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 1839335 times)

Offline aussiebochur

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it WAS now it's Y3
And it still showed under last seat available for miles...

Offline Yitz

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@yitz you know using BA will cost u ~$700 surcharge per person?


Yes

Offline outinstyle

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Re: Need help finding a ticket?
« Reply #722 on: May 04, 2012, 10:58:09 AM »
One way/Round trip: ONE WAY
From: LAS
To: NYC (PREF JFK)
Departure dates: LATE 8/14 (AFTER 12 NOON OR LATER PREF - IF NOT THEN EARLY 8/15 OK)
Class: First/Business
Seats:  2
Alliance/Airline: STARWOODS/AA/DELTA/AMEX

Offline stever

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lax-tlv  7/31-8/5
1 ticket adult
any class
using avios- dont matter which partner

Offline withthanks

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RT
Max. 1 Stop
From:  LGA/JFK
To:  LIT
Departure dates:  05/10/2012 Morning
Return dates: 05/11/2012 morning
Class:  coach
 seats 1
 alliance - any

Offline mb

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RT
Max. 1 Stop
From:  NYC
To:  TLV
Departure dates:  8/26/12 (both departure and return flexible =/- 1 days)
Return dates: 8/2/12
Class:  Business
2 seats
Alliance - Prefer Oneworld, also have many SPG, Amex and Delta miles.

Offline bades

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looking
RT
Max. 1 Stop
From:  NYC
To:  TLV
Departure dates:  6-19 or so(both departure and return flexible =/- 1 days)
Return dates: 6/24/12 or so
Class:  Business
1 seats
Alliance - Prefer star alliance. or Elal
thank you

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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If someone could help me i would be VERY much obliged!!

RT
Max. 2 Stop
From:  Manchester, UK (MAN i think)
To:  NYC (ewr.lga,jfk or even phili)
Departure dates:  07/15/2012
Return dates: 07/26/2012
Class:  coach
 seats 1
 alliance -  not sure, i have plenty starwood, UR and Amex MR points...

Thanks a MILLION!

Offline Devorah

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If someone could help me i would be VERY much obliged!!

RT
Max. 2 Stop
From:  Manchester, UK (MAN i think)
To:  NYC (ewr.lga,jfk or even phili)
Departure dates:  07/15/2012
Return dates: 07/26/2012
Class:  coach
 seats 1
 alliance -  not sure, i have plenty starwood, UR and Amex MR points...

Thanks a MILLION!
are ur dates flexible at all?

Offline PlatinumGuy

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If someone could help me i would be VERY much obliged!!

RT
Max. 2 Stop
From:  Manchester, UK (MAN i think)
To:  NYC (ewr.lga,jfk or even phili)
Departure dates:  07/15/2012
Return dates: 07/26/2012
Class:  coach
 seats 1
 alliance -  not sure, i have plenty starwood, UR and Amex MR points...

Thanks a MILLION!
unless you use Avios on Aer lingus, hard to imagine its cheaper than selling your miles and buying a tkt.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline muttman

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I have to go to a friend wedding in Israel, I am having a really tough time finding a ticket, all help will be really appreciated!

RT
Max. 1 stop
From: NYC
TO: TLV
Departure Date: 7/1/12 (Flexible)
Departure Date: 7/8/12 (Flexible)
Class: coach (Flexible)
Seats 2
Alliance: Any

My award balance is:

BA: 48K
United: 118K
AA: 160K
SPG: 85K
UR:: 75K
« Last Edit: May 08, 2012, 02:59:25 PM by muttman »
I take no responsibility for the results of your actions

Offline PlatinumGuy

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I have to go to a friend wedding in Israel, I am having a really tough time finding a ticket, all help will be really appreciated!

RT
Max. 1 stop
From: NYC
TO: TLV
Departure Date: 7/1/12 (Flexible)
Departure Date: 7/8/12 (Flexible)
Class: coach (Flexible)
Seats 2
Alliance: Any

My award balance is:

BA: 48K
United: 118K
AA: 160K
SPG: 85K
UR:: 75K
Why not sell the miles and buy a ticket?
SPG takes time.
If there's availability you can use UA + UR or AA.
״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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If someone could help me i would be VERY much obliged!!

RT
Max. 2 Stop
From:  Manchester, UK (MAN i think)
To:  NYC (ewr.lga,jfk or even phili)
Departure dates:  07/15/2012
Return dates: 07/26/2012
Class:  coach
 seats 1
 alliance -  not sure, i have plenty starwood, UR and Amex MR points...

Thanks a MILLION!
Try looking on United.com for aer lingus availability. Then book it with BA (no YQ). The best way across the pond.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline muttman

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Try looking on United.com for aer lingus availability. Then book it with BA (no YQ). The best way across the pond.

I'm a bit confused (sorry), aer lingus only flies to Dublin and Shannon, how would I then proceed to TLV?
I take no responsibility for the results of your actions

Offline PlatinumGuy

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I'm a bit confused (sorry), aer lingus only flies to Dublin and Shannon, how would I then proceed to TLV?
That was a reply to the other guy (who knows best).
But u can still take an easy jet dub-bsl-tlv if u want.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline muttman

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That was a reply to the other guy (who knows best).
But u can still take an easy jet dub-bsl-tlv if u want.

LOL
I take no responsibility for the results of your actions

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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Try looking on United.com for aer lingus availability. Then book it with BA (no YQ). The best way across the pond.
thanks! i'll give it a spin, but try and dumb it down for me a drop, is YQ a type of seating? and on united how do i single out aer lingus, sorry for my ignorance (apparently i DONT know best!  :))

Offline PlatinumGuy

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thanks! i'll give it a spin, but try and dumb it down for me a drop, is YQ a type of seating? and on united how do i single out aer lingus, sorry for my ignorance (apparently i DONT know best!  :))
LOL.

YQ is surcharges, which BA places on awards, but not when u fly aer lingus (yet).
Just search on united.com ny-dublin, and if aer lingus is avail it will tell u so.


If this doesn't work, probably better for u to use a paid ticket.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

Offline Devorah

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Try looking on United.com for aer lingus availability. Then book it with BA (no YQ). The best way across the pond.
how many avios is that?

Offline steeeveknowsbest

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LOL.

YQ is surcharges, which BA places on awards, but not when u fly aer lingus (yet).
Just search on united.com ny-dublin, and if aer lingus is avail it will tell u so.


If this doesn't work, probably better for u to use a paid ticket.
Alright i found availability but i'm not sure how that helps me as i need to get from Manchester to Dublin and BA's website says i can't buy or use points to do that... (and united is charging 12.5k)
Also at the moment paid tickets seem to be around $1350 so united has a ticket for 60k +$187 i think that is still better than buying... am i missing something?

Thanks