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 1838751 times)

Offline AJK

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Thank you in advance :D
Round trip:
Any number of stops:
From: Los Angeles, LAX area
To: Rome
Departure dates: flexible May 22nd but no later then arrive to Rome May 24th
Return airports: Rome - LAX
Return dates: June 1st - June 3rd
Class: Any *perferably looking for 2 business class and 2 economy*
Seats: 4
So this is the breakdown for pts with our family - we are good with transferring points - so consider it as one pool.  I know its alot to work with but I am sure you will have fun working some magic... Thank You
Dad
AA- 100K
SPG - 35K
US Air 45K

Mom
AA- 152K
USAir- 40K
Avios - 102K
SPG - 35K
Amex MR - 150K

Bro
AA-65K
SPG -35K
US Air 40K
Avios 50K
Amex MR - 150K
Chase - 91K

Me
AA - 63K
SPG - 88K
US Air 90K
United - 6K
Virgin Atlantic 56K
Hawaiian - 73K
Chase UR - 50K

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE

There may be some people who don't mind helping you for free, but if you really want help with a four-person-itinerary, you may want to add a cash incentive.
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 isthisvick

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I would be happy do a cash incentive of $250.
Thanks :D

Offline itsyehuda

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For what?

Is it possible to find business class saver availability on United non-stops from NYC-TLV? I checked every date from now until August and didn't see one date with availability! I'm currently booked through NYC-FRA-TLV but is not ideal at all for me.

Now I'm locked in to United with 240,000 points and one way or another $150 in fees.

If I find coach availability on the nonstop EWR-TLV can I downgrade the reservation without a penalty?

Are there any tricks regarding what time of the day to do the searching?

Does it pay to search on the other Star Alliance carrier websites?

« Last Edit: April 18, 2013, 10:05:01 PM by itsyehuda »
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.

Offline Amusch

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  • Location: Queens, New York
From: NYC (preferably Newark)
To: Kauai (LIH)
Round trip for 1 (plus 1 for return)
Date: Aug. 4 (Sunday morning) - Aug. 8 (Thursday am/early pm)
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any stops, as long as we're back before Shabbos
Class: Coach
Seats:1.5
Alliance/airline: I am getting 55,000 United, and have 40,000 (soon to be 80,000) UR

Thanks!

Offline AJK

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I would be happy do a cash incentive of $250.
Thanks :D

I'd be happy to find you availability, if possible, for $250 :)

PM me.
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 smart brit

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.
I would be happy do a cash incentive of $250.
Thanks :D
Wow that's a decent offer ;)  but i guess he is first.
I'd be happy to find you availability, if possible, for $250 :)

PM me.

Offline smart brit

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  • Location: New york / London
From: NYC or Newark
To: Tlv
Departure date: 12/18 (or 19 if i can get a direct Non Stop)
Return dates: 12/28/13 at NIGHT (motzaei shabbos) or 12/29/or/12/30 I can return later also but I prefer these dates.
Class: Business Seat: 1
I have 50,000 starwood points
I have 105,000 amex points  in 1 acct and 110,000 in a 2nd acct (same last name on both accts)
I have 2 accts with American (also same last name) 1 acct has 102,000 and the 2nd acct has only 2000 miles.
Ultimate rewards 190,000 in one acct and 129,500 in a 2nd acct (again same last name)
united i have 47,000 in one acct and 58,000 in a 2nd acct
I cant seem to find anything. Do they open award seats as it gets closer?
any help is appreciated
Is ba not an option to you? they show available seats on all your dates in business

Offline ygift

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How can I do BA? what transfers to them? Besides they  have a very high  surcharge so its not worth it

Offline rots5

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Is there anyone on the forum who (as a biz) helps ppl get points tickets using the persons own points?

In short: Ill pay someone to help me book tickets using MY points
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.

Offline msg

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Is there anyone on the forum who (as a biz) helps ppl get points tickets using the persons own points?

In short: Ill pay someone to help me book tickets using MY points
Contact Meir613

Offline yuneeq

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I see stopover economy tix for UA EWR-DEN-YVR (9.5 hrs total) returning YVR-ORD-EWR (9 hrs total) for 25k miles TOTAL, is that a great price that I should jump on? Any other carriers that I should be looking at?
TIA I am new to the flying game :)
Visibly Jewish

Offline yuneeq

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Its probably better for me to do this:

Round trip
Maximum stops: 1
From: NYC
To: YVR
Departure dates: 7/21 or 7/28
Return dates:7/25 or 8-1
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: *A or OW
I have 100k United
25k SPG
45k UR

I have heard that CX is awesome but I don't know if it would be too expensive.
Thanks!
Visibly Jewish

Offline Dan

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I have heard that CX is awesome but I don't know if it would be too expensive.
It is easily the best flight in the Western Hemisphere and it is expensive.
May be worth flying one-way CX at least if you can.

Coach is 12.5K using AA or BA and comes with a full meal.
Business is 25K one-way using AA or BA and offers lie-flat beds.
First (includes a "mini-suite" where you can eat a meal with your spouse, designer PJs, a luxury amenity kit, and what's probably the best bed on any airline in the world) is 32.5K one way using AA and 37.5K one-way using BA.
BA also tacks on a small YQ.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2013, 03:12:52 PM by Dan »
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 AJK

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Its probably better for me to do this:

Round trip
Maximum stops: 1
From: NYC
To: YVR
Departure dates: 7/21 or 7/28
Return dates:7/25 or 8-1
Class: Economy
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: *A or OW
I have 100k United
25k SPG
45k UR

I have heard that CX is awesome but I don't know if it would be too expensive.
Thanks!

CX availability tends to open up within 2 weeks of departure, especially in premium cabins.

To check, just use BA.com.

Unfortunately, you do not have enough points to go J (50K RT pp) or F  (75K RT PP).
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 yuneeq

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Thanks for the helpful answers :)
I forgot to add that I have 35K MR.
I guess I will go with J on the way there, and coach for the way back for a total of 75k. SPG, MR and UR are all transferable to CX?
Visibly Jewish

Offline Dan

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Thanks for the helpful answers :)
I forgot to add that I have 35K MR.
I guess I will go with J on the way there, and coach for the way back for a total of 75k. SPG, MR and UR are all transferable to CX?
I would transfer the 35K MR and 40K UR to BA to fly in CX F going to YVR and spend 25K UA to fly back in Y.

I compared CX J and F in my YVR TR:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/24056
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 Dan

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07/22 has 2 CX F seats open right now...37.5K BA+$35.
You'll only wish the 6 hour flight was longer!
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 smart brit

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07/22 has 2 CX F seats open right now...37.5K BA+$35.
You'll only wish the 6 hour flight was longer!
+1 What a great experience cx f is.
I still love my pj's

Offline straveldates

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One way/Round trip: one way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: I don't care, as long as it's cheap
From: All airports from which you can depart Baltimore, Washington, Dayton, Cincinnati
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line Tel Aviv
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. I need to be there by June 5, I'm flexible

Class: First/Business/Coach/Any : Coach, unless some computer glitch is occurring in which first class is a better price;-)
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 1 1 person
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with
Don't mind
Please add any other information you feel might be useful: I have about 76,000 points with Delta

Offline itsyehuda

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Any AirFrance Elites that can book my boss on the sat night flight to Hong Kong via Paris in first class?

Would be willing to pay. PM me.
I remember when a coke was a nickel, and you could buy VRs in OD.