable online or only via phone?

Offline mimb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7944 on: February 21, 2017, 01:41:42 PM »
for Singapore, Is there a mileage chart or a thread here you can refer me to? Is it bookable online or only via phone?

If you search for "Hawaii" on the main dansdeals site all of the information will come up

Offline lubaby

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7945 on: February 21, 2017, 01:47:17 PM »
for Singapore, Is there a mileage chart or a thread here you can refer me to? Is it bookable online or only via phone?
https://www.singaporeair.com/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/StarAlliance_RoundTrip.pdf

Partners only bookable on the phone. You can first search on United website for Saver availability and then call SQ to book.

Offline STEVEH

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7946 on: February 21, 2017, 10:05:59 PM »
One way/Round trip: ROUND TRIP
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NON-STOP
From: NEWARK/JFK
To: TEL AVIV
Departure dates: MARCH 13
Return airports: NEWARK/JFK
Return dates: MARCH 16
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: ANY
I have about 120k AMEX points
Thanks in advance.

Offline aryeh1

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7947 on: February 22, 2017, 05:50:50 PM »
https://www.singaporeair.com/pdf/ppsclub_krisflyer/charts/StarAlliance_RoundTrip.pdf

Partners only bookable on the phone. You can first search on United website for Saver availability and then call SQ to book.
Is there an advantage of Singapore over AC aeroplan for united flights?

Offline Moishr

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7948 on: February 22, 2017, 10:08:49 PM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: JFK
To: LHR
Departure dates: 6/11/17
Return dates: 6/13/17
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: I have 38,000 avios, 30,000 AA & 110,000 Chase.
Thank you!

Offline aryeh1

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7949 on: February 22, 2017, 10:10:00 PM »
Round trip
Non-stop
From: JFK
To: LHR
Departure dates: 6/11/17
Return dates: 6/13/17
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: I have 38,000 avios, 30,000 AA & 110,000 Chase.
Thank you!
Check virgin atlantic , you can transfer anex mr

Offline Jellybelly

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7950 on: February 26, 2017, 09:05:14 AM »
Can I ask a general question here? I have around 200k csr points and I need to do a few domestic flights over the next couple months. I live in New Jersey so Newark or Philly would be the most convenient airport to fly out of, and I'll prob need to fly to Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis. What would be the best way to do this? Which airline would most probably be the best for my needs?

Offline David Smith

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7951 on: February 26, 2017, 09:18:40 AM »
Can I ask a general question here? I have around 200k csr points and I need to do a few domestic flights over the next couple months. I live in New Jersey so Newark or Philly would be the most convenient airport to fly out of, and I'll prob need to fly to Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis. What would be the best way to do this? Which airline would most probably be the best for my needs?
Depending on the cash prices of the ticket and award availability, it can either be cheapest to use the UR booking portal (and get 1.5 cents a point), to transfer to BA and book on AA (7.5k each way) or transfer to United (12.5k each way).
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

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7952 on: February 26, 2017, 01:01:47 PM »
Hi, need cheapest mileage or paid ticket to TLV & back from EWR for Purim all together about 10 days. Please help!

Offline Lkwder

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7953 on: February 26, 2017, 01:07:09 PM »
Hi, need cheapest mileage or paid ticket to TLV & back from EWR for Purim all together about 10 days. Please help!
To clarify, im in nj, so need from & back to EWR or Philly if cheaper.

Offline lechatchileh ariber

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7954 on: February 27, 2017, 08:16:48 PM »
Looking to fly LAX-GIG return in Y at the end of June, it looks like the best option is to book the Delta flight through AF or KE, how do i check to make sure that its bookable?Looking to fly LAX-GIG return at the end of June, it looks like the best option is to book the Delta flight through AF or KE, how do i check to make sure that its bookable?
I don't sin, I give myself opportunities to repent.

Offline lechatchileh ariber

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7955 on: February 28, 2017, 11:08:23 AM »
Looking to fly LAX-GIG return in Y at the end of June, it looks like the best option is to book the Delta flight through AF or KE, how do i check to make sure that its bookable?Looking to fly LAX-GIG return at the end of June, it looks like the best option is to book the Delta flight through AF or KE, how do i check to make sure that its bookable?
Do I need miles in my KE account on order to see flight availability?
I don't sin, I give myself opportunities to repent.

Offline mochjas

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7956 on: February 28, 2017, 11:21:25 AM »
Do I need miles in my KE account on order to see flight availability?

no

Offline lechatchileh ariber

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7957 on: February 28, 2017, 01:11:02 PM »
no
I tried booking a few different destinations and kept getting this error, do you know what it is?
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7958 on: February 28, 2017, 02:01:15 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1
From: NYC
To: AMS
Departure dates: Wed, Aug 9
Return airports:NYC
Return dates: Sun, Aug 13 (Afternoon) or Mon, Aug 14 (Morning)
Class: Economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

Have CSR, CMPE (and UA*G). Thanks!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #7959 on: February 28, 2017, 03:14:30 PM »
I am looking to buy an economy ticket where the outbound is on United and the return is on Air Canada. I have the Amex business Platinum and my chosen airline is United. If I book it through Amextravel, will I receive 50% of the miles back or do both flights need to be on United? I chatted with them and they told me both flights needed to be on United but I just want to make sure. If that's the case, what other options do I have to book this ticket using miles? I also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, if that helps.
Thanks!