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 1839878 times)

Offline simjy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9140 on: December 25, 2019, 04:02:07 PM »
Hi,
Looking for tickets to Israel for Yahrtzeit. Going with my 2 young daughters, not a happy occasion so looking for no stops and in a dream world a comfortable option. I don't do this often so not that familiar with the points game. But did some due diligence. Looked at Qantas but no availability shows up for when I need. Transferring points to elal seems ridiculously expensive. Is my best option Pay with Points on Amex's site or am I missing something?

One way/Round-trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: non-stop
From: All airports from which you can depart - JFK
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. 3/10/20 late in the day
Return airports:If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One-way tickets
Return dates: Delete this line for One-way tickets - 3/17/20 or am on 3/18/20
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any - Any, based on points quantity
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2 - 3
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with - Elal or Delta, have membership rewards points.

Thanks in advance.

Offline bbsd

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9141 on: December 30, 2019, 11:01:24 PM »
looking to fly Jan 4
from nyc to zrh
2 ppl
one way

Offline boro boy

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9142 on: January 05, 2020, 07:56:28 PM »
One way
max 1 stop
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: MAR 24/25/26
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
I Have AA and Chase UR Points
Thanks for your help
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Offline Cat18

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9143 on: January 09, 2020, 12:34:05 AM »
My brother just got engaged and I need tickets from CHI-NYC this Sunday 1/12 and returning Monday 1/13. Can be round trip or 2 separate one ways.

One way/Round-trip: either
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: either
From: ORD, MDW
To: LGA, JFK, NEWARK (nyc)
Departure dates: 1/11 (late night), 1/12
Return airports: ORD, MDW
Return dates: 1/13
Class: COACH
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: AA, united, delta, chase UR, citi bank

Offline yeshivabucher

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9144 on: January 09, 2020, 11:08:29 PM »
looking for NYC-CUN april- 7-19 
nonstop
any airline (can transfer points)

Offline Maxdeck123

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9145 on: January 15, 2020, 11:02:42 PM »
help!

Family looking for 3 tickets:
round-trip
Non-stop:
From: JFK (or LGA)
To: MIA (or FLL)
Departure dates:2/17 - 2/23
Seats:3
Alliance/Airline: looking to capitalize with my UR points doesnt matter which airlines. I dont want to pay the 1200 it costs to fly those dates.....please help

Offline theyankel

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9146 on: January 16, 2020, 11:55:14 AM »
what is best way to book BA metal jfk-lhr-tlv in j
least taxes?


Offline Yoko

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9147 on: January 26, 2020, 12:08:35 AM »
Round-trip
Prefer Non stop but would do one stop over
From: EWR
To: TLV
Departure dates: 8/9/20
Return airports: EWR
Return dates: 8/24/20
Class: Coach or premier economy
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: United card
I have tons of points to use - Bonvoy, Chase, AMEX

Offline Azis Papa

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9148 on: January 27, 2020, 12:28:01 PM »
Round-trip
Prefer Non stop
From: ZRH
To: JFK
Departure dates: 2/27/20
Return airports: ZRH
Return dates: 3/2/20
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any
I have a lot of AMEX points

Offline metsgiantsfan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9149 on: January 29, 2020, 08:44:39 AM »
ONE WAY
Prefer Non stop
From: CDG
To: EWR
Departure dates: 3/22/20
Class: Business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: UNITED

Many cc points on different cards and united points etc.  it was 65k business but now it jumped substantially. Any hacks for this day can book through a partner and fly and still fly on united for a rate under 100k miles?

Offline Yoko

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9150 on: January 29, 2020, 09:15:08 PM »
Does anybody get help on this topic here or is there another place to post? All I see is mostly requests

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9151 on: January 30, 2020, 08:13:53 AM »
Does anybody get help on this topic here or is there another place to post? All I see is mostly requests
Most requests here, by nature, are frivolous.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Yoko

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9152 on: January 30, 2020, 11:31:59 AM »
Most requests here, by nature, are frivolous.

Then whats the point in asking?

Offline #GoodVibes

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9153 on: February 08, 2020, 10:17:31 PM »
Anyone know how long it takes to transfer Bonvoy into Flying Club? Will I be covered by the 72 reservation hold that Flying Club allows?

Offline A.W.Z.B.T.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9154 on: February 17, 2020, 12:54:47 PM »
One way/Round trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: max 1 stop
From: CVG
To: MSP
Departure dates: 2/20/20
Return airports: CVG
Return dates: 2/23/20
Class: Any
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: star, oneworld

Offline golf123

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #9155 on: February 20, 2020, 03:40:22 PM »
One way/Round trip: OW
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: 08/14 - 08/16
Return airports: NYC
Class: ANY
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:  ANY. Using Chase points.

Offline Pad18

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  • Location: United States
One way/Round trip: R/T
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: none
From: MIA
To: NYC
Departure dates: 06/15 - 06/16
Return airports: NYC
Class: cheapest
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline:  MR, UNITED, AA

Offline grodnoking

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One way/Round trip: R/T or one way there
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: none
From: NYC
To: MIA
Departure dates: This week
Return airports:
Class: cheapest
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline:  UR/MR
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline crease131

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  • Location: CT
One way/Round trip: one way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1
From: bdl,hvn,hpn
To:lax,ont,bur,lgb
Departure dates: 7/1,7/2
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: any
Thanks!

Offline boro boy

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  • Location: Brooklyn
One way/Round trip: OW
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 1
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: 08/14 - 08/16
Return airports: NYC
Class: ANY
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:  ANY. Using Chase points.
turkish airline $858 total for both pass

👆hit the like button :-)