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 1839355 times)

Offline gotkwah

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8400 on: November 11, 2017, 10:00:40 PM »
Thanks in advance for the help. Been trying to search this myself but I'm having a hard time. (would an expertflyer.com membership for a month help?)

Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop Max
From: JFK/EWR/LGA/ATL (or anywhere I can get to from ATL for cheap on southwest, like Boston or Houston)
To: TLV
Departure dates: Ideally Dec 19-21 (getting in with enough time for shabbos), would consider earlier in the week or the previous week if needed
Return dates: Early in the week 2 weeks after departure. (looking to be there for 2 shabbos)
Class: Coach (unless there is a way for the adults to be in prem economy/Bus/first and still be super close to kids in coach)
Seats: 2 adults + 2 kids + 1 baby
Alliance/Airline: Have ~600k UR + 250k skymiles

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8401 on: November 11, 2017, 10:15:14 PM »
Thanks in advance for the help. Been trying to search this myself but I'm having a hard time. (would an expertflyer.com membership for a month help?)

Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop Max
From: JFK/EWR/LGA/ATL (or anywhere I can get to from ATL for cheap on southwest, like Boston or Houston)
To: TLV
Departure dates: Ideally Dec 19-21 (getting in with enough time for shabbos), would consider earlier in the week or the previous week if needed
Return dates: Early in the week 2 weeks after departure. (looking to be there for 2 shabbos)
Class: Coach (unless there is a way for the adults to be in prem economy/Bus/first and still be super close to kids in coach)
Seats: 2 adults + 2 kids + 1 baby
Alliance/Airline: Have ~600k UR + 250k skymiles
See Wiki

Nonstop and connecting availability are rarest on or near holidays. There is just no saver availability that whole week. Chase travel Portal if you have reserve card and/or sale of miles/point are probably your best options.
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline jew

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8402 on: November 12, 2017, 04:37:43 PM »
MAN (or LHR if necessary)-LAX-MEL-MAN
can stop up to 2 stops per leg if needed
Departure dates: JULY 15,16,17,18
stay in LA for 3-5 nights
AUG 20 back to MAN
Pref business or First but can do economy for one of the legs
1 pasenger
ANY ALLIANCE OR AIRLINE
(i see business on delta.com (with partners) or aa.com (with parnters) for the last leg but having trouble for the first 2)
would ANA or maybe singapore miles be the best way? (for cheapest miles....)
willing to pay $50 for a good itinerary. Thank you

Offline alt123

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8403 on: November 12, 2017, 09:40:51 PM »
Round-trip:
Max 1 stop
From:NYC- pref EWR
To: AGP
Departure dates: 1/10/18- evening
Return airports:NYC- pref EWR
Return dates: 1/16/18
Class: First/Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Whoever has the most enjoyable business/first class and best value. I have plenty of miles with most carriers.
THANK YOU!!!

Offline jew

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8404 on: November 12, 2017, 10:23:40 PM »
MAN (or LHR if necessary)-LAX-MEL-MAN
can stop up to 2 stops per leg if needed
Departure dates: JULY 15,16,17,18
stay in LA for 3-5 nights
AUG 20 back to MAN
Pref business or First but can do economy for one of the legs
1 pasenger
ANY ALLIANCE OR AIRLINE
(i see business on delta.com (with partners) or aa.com (with parnters) for the last leg but having trouble for the first 2)
would ANA or maybe singapore miles be the best way? (for cheapest miles....)
willing to pay $50 for a good itinerary. Thank you
I found business on singapore
manchester to houston
lax to melbourne (2 stops!)
melbourne to manchester
what is the best way to book that? ANA? singapore? aeroplan?
houston to LA is no united saver award which means i would have to buy a separate ticket...?
Thank you somebody

Offline springles

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8405 on: November 23, 2017, 10:40:53 AM »
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop Max
From: JFK/EWR/LGA
To: TLV
Departure dates: week of june 24
Return dates: around 3 weeks later
Class: Coach
Seats: 2 adults + 1 12 turning 13 year old + 3 2-10 year olds
Alliance/Airline: Have ~600k UR + 200k united

TIA

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8406 on: November 23, 2017, 10:48:05 AM »
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1 stop Max
From: JFK/EWR/LGA
To: TLV
Departure dates: week of june 24
Return dates: around 3 weeks later
Class: Coach
Seats: 2 adults + 1 12 turning 13 year old + 3 2-10 year olds
Alliance/Airline: Have ~600k UR + 200k united

TIA
What have you found searching for it yourself?
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline high end hobo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8407 on: November 23, 2017, 08:11:46 PM »
What have you found searching for it yourself?
whats that?

