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 1839328 times)

Offline moish

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thanks yosef!
another query
One way:
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Any
From: tlv
To: jfk, ewr
Departure dates: july 17
Class: Business/Coach
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: star alliance

thanks

Offline sky121

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Hey guys!! I could use some help....

I am looking for 2 tickets from DTW-TLV   dates are august 15- ( cant be any earlier ) to around august 29 (that can be a bit more flexiable as long as it still comes back in August. )


 I have Delta and Continental miles! 180,000 in each!

I can't seem to find any normal tickets... Can't be any crazy long stopovers or anything only if its maybe just one and not that long-
just looking for some normal flights!!!

don't see too much availability on Continental and Delta.com is so not helpful.....EVER.
Any help would be most appreciated!
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline sprint

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If anyone with a CO status account doesnt mind checking availability for me, sep 11/12 return sep 18-22, for biz availability ewr to tlv on Continental. Thank you very mcuh. Nothing showing on the none status account for the saverpass fare.

Offline skyguy918

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  • Location: Queens, NY
Round trip
Maximum stops: As few as possible, under 18 hours total
From: JFK (EWR if it's a steal)
To: TLV
Departure dates: 10/31-11/3
Return dates: 11/14-11/17
[obviously not running too close to Shabbos on either end for Thursday flights]
Class: Coach (business if it's a good deal)
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any - I have Amex and SPG points and can probably get access to other miles as well.

Offline goodenglewood

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Round trip
Maximum stops: As few as possible, under 18 hours total
From: JFK (EWR if it's a steal)
To: TLV
Departure dates: 10/31-11/3
Return dates: 11/14-11/17
[obviously not running too close to Shabbos on either end for Thursday flights]
Class: Coach (business if it's a good deal)
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Any - I have Amex and SPG points and can probably get access to other miles as well.


heres the outbound:

10/31
(MO)    LH411    
New York(JFK)       Munich
   18:40           07:55+1   Coach   

11/1
(TU)    LH688    
Munich          Tel Aviv
09:25              14:10    Coach


and the return:
11/14
(MO)    LX257    
Tel Aviv       Zurich
05:30             08:50    Coach    

(MO)    LX016    
Zurich       New York(JFK)
09:55              13:00     Coach

Offline skyguy918

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heres the outbound:

10/31
(MO)    LH411    
New York(JFK)       Munich
   18:40           07:55+1   Coach   

11/1
(TU)    LH688    
Munich          Tel Aviv
09:25              14:10    Coach


and the return:
11/14
(MO)    LX257    
Tel Aviv       Zurich
05:30             08:50    Coach    

(MO)    LX016    
Zurich       New York(JFK)
09:55              13:00     Coach


Thanks, looks great!

I was actually playing around with OneWorld trying to take advantage of the Amex>BA 50% bonus, netting a ticket for less than 45k. I've found a few things with the Qantas search but I'm unclear on which flights will have fees and which won't. Also, I can't get any of it to actually work with BA's search.

Offline ShlomoR

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  • Location: Nyc

One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non stop
From: JFK, LGA, EWR
To: TLV
Departure dates: July 19,20,21
Class: Prefer business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have miles with Continental, AA, Starwood


Thanks in advance for all the help!!!

Offline YOSEF

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1. July 19=Tammuz 17
2. There is no nonstop LGA-TLV.
3. These airlines fly nonstop from NYC to TLV:
a. Delta
b. Continental
c. ElAl

Did you check availability on CO?
Call AA and have them check availability on ElAl.
Delta only does roundtrip, and you want one-way...
« Last Edit: June 27, 2011, 01:22:26 AM by YOSEF »

Offline shmiel

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  • Location: NYC
One way
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: Non stop
From: JFK, LGA, EWR
To: TLV
Departure dates: July 19,20,21
Class: Prefer business
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: I have miles with Continental, AA, Starwood


Thanks in advance for all the help!!!
New York Newark (EWR)
to Frankfurt (FRA)
 Dep. 17:50
Arr. 07:25
stop(s) 0Thu. Jul 21, 2011
Fri. Jul 22, 2011
Duration: 7h 35 minAircraft: 744
Meal: Complimentary meal  LH403 Business
Change plane in Frankfurt
Time To Connect: 2h 50 min.Frankfurt (FRA)
to Tel Aviv (TLV)
 Dep. 10:15
Arr. 15:00
stop(s) 0Fri. Jul 22, 2011
same day
Duration: 3h 45 minAircraft: 744
Meal: Complimentary meal  LH686 Business
Total travel time: 14h 10m

Offline goodenglewood

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wow...I am also quite new to the award ticket game. I am trying to find tickets to hawaii from Dec 25- January 3rd. I know its a very busy time but its only time I can go.

