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 1839097 times)

Online yelped

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8980 on: January 07, 2019, 01:46:40 PM »
Im not sure if this is the right place to post this, if not please direct me to the correct topic.

We are 5 people stuck in AMS coming from KBP to NYC via AMS on KLM, we missed our connection flight in AMS we called KLM they say that they wont rebook us on a later flight  our points are forfeited and we need to rebook as a new reservations. Is that the case, anything we can do. Whats our best option to get to NY now?
Was it booked as one flight connecting in AMS? If so, they should accommodate you.

Offline Emgee

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8981 on: January 07, 2019, 03:11:14 PM »
Was it booked as one flight connecting in AMS? If so, they should accommodate you.
Yes it was, they claim if i missed my flight its my responsibility to get myself rebooked.

Online yelped

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8982 on: January 07, 2019, 03:16:35 PM »
Yes it was, they claim if i missed my flight its my responsibility to get myself rebooked.
Was it missed because the first flight came in late?

Offline lubaby

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8983 on: January 07, 2019, 03:20:43 PM »
Was it missed because the first flight came in late?
Even so, depends how late it came in.

Long lines at security / getting through airport terminals are considered your problem, not the airlines.

Offline Flybiz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8984 on: January 08, 2019, 09:51:19 AM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip (2 one-ways good too)
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: up to 1 stop
From: NYC (JFK, EWR) or PHL
To: TLV
Departure dates: Feb 24 or 25 (24 preferred)
Return dates: March 6 or 7 (have to be back in state no later than Thursday night)
Class: business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: 180k Chase ur points

Thank you!

Offline Flybiz

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8985 on: January 10, 2019, 08:42:48 PM »
One way/Round trip: Round trip (2 one-ways good too)
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: up to 1 stop
From: NYC (JFK, EWR) or PHL
To: TLV
Departure dates: Feb 24 or 25 (24 preferred)
Return dates: March 6 or 7 (have to be back in state no later than Thursday night)
Class: business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: 180k Chase ur points



Can someone please help with this?


Thank you!

Offline Naftuli19

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8986 on: January 10, 2019, 08:57:14 PM »

Only checked NYC-TLV i see availability for 85k +$36  on UA operated by Austrian.
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Offline Naftuli19

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8987 on: January 10, 2019, 08:57:40 PM »
Only checked NYC-TLV i see availability for 85k +$36  on UA operated by Austrian.
With a stop in VIE
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8988 on: January 10, 2019, 09:47:17 PM »
The way back there is a lot availability as well...
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Offline MJ000

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8989 on: January 15, 2019, 04:33:28 PM »
Need two one way tickets from MIA/FLL to JFK/LGA. Departure Jan 28th 2019. Im having troubling finding ok prices, everything i found is way too much. Goal is to keep it under $140(inc. Baggage) for each. Any help would be much appreciated

Offline lubaby

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8990 on: January 15, 2019, 04:36:04 PM »
Need two one way tickets from MIA/FLL to JFK/LGA. Departure Jan 28th 2019. Im having troubling finding ok prices, everything i found is way too much. Goal is to keep it under $140(inc. Baggage) for each. Any help would be much appreciated
Can't fly the next day? Then prices only $100 (add baggage and still under budget).

Offline Naftuli19

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8991 on: January 15, 2019, 04:36:06 PM »
Need two one way tickets from MIA/FLL to JFK/LGA. Departure Jan 28th 2019. Im having troubling finding ok prices, everything i found is way too much. Goal is to keep it under $140(inc. Baggage) for each. Any help would be much appreciated
You looking for a cash or award ticket?
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Offline belle

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8992 on: January 15, 2019, 04:38:18 PM »
Round trip
Ideally nonstop, max 1
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: Jun 23 - Jun 30
Return airports: Same
Return dates: 10-14 days later
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Delta, AA, United (in that order, but will consider any)

Basically, I'd like to go to Israel for 2 weeks towards the end of June/beginning of July, and I'd like to pay as little as possible, so I'm flexible as to dates and which airlines. I have MR, SPG, and UR points to transfer wherever need be.

Thank you!

Any tips on finding the best award deals? Appreciate it.

Offline Naftuli19

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8993 on: January 15, 2019, 04:53:36 PM »
Any tips on finding the best award deals? Appreciate it.
I see availability on delta direct flight from JFK-TLV on 23,24 for 43k + $5.6
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8994 on: January 15, 2019, 04:54:07 PM »
I see availability on delta direct flight from JFK-TLV on 23,24 for 43k + $5.6
OW
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Offline MJ000

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8995 on: January 15, 2019, 05:46:22 PM »
You looking for a cash or award ticket?

Either one is fine, do you have anything?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8997 on: January 16, 2019, 09:04:49 AM »
One way/Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From: Prague
To: New York
Departure dates: April 7 landing in ny April 8
Class: cheapest (any)
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: any
What Price did you find so far: 333
Are you looking to buy from a TA or cheapest online: cheapest
Moishe
@ LetsGoCustom.com

Offline Sammyonetwo

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8998 on: January 16, 2019, 10:48:58 PM »
One way/Round trip:RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: non
From: jfk
To: lax
Departure dates: Jan 24 after 9 pm  return Jan 31 arive at 11am
Class: any
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: any
What Price did you find so far:
Are you looking to buy from a TA or cheapest online: cheapest

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #8999 on: January 17, 2019, 01:26:07 AM »
Looking for round trip. JFK to MIA. Feb 14th-19th. Adult. Non-stop