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 1839049 times)

Offline goodenglewood

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  • Location: Chicago
  • Programs: UA Platinum, *W Platinum, AA Gold, Hertz Platinum, National Executive
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: two
From: All airports from which you can depart: ord
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. september 18
Return dates: Delete this line for One way tickets: september 21 at night, or the 22nd
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: business
Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with: star alliance

thanks!!!
« Last Edit: June 06, 2011, 08:22:14 PM by goodenglewood »

Offline shmiel

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  • Location: NYC
One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: two
From: All airports from which you can depart: ord
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. september 18
Return dates: Delete this line for One way tickets: september 21 at night, or the 22nd
Class: First/Business/Coach/Any: business
Total number of people traveling over the age of 2: 1
Alliance/Airline: What airline or alliance are you looking to fly with: star alliance

thanks!!!
For the Departure, there is availability through ATL, so ORD-ATL-FRA-TLV. stop in FRA for only 1:10, the stop in ATL would be either 4:20, or....11 minutes. If you did a basic search, you probably found the LOT flight, but I sure don't blame you for not wanting to fly LOT.

Offline goodenglewood

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could someone help with a award ticket
« Reply #22 on: June 07, 2011, 11:54:10 AM »
i need a ticket from nyc to tlv on the 21 or 22nd of june, using continental mileage..... i cant seem to find find a flight with less than 2 stops....

Offline YOSEF

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i need a ticket from nyc to tlv on the 21 or 22nd of june, using continental mileage..... i cant seem to find find a flight with less than 2 stops....
Biz, Coach?

Offline YOSEF

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In business on Swiss:

New York Kennedy (JFK)
to Zurich (ZRH)
 Dep. 17:50
Arr. 08:05
stop(s) 0
Tue. Jun 21, 2011
Wed. Jun 22, 2011
Duration: 8h 15 min
Aircraft: 333
Meal: Complimentary meal
LX17 Business

Change plane in Zurich
Time To Connect: 14h 40 min.

Zurich (ZRH)
to Tel Aviv (TLV)
Dep. 22:45
Arr. 03:30
stop(s) 0
Wed. Jun 22, 2011
Thu. Jun 23, 2011
Duration: 3h 45 min
Aircraft: 332
Meal: Complimentary meal
LX256 Business

Offline goodenglewood

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I needed economy, but i found it, so thanks anyways

Offline YOSEF

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I like the idea of this thread.

I do think there should be a few rules/additions:
1. Absolutely no making $$$ off of people's help!! If someone is paying you/giving you something to help them find an award ticket/regular ticket, you shouldn't be asking for free help. If you don't know what you are doing, don't take their $$$/ gifts.

2. Please do something, anything. Tell us what you found, why you don't like it etc.

3. The least someone can do is actually spell out what they need. There are very nice people on here who are willing to help, and the least you can do is tell us how many people and economy etc.
In addition, I've helped numerous people, and once I tell them that the date they want with no stopovers isn't available, all of a sudden they are flexible. Please don't do that. We aren't idiots. We will try and find what you ask for, but please tell us what is flexible and what isn't. Yes, we know that you have to be there for the wedding, but asking for 4 tickets without a stopover is a little nuts. SPELL IT OUT.

4. If you are asking for a friend, maybe encourage them to join the forums...

5. If you find it yourself, post it AS SOON AS YOU DO. Why should I be searching and trying to help you pointlessly, because you are too lazy to update everyone?


Agree/disagree?
Which ones?

Offline mclovin

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One way/Round trip: round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From: nyc area
To: tlv
Departure dates: june 26 (if nothing what is closest either earlier or later but really want the 26th)
Return airports: nyc area
Return dates: about aug 15th will prob change later
Class: business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: star alliance im using continental/united miles

i couldnt find anything. any help? thanks

Offline twentie4hrs

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ANYONE THAT CAN HELP ME FIND THE FOLLOWING, I WOULD BE INDEBTED. TIA

One way/Round trip: ROUNDTRIP
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NON-STOP
From: ORD
To: MIA,FLL OR PBI
Departure dates: JUNE 27
Return airports: ORD
Return dates: JUNE 30
Class: CHEAPEST
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:UNITED/CONTINENTAL MILES/ *A

TIA!!
A penny saved is 1 cent

Offline YOSEF

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Did you check United.com? They are the only *A airline that will fly nonstop, so if you didn't check united.com, you should, and if you did, you're outta luck.
« Last Edit: June 10, 2011, 11:01:46 AM by YOSEF »

Offline twentie4hrs

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YES,THEY WANT 75K FOR 2 PPLE...
A penny saved is 1 cent

Offline Side incomer

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Urgent help!!!

I have a wedding wednesday here in NYC. and a the next day I have a wedding in Belgium. So I must leave from NY at least midnight Wednesday night, get there for the wedding, and return Thursday night midnight in order to make shabbas. The regular prices are sky rocking. My best option would be Award travel. But neither on DL AA and Ba that I searched till now I found such an option.

Could anybody help me please:

From: NYC
To: BRU
Departure dates: June 15 - midnight
Return dates: June 16 - midnight
Class: Economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

Thanks all of you.
Side income is the most solid income... בדוק ומנוסה

Offline bades

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looking to book 2 tickets from NYC- TLV
on october 4-5 returning october 23-25 in business class preferably on the Star alliance or on delta
thanks

Offline bades

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From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: OCtober  3 -6
Return dates: october 23-25
Class: business
Seats: 2

Offline YOSEF

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Urgent help!!!

