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 1839020 times)

Online ushdadude

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6000 on: December 09, 2014, 10:51:37 AM »
I'm trying to add SEA in august but they keep telling me that it would be an addition 120k miles. Am I doing something wrong? I've been telling them to change my last leg from TLV-JFK to TLV-SEA with a SO in JFK but no luck.

They would be able to add on the leg but...they would need to issue a whole new ticket at the current availability. So I wouldn't get the discounted rate (140k) I booked originally. I would need an additional 165K  :( Make sense?

Offline Dgindi

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6001 on: December 09, 2014, 01:21:59 PM »
Hey guys, I'm married two years and want to finally take my wife away somewhere nice. Since these dates are not really flexible, I can't find anything worth taking.
However, I'm pretty new at this. So maybe someone can help me please???

From: NYC, Philly, Atlantic city, Trenton, ect...
To: acapulco, Mexico (ACA)
Departure dates: 12/23/14
Return airports:
Return dates: 12/25/14
Class: Any
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: Have points in: Chase UR, SPG, United

Offline ilherman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6002 on: December 09, 2014, 07:31:58 PM »
Bump
Anyone?
Which airline? Which miles?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline ilherman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6003 on: December 09, 2014, 07:35:29 PM »
They would be able to add on the leg but...they would need to issue a whole new ticket at the current availability. So I wouldn't get the discounted rate (140k) I booked originally. I would need an additional 165K  :( Make sense?
HUCA. Don't tell them anything about a stopover. Just tell them that you dest is sea. (And BTW you'll stop over in JFK)
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline SrulyP

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6004 on: December 09, 2014, 08:06:07 PM »
What is the nicest airline that goes direct from Washington DC to LHR?

Offline uchiknow

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6005 on: December 09, 2014, 10:51:15 PM »
Hi,
Long time DD reader, first time poster!

Got a bunch of miles and looking for the best way to use them for a trip for 2 to Hawaii (Kauai and Maui) for about a week. Would obviously want to stay at a Marriott since I have the 140K Marriott points.

One way/Round trip: Round Trip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Max stops 1
From: JFK/LGA/NWK
To: Honolulu, Kauai, Maui
Departure dates: 6/22/15
Return airports: JFK/LGA/NWK
Return dates: 6/30/15
Class: Coach
Seats:  2
Alliance/Airline: Any that would be best with the below points

My current points:
Amex Delta - 100K
United Airways - 100K
British Airways - 100K
Chase UR - 30K
Marriott Rewards - 140K



Offline MeirS

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6006 on: December 10, 2014, 12:33:29 AM »
What is the nicest airline that goes direct from Washington DC to LHR?
BA has a direct flight daily from BWI.

Not a great bargain for miles.

Offline SrulyP

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6007 on: December 10, 2014, 09:17:35 AM »
What is the nicest airline that goes direct from Washington DC to LHR?

BA has a direct flight daily from BWI.

Not a great bargain for miles.

Should have been way more specific!

I want to fly biz/first with UR points from washington to LHR, BA has a flight from Bmore but I thought there are crazy fuel surcharges... I see options on United from IAD to LHR but I want to know if anyone know of a better biz class that can be Booked with UR wit ha direct flight or that is my best bet?

TIA!

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6008 on: December 10, 2014, 09:27:51 AM »
I am looking to fly 4 ppl late April, NYC-FRA-SIN-MEL in economy, and I prefer SQ.
I am looking at using Aeroplan.

Question 1: Every day I checked in April, there are only two seats available, whereas with Krisflyer itself, there are many more seats available. If I book two tickets now with AC, is it very likely that SQ will release another two seats to AC?

Question 2: Right now there is availability for 4 with NYC-FRA on SQ, continuing on with FRA-BKK-MEL on Thai. Is it worth making myself crazy to take the SQ option, or is the TG almost as good? [The second leg on both options is A380, the third leg on both options is 777-300.]
BUMP

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6009 on: December 10, 2014, 10:14:15 AM »
Which airline? Which miles?
DL w/ DL points but I think it's too late
They would be able to add on the leg but...they would need to issue a whole new ticket at the current availability. So I wouldn't get the discounted rate (140k) I booked originally. I would need an additional 165K  :( Make sense?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6010 on: December 10, 2014, 11:42:16 AM »
Sorry for this amateur question:
What are the best (business or First) award options LHR-BKK-LHR anytime in the next 2 months for total stay in BKK of 2-3 days.
We have over 100k with all major alliances - but it seems BA only has one daily direct flight with almost no award availability.
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Offline shmebeble

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6011 on: December 10, 2014, 12:55:25 PM »
OW LAX to JFK
January 3rd late or January 4th early. 
Any airline or alliance. Cheaper  is better
Thanks!

Offline ilherman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6012 on: December 10, 2014, 03:29:53 PM »
Sorry for this amateur question:
What are the best (business or First) award options LHR-BKK-LHR anytime in the next 2 months for total stay in BKK of 2-3 days.
We have over 100k with all major alliances - but it seems BA only has one daily direct flight with almost no award availability.
Can you go with a stopover?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

Offline ilherman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6013 on: December 10, 2014, 03:31:25 PM »
DL w/ DL points but I think it's too late
its not. You need to HUCA. Find an agent who can edit the booking not cancel and rebook. Is there availability to JFK-SEA on the low level?
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6014 on: December 10, 2014, 04:44:01 PM »
Can you go with a stopover?
Preferably not, unless it's a quick one in a safe country (ticket is for a Chassidish dude who is afraid)
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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6015 on: December 10, 2014, 06:21:51 PM »
Preferably not, unless it's a quick one in a safe country (ticket is for a Chassidish dude who is afraid)
i was swearing that someone hacked your account until I saw the second part of your post. Will check soon.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6016 on: December 10, 2014, 07:04:26 PM »
Looking for best option out there
Leaving NYC any airport dec. 25 to PSP  and returning jan. 14
I have all kind of points , what option will be the best for me ?
Tia

Offline ilherman

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6017 on: December 10, 2014, 09:17:30 PM »
Sorry for this amateur question:
What are the best (business or First) award options LHR-BKK-LHR anytime in the next 2 months for total stay in BKK of 2-3 days.
We have over 100k with all major alliances - but it seems BA only has one daily direct flight with almost no award availability.
Huh? TG has 2 daily direct flights. Availability is very good in Y/J/F. Thought you may wanna take a cheap flight to say FRA and leave from FRA to avoid UK Tax which is about $300.
You can say what you think when you think what you say.

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6018 on: December 11, 2014, 01:38:56 AM »
Looking for best option out there
Leaving NYC any airport dec. 25 to PSP  and returning jan. 14
I have all kind of points , what option will be the best for me ?
Tia
Bumb ...
Any help?
Delta is like 42500 a one way
Any other advice?

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Re: Need help finding a ticket? Post here! Award ticket edition (Master thread)
« Reply #6019 on: December 11, 2014, 04:03:00 PM »
Huh? TG has 2 daily direct flights. Availability is very good in Y/J/F. Thought you may wanna take a cheap flight to say FRA and leave from FRA to avoid UK Tax which is about $300.
Which miles are best to use for TG?
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