Topic Wiki

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 303475 times)

Offline israshot

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Nov 2018
  • Posts: 1103
  • Total likes: 226
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 14
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #460 on: June 23, 2019, 04:39:13 PM »
I cancelled TLV-JFK within 24 hours, and was charged 6k cancellation fee.
I tried to explain to the SMS agent that the Conditions of Carriage specify (section 5.3):

"In accordance with US Department of Transportation rules, customers who purchase a ticket in the United States for travel on Qantas may cancel their reservations and have their ticket refunded without charge within 24 hours of ticketing when the ticket is purchased one week or more prior to scheduled departure of the first flight in the itinerary."

https://www.qantas.com/us/en/book-a-trip/flights/conditions-of-carriage.html#-fare

The agent responded (see screenshot): "That pertains to a purchased ticket in the United States for travel on Qantas. Where in your flight is with LY"

Is the agent correct, that when booking LY via QF a cancellation fee is charged even within 24 hours?

Or is it because the flight originates from TLV?
My only residence is in the US, which is the address on file with Qantas.
Same goes for my CC and phone number.
DOT regulations of 24 hours is for any flight departing, arriving or within the U.S. regardless their own conditions.

Offline Dan

  • Administrator
  • Dansdeals Lifetime 50K Diamond Elite
  • **********
  • Join Date: May 2008
  • Posts: 67555
  • Total likes: 16848
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 16442
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: CLE
  • Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, DL Dirt, Hyatt Glob, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, DD Diamond, Blocked By @NeriaKraus
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #461 on: June 23, 2019, 04:47:39 PM »
Do we know that DoT 24 applies to awards?
How does AC avoid it?
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Afrages6

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Gold Elite
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 915
  • Total likes: 399
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #462 on: June 23, 2019, 05:13:12 PM »
DOT regulations of 24 hours is for any flight departing, arriving or within the U.S. regardless their own conditions.
Are you sure about that?

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #463 on: June 23, 2019, 05:48:44 PM »
Do we know that DoT 24 applies to awards?
How does AC avoid it?
We like to think yes, but until someone sues I guess we'll never know.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline chff

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 5894
  • Total likes: 685
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 25
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC (not anymore)
  • Programs: All of them...
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #464 on: June 23, 2019, 06:39:24 PM »
We like to think yes, but until someone sues I guess we'll never know.
While you complain mention the taxes as well

Offline yandmk

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Aug 2014
  • Posts: 1958
  • Total likes: 251
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 28
    • View Profile
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #465 on: June 23, 2019, 06:41:27 PM »
While you complain mention the taxes as well
Or maybe we leave well enough alone so they don't tag on YQ... I prefer to ignore the $20

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #466 on: June 23, 2019, 06:45:09 PM »
While you complain mention the taxes as well
Well based on your analysis is a QF charging a base fare on LY? If so they certainly should be subject to DOT regulation.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline chff

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 5894
  • Total likes: 685
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 25
    • View Profile
  • Location: NYC (not anymore)
  • Programs: All of them...
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #467 on: June 23, 2019, 06:46:33 PM »
Well based on your analysis is a QF charging a base fare on LY? If so they certainly should be subject to DOT regulation.
No. QF is charging US tax on LY Premium & Business awards ($18.60 per direction to/from USA) . LY is just plain messed up

Offline jew

  • Dansdeals Platinum Elite + Lifetime Silver Elite
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 683
  • Total likes: 84
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
    • View Profile
  • Location: los angeles
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #468 on: June 24, 2019, 02:30:04 AM »
Thank you. A manager would put me on the 1 pm from jfk although it is not showing available in business (only economy or PE)?
Thanks for the help
Thank G-D after getting no help from ELAL (kept telling them and manager that its their fault and they need to accommodate me, manager finally told me that he cant touch Qantas ticket but Qantas should contact ELAL themselves) SMS with Qantas for 21 hours straight (no I did not go to bed thursday night) which I had to keep explaining my story again and again for every new agent who finally replied, I finally picked up the phone to call Qantas who put me on hold for few minutes and very nicely told me that after speaking to her manager she has sent email to ELAL and should get an answer in 24 hours.
Boruch Hashem after shabbos I see they changed to the ticket that I asked for the 1 pm from JFK although there was no award seats available. (it says R class)
Sorry for all the boring details but was just excited to share :)

Offline shimino1

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Apr 2013
  • Posts: 2411
  • Total likes: 132
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 10
    • View Profile
  • Location: israel
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #469 on: June 24, 2019, 03:15:57 AM »
Thanks for the help
Thank G-D after getting no help from ELAL (kept telling them and manager that its their fault and they need to accommodate me, manager finally told me that he cant touch Qantas ticket but Qantas should contact ELAL themselves) SMS with Qantas for 21 hours straight (no I did not go to bed thursday night) which I had to keep explaining my story again and again for every new agent who finally replied, I finally picked up the phone to call Qantas who put me on hold for few minutes and very nicely told me that after speaking to her manager she has sent email to ELAL and should get an answer in 24 hours.
Boruch Hashem after shabbos I see they changed to the ticket that I asked for the 1 pm from JFK although there was no award seats available. (it says R class)
Sorry for all the boring details but was just excited to share :)
IINM R class is upgrade to business class. You may be on a revenue economy ticket that was upgraded. Put in a Qantas or Alaska FFN and you may earn miles for the flight.

