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 1839301 times)

Offline Gemarakup

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You have availability in abundance flying out the week before may 13th with ua/and with fb and for return you have on the 20th with fb/ab/ua


Thanks! 

What is fb?  I assume AB is Air Berlin but do I have to check availability on their specific website?  I thought I looked everywhere there is to look when I checked on AA, United and BA.  On those sites I couldn't find anything in business without crazy long stopovers or without multiple connections (not at least without spending 150,000 miles each way) and those aren't really workable for a women in her late 60's flying alone.  I don't think she can handle more than one stopover of up to 4 hours max.  As it is I'm a little concerned about the stopover thing to begin with but she says she can do it within reason.

Offline judahk88

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One way/Round trip: Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Non Stop
From: JFK or LGA
To: LAS
Departure dates:  6/22 night or 6/23 anytime
Return airports: JFK or LGA
Return dates: 6/26
Class: Business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have 100k UA, 100k BA and about 85k  UR
Searched all over and on UA the cheapest is 25k each person. Does it pay to pay cash?

Offline smart brit

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Thanks! 

What is fb?  I assume AB is Air Berlin but do I have to check availability on their specific website?  I thought I looked everywhere there is to look when I checked on AA, United and BA.  On those sites I couldn't find anything in business without crazy long stopovers or without multiple connections (not at least without spending 150,000 miles each way) and those aren't really workable for a women in her late 60's flying alone.  I don't think she can handle more than one stopover of up to 4 hours max.  As it is I'm a little concerned about the stopover thing to begin with but she says she can do it within reason.
Air Berlin search on aa.com or ba.com FB= flying blue = delta (low) klm alitalia and air france.
Usually direct flights open up 2-1 day before departure

Offline smart brit

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Searched all over and on UA the cheapest is 25k each person. Does it pay to pay cash?
That would depend what flights you have and if you have status etc and how much$$$

Offline fdg9

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One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: One
From: All airports from which you can depart NYC
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line TLV
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. June 24 
Return dates: July 3
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any any, but prefer business
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: any, except Amman or Turkish

I have enough miles with BA, AA, SPG, Chase, Delta, etc... I don't want fuel surcharges. This is the third time i'm posting, so any help will be appreciated.

Offline smart brit

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One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: One
From: All airports from which you can depart NYC
To: All airports which you can arrive at. For multiple destinations, just keep adding this line TLV
Departure dates: All possible dates that you can depart on. Please be as specific as possible. June 24 
Return dates: July 3
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any any, but prefer business
Seats:2
Alliance/Airline: any, except Amman or Turkish

I have enough miles with BA, AA, SPG, Chase, Delta, etc... I don't want fuel surcharges. This is the third time i'm posting, so any help will be appreciated.

Searched?

Offline meshugener

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Holy cow, what's going on with the wiki?
Someone thought its an automatic booking software where you plug in youe info, click enter, and voila!
Love me or hate me. I still love you.

Offline smart brit

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Holy cow, what's going on with the wiki?
Someone thought its an automatic booking software where you plug in youe info, click enter, and voila!
+1
Just edited it but any shmo could change it and put in his request
Mods please take care
« Last Edit: April 30, 2013, 10:38:28 PM by smart brit »

Offline Gemarakup

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Air Berlin search on aa.com or ba.com FB= flying blue = delta (low) klm alitalia and air france.
Usually direct flights open up 2-1 day before departure

Thanks again.  With reference to Meshugener's posting, I really did spend quite a few hours searching before posting here.  Wasn't looking for a quick fix - just a little guidance.

Offline Twin

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Holy cow, what's going on with the wiki?
Someone thought its an automatic booking software where you plug in youe info, click enter, and voila!
Fixed

Offline Chaikel

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Holy cow, what's going on with the wiki?
Someone thought its an automatic booking software where you plug in youe info, click enter, and voila!
Wait this isn't Kayak?
Whoops.

Incidentally the automatic notification when someone posts "Mods: Please..." Has been turned off. I doubt any of the mods frequent these threads. If you wanna report something use RTM
Create professional looking itineraries.
Check out eliteitinerary.com

Offline Chaikel

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For those who asked, there are currently no moderator tools for the wiki. Dan assumed that anyone with enough posts would know how to use it. He can probably raise the post count if neccesary, but anything else will likely require more custom coding
Create professional looking itineraries.
Check out eliteitinerary.com

Offline chucksterace

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One way/Round trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Any
From: ORD
To: TLV
Departure dates:  5/12. Yea, yea, I know the bad timing.
Class: Any (Preferably Economy)
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: United Mileage or BA Avios (Preferably United) I also have UR that I can use if needed.
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline MEIR613

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One way/Round trip: One Way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:  Any
From: ORD
To: TLV
Departure dates:  5/12. Yea, yea, I know the bad timing.
Class: Any (Preferably Economy)
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: United Mileage or BA Avios (Preferably United) I also have UR that I can use if needed.
If you can handle a couple stop overs  and don't mind paying for F ORD-IAD-YYZ-FRA-TLV.

Offline Twin

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One way/Round trip:Round trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any:Any just got to be in Cle for wedding the night of 19
From: TLV
To: CLE
Departure dates: June 18 pm (the latter the better)
Return dates June 20
Class: Coach
Seats: One
Alliance/Airline: Any

Bump
If you happen to know who's wedding I'm going in for pls don't spread it that I'm looking to come in. Going to surprise them.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2013, 07:11:56 PM by Twin »

Offline chucksterace

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If you can handle a couple stop overs  and don't mind paying for F ORD-IAD-YYZ-FRA-TLV.

For 75k? If it gets me there on Monday I'll book it then can always change.
You may not hold me responsible for any actions taken that were recommended from my account or username.

Offline MEIR613

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For 75k? If it gets me there on Monday I'll book it then can always change.
Yep

It gets you there 3:05PM Monday

Offline yossi4k

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One way/Round trip: ROUND TRIP
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: MAX 2 Stops
From: NYC NJ
To: MEL
Departure dates: 7/2/13 + 30 days
Return airports: NYC NJ
Class: Any
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: ANY

I posted this in the paid flight thread but since then it rocketed to $1900...
Thanx

Offline chucksterace

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Yep

It gets you there 3:05PM Monday

Will call them up later and see. Anything else?
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Offline djnimon

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Help Please!
« Reply #2239 on: May 01, 2013, 08:29:56 PM »
I need 3 tickets for a wedding and tried searching AB flights through BA with no luck- anyone know how to do it better?

Round Trip
TLV-JFK (or Newark)
June 11-16
I've got 125k AMEX points

Thanks!