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 2162406 times)

Offline FunAway

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Best route/price  to go to NYC to Paris in June ? Non stop preferred

I have chase points or can use cash.

Nyc to Paris
June 11-19 (flexible on date but +/- 1)

Simple coach flight.

Suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

Shkoyach.

Offline Wizard

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  • Location: New York
One way/Round-trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferably non stop
From: NYC PHL Trenton Atlantic City
To: MIA or FLL
Departure dates: 05/12 or 05/19 afternoon
Return dates: 05/15 or 05/22 late night respectively
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Thx so much! Tried doing myself. BA showed no availability. Didn’t have luck with others. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

Offline aedo

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try United award search, they always have flights to offer with points.

Offline aedo

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  • Location: New York
One way/Round-trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferably non stop
From: NYC PHL Trenton Atlantic City
To: MIA or FLL
Departure dates: 05/12 or 05/19 afternoon
Return dates: 05/15 or 05/22 late night respectively
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any


Thx so much! Tried doing myself. BA showed no availability. Didn’t have luck with others. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

try United award search, they always have flights to offer with points.

Offline Wizard

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try United award search, they always have flights to offer with points.
Thanks! Doesn’t seem like they have any good deals. Seems like 1 cent per point. Looking for a good use of points.
If you are trying to get my attention/assistance and I'm not responding, please feel free to PM me. :)

Offline novice

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  • Location: NJ
Looking for flights to England, any help would be appreciated
Need round trip, 2 separate tickets ok
Prefer non stop
From: EWR (or any NY area airport)
To: LHR
DEPARTURE: May 16 or 17
RETURN: May 18 or 19
Coach
2 passengers

I have chase and Amex points
Thank you![/b]

Offline Alexsei

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    • Travel & Kivrei Zadikim
  • Location: Truckistan
  • Programs: COVID-24
Where can I see how much YQ is for booking partners with OZ ?
TRUMP better coverage than 5G!

Offline aedo

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  • Location: New York
Looking for flights to England, any help would be appreciated
Need round trip, 2 separate tickets ok
Prefer non stop
From: EWR (or any NY area airport)
To: LHR
DEPARTURE: May 16 or 17
RETURN: May 18 or 19
Coach
2 passengers


I have chase and Amex points
Thank you![/b]


You can transfer chase points to United and book award tickets via United.

Offline CigarMan

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URGENT!! LOOKING FOR FLIGHT TO ISRAEL for wheelchair-bound patient traveling for medical treatment. Any help would be much appreciated!!!
One way
Preferably Non-stop but if 1 stop, must be enough time to connect with wheelchair but not too long
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: Preferably 5/11 evening/late night but 5/12 also works - as long as arrival in Israel by Friday noon.
Class: First/Business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any bookable with Amex MR points (preferably not Lufthansa after what happened). Non-masking flight preferred.

THANK YOU and תזכו למצוות!
« Last Edit: May 09, 2022, 08:30:28 PM by CigarMan »

Offline shmoe joe

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whats generally the cheapest points flight nyc to mia/fll?
give some love (likes) to a brother!

Offline Zevi16

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Looking for award flight for Sukkos to TLV
One way/Round-trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferably non stop
From: NYC area (preferably EWR)
To: TLV
Departure dates: 9/28-9/29
Return dates: 10/20
Class: Any
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: Have approximately 750k between UR/MR/Citi

It’s 2 adults and 3 kids 6 and under. I’m flexible on days. Can go before RH too. Can’t stay too much longer after tho

Offline Spoon

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  • Location: NY
Looking for award flight for Sukkos to TLV
One way/Round-trip: round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: preferably non stop
From: NYC area (preferably EWR)
To: TLV
Departure dates: 9/28-9/29
Return dates: 10/20
Class: Any
Seats: 5
Alliance/Airline: Have approximately 750k between UR/MR/Citi

It’s 2 adults and 3 kids 6 and under. I’m flexible on days. Can go before RH too. Can’t stay too much longer after tho

You can transfer Citi to Turkish, MR to ANA and UR to UA for star alliance. Search for availability on United or Aeroplan

Offline @mike

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  • Location: Cleveland
One way/Round-trip: RT
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: 3 stops
From: All airports from which you can depart  Cle
To: All airports which you can arrive at.  TLV
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. August 1-3
Return dates: August 21-23
Class: Coach
Seats:  6
Alliance/Airline: ANY

I have Capital One points available

Offline zbelsky

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Round trip:
Non-stop/Maximum One stop
From: Cleveland
To: TLV
Departure dates: Must leave June 7 for wedding in Israel June 8.
Return airports: Cleveland
Return dates: June 13 or 14
Class: Coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with. Any

Offline Mayeroth

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  • Location: Los Angeles
Hi, hope someone can help out:)

Round-trip:
Non-stop:
From: LAX (all Los Angeles)
To: Sydney or Melbourne, Australia
Departure dates: November 14 - November 18
Return airports: LAX (all Los Angeles)
Return dates: December 5 - December 9
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any

Have 100K CapitalOne points, 100K Chase points, and 30K Amex points.

Thank you,

Offline jayman

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Hi, does anyone know how to get a cheap ticket from NYC/NJ to CLE for a flight leaving within the next day or two and returning on Sunday afternoon/evening? Also, can Avios be used?

Offline momo613

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I got a great deal on Flyingblue mileage tickets to go to Eretz Yisrael on July 4 but I need help finding my way back from the whole clan! Preferably with a stopover in London, but must include a stopover in NY before continuing back to LA.
Please help! I have chase and amex points!
Thanks!

One way: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any stops
From: TLV
To: LHR
To: NYC
To: LAX
Departure dates: From TLV, July 25,26,27 or 31. or Aug 1 or 2
Departure dates: From LHR 1- 2 days in London, after above TLV flight
Departure dates: From NYC Aug 22, 23, 24, or 25
Class: Coach
Seats: 8
Alliance/Airline: Any that can transfer from Chase or Amex

Offline Abe100

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  • Location: NYC
One way/Round trip:  Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Non-stop
From: JFK (will also consider EWR or LGA)
To: MCO (Orlando)
Departure dates: 6/19/22
Return dates: 6/22/22
Class: Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have Chase UR, Amex MR, United 200 travel bank credit, AA
Many Thanks!

Offline Meilech

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  • Location: RBS, Israel
Can anyone help? after an hour on the phone to BA I'm not sure it possible!

I'd like to travel from Tel Aviv to Johannesburg on Qatar (and Royal Jordanian). The times and availability line up perfectly. (Tuesday 7 June)
TLV-AMM on RJ, AMM-DOH and DOH to JNB on Qatar with (at least) the last leg on business.

The trouble is:
a) BA website won't give me this 3 leg option
b) it doesn't let you book a multi carrier flight online
c) Qatar privilege don't allow award bookings on partner airlines (even if they did, TLV doesn't exist)

I thought I can call in and it would be really simple to combine the various sectors as 1 ticket, However:
d) when trying to book it for me, the computer won't offer Business class for the DOH-JNB leg, despite it being available as a separate booking. (she contacted One World and they said there's no way around it, due to contracting.... whatever)

booking that leg separately also isn't an option, because with my first ticket terminating in DOH:
e) It would require me to be eligible to enter Qatar (even if i'm only actually transiting, since it's on a separate ticket).

Rabossai Avios experts, is there any way around this?

Offline STL EQUITIES

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  • Location: Israel/ NYC
One way
PREFER NON STOP BUT WOULD DO 1 STOP
From: TLV
To: NYC
Departure dates: JULY 20 OR JULY 21 2022

Class: BIZ
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: ANY
HAVE UNITED CC