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #470 on: June 24, 2019, 03:20:16 AM »
IINM R class is upgrade to business class.
correct.

Put in a Qantas or Alaska FFN and you may earn miles for the flight.
Interesting thought, I'd put in AS, because often in these situations QF (or whatever airline booked a rev ticket) can make sure you don't earn with them.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline DrDanny

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Feb 2012
  • Posts: 1170
  • Total likes: 2
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Detroit/NewYork/PalmBeach
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #471 on: June 24, 2019, 03:21:31 AM »
I cancelled TLV-JFK within 24 hours, and was charged 6k cancellation fee.
I tried to explain to the SMS ...........
Did the miles go back to your account instantly?

Offline vanilla

  • Dansdeals Silver Elite
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 53
  • Total likes: 3
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 1
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #472 on: June 24, 2019, 07:17:11 AM »
Did the miles go back to your account instantly?
Within a few hours. Not sure exactly.

Offline KSMH

  • Dansdeals Presidential Platinum Elite
  • ********
  • Join Date: Jul 2018
  • Posts: 2773
  • Total likes: 494
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 15
    • View Profile
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #473 on: June 24, 2019, 07:45:02 AM »
Thanks for the help
Thank G-D after getting no help from ELAL (kept telling them and manager that its their fault and they need to accommodate me, manager finally told me that he cant touch Qantas ticket but Qantas should contact ELAL themselves) SMS with Qantas for 21 hours straight (no I did not go to bed thursday night) which I had to keep explaining my story again and again for every new agent who finally replied, I finally picked up the phone to call Qantas who put me on hold for few minutes and very nicely told me that after speaking to her manager she has sent email to ELAL and should get an answer in 24 hours.
Boruch Hashem after shabbos I see they changed to the ticket that I asked for the 1 pm from JFK although there was no award seats available. (it says R class)
Sorry for all the boring details but was just excited to share :)
Nice! Glad it worked out.
Always praying for delayed baggage.

Offline bp27

  • Dansdeals Gold Elite
  • ***
  • Join Date: May 2015
  • Posts: 173
  • Total likes: 53
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 0
    • View Profile
  • Location: Brooklyn
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #474 on: June 24, 2019, 11:06:02 AM »
WhatsApp is so much more convenient
WhatsApp worked great! Thanks for that, and I now have a seat. A little annoying that even if you are using English, they still answer in Hebrew. Not an issue for me, but I found it strange.

Offline yelped

  • Dansdeals Lifetime 10K Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Mar 2015
  • Posts: 10372
  • Total likes: 3771
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 43
    • View Profile
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #475 on: June 24, 2019, 11:12:33 AM »
correct.
Interesting thought, I'd put in AS, because often in these situations QF (or whatever airline booked a rev ticket) can make sure you don't earn with them.
Didn't someone just mention that they didn't earn miles on R class?

Offline KidOOO

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 1820
  • Total likes: 16
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #476 on: June 24, 2019, 11:18:13 AM »
Booking TLV-NYC qanats is billing taxes in GBP, is there a way to change to USD?

Offline KidOOO

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • *******
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 1820
  • Total likes: 16
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 2
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Location: NY
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #477 on: June 24, 2019, 11:19:06 AM »
WhatsApp worked great! Thanks for that, and I now have a seat. A little annoying that even if you are using English, they still answer in Hebrew. Not an issue for me, but I found it strange.


Used it as well very convenient. It seems the service is not officially available in English but of course most reps do understand English

Offline davidrotts63

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: May 2017
  • Posts: 7218
  • Total likes: 978
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 26
  • Gender: Male
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hertz Gold, Hyatt Member, BA Blue, Ebay banned, Amazon Prime
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #478 on: June 24, 2019, 11:34:41 AM »
Didn't someone just mention that they didn't earn miles on R class?
You'd earn on the economy fare it was booked into.
Booking TLV-NYC qanats is billing taxes in GBP, is there a way to change to USD?
NAFAIK. They use a UK POS, any travel card has no forex fees.
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline mochjas

  • Dansdeals Lifetime Presidential Platinum Elite
  • *********
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 9696
  • Total likes: 1067
  • DansDeals.com Hat Tips 123
    • View Profile
  • Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium Elite, AA EX PLAT, Jetblue Mosaic, Qatar Gold, United Silver
Re: Booking El Al with Qantas - master thread
« Reply #479 on: June 24, 2019, 11:37:07 AM »
IINM R class is upgrade to business class. You may be on a revenue economy ticket that was upgraded. Put in a Qantas or Alaska FFN and you may earn miles for the flight.
R class can also be a paid fare with LY. Ive seen it on the YYZ route