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 1839740 times)

Offline Tonycappuccino

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8380 on: November 02, 2017, 08:47:19 PM »
PLEASE HELP. WILL REWARD. 
NYC
TLV
NON STOP
Depart Sunday afternoon or Saturday night. Return Friday am.
I want to go late November or December is fine.
Really want to go business if makes sense.
2 adults   
Have 250k chase.  Plenty of amex and plenty of spg. 
I've seen the united points charts. Seems like will cost me 300k spg. Which seems like a lot. Looking for better option. Cash and points ok
WILL REWARD  for successful input.

Ty!!
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.

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8381 on: November 02, 2017, 09:06:31 PM »
Someone please update the wiki...

NYC-TLV are only served by 3 carriers non-stop, UA, DL and LY. Saver availability on DL is non-existent. Saver availability on UA is rare but sometimes available close-in. Almost never available on or near holidays or holiday weekends, or around yomim tovim. LY awards are more readliy available but prohibitively expensive.

Which leaves the following options if no saver availability:

Chase travel portal with UR, or UR and Cash. Depending on whether you have Reserve or Sapphire redemption is either 1.5 or 1.25.

Amex travel portal with grandfathered BP gets you 50% points back or if not grandfathered gets you 35% back.

Citi travel portal which seems to have better pricing on LY J.

Or selling points to cover cash cost.

Those are your only options for nonstop travel. Ultimate Israel travel chart this is not, but a primer to stop the same questions over and over again.
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline zow

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8382 on: November 02, 2017, 09:09:59 PM »
Someone please update the wiki...

NYC-TLV are only served by 3 carriers non-stop, UA, DL and LY. Saver availability on DL is non-existent. Saver availability on UA is rare but sometimes available close-in. Almost never available on or near holidays or holiday weekends, or around yomim tovim. LY awards are more readliy available but prohibitively expensive.

Which leaves the following options if no saver availability:

Chase travel portal with UR, or UR and Cash. Depending on whether you have Reserve or Sapphire redemption is either 1.5 or 1.25.

Amex travel portal with grandfathered BP gets you 50% points back or if not grandfathered gets you 35% back.

Citi travel portal which seems to have better pricing on LY J.

Or selling points to cover cash cost.

Those are your only options for nonstop travel. Ultimate Israel travel chart this is not, but a primer to stop the same questions over and over again.
Kol hacavod

Offline howt4

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8383 on: November 03, 2017, 01:46:43 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:
Non-Stop
From: All airports from which you can depart
any NYC airport
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line
TLV
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible.
11/22/17 prefer late flight
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets
Return dates: Delete this line for One way tickets
11/27/17 prefer mid-morning flight
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
busines/first
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2
just one
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with
I don't care. I have the United credit card, and ~450K Chase UR

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8384 on: November 03, 2017, 01:50:17 PM »
Look two posts up!
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8385 on: November 03, 2017, 02:21:42 PM »
Someone please update the wiki...

NYC-TLV are only served by 3 carriers non-stop, UA, DL and LY. Saver availability on DL is non-existent. Saver availability on UA is rare but sometimes available close-in. Almost never available on or near holidays or holiday weekends, or around yomim tovim. LY awards are more readliy available but prohibitively expensive.

Which leaves the following options if no saver availability:

Chase travel portal with UR, or UR and Cash. Depending on whether you have Reserve or Sapphire redemption is either 1.5 or 1.25.

Amex travel portal with grandfathered BP gets you 50% points back or if not grandfathered gets you 35% back.

Citi travel portal which seems to have better pricing on LY J.

Or selling points to cover cash cost.

Those are your only options for nonstop travel. Ultimate Israel travel chart this is not, but a primer to stop the same questions over and over again.
Wiki updated, I tried to make it as noob-friendly as possible.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8386 on: November 03, 2017, 02:24:50 PM »
Wiki updated, I tried to make it as noob-friendly as possible.
Superb job of editing. Thank you.
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8387 on: November 03, 2017, 02:26:16 PM »
Superb job of editing. Thank you.
That's what I do  :) You're welcome.
"JS [is] a fetid cesspool of unvarnished linguistic manure, with lots of useless drivel and post-padding." -Moishebatchy

Offline high end hobo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8388 on: November 04, 2017, 08:00:54 PM »
LY awards are more readily available but prohibitively expensive.


I Disagree with this statement, many people have a ton of amex points, dont want to sell points, and are ready to splurge.

The rates for Elal to be posted and to each their own

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8389 on: November 04, 2017, 08:14:54 PM »
I Disagree with this statement, many people have a ton of amex points, dont want to sell points, and are ready to splurge.