I have a wedding wednesday here in NYC. and a the next day I have a wedding in Belgium. So I must leave from NY at least midnight Wednesday night, get there for the wedding, and return Thursday night midnight in order to make shabbas. The regular prices are sky rocking. My best option would be Award travel. But neither on DL AA and Ba that I searched till now I found such an option.

Could anybody help me please:

From: NYC
To: BRU
Departure dates: June 15 - midnight
Return dates: June 16 - midnight
Class: Economy
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any

Thanks all of you.
I feel bad that it looks like you can't "tance by two chasunas", so I'm going to go a little easy, but did you check if flights that fit your criteria even existed?

The latest you can leave NYC and still be in BRU by the next day is 11:05p.m.

Is that doable?
ANYONE THAT CAN HELP ME FIND THE FOLLOWING, I WOULD BE INDEBTED. TIA

One way/Round trip: ROUNDTRIP
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: NON-STOP
From: ORD
To: MIA,FLL OR PBI
Departure dates: JUNE 27
Return airports: ORD
Return dates: JUNE 30
Class: CHEAPEST
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline:UNITED/CONTINENTAL MILES/ *A

TIA!!
Buy a ticket on AA for $259 RT.

One way/Round trip: round
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: any
From: nyc area
To: tlv
Departure dates: june 26 (if nothing what is closest either earlier or later but really want the 26th)
Return airports: nyc area
Return dates: about aug 15th will prob change later
Class: business
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: star alliance im using continental/united miles

i couldnt find anything. any help? thanks

Outbound (6/28):
New York Newark (EWR)
to Zurich (ZRH)
Dep. 21:30
Arr. 11:35
stop(s)
Tue. Jun 28, 2011
Wed. Jun 29, 2011
Duration: 8h 05 minAircraft: 73H
LX19 Business

Change plane in Zurich
Time To Connect: 11h 10 min.

Zurich (ZRH)
to Tel Aviv (TLV)
Dep. 22:45
Arr. 03:30
stop(s) 0Wed. Jun 29, 2011
Thu. Jun 30, 2011
Duration: 3h 45 minAircraft: 343
LX256 Business

Return:
Tel Aviv (TLV)
to Vienna (VIE)
Dep. 06:30
Arr. 09:25
stop(s) 0Mon. Aug 15, 2011
same day
Duration: 3h 55 minAircraft: 321
OS860 Business

Change plane in Vienna
Time To Connect: 1h 35 min.

Vienna (VIE)
to Munich (MUC)
Dep. 11:00
Arr. 11:55
stop(s) 0Mon. Aug 15, 2011
same day
Duration: 55 minAircraft: CR9
LH2327 Business

Change plane in Munich
Time To Connect: 3h 35 min.

Munich (MUC)
to New York Newark (EWR)
 Dep. 15:30
Arr. 18:25
stop(s) 0Mon. Aug 15, 2011
same day
Duration: 8h 55 minAircraft: 346
LH412 Business
From: NYC
To: TLV
Departure dates: OCtober  3 -6
Return dates: october 23-25
Class: business
Seats: 2
Leaves 10/2 in the evening, on DL miles, AF metal for 120K Per

Sun,02 Oct 2011
Departs: 7:15pm from New York John F Kennedy, NY (JFK)
Arrives: 8:35am in Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)

Layover

Mon,03 Oct 2011
Departs: 10:35am from Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
Arrives: 3:00pm in Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)

Return:
Mon,24 Oct 2011
Departs: 4:15pm from Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
Arrives: 9:15pm in Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)

Layover

Tue,25 Oct 2011
Departs: 10:30am from Paris-De Gaulle, France (CDG)
Arrives: 12:30pm in New York John F Kennedy, NY (JFK)
« Last Edit: June 10, 2011, 02:48:00 PM by YOSEF »

Offline mclovin

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Outbound (6/28):
New York Newark (EWR)
to Zurich (ZRH)
Dep. 21:30
Arr. 11:35
stop(s)
Tue. Jun 28, 2011
Wed. Jun 29, 2011
Duration: 8h 05 minAircraft: 73H
LX19 Business

Change plane in Zurich
Time To Connect: 11h 10 min.

Zurich (ZRH)
to Tel Aviv (TLV)
Dep. 22:45
Arr. 03:30
stop(s) 0Wed. Jun 29, 2011
Thu. Jun 30, 2011
Duration: 3h 45 minAircraft: 343
LX256 Business

Return:
Tel Aviv (TLV)
to Vienna (VIE)
Dep. 06:30
Arr. 09:25
stop(s) 0Mon. Aug 15, 2011
same day
Duration: 3h 55 minAircraft: 321
OS860 Business

Change plane in Vienna
Time To Connect: 1h 35 min.

Vienna (VIE)
to Munich (MUC)
Dep. 11:00
Arr. 11:55
stop(s) 0Mon. Aug 15, 2011
same day
Duration: 55 minAircraft: CR9
LH2327 Business

Change plane in Munich
Time To Connect: 3h 35 min.

Munich (MUC)
to New York Newark (EWR)
 Dep. 15:30
Arr. 18:25
stop(s) 0Mon. Aug 15, 2011
same day
Duration: 8h 55 minAircraft: 346
where can i book or place a hold on this ticket i cant find it. (if i call continental will they see this flight) thanks

Offline YOSEF

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where can i book or place a hold on this ticket i cant find it. (if i call continental will they see this flight) thanks
Call CO.
CO.com doesn't show LX (Swiss) availability, and I don't believe they show OS (Austrian) either.
But its available.

Offline mclovin

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thanks a ton

Offline YOSEF

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yup

Offline plane.love

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Maybe in order to post a request you should also post one option that you have found yourself.