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 1839462 times)

Offline Cashman

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did u start looking?
yes sure have been looking all evening 6 seats avail on united but not opening in saver award

Offline plainbachur

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Can anyone help me need to fly tonight
One way
Lax
JFK
April 24th
1 passenger
Business class
United or AA saver
it's available 25k on united leaving lax at 9:30 pm

Offline plainbachur

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it's available 25k on united leaving lax at 9:30 pm
that's into ewr sorry

Offline Cashman

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that's into ewr sorry
my car is in JFK

Offline plainbachur

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my car is in JFK
what time is JFK flight?

Offline Cashman

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Offline Ergel

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With a stop on both way's you have ton of availibilty
where?
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline smart brit

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Offline Twin

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If someone can help me ill greatly appreciate it. I need a round trip ticket from TLV to CLE departing on tue the 18 of June (prefer night) returning on Thursday the 20th. I have Amex membership points but I have access to all points if necessary.
TIA

Offline Ergel

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nyc
On what airline? Ba? Only in the departure and only in economy
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Amusch

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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


Anyone know/have experience getting a United flight to Hawaii for 40K round trip?
I don't see any dates near when I'm going with the Saver point deals; all I see is 40K EACH WAY. Thoughts?

I looked into transferring to Hawaiian, but even they only have 30K, and for very few dates.

Thanks!

Offline fdg9

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need help finding award ticket to israel from nyc.

June 24-July 4

2 ppl

business or first optimal (don't want to get hammered by fuel SC.

AA Gift card to person who makes it happen.

I have SPG, BA, United, Delta, AA

Offline Yaalili

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need help finding award ticket to israel from nyc.

June 24-July 4

2 ppl

business or first optimal (don't want to get hammered by fuel SC.

AA Gift card to person who makes it happen.

I have SPG, BA, United, Delta, AA


How big is the gift card? ;) - are u ok with a stopover?

Offline fdg9

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$100 GC

I might be ok with a stopover, depending where it is and if I can make the most out of it.

Offline straveldates

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SOMEONE PLEASE HELP?! Will pay you $150 if you can help me find a flight that is reasonable and I can use my points.

One way/Round trip: One way or open ended round trip as long as it is not with Traveleso or other sketchy airlines
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any!
From: All airports from which you  can depart : Cincinnati, Baltimore, Dayton, maybe New York if there was a good price to Tel Aviv, Israel
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keea adding this line
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. I just need to there by June 5th, I would prefer June 3rd. No weekends except for Sunday.
Return airports: If different from 'To' line. Delete this line for One way tickets: Same as above
Return dates: Delete this line for One way tickets Not sure, going for seminary for a while. If there is open option then I would do a round trip.
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: Coach- trying to do this affordable!
Seats: Total number of people traveling over the age of 2 1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with

 Any, I have points with Delta and US Airways

Offline straveldates

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and the best price I have found is from Cincinnati to Tel Aviv for $873, one way. Return flights are usually very expensive plus cannot utilize my points on that site.

Offline Yaalili

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I have points with Delta and US Airways

Both of those only let you make a round-trip award booking, no one-ways.

Offline Yaalili

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I might be ok with a stopover, depending where it is and if I can make the most out of it.

I found a return in business class for the way back from TLV to JFK, still looking for something way there.

Offline Cashman

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  • Location: New Jersey
One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non
From: LAX
To: TLV
Departure dates: 06/16
Return dates: 07/21
Class: First/Business/
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: LY

Offline rots5

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ONE WAY
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: ANY
From: Phuket (HKT)
To: TLV
Departure dates: July 25
Class: Biz
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: any

i would like to arrive on fri before 11:00 AM. the only thing i see is if i leave 1:30 am on july 25 and arrive 12:30am on fri  i would rather leave something in the morning/afternoon range please.
If you have any questions please search and then ask. PM me for detailed help.