The rates for Elal to be posted and to each their own
Go right ahead. This was just a primer.
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Offline faigy76

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8390 on: November 05, 2017, 12:45:52 PM »
I am looking to book 4 business class tickets from tlv to nyc on nonstop flights. Dates are January 28 (or 27 late pm)to February 4. I have lots of Amex points with grandfathered 50% bonus. What are my best options and least amount of points needed. All help greatly appreciated.

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8391 on: November 05, 2017, 12:50:56 PM »
I am looking to book 4 business class tickets from tlv to nyc on nonstop flights. Dates are January 28 (or 27 late pm)to February 4. I have lots of Amex points with grandfathered 50% bonus. What are my best options and least amount of points needed. All help greatly appreciated.
See posts above and wiki. Best option for you will probably be Amex travel portal with 50% back.
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline ludmila

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8392 on: November 05, 2017, 05:21:32 PM »
See posts above and wiki. Best option for you will probably be Amex travel portal with 50% back.
+1
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Offline danzz72

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8393 on: November 05, 2017, 06:42:00 PM »
Round-trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: max 1 stop
From: JFK,LGA,EWR
To: TLV
Departure dates: Jan 14/15/16/17
Return airports: TLV
Return dates: Jan 27,28,29
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Star alliance/One World or any other good valuation on the points

Hello , 
  I am really trying to find the best deal with my points. I currently have 86,000 Amex bank points in one account and 44,000 points in another Amex account. 35,000 united points in one account and 10,000 in another united account.

  I am trying to see if there is any cheaper valuation than just booking with air france for 25k points and paying the tax per one way. That was the cheapest I found. Any other offers are gladly taken.

Offline buvan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8394 on: November 07, 2017, 01:37:21 AM »
One way/Round-trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Upto 2 stops
From: All airports from which you can depart: PDX
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line : BLR or MAA
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. - Jan 9 - Jan 12 (any days, any time)
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets - NA
Return dates: Delete this line for One-way tickets - Feb 8 - Feb 10 (any days, any time)
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any - Coach
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2 - 2 adults
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with - Any

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.

Note: I have 155K UR + 63K SPG points + 53K alaska airlines points.

Thanks for the help.

Offline pashakym

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8395 on: November 08, 2017, 08:35:20 PM »
Round-trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: max 1 stop
From: JFK,LGA,EWR
To: TLV
Departure dates: Jan 14/15/16/17
Return airports: TLV
Return dates: Jan 27,28,29
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Star alliance/One World or any other good valuation on the points

Hello , 
  I am really trying to find the best deal with my points. I currently have 86,000 Amex bank points in one account and 44,000 points in another Amex account. 35,000 united points in one account and 10,000 in another united account.

  I am trying to see if there is any cheaper valuation than just booking with air france for 25k points and paying the tax per one way. That was the cheapest I found. Any other offers are gladly taken.

Just take that 25K + $109 on Alitalia with AF miles.
Or if you value your 50K Amex point you can just buy with WOW for ~$500 roundtrip.

Offline pashakym

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8396 on: November 08, 2017, 08:54:08 PM »
One way/Round-trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Upto 2 stops
From: All airports from which you can depart: PDX
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line : BLR or MAA
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. - Jan 9 - Jan 12 (any days, any time)
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets - NA
Return dates: Delete this line for One-way tickets - Feb 8 - Feb 10 (any days, any time)
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any - Coach
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2 - 2 adults
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with - Any

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.

Note: I have 155K UR + 63K SPG points + 53K alaska airlines points.

Thanks for the help.

There are 2 options I can think of:
1. United for 85K roundtrip + $100 in fees PDX-SFO-FRA-BLR
You have 155K UR, you can move them to UA and top with SPG miles.

2. AF for 80K roundtrip + $200 in fees PDX-CDG-BLR (I think PDX-CDG has a stop in NYC) and back with BLR-CDG-SLC-PDX :(

Best


Offline jew

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8397 on: November 09, 2017, 02:57:14 PM »
what is the best mileage currency to use for  UK (MAN or maybe LHR) to MEL with stopover in LAX (for at least one of the ways)
in economy?
in business?
thanks

Offline mmgfarb

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8398 on: November 09, 2017, 03:00:34 PM »
what is the best mileage currency to use for  UK (MAN or maybe LHR) to MEL with stopover in LAX (for at least one of the ways)
in economy?
in business?
thanks
You're going to have a tough time finding availability through LAX.
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Offline jew

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8399 on: November 10, 2017, 04:15:22 AM »
Even economy? is that because of the UK leg? or the MEL leg?
And let's say that i do find availability on united or whatever, which partner should i use? Thank