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 1838834 times)

Offline AJK

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Bunch of options.

Here is one in Business with a 10 hour stopover in Brussels on the way there.

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 EliteMavin

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Need help with an award ticket for nyc-eze for succos, (sep 17 - sep 29)
I have 100K+ Amex MR, 100K spg, and 190K Delta skypessos.
What would be the best way to go about it?
I need three tickets, and found availability on AF FB for the way back for 25K each... (would transfer MR for that)
What are my options for the way there? or is there anything better for the way back too?

TIA

Offline EliteMavin

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Need help with an award ticket for nyc-eze for succos, (sep 17 - sep 29)
I have 100K+ Amex MR, 100K spg, and 190K Delta skypessos.
What would be the best way to go about it?
I need three tickets, and found availability on AF FB for the way back for 25K each... (would transfer MR for that)
What are my options for the way there? or is there anything better for the way back too?

TIA
bump
anyone?

Offline LazerAl

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One way/Round trip:  Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: BWI, DCA, IAD
To: PLS
Departure dates: 6/19
Return airports: N/A
Return dates: 6/24
Class: Any
Seats: 3
Alliance/Airline: Any/all

Looking to use 80K AmEx Membership Rewards points, and looking for advice on the best way to make that happen.  Any and all assistance is appreciated!

Offline ST.REGIS GUY

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Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #1964 on: April 03, 2013, 02:17:50 PM »
NEW TO THIS SO SORRY IF PLACED IN THE WRONG THREAD
LOOKING TO GO TO OZ FROM JFK AROUND NOVEMBER TIME HOW CAN I GET 4 FIRST CLASS SEATS
THEY SEEM TO BE HARD  TO GET!HAVE ENOUGH MILES ON BOTH AA AND DELTA

Offline chucksterace

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  • Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA Premier 1K; ; LY Plat; Hyatt Platinum; Hertz President's Circle; Avis President's Club
One way/Round trip:  Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: ORD
To: TLV
Departure dates: 4/7 or 4/8
Return dates: 4/17 or 4/18
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Looking to use BA miles or Ultimate Rewards transferred to another program.

I'm looking to book tonight or tomorrow morning. TIA
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline AJK

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One way/Round trip:  Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: ORD
To: TLV
Departure dates: 4/7 or 4/8
Return dates: 4/17 or 4/18
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Looking to use BA miles or Ultimate Rewards transferred to another program.

I'm looking to book tonight or tomorrow morning. TIA

So now you changed your dates?

What I suggested above didn't work?
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 chucksterace

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So now you changed your dates?

What I suggested above didn't work?

Thanks but I was going to cancel my trip but now something else came up and looking to go on those dates. And I would like to use my BA miles or transfer ultimate rewards somewhere to use them.
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline sunshine

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One way/Round trip:  One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Pref 1 or Direct
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: 6/24 or another day that week
Return airports: N/A
Return dates:
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any/all

Thanks

Offline Fan of Dan

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One Way
From:  New Orleans or anywhere within 200 miles
To:      NYC/PHL/ACY
Date:  April 9, 10
Class: X
Alliance: One World.

Got a one way there with Frontier and need to get home!!

Offline tuvz

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Re: Re: Australia Master Thread
« Reply #1970 on: April 04, 2013, 05:29:15 AM »

Offline nhrca

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  • Location: ny
One way/Round trip: Roundtrip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: nonstop preferred
From: All airports from which you can depart JFK, EWR
To: All airports which you can arrive at. SXM
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. 12/22/13
Return dates: 12/29/13
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any
Seats: 2 adults, 1 child + 1 infant
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with: american- but could be any airline nonstop

Called avios and they said no flights available on american.  Don't have enough miles necessary on american (need 210K).  Have a few hundred thousand on amex (thanks to dan!).  Jetblue is 130k-ish per award ticket and delta has no nonstop return.  The nonstop is essential for traveling with infant.  Any ideas??  Did I search avois incorrectly?   Thanks for the help!
« Last Edit: April 04, 2013, 11:44:47 AM by nhrca »

Offline Dan

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You're trying to fly during the busiest weak of the year.
Unless you're flexible (12/16-12/23 has AA/BA/UA nonstop saver awards) it's not gonna happen.
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 nhrca

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Yes, i know its the busiest time, but thats the only time i get off..  i figured if someone knew how to do it, it would be you..thanks for all the help throughout the year dan!

Offline Dan

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thats the only time i get off
You and the rest of the world :)
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 chucksterace

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One way/Round trip:  Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: ORD
To: TLV
Departure dates: 4/7 or 4/8
Return dates: 4/17 or 4/18
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Looking to use BA miles or Ultimate Rewards transferred to another program.

I'm looking to book tonight or tomorrow morning. TIA

BUMP. I know its only been a day but I would like to book by tonight.
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline nhrca

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I actually was able to find delta.. not bad, are you aware of a glitch?  when i searched regularly i couldnt find the return flight nonstop, but when i searched by schedule it worked.  i held the reservation for now until i transfer MR into sky pesos..  on a side note, any updates on deltas new skymiles program?  or if no updates, if they are going to be giving a transfer bonus?

Offline msg

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One way/Round trip:  Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Direct
From: NYC/ EWR
To: Miami - All Airports
Departure dates: 5/19/13
Return airports: NYC / EWR
Return dates: 5/22/2013
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Any/all - I have AA, BA and Chase Sapphire Points

Thank you.


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Can anyone help me find some sort of routing from TLV-LAX leaving after shabbos 4/13 and landing in LAX either sunday night or monday morning 4/14-15?
United Mileage ticket
Business class only.

i dont mind connections.

thanx

Offline lpccontracting

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Can someone help direct me?

I recently became an ANA Mileage Club member and would like to use miles to provide my parents with tickets via United, a Star Alliance airline affiliated with ANA, departing from NY/EWR to Israel?TLV leaving August 18th 2013, returning September 2 2013.

I have American Express points which I can transfer to my ANA Mileage Club.

How do I go about booking a Star Alliance reservation from ANA's web site?

I can be reached by email at lpccontracting@aol.com.

Thank you for your assistance.