I have 105,000 BA miles and 160,000 American Airlines miles. Cheapest I am seeing on AA site is 180,000 roundtrip for my wife and I in coach...Can anyone here be kind enough to help find an alternative?


Round Trip
ANY stops
From NYC-LIH OR NYC-HNL
12/25-01/03- plus minus day or two
Prefer Business but will take coach too
2 Travelers
American airlines or partner
Thank you very much
Im pretty sure in this case it wouldnt make a difference between AA and BA mileage, they both accomplish the same thing,  which is a flight on AA. Your problem is that AA only has flights for 45K each way.... Maybe, since your flight is not for a while, you'd be best off waiting a little to see if a lower mileage level opens up. Or, you could try to trade your AA/BA mileage with someone who has CO/UA

Offline HarryPotterFan

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Want to use BA miles to get home from BKK for the economy rate of 25,000 miles.

Oneway
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: unlimited stops
Depart: BKK
To: ORD
Departure dates: 8/9/11-8/10/11... Can depart anytime.
Class: coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Oneworld

Offline goodenglewood

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Want to use BA miles to get home from BKK for the economy rate of 25,000 miles.

Oneway
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: unlimited stops
Depart: BKK
To: ORD
Departure dates: 8/9/11-8/10/11... Can depart anytime.
Class: coach
Seats: 1
Alliance/Airline: Oneworld

Are you sure you have your airports typed in correctly?? BKK is Bangkok, Thailand... I'm pretty sure your not going to find a 25k one way ticket to ORD??

Offline Yosel

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I need help finding award availibility TLV-NYC
« Reply #112 on: June 30, 2011, 04:30:59 PM »
looking to Travel economy on Aug. 19 one way TLV-NYC, don't mind a stop

i have 200k *wood points
           250k AAdvantage points
             87k Onepass points

Searched online and called CO AA UA nothing seems availible,

Thanks

Offline Mikeoracle

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@goodenglewood

He is not mistaken. BKK-ORD one way in coach is 25K BA (only when using one BA partner only).

Offline goodenglewood

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Roundtrip
Non-stop/Maximum stops/Any: max 2
Depart: tlv
To: ORD
Departure dates: 7/25/11-7/28/11... Can depart anytime.
Return Date: 8/28-8/29
Class: Coach or Biz
Seats: 2
Alliance/Airline: *A

Thanks!

Offline ek

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We are looking for  4 tickets for IAH-TLV for July 2012. I know we can't book them yet but I have a few questions. We have 200,000 Amex and 200,000 CO.

1. Is it best to book them the 1st available date as a one-way ticket so we can be sure to have the tickets and then when our return is available book that?
2. By checking CO availability through Toronto, I only found IAH to YYZ nonstop for the easypass 25,000. Will they let me combine that with the cheaper trip to TLV and still only charge 40,000? Or is that going to raise it up to 75,000? How does that normally work?
3. ANA shows availability before CO does--I think 330 days before. Is it possible to that CO will somehow let me book it on the phone if ANA shows availability?

Thank you.
« Last Edit: July 05, 2011, 12:26:49 PM by ek »

Offline HarryPotterFan

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Are you sure you have your airports typed in correctly?? BKK is Bangkok, Thailand... I'm pretty sure your not going to find a 25k one way ticket to ORD??

Indeed correct. Looking to use one BA partner.

Offline flyingace

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We are looking for  4 tickets for IAH-TLV for July 2012. I know we can't book them yet but I have a few questions. We have 200,000 Amex and 200,000 CO.

1. Is it best to book them the 1st available date as a one-way ticket so we can be sure to have the tickets and then when our return is available book that?
2. By checking CO availability through Toronto, I only found IAH to YYZ nonstop for the easypass 25,000. Will they let me combine that with the cheaper trip to TLV and still only charge 40,000? Or is that going to raise it up to 75,000? How does that normally work?
3. ANA shows availability before CO does--I think 330 days before. Is it possible to that CO will somehow let me book it on the phone if ANA shows availability?

Thank you.

ANA is now charging a fuel surcharge on CO tickets.

Offline ek

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ANA is now charging a fuel surcharge on CO tickets.

Thank you. That was not my question. We want to book on CO so that if something comes up we can change.
The question was, "ANA shows for 330 days--anyway to book at 330 days before on the phone with CO?"
Thanks again.

Offline txtmax4

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Hi everyone,
It seems so hard to be able to get to Israel for a 10-day vacation on 1st class!
I'm looking for JFK-TLV rt direct flights anywhere starting from the 20th of July all the way through the end of August.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
PS. Bear in mind that I'm shomer shabbos.
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