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 1838863 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1260 on: October 24, 2012, 01:27:55 PM »
Once you are already going to Hawaii why not spend more time there? And there is no way you can do this on one UA award ticket. It's two stopovers and an open jaw
+1.
With 2 weeks you can see 2 or even 3 islands.  Keep the CA coast trip for another time.
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 jacobsherman55

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1261 on: October 24, 2012, 05:44:51 PM »
I do not want to stay there for shabbos as I would hold two days there. I feel that 4 days is sufficient on Kauai. If I cant do the two stopovers plus open jaw is it worth it to book the round trip with the two stopovers but instead of going from LA to JFK, drive to SF and book a one-way back home.

Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1262 on: October 24, 2012, 05:46:29 PM »
I do not want to stay there for shabbos as I would hold two days there. I feel that 4 days is sufficient on Kauai. If I cant do the two stopovers plus open jaw is it worth it to book the round trip with the two stopovers but instead of going from LA to JFK, drive to SF and book a one-way back home.
Ask a Chabad posek :D
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Offline jacobsherman55

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1263 on: October 24, 2012, 06:23:43 PM »
Haha I wish. Any thoughts on what to do??!? Me and my wife are opening Hyatt cards and really pumped to stay in Kauai in the Grand Hyatt for 4 nights....

Offline Ergel

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I do not want to stay there for shabbos as I would hold two days there. I feel that 4 days is sufficient on Kauai. If I cant do the two stopovers plus open jaw is it worth it to book the round trip with the two stopovers but instead of going from LA to JFK, drive to SF and book a one-way back home.
Figured that was the problem. still would think it's worth it to stay for shabbos and spend the extra day relaxing on the hotel grounds
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Offline Dan

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1265 on: October 24, 2012, 06:37:14 PM »
Figured that was the problem. still would think it's worth it to stay for shabbos and spend the extra day relaxing on the hotel grounds
Esp if you can d'rabonon I'm assuming?
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 jacobsherman55

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1266 on: October 24, 2012, 06:51:30 PM »
ya I was told D'rabanan was ok, but IMO its not worth it, I would rather gain a day (Friday) and do some fun stuff in LA and be there for shabbos as we have family there. I got 99k United Miles as well as 40k UR points. Whats my best option?!?

Offline Ergel

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ya I was told D'rabanan was ok, but IMO its not worth it, I would rather gain a day (Friday) and do some fun stuff in LA and be there for shabbos as we have family there. I got 99k United Miles as well as 40k UR points. Whats my best option?!?
Eh. LA is nowhere near as exciting Hawaii (although i've never been). I'd spend more time in Hawaii
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline jacobsherman55

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1268 on: October 24, 2012, 08:15:57 PM »
debateable. Objectively LA has far more many things to do as it is a bigger city. Anyway, is their anyway I can call up United and open jaw this trip for me? Or do I just do roundtrip and take a one way back from SF?

Offline EliH

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1269 on: October 29, 2012, 06:06:55 AM »
Looking for 1 seat business class SAV-TLV, Nov 26-Dec 18 - flexable by a day or two. One stop only.
Please let me know what find.

Have plenty of Matmid, DL, UA, AA, amex points - no us air points
Thanks in advance,
Eli

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1270 on: October 29, 2012, 07:26:51 AM »
Do you want them/us to also book the ticket for you? Take you to the airport? Pick you up?
Did you do any research at all? If yes please list what you found, if no please do research.

Offline EliH

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1271 on: October 30, 2012, 05:33:25 PM »
The best I found was on US Air 180,000 points + !100 flying 11/27-2/18
US Air, is the one airline I don't have the points, and United says they don't see the availability

Offline EliH

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1272 on: November 01, 2012, 02:47:01 AM »
The best I found was on US Air 180,000 points + !100 flying 11/27-2/18
US Air, is the one airline I don't have the points, and United says they don't see the availability

Booked, Thanks

Offline netzih

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1273 on: November 02, 2012, 03:13:08 AM »
Looking for 1 person from jnb to tlv any weekend in november or december (though not during chanuka week).
Should be from wed. Or thursday till monday-tuesday economy class (unless I can get really good in business)
I have 120,000 ba miles, 75,000 aa miles and 42,000 usair
Don't mind stopping so much.
I checked ba and they hardly had availability and what they did was 75,000+$750 or so and USair didn't have anything.
Any help is appreciated
Thank you

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1274 on: November 03, 2012, 09:25:34 PM »
Hey Everyone,
I am having a massive problem finding a ticket to Israel right now.

I have 75K United miles, and could transfer more from Starwood into it if I had to, but I think it should be enough.

The dates I am looking to travel are Dec 26th - Jan 8th, but there is absolutely no availability traveling in coach.

I am not married to United, I just had the miles. Maybe there is another option? Any advice?

Thanks!
Aaron

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Hey Everyone,
I am having a massive problem finding a ticket to Israel right now.

I have 75K United miles, and could transfer more from Starwood into it if I had to, but I think it should be enough.

The dates I am looking to travel are Dec 26th - Jan 8th, but there is absolutely no availability traveling in coach.

I am not married to United, I just had the miles. Maybe there is another option? Any advice?

Thanks!
Aaron

Availability during those dates is hard to find. You've gotta keep checking.  Where are you flying from?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline aajfried

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1276 on: November 03, 2012, 09:31:05 PM »
I am going from Chicago.

I understand its tough, and I can be flexible by a couple days if I need to.

Are there any other options as far as using the miles on another airline?

Offline Yaalili

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1277 on: November 03, 2012, 09:32:27 PM »
I am going from Chicago.

I understand its tough, and I can be flexible by a couple days if I need to.

Are there any other options as far as using the miles on another airline?

The only dates i see avail for you is 12/31 to 01/09 and you would need an additional 5k ua miles.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1278 on: November 03, 2012, 09:33:50 PM »
I am going from Chicago.

I understand its tough, and I can be flexible by a couple days if I need to.

Are there any other options as far as using the miles on another airline?
Try checking of there is availability with a regular ticket and sell your points - its prob worth it IMHO i think points are inly really worth it for upgraded tickets not so much coach
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #1279 on: November 03, 2012, 09:36:49 PM »
rots5 - you think someone would pay the cost of a ticket for the points?

Ya'alili - That might be an option. But it would be nice to stay a bit closer so I could get there for that shabbos at least. Any idea how often tese seats open up?