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 1839433 times)

Offline jose34

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8460 on: January 03, 2018, 08:31:32 AM »
Never booked this kind of award ticket, and trying to piece it together any help would be appreciated.

Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Any
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:  BWI ( preferred) or IAD, DCA
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible: March 15 or March 17 ( M"S) or March 18 ( morning)

Return airports from: BWI
Return dates: April 15 or 16
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: least amount of miles
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 2
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with: Have Chase UR and British Avios.

Offline shaulyaakov

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8461 on: January 03, 2018, 12:46:59 PM »
Never booked this kind of award ticket, and trying to piece it together any help would be appreciated.

Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Any
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:  BWI ( preferred) or IAD, DCA
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible: March 15 or March 17 ( M"S) or March 18 ( morning)

Return airports from: BWI
Return dates: April 15 or 16
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: least amount of miles
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 2
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with: Have Chase UR and British Avios.
If coach, book a cheap cash ticket with UR.

Offline chasidishkiet

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8462 on: January 03, 2018, 12:56:25 PM »
Hey guys
Looking fo any available leads
Round trip / 1 stop
From : ord or JFK
To: tlv
Dept date: feb 21
Return date: feb 25
(I’m flexible with 1 day each way)
Class: Buissness
Seats: 2
Airline: I have spg, ur, mr to spend
Notes: doing a basic search I saw some Austrian and Lufthansa flights for those dates, however fuel surcharge was $1100

Also I need to arrive in tlv no later than Friday (feb 23) in the morning

Any help will be much appreciated
I have 10k delta miles to give to anyone successful in finding me a flight once I book it
I was actually able to get through calling ANA direct & using their partner a  R/t business (with Austrian & Lufthansa) 104 Miles return.
But the fuel surcharge was $550
I’m assuming I should eat the higher fuel surcharge as the actual mile usage is lower than other?

Offline nafnaf12

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8463 on: January 03, 2018, 01:05:08 PM »
Trying to find a ticket for tomorrow
1 pax
TLV-BRU
1/4
ONE WAY
Coach
Preferably *A
Only checked on UA and can't find anything under 50k
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

Online yelped

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8464 on: January 03, 2018, 06:38:16 PM »
I was actually able to get through calling ANA direct & using their partner a  R/t business (with Austrian & Lufthansa) 104 Miles return.
But the fuel surcharge was $550
I’m assuming I should eat the higher fuel surcharge as the actual mile usage is lower than other?
Than go with Aegean if you don't care about fuel surcharges.

Offline Teach Me

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8465 on: January 03, 2018, 09:40:07 PM »
I'm looking for an affordable ticket from NYC to YUL for this Sunday, January 7  (preferably from EWR, but offerings are scarce from EWR). I need to visit a seriously ill relative. I have:
BA Points
AA Points
Lufthansa Points
Sapphire Points (with Sapphire Reserve)
Thank You points (but only a Thank You Preferred card, so transfers are limited)
22k of Amex Points.
Air Canada points (with huge fuel surcharges etc.)
Maybe others but don't recall.

What, if anything, are my options?


Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8466 on: January 03, 2018, 09:57:00 PM »
I'm looking for an affordable ticket from NYC to YUL for this Sunday, January 7  (preferably from EWR, but offerings are scarce from EWR). I need to visit a seriously ill relative. I have:
BA Points
AA Points
Lufthansa Points
Sapphire Points (with Sapphire Reserve)
Thank You points (but only a Thank You Preferred card, so transfers are limited)
22k of Amex Points.
Air Canada points (with huge fuel surcharges etc.)
Maybe others but don't recall.

What, if anything, are my options?
BA on AA metal will be your cheapest option if Saaver is available. Check AA. Should be 7500 BA + $5.60 outbound. Same points higher fees inbound.
AA and UA will charge close-in fees that make revenue probably a better option.
If you must, book UA metal with AC, no fuel surcharges.
Otherwise, check revenue with Sapphire Reserve.

Hope that helped. Was looking at that route for this past sunday.
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline Teach Me

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8467 on: January 03, 2018, 10:16:21 PM »
BA on AA metal will be your cheapest option if Saaver is available. Check AA. Should be 7500 BA + $5.60 outbound. Same points higher fees inbound.
AA and UA will charge close-in fees that make revenue probably a better option.
If you must, book UA metal with AC, no fuel surcharges.
Otherwise, check revenue with Sapphire Reserve.