I thought you just get spoon fed

Offline hvaces42

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Offline springles

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8409 on: November 24, 2017, 01:04:11 AM »
What have you found searching for it yourself?
85k a ticket RT using United.
I didn't ask without first looking but I know that there are other ways to get there, I'm just not sure how to find them. I thought this was a thread where people can help you find award tickets. Sorry for asking.

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8410 on: November 24, 2017, 06:30:19 AM »
85k a ticket RT using United.
I didn't ask without first looking but I know that there are other ways to get there, I'm just not sure how to find them. I thought this was a thread where people can help you find award tickets. Sorry for asking.
Thats all we wanted to know. No one will feed it to you without some effort on your part.
That being said it seems that Saver availability is open, so use Singapore miles to book. Transfer from UR
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Offline mrprez27

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8411 on: November 29, 2017, 09:58:43 PM »
   
With around 200k amex points - this flight below is filling up fast and is now up to $1700. Any way to use those amex points to purchase...transfer to matmid etc. This is a posting for a cousin...daughter would really like to be on the below specific flight as her friend is flying on the same flight.

Also

A. Elal look at the attached elal site screenshots...how do you get a amex israel card to get that those crazy conversation rates?

B. Matmid club...if you want to do 'forgot username'...it asks for ID anyone know which ID?

Thanks :) :)

--
1 adult
Economy
Round tripOne wayMulti-city
TLV Tel Aviv

Where from?
New York City (all airports)

Where to?
Wed, March 14
Sun, April 8
Outbound flight
Wed, Mar 14

1:00 AM – 6:55 AM
Tel Aviv (TLV) – Newark (EWR)
El Al 27 · Economy Class · Boeing 787
Average legroom (31")
Overnight flight
11h 55m
In-seat & USB power
On-demand video
No Wi-Fi
Return flight
Sun, Apr 8

9:00 PM – 2:25 PM+1
Newark (EWR) – Tel Aviv (TLV)
El Al 26 · Economy Class · Boeing 787
Average legroom (31")
Overnight flight
10h 25m
In-seat & USB power
On-demand video
No Wi-Fi
Ads

Offline nbnuti

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8412 on: November 30, 2017, 11:16:54 PM »
Round-trip:  NYC/CUN
Non-stop
From: All airports from which you can depart   NYC/EWR
To: CUN
Departure dates: 12/21
Return airports:  NYC/EWR
Return dates: 12/25
Class: cheapest
Seats:  2
Alliance/Airline: have amex business plat (-35%) CHASE RESERVE, Delta, united

Offline chaimdasap

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8413 on: December 02, 2017, 11:18:59 AM »
one way yyz-bkk
one stop (anywhere)
departure date - 12/24
class J
seats 2
can use any miles.
most valuable option for miles?
"I'm not under the affluence of incohol, but thinkle peep I am."

Online mochjas

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8414 on: December 02, 2017, 10:01:03 PM »
one way yyz-bkk
one stop (anywhere)
departure date - 12/24
class J
seats 2
can use any miles.
most valuable option for miles?
awardhacker.com

Offline chaimdasap

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8415 on: December 03, 2017, 06:09:06 AM »
awardhacker.com
I did that but when I checked the sources it gave me, it wasn't available. is there a site which knows availability also?
"I'm not under the affluence of incohol, but thinkle peep I am."

Online mochjas

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8416 on: December 03, 2017, 07:34:48 AM »
I did that but when I checked the sources it gave me, it wasn't available. is there a site which knows availability also?
that would be nice.

Offline chaimdasap

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8417 on: December 03, 2017, 08:05:05 AM »
that would be nice.
ill take that as a no
"I'm not under the affluence of incohol, but thinkle peep I am."

Offline yhaller14

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8418 on: December 03, 2017, 10:54:26 AM »
I did that but when I checked the sources it gave me, it wasn't available. is there a site which knows availability also?
Expert flyer but u have to pay
"In the end we only regret the chances we didn't take"

Offline high end hobo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8419 on: December 03, 2017, 03:00:48 PM »
pexportal does