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 1839080 times)

Offline hudi123

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #520 on: February 19, 2012, 07:10:37 PM »
One way
From: tlv
To: nyc
Departure dates: april 15
Class:coach
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: continental miles
i reserved a one way to tlv for 40k each in coach now i just need a return i just want to get back sometime sun.  if anyone can help me.  (i dont see any availability on swiss for mileage) 

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #521 on: February 22, 2012, 12:12:10 AM »
One way/Round trip:round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:maximum 1 stop
From: All airports from which you can depart-TLV
To: All airports which you can arrive at. Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) and Akron(CAK)
Departure dates: April 22nd
Return dates: September 23rd
Class: coach
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: I have starwood points, Amex MR points and Chase UR points (I'm sorry i don't know which alliances these transfer to)

Normally i am a big fan of not asking for help if you can do it yourself, therefore i am embarrassed to say that i have not tried to find an award ticket yet myself. In defense, I've never booked an award ticket and I'm all confused as to the alliances, fuel surcharges and mileage fees as well as who transfers to whom and how that affects both mileage costs and fuel surcharges, I don't know where to start.

While this is no excuse the reason I'm turning to you good souls is because my mother just told me that she is about to purchase this ticket for 1900$ i told her that it would come out much cheaper if i use points and she pays me for their value, she agreed, but doesn't want to wait til i figure out the whole system.

If you guys can help me out i would really appreciate it!

Offline txtmax4

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #522 on: February 22, 2012, 02:40:06 AM »
Alliance/Airline: I have starwood points, Amex MR points and Chase UR points

i told her that it would come out much cheaper if i use points and she pays me for their value
And what price are you gonna put on the points exactly?
If You See Something, Say Something!!

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #523 on: February 22, 2012, 03:05:14 AM »
One way/Round trip:round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:maximum 1 stop
From: All airports from which you can depart-TLV
To: All airports which you can arrive at. Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) and Akron(CAK)
Departure dates: April 22nd
Return dates: September 23rd
Class: coach
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: I have starwood points, Amex MR points and Chase UR points (I'm sorry i don't know which alliances these transfer to)

Normally i am a big fan of not asking for help if you can do it yourself, therefore i am embarrassed to say that i have not tried to find an award ticket yet myself. In defense, I've never booked an award ticket and I'm all confused as to the alliances, fuel surcharges and mileage fees as well as who transfers to whom and how that affects both mileage costs and fuel surcharges, I don't know where to start.

While this is no excuse the reason I'm turning to you good souls is because my mother just told me that she is about to purchase this ticket for 1900$ i told her that it would come out much cheaper if i use points and she pays me for their value, she agreed, but doesn't want to wait til i figure out the whole system.

If you guys can help me out i would really appreciate it
If you are flexible by a day, bookable on continental.com for 80k miles (transfer from UR) and $50.10

Sun., Apr. 22, 2012 | Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) to Cleveland, OH (CLE)

Depart: 11:25 a.m. Sun., Apr. 22, 2012 Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)

Arrive: 4:35 p.m. Sun., Apr. 22, 2012 New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)

Flight Time: 12 hr 10 mn Flight: CO85 Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER Fare Class: Economy (X) Meal: Lunch

Change Planes. Connect time in New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) is 1 hour 33 minutes.

Depart: 6:08 p.m. Sun., Apr. 22, 2012 New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty)

Arrive: 7:49 p.m. Sun., Apr. 22, 2012 Cleveland, OH (CLE)

Flight Time: 1 hr 41 mn

Travel Time: 15 hr 24 mn

Flight: CO9 Aircraft: Boeing 737-900 Fare Class: Economy (XN) Meal: None

Mon., Sep. 24, 2012 | Cleveland, OH (CLE) to Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)

Depart: 12:20 p.m. Mon., Sep. 24, 2012 Cleveland, OH (CLE)

Arrive: 1:47 p.m. Mon., Sep. 24, 2012 Philadelphia, PA (PHL)

Flight Time: 1 hr 27 mn Flight: CO4759 Operated by CHAUTAUQUA AIRLINES INC DBA CO EXPRESS. Aircraft: Embraer RJ145 Fare Class: Economy (X) Meal: None

Change Planes. Connect time in Philadelphia, PA (PHL) is 2 hours 43 minutes.

Depart: 4:30 p.m. Mon., Sep. 24, 2012 Philadelphia, PA (PHL)

Arrive: 9:30 a.m. +1 Day Tue., Sep. 25, 2012 Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)

Flight Time: 11 hr 0 mn

Travel Time: 15 hr 10 mn

Flight: US777 Operated by US Airways. Aircraft: Airbus A330-200 Fare Class: Economy (X) Meal: Dinner No Special Meal Offered.