Hope that helped. Was looking at that route for this past sunday.
BA's availability stinks these days - none available for that date.
Revenue is >$500, cost prohibitive. UA metal with AC might work, I'll take a look. Thanks!

Offline hvaces42

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8468 on: January 03, 2018, 11:12:45 PM »
BA's availability stinks these days - none available for that date.
Revenue is >$500, cost prohibitive. UA metal with AC might work, I'll take a look. Thanks!
Check AA first. BA may just not be showing it which would require a call...which may have you on hold all weekend. ;D
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline smaxber

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8469 on: January 07, 2018, 01:44:53 PM »
I'm looking for an affordable ticket from NYC to MCO for 3/30-4/8 time frame (pesach time)
pretty much any points....looking to use BA,AA, united.

Could use CSR Points but rather use miles i've accumulated.
Maybe others but don't recall. any other recommendations?

TIA

Offline jose34

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8470 on: January 07, 2018, 05:52:19 PM »
I'm looking for an affordable ticket from NYC to MCO for 3/30-4/8 time frame (pesach time)
pretty much any points....looking to use BA,AA, united.

Could use CSR Points but rather use miles i've accumulated.
Maybe others but don't recall. any other recommendations?

TIA

Best bet is to use to book with AA using British Avios. Sometimes hard find availability though

Offline ShlomoM

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8471 on: January 08, 2018, 11:25:55 AM »
Looking for 2 tickets YYZ or NYC airports to Thailand via Hong Kong.
I have amex points and SPG.
Dates are open but looking to leave the end of June and return early July.
TIA

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8472 on: January 08, 2018, 12:07:26 PM »
I am trying to book a Virgin America flight using milage. Alaska is showing in biz available for 25k.
Singapore told me they don't see it on their end. Are there any other partners that can book this. It seems things are complicated at this point with the merger and there are few options.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8473 on: January 14, 2018, 10:00:18 AM »
Round trip:
Non-stop
From: JFK
To: Vancouver (YVR)
Departure dates: Feb 21
Return airports:JFK
Return dates: Feb 23
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Cathay Pacific

I have 65,000 AA miles
Thanks!!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8474 on: January 14, 2018, 12:34:40 PM »
Round trip from JFK TO YVR on Cathay Pacific departing Sunday Feb 18 and returning Tuesday night Feb 20 (landing Wednesday morning). I have 65k AA miles. Can I use those miles for this flight?
My earlier post had the wrong dates...

Offline chasidishkiet

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8475 on: January 18, 2018, 02:10:43 PM »


I booked a mixed cabin fare with Ana
Tlv - ord via Brussels in Buissness paid for 2 legs with buissnes points
Tlv - bru (Buissness)
Bru - ord (economy)

Would you know how I can get the bru- ord economy leg in Buissness?
I see there’s buissnes award availability on United site, however Ana is saying they don’t have that same availability
Any tips or suggestions appreciated

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8476 on: January 18, 2018, 05:50:05 PM »
NYC_ HEATHROW:
I havent traveled to Europe in over 7 years i cant believe the taxes on these flights..Im looking at departing march 14th and returning March 18th.. NYC-Heathrow
Miles ticket on American and Virgin have taxes in addition which is almost the price of the cash ticket. So no point of spending the 30k miles only to have to pay 90% of what the cash ticket would be. United is a real option, they seem the cheapest..any other airlines I might be missing in searching? How about for prem eco. any good search tips?
thanks!

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8477 on: January 18, 2018, 05:58:07 PM »
Also why when i search one ways it comes back in Euros and its tripple the price? I cant get delta round trip for $560 but if i just search one way, coming home, its 1300 euros. why?

Offline ludmila

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8478 on: January 19, 2018, 02:09:48 AM »
NYC_ HEATHROW:
I havent traveled to Europe in over 7 years i cant believe the taxes on these flights..Im looking at departing march 14th and returning March 18th.. NYC-Heathrow
Miles ticket on American and Virgin have taxes in addition which is almost the price of the cash ticket. So no point of spending the 30k miles only to have to pay 90% of what the cash ticket would be. United is a real option, they seem the cheapest..any other airlines I might be missing in searching? How about for prem eco. any good search tips?
thanks!
Taxes on AA are when flying BA. Unless you can find an AA saver flight direct to London, keep checking, you might luck out. United is easier for finding award space to LHR.
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8479 on: January 22, 2018, 02:03:39 PM »
Hi,
What's the best reward redemption options for flights from Israel to Europe (Star alliance)?
Thanks