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https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/milespoints/final-days-transfer-amex-points-el-al-mileage-deal-decade-everything-need-know-booking-el-al-awards-qantas/

You can transfer AMEX Or Citi points to Qantas at a 1:1 ratio, Barclays points at a 1.4:1 ratio, Capital One points at a 2:1.5 ratio, or Marriott points to Qantas at a 60K:25K ratio.

Qantas doesn’t charge fuel surcharges for El Al flights.
Infants are free (besides taxes). They also get a regular checked baggage allowance of 23 kg.

QF runs regular transfer bonus promos. Be sure to transfer 500 points into your account and opt in for emails to get targeted.

Search availability on elal.com
Flights are bookable from NYC, BOS, MIA, and LAX.

SMS is the easiest way to contact Qantas. The number is 1-478-772-6827. This can be used for airports that are unavailable online.

NYC-TLV is 37.8k points each way in Y, 63k in premium economy and 78k in J.
On 9/18/19 premium economy will be going up to 70.8k and J will be going up to 90k (each way).
Cancellation fee is 6k points.
« Last edited by Dan on July 01, 2019, 09:46:55 PM »

Author Topic: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread  (Read 303403 times)

Online hvaces42

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1220 on: February 21, 2020, 01:11:41 PM »
UPDATE - I was able, finally, to book the flight. Took at least a dozen times trying. Finally got an agent (over the phone, not sms) who was able to do it. Never got a confirmation email but it was there under my bookings on the qantas website. Had an elal reference number, so I contacted elal (via whatsapp) who was able to see it in their system. However, the points were never deducted from my Qantas account and I was not able to login to the elal website with that reference number. So I was worried.

Contacted qantas again, who said the agent did not finish the process and it had not been ticketed. Said they are doing it now and should receive a confirmation in 24-48 hours.
Of course after 48 hours, still nothing. Contacted them again and next agent said same thing...it was never finished but they will do it now and to wait 24-48 hours. I said "i'll hold." :)

10 minutes later I got the actual confirmation and points were deducted. Was then able to check it on the elal website and even change my seat/meals.

Bottom line - took FOREVER to get this one way flight done. Completely ridiculous.
Seems like they have regressed to the early days when no one knew about the QF-LY partnership
Fair warning - Any PMs sent in response to forum posts are fair game for ridicule in public.

Offline noah32

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1221 on: February 21, 2020, 01:24:03 PM »
Seems like they have regressed to the early days when no one knew about the QF-LY partnership

To be fair, this was for an ORD-TLV ticket, which is not available on the website, so maybe it's more complicated than most. But it shouldn't be. (and it should be bookable on their website by now)

Offline zagguru

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1222 on: February 23, 2020, 05:32:45 PM »
For infant booking, does it come on its own reservation? I added an infant to a previous booking, and its basically its own booking with its own booking reference number. My wife also shows up on that booking (even though her actually ticket is on a separate booking together with me).

Offline JACKBLUE

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1223 on: February 23, 2020, 06:38:56 PM »
For infant booking, does it come on its own reservation? I added an infant to a previous booking, and its basically its own booking with its own booking reference number. My wife also shows up on that booking (even though her actually ticket is on a separate booking together with me).
Perfectly fine.

Offline shragie1212

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1224 on: February 23, 2020, 11:03:36 PM »
Does anyone know how often availability changes?

Offline JACKBLUE

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1225 on: February 24, 2020, 12:39:55 AM »
Does anyone know how often availability changes?
Yes, between every minute and never!!

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1226 on: March 01, 2020, 05:15:07 PM »
I remember there being DDMS posts about NY availability not showing up on qantas.com. Is that still an issue?
PUTPAC = PITA

Offline coffeebean

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1227 on: March 01, 2020, 05:16:26 PM »
I remember there being DDMS posts about NY availability not showing up on qantas.com. Is that still an issue?
No, but availability in general dropped significantly

Offline Geshmak25

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1228 on: March 01, 2020, 05:29:44 PM »
No, but availability in general dropped significantly
Ok but what you find on the website is accurate?
PUTPAC = PITA

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1229 on: March 05, 2020, 04:35:13 PM »
Does SMS help if the LY flight doesn't show up on Qantas?

Offline yandmk

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1230 on: March 06, 2020, 03:45:51 AM »
Does SMS help if the LY flight doesn't show up on Qantas?
No

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Offline points 99

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1232 on: March 06, 2020, 10:54:08 AM »
I booked a El al ticket through Qantas. When I booked, I entered first, middle and last name. The El al booking only has the first and last name. Spoke to Qantas, and they said that they never give the middle name/initial to El Al. It is not needed. Called El al a couple times and got different answers whether or not the name need to match exactly how it is on passport. But neither of them can do anything about it now. I guess for future it is good to know to enter both names as first name so it will be given over to El Al. Read somewhere that some people did have issues with TSA when the middle initial was not on ticket, and many said that it's usually not a problem. Does anyone know of documentation that I could get from TSA website or IATA website saying that it is ok? just to play it safe

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1233 on: March 06, 2020, 11:45:28 AM »
I booked a El al ticket through Qantas. When I booked, I entered first, middle and last name. The El al booking only has the first and last name. Spoke to Qantas, and they said that they never give the middle name/initial to El Al. It is not needed. Called El al a couple times and got different answers whether or not the name need to match exactly how it is on passport. But neither of them can do anything about it now. I guess for future it is good to know to enter both names as first name so it will be given over to El Al. Read somewhere that some people did have issues with TSA when the middle initial was not on ticket, and many said that it's usually not a problem. Does anyone know of documentation that I could get from TSA website or IATA website saying that it is ok? just to play it safe
I never put in middle name which is on passport  never had problem

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1234 on: March 08, 2020, 02:50:35 PM »
I never put in middle name which is on passport  never had problem
+1

Offline shmooz

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1235 on: March 13, 2020, 03:06:06 PM »
Need to cancel an LY flight booked through QF, but they not answering phone or text, and can't cancel online, any ideas for a way to reach them?

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1236 on: March 15, 2020, 02:06:50 PM »
Texted today for flight on the 22nd. Put the points back with no fee. Flight had been cancelled by Elal and new flight was not acceptable to me.

Offline iluv2travel

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1237 on: March 18, 2020, 11:33:34 PM »
Texted today for flight on the 22nd. Put the points back with no fee. Flight had been cancelled by Elal and new flight was not acceptable to me.

I tried SMS and auto reply was as follows:

"Welcome to Qantas, due to significant volumes of customer enquiries, this channel is temporarily unavailable.  Please call your local Qantas Office."

Hold times are estimated 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1238 on: March 20, 2020, 05:34:25 PM »
Finally after super long hold time I got my bookings canceled and miles refunded with no penalty. I still see 1 active booking in my account, if it's still there after Shabbos I'll just have to call again  :(.

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Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #1239 on: March 22, 2020, 09:15:24 AM »
Texted today for flight on the 22nd. Put the points back with no fee. Flight had been cancelled by Elal and new flight was not acceptable to me.
Flight still not showing as cancelled in my Qantas account. Qantas SMS not working for me since Friday.