[/quote]

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #524 on: February 22, 2012, 08:24:24 AM »
And what price are you gonna put on the points exactly?
My personal value system is 2cpp starwood 1.55 cpp UR and 1.5 cpp MR

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #525 on: February 22, 2012, 08:27:56 AM »
If you are flexible by a day, bookable on continental.com for 80k miles (transfer from UR) and $50.1

Thank you!!
i have to see if that change works

Online Sammy82

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #526 on: February 22, 2012, 09:11:18 AM »
One way/Round trip: 1 way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any (but prefer non-stop)
From: Toronto
To: BWI or Dulles
Departure dates: 6/21 as early as possible or a very late 6/20 flight (after 11)
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any. I have BA, AA, CO, southwest miles

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #527 on: February 22, 2012, 11:15:37 AM »
Yikes, i just realized that i mixed up the origin and destination for each way, she needs to go TO TLV on april 22nd and return TO CLE on september 23rd!

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #528 on: February 22, 2012, 02:44:11 PM »
there, i fixed it!

One way/Round trip:round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:maximum 1 stop
From: All airports from which you can depart-Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) and Akron(CAK)
To: All airports which you can arrive at. TLV
Departure dates: April 22nd/23rd
Return dates: September 23rd/24th
Class: coach
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: I have starwood points, Amex MR points and Chase UR points (I'm sorry i don't know which alliances these transfer to)

Online Sammy82

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #529 on: February 22, 2012, 10:55:28 PM »
One way/Round trip: 1 way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any (but prefer non-stop)
From: Toronto
To: BWI or Dulles
Departure dates: 6/21 as early as possible or a very late 6/20 flight (after 11)
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any. I have BA, AA, CO, southwest miles
Bump

Offline txtmax4

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #530 on: February 23, 2012, 02:14:26 AM »
I'm looking for the following two items, independent of each other. NOTE: Will reward, PM me for details.

1)NYC-TLV as much as posible in BIZ, will settle for coach when BIZ not available. 2 passengers.
Outbound: Mar 3 (or 4 early)
Return: Mar 11 or 12.

2) NYC-LON 2 passengers in BIZ (will settle for coach when biz not available), 3 passengers on coach. Must be all 5 on same flight.

Outbound: Feb 27 (the later the better).
Return: Mar 11

Normal stopovers can be considered.
If You See Something, Say Something!!

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #531 on: February 23, 2012, 02:21:42 PM »
Preference for *A, but will take any.
EWR-TLV (OW)

1 J seat

June 24 - 27

excl. CO EasyPass

only thing I can find is IB, but thats both out of JFK and A320 to TLV
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #532 on: February 23, 2012, 03:23:12 PM »
I'm looking for the following two items, independent of each other. NOTE: Will reward, PM me for details.

1)NYC-TLV as much as posible in BIZ, will settle for coach when BIZ not available. 2 passengers.
Outbound: Mar 3 (or 4 early)
Return: Mar 11 or 12.

2) NYC-LON 2 passengers in BIZ (will settle for coach when biz not available), 3 passengers on coach. Must be all 5 on same flight.

Outbound: Feb 27 (the later the better).
Return: Mar 11

Normal stopovers can be considered.
March 3rd is Shabbos. Does this have to be after shabbos?
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Chaikel

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #533 on: February 23, 2012, 04:31:36 PM »
Preference for *A, but will take any.
EWR-TLV (OW)

1 J seat

June 24 - 27

excl. CO EasyPass

only thing I can find is IB, but thats both out of JFK and A320 to TLV
Sometimes award seats dont open that far in advance
Create professional looking itineraries.
Check out eliteitinerary.com

Offline rab

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #534 on: February 23, 2012, 05:16:12 PM »
NYC-TLV
MAR. 14-26 +- 1 day
Economy
*A

Offline PlatinumGuy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #535 on: February 23, 2012, 05:27:55 PM »
NYC-TLV
MAR. 14-26 +- 1 day
Economy
*A
just sell your miles and buy a ticket. never worth it otherwise
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #536 on: February 23, 2012, 10:42:17 PM »


One way/Round trip:round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:maximum 1 stop
From: All airports from which you can depart-Cleveland Hopkins (CLE) and Akron(CAK)
To: All airports which you can arrive at. TLV
Departure dates: April 22nd/23rd
Return dates: September 23rd/24th
Class: coach
Seats:1
Alliance/Airline: I have starwood points, Amex MR points and Chase UR points and CO/UA points (I'm sorry i don't know which alliances these transfer to)

Bump!

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #537 on: February 23, 2012, 10:56:52 PM »
80K CO/UA/UR in coach:

04/23 US2653, CLE-CLT, 1:45pm-3:20pm
1:50 connection in Charlotte
04/23 LH429, CLT-MUC, 5:10pm-7:50am+1
1:30 connection in Munich
04/24 LH688, MUC-TLV, 9:20am-2:05pm

09/23 CO91, TLV-EWR, 10:40pm-4:50am+1
1:35 connection in Newark
09/24 CO1705, EWR-CLE 6:25am-8:00am
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline tripper

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #538 on: February 25, 2012, 08:58:31 PM »
Hi,
Looking for 2 seats nyc-tlv departing july 8-11 returning aug. 12-16
I have up to 90,000 Amex for economy or 120,000 Amex for Business.
Thanks in advance

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #539 on: February 25, 2012, 09:22:37 PM »
I found continental. total need 200,000 miles. how many amex miles would i need to transfer to ANA for such a reward?