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 1838918 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1180 on: October 05, 2012, 10:30:13 AM »
Alternatively there is a UA flight from ZRH at 10:20am to EWR that you can use Plan B for BusinessFirst or GlobalFirst.
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/23569
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1181 on: October 05, 2012, 10:31:50 AM »
Quote from: Dan link=topic=7986.msg313604#msg3136t 04 date=1349447413
Alternatively there is a UA flight from ZRH at 10:20am to EWR that you can use Plan B for BusinessFirst or GlobalFirst.
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/23569
I tried that but was denied because first leg is  not available in economy

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1182 on: October 05, 2012, 10:36:28 AM »
I tried that but was denied because first leg is  not available in economy
HUCA, definitely doable.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1183 on: October 05, 2012, 10:37:17 AM »
HUCA, definitely doable.
Ok thanks

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1184 on: October 06, 2012, 08:15:11 PM »
HUCA, definitely doable.
flight was not available in their system.  My offer still stands 100$ to anyone that gets me 2 business class saver award seats on * alliance 11/11  TLV-NYC

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1185 on: October 07, 2012, 01:33:29 AM »
flight was not available in their system.  My offer still stands 100$ to anyone that gets me 2 business class saver award seats on * alliance 11/11  TLV-NYC
Got UA direct on the 10th thanks everyone

Offline r4ever456

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1186 on: October 10, 2012, 01:48:33 AM »
My mothers 1st Yahrtzeit is 2nd day Pesach and I wanna go to Israel since that is where she is buried...

I currently have AMEX Starwoods card and AAdvantage card.

Please help me get there the cheapest way possible with 2 adult and 2 children (will be 3 and 2yrs old) preferably non stop.

I read your articles im just a little confused. Is there another card i should get? A program I should enroll in???

And when is a good time to book?

Thanks in advance!

Offline Cashman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1187 on: October 10, 2012, 01:50:16 AM »
My mothers 1st Yahrtzeit is 2nd day Pesach and I wanna go to Israel since that is where she is buried...

I currently have AMEX Starwoods card and AAdvantage card.

Please help me get there the cheapest way possible with 2 adult and 2 children (will be 3 and 2yrs old) preferably non stop.

I read your articles im just a little confused. Is there another card i should get? A program I should enroll in???

And when is a good time to book?

Thanks in advance!
To start please write how many Points you have in each account

Offline r4ever456

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1188 on: October 10, 2012, 01:51:42 AM »
AMEX Starwoods = 100,000
AAdvantage = 100,000

Offline sky121

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1189 on: October 10, 2012, 01:42:02 PM »
In search of direct flights from DTW-SAN for two passengers.
DELTA miles.
Business Class
Jan 14- Feb 26 (+/- a day or two)
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1190 on: October 10, 2012, 06:00:20 PM »
In search of direct flights from DTW-SAN for two passengers.
DELTA miles.
Business Class
Jan 14- Feb 26 (+/- a day or two)

Youre going to be paying 80k a ticket due to only medium level being available.

Offline r4ever456

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1191 on: October 10, 2012, 06:16:04 PM »
Still waiting for a reply............
My mothers 1st Yahrtzeit is 2nd day Pesach and I wanna go to Israel since that is where she is buried...

I currently have AMEX Starwoods card (100,000) and AAdvantage card (100,000).

Please help me get there the cheapest way possible with 2 adult and 2 children (will be 3 and 2yrs old) preferably non stop.

I read your articles im just a little confused. Is there another card i should get? A program I should enroll in???

And when is a good time to book?

Thanks in advance!

Offline AJK

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1192 on: October 10, 2012, 07:30:25 PM »
Assuming you can find availability, its 90K AA RT in coach, so you have enough for 2 adults after xferring some *W (60K + 20K = 100K) into AA.
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper

Offline Tzadik Nistar

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1193 on: October 10, 2012, 07:37:46 PM »
looking to book a business or first award from NYC to HKG from Oct. 13/14 to Oct. 17/18 doesn't matter which airline
Thanks

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1194 on: October 10, 2012, 07:39:39 PM »
Assuming you can find availability, its 90K AA RT in coach, so you have enough for 2 adults after xferring some *W (60K + 20K = 100K) into AA.
80K in coach via Europe.
You need another 15K AA to have 3 tickets.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1195 on: October 10, 2012, 07:41:11 PM »
looking to book a business or first award from NYC to HKG from Oct. 13/14 to Oct. 17/18 doesn't matter which airline
Thanks
Good luck. Most flights are old out even for revenue in both biz and first. Look at connecting in the West Coast.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1196 on: October 10, 2012, 07:54:41 PM »
I'm not giving up hope i had reservations with cx but i need to change my dates and there is no availability, with which alliance would be the easiest to find?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1197 on: October 10, 2012, 08:02:38 PM »
I'm not giving up hope i had reservations with cx but i need to change my dates and there is no availability, with which alliance would be the easiest to find?
Fly to YVR tonight...pack quick :D
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1198 on: October 10, 2012, 08:10:55 PM »
I cant go before shabbos if somebody finds something please let me know

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1199 on: October 10, 2012, 08:11:47 PM »
I'm not giving up hope i had reservations with cx but i need to change my dates and there is no availability, with which alliance would be the easiest to find?
Miles and more has avail motse shabbos, but that will cost u a heck of a fortune.

Can u pm me details of the cx res your changing?
Fly to YVR tonight...pack quick :D
JFK-YVR sold out in biz & f for revenue, never mind award.

Yvr-hkg sold out too I think.
״וזה כלל גדול: שישנא אדם כל דבר שקר. וכל מה שיוסיף שנאה לדרכי השקר – יוסיף אהבה לתורה.״ - אורחות צדיקים