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 2055116 times)

Offline zeroflightsgiven

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  • Location: Moldova
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops: 0
From: EWR /PHL
To: anywhere that will get the full eclipse
Departure dates: April 8 morning
Return dates: April 8 evening
Class: coach, pass 3
Chase UR, Amex MR, Cap 1, Amex Biz plat

TIA

Best I could find is going EWR - YYZ, then if you want, drive an hour to Buffalo, New York, they will see three minutes and 46 seconds of total darkness, beginning at 3:18 p.m. There are a number of public “watch parties” happening in the city, which the government has compiled for visitors and locals. Midcentury-modern architecture fans may want to use the day to visit Graycliff, a Frank Lloyd Wright–designed estate, which is hosting a special open house on April 8, allowing guests to watch the eclipse from the property.

There are a bunch of non-stop offers from United Airlines, under 400$ per passenger, going as early as 0600 - 0741, and returning 2110 - 2141, and if you want you can transfer Chase points to Mileage Plus and buy it that way. Hope this helps

Offline Leah123

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One Way 
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: One Stop
From: Anywhere in Europe
To: Anywhere on the east coast of USA (including ORD, IAH etc)
Departure dates:  July 30, July 31st, August 1st
Class: Business Class
Seats: Two
Alliance/Airline: Anywhere that I can transfer Chase UR

THANK YOU!

Offline zeroflightsgiven

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  • Location: Moldova
One Way 
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: One Stop
From: Anywhere in Europe
To: Anywhere on the east coast of USA (including ORD, IAH etc)
Departure dates:  July 30, July 31st, August 1st
Class: Business Class
Seats: Two
Alliance/Airline: Anywhere that I can transfer Chase UR

THANK YOU!

There is an option with Air France, CDG-IAD, August 1st, flight AF50, booking through Virgin Atlantic Flyingclub, 49000 Chase points plus 443$ taxes, per passenger in Business Class.

Offline abetobee

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Looking for 5 tix tlv-nyc one way anytime between 3/31 and 4/3. Have Amex, chase, and cap1. Thank you for any ideas
still looking, and also have 146k alaska miles. any help or direction would be greatly appreciated

Offline mendoul

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  • Location: look where is a sales on flights there i am
  • Programs: Flying blue Gold Petroleum, BMI Gold, Accord hotel platinium, Avis gold, Aegean Gold
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non stop
From: Paris
To: JFK
Departure dates:  April 16 or 17 till april 18 late or april 19 (early morning)
Class: any
Seats: Two (1 adult and 1 child 7 y/o)
Alliance/Airline: Any

THANK YOU!
mendy

Offline arflights

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  • Location: United States
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non stop
From: Paris
To: JFK
Departure dates:  April 16 or 17 till april 18 late or april 19 (early morning)
Class: any
Seats: Two (1 adult and 1 child 7 y/o)
Alliance/Airline: Any

THANK YOU!

For the outbound there is plenty of award availability. Best way to book would be by transferring Chase points to Flying Blue with 25% bonus. Or you can book it with Virgin Atlantic Miles.
For the return flight the one way would cost in the range of $1200 for two tickets.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline israel11219

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where could I check to see if there is availability on AA with partner airlines (like Qatar) when I check on Qatar website nothing shows up 

Offline arflights

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where could I check to see if there is availability on AA with partner airlines (like Qatar) when I check on Qatar website nothing shows up

British Airways.
PM me for a good deal on flights

Offline Aussie

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Really would appreciate any help:

Roundtrip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: nonstop
From: JFK/LGA (ewr only if really worth it)
To: LAX
Departure date: 03/31/2024
Return date: 04/08/2024
Class: Economy
Seats: 6
Alliance/Airline: Have 290k Chase points and plenty of bonvoy, unsure of transfer times, travel is in a few days..

Offline adampollackfamily

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Hello. I am really hoping somebody here can help, because I am at my wits end trying to find a flight that works.

I’m currently in a dilemma.

My wife and I (and 9mo old baby) want to fly to Israel for Pesach.

We are looking just one way for now. We are very flexible with the timing. We can fly anytime from April 8, until anything that gets us to Israel before Pesach. We can transfer points from Capital One or Chase to any transfer partners.

As we are with a baby, we would prefer direct, or at most, 1 stopover.

We want to fly Business/First Class.

We are currently in Florida, and would prefer to fly from here, but if absolutely necessary, we are willing to fly from NY.

I’ve tried looking through all available options, but can’t seem to find a reasonably priced award flight.

Can anyone help?

Thank you so much!

Offline UKinNYS

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Try constructing your own Itin. EG. search MIA to European cities which have more availability than TLV

quick search brought up:

MIA-BCN on Apr 8 on AA thru Qantas 

BCN-TLV on Apr 9 LY also thru Qantas


Offline Bsk

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  • Location: Nyc
Thank you!!!

Roundtrip
1 stop (if in ny or miami it can be a long stopover)
From Cancun
To Tlv
Departure dates: June 16 -19
Return dates: June 30 - July 2
Class: Coach
Seats: 3 + lap infant
Alliance/Airline: chase, amex, flying blue and 70k alaska

Offline jerpa09

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Kicking my butt.... I'm at my wits end trying to find a reasonable fare... Would someone mind double checking my work to make sure I'm not totally messing this up?

One way
Stops:Any, would just prefer 1 hour connection or so, since it would be
From: MUC (Munich, GE)
To: ORF (Norfolk, VA USA)
Departure dates: July 10
Class: Would like Business for all, but I can do 1 Economy with 1 Business... my wife needs business class due to medical needs, so that's my priority.
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any. I have points with Chase, AMEX, etc... Will jump through hoops to make it work with any airline.

THANK YOU DDFers!!!!

Offline MOISHELE02

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Looking to book a flight to rome, but can’t find any good deals. Thanks all dd’ers

ROUND TRIP
Stops:up to 1
From: nyc
To: fco (rome)
Departure dates:april 14 (the earlier the better)
Return date: April 18
Class:business
Seats:2
Alliance/points: 50k amex, 110k capital 1, 30k chase

Offline UKinNYS

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only seeing for return.  AA has partner award availability (UA has 1 seat)
 
Return date: April 18

Offline besttime

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Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops: Non-Stop preferred
From: MIA/PBI
To: BCN
Departure dates: June 26
Return dates: July 4
Class: coach, pass 2
Chase UR, Cap 1, AA

Any help is appreciated! Thank you

Offline First Time CCer

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  • Location: Lakewood NJ
Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops: Prefer 1 stop maybe would do 2
From: TLV
To: NYC/WAS
Departure dates: ASAP
Return dates: May 5
Class: coach for 1
Chase UR, Cap 1, United, AC

Any help is appreciated! Thank you

Offline mlardi

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Phx-ewr 4/11 shows up on united as saver award but can't find it on AC/LM any ideas?

Offline Hermon

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Looking for award tickets 3 Adults 2 children
London: To  :Washington DC
26th July One World One Way
AVIOS required or alternatives suggestions welcomed?
Hermon
212 202 1022
“It’s not happy people who are thankful; it’s thankful people who are happy.”

Offline Ysturmwind

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Looking for tickets from Chicago to Memphis, see below. Appreciate any assistance in finding award availability.

One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non-stop or 1 stop
From: ORD/MDW
To: Memphis, TN
Departure dates: 5/19
Return dates: 5/21
Class: Any
Seats:  1 adult/2 children
Alliance/Airline: AA/UA/SW