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 1838688 times)

Offline drsg

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8300 on: August 27, 2017, 08:04:05 PM »
Round trip
From ORD
To Prague, Tel Aviv, NYC, ORD
Departure Date- leave ORD 10/23, leave Prague 10/27, leave Tel Aviv 11/4 night or 11/5 am, leave LGA 11/6 am
Class - prefer business
seats 2
Airline- American/United

Offline JG Tax

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8301 on: August 28, 2017, 11:17:42 PM »
One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: All airports from which you can depart- TLV
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line- IAD, BWI, NYC
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. 10/15/17
Class: Any
Seats: Total number of people traveling 2
Alliance/Airline: any

Thanks

Offline Wizard

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8302 on: August 30, 2017, 02:41:58 AM »
One way/Round trip: One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop
From: JFK, LGA, EWR
To: TLV
Departure: 10/18/17
Return dates: 03/05/18
Class: Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any safe comfortable and reliable airline.

I have SPG, Chase UR, and Amex MR points. I also have 60K stuck by United so if that can be used... willing to pay $75 or more if I end up taking what you offer me - but I'm very new to this and need hand holding. Please PM any suggestions or questions!

Thank you!!
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

Offline jacobz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8303 on: August 30, 2017, 08:26:12 PM »
I would appreciate ur help.

Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any (prefer non stop)
From: JFK, LGA
To: Cayman Island
Departure dates: 24th-25th of december
Return dates: 28th / 29th
Class: any (cheapest)
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have SPG/ Sapphire reserve/ AA

I checked AA for awards flight and they are not offering it during that week.

Offline mochjas

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8304 on: August 30, 2017, 08:47:18 PM »
I would appreciate ur help.

Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any (prefer non stop)
From: JFK, LGA
To: Cayman Island
Departure dates: 24th-25th of december
Return dates: 28th / 29th
Class: any (cheapest)
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have SPG/ Sapphire reserve/ AA

I checked AA for awards flight and they are not offering it during that week.
yes that is one of the busiest travel weeks you will not find saver. Use google flights to find the cheapest flight that works for you and use CSR points.

Offline fogelbirds

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8305 on: August 31, 2017, 03:54:44 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Non-stop
From: All airports from New York
To: Cleveland main airport
Departure dates: Thursday November 39, 2017 between 2 and 4 pm
Return airports: same as departing airport
Return dates: Monday December  4 Earliest flight up until 9 am departure
Class: Coach
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: Cheapest available

Offline Z56

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8306 on: August 31, 2017, 04:07:48 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Non-stop
From: All airports from New York
To: Cleveland main airport
Departure dates: Thursday November 39, 2017 between 2 and 4 pm
Return airports: same as departing airport
Return dates: Monday December  4 Earliest flight up until 9 am departure
Class: Coach
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: Cheapest available

November 39 ?
“I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work

Offline fogelbirds

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8307 on: August 31, 2017, 07:39:40 PM »
Sorry, typo, 29 thanks for noticing

Offline challah baker

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8308 on: September 02, 2017, 10:41:43 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Non-stop
From: All airports from New York
To: London any airport
Departure dates: October 14th late evening flight or October 15th
Return airports: Any
Return dates: October 18th evening flight
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Cheapest available

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8309 on: September 07, 2017, 02:41:44 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Non-stop
From: All airports from New York
To:PARIS any airport (Looks like CDG in the main)
Departure dates: November 15 or 16
Return airports: Any in NY
Return dates:November 19
Class: Coach or premium
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Cheapest available

I found 60k round trip coach on UNITED.. IS this a good fare? any other airlines with similair rates and or rates w premium or business class?
thank you!

Offline smaxber

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8310 on: September 10, 2017, 03:59:23 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Non-stop
From: NYC
To:MIA/FLL
Departure dates: November 10
Return airports:  NYC
Return dates:November 12
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Cheapest available

Offline Proisrael

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8311 on: September 11, 2017, 07:05:01 AM »
How many JAL miles for a one way ticket NYC-DXB Emirates First Class? And would I be able to fit in a flight back to Istanbul?

Offline Azis Papa

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8312 on: September 13, 2017, 06:16:54 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop
From: ZRH
To: NYC (JFK preferred)
Departure dates: October 17, 2017
Return dates: October 22, 2017
Class: Any
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: Any
Need 6 seats but only have 110K MR.  Would like to get at least one seat if not more with miles.  Everything I have found so far has fees, YQ, etc that make using miles totally inefficient.  TIA

Offline yelped

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8313 on: September 13, 2017, 08:07:56 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop
From: ZRH
To: NYC (JFK preferred)
Departure dates: October 17, 2017
Return dates: October 22, 2017
Class: Any
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: Any
Need 6 seats but only have 110K MR.  Would like to get at least one seat if not more with miles.  Everything I have found so far has fees, YQ, etc that make using miles totally inefficient.  TIA
Doesn't AA not have fuel surcharges even when using BA? And MR doesn't transfer to AS, right? Best option may be SQ with United flights. Two RT tickets.

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8314 on: September 14, 2017, 09:34:49 AM »
Doesn't AA not have fuel surcharges even when using BA? And MR doesn't transfer to AS, right? Best option may be SQ with United flights. Two RT tickets.
AC on LX doesnt have YQ and is a transfer partner of MR. You should be able to get 1 RT for 110k
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8315 on: September 17, 2017, 08:05:10 PM »
One way/Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:
From: ord. Mia. Lga. Ewr. Atl. Phl. JFK.
To: tlv
Departure dates. Oct 16 or 17.
Return airports. Same as leaving
Return dates: Oct 29 or 30
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: any but Jordanian.

Have 150k chase ur points
50 k starwoods.

Trying to help a fsmily friend get there.
Any advice?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8316 on: September 24, 2017, 09:03:25 AM »
Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 max
From: EWR, PHI (JFK if the savings are significant)
To: GRU
Departure dates: Oct 29, 30
Return airports:  PHI, GRU (Doesn't have to be same as departure.  Also, could be JFK or LGA if the savings are significant)
Return dates: Nov 5, 6
Class: Prefer business.  Economy if nec (premium econ?)
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Air Canada

Offline newbie118

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8317 on: September 25, 2017, 07:33:22 PM »
Can someone please help me find a ticket Please!


I need to go to china and have about 150K in amex points I am trying to use and was wondering if anyone could help me find the most bang for my buck.

I would need to travel from the Washington DC area (DCA, IAD, BWI) to Beijing on January 9th 2018. I then need to return from Shanghai back to Washington DC on January 21st 2018. I just need 1 seat and am not very loyal to a specific airline!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8318 on: September 25, 2017, 08:25:54 PM »
Can someone please help me find a ticket Please!


I need to go to china and have about 150K in amex points I am trying to use and was wondering if anyone could help me find the most bang for my buck.

I would need to travel from the Washington DC area (DCA, IAD, BWI) to Beijing on January 9th 2018. I then need to return from Shanghai back to Washington DC on January 21st 2018. I just need 1 seat and am not very loyal to a specific airline!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance
What class?
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Offline newbie118

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8319 on: September 26, 2017, 09:16:42 AM »
What class?

Either economy or business. If i can get business for the points I have I would take that if not economy is okay.