Everything You Need To Know About Booking El Al Awards With Qantas!

1)Does Qantas charge fuel surcharges on flights from nyc to Europe like BA does for AA flights?

2) If I transfer 2 million miles am I going to get 30%+20%?

3)It seems you can book China Eastern via Qantas. However, it shows Economy, Premium Economy, and First.
1) How would I know if they charge surcharges
2) Is “First” actually first or it’s really China Eastern business?

So bottom Line , I have no plans for travel even not within the next year or so

Would you reccomend to transfer or not ?

I would appreciate is anyone can advise of which email sever that SMS phone number works with. this way we can text to that number directly from gmail.

In terms of the risk of severing the relationship, my current operating assumption is that there is no risk of this happening within the year or two.

Why? Because we see that Qantas is enhancing the relationship/booking capabilities for El Al – something they surely would not invest in would an imminent threat of severance exist.

The million dollar question:
Will we be getting a DDMS trip report on El Al in the coming year?
(Is it at least more likely than until today?)

but why would anyone want to fly ELAL ? spend your points on a quality airline that actually provides service , schedule , satisfaction and wont dump you in greece or worse for shabbos..

how long should it take until the points show up and the bonus i did a transfer almost 24hours ago and even the base points didn’t show up yet.

Great post!

Seems like you have Chicago and Boston in the wrong spots for which airports are available for booking online.

i did already it still dosn’t come up

So, weird glitch.

Booked Elal on Qantas but points available didn’t decrease.

I was looking up another flight even though there were not enough points in the account. Out of curiosity I checked to see what would happen if I go through the full booking.

Lo and behold it appeared to work. The ticket was even pulled up on elal’s site when in search the record locator.

It seems the points only adjust after you log out and log back on.

Now on Qantas (after relogging in) in the points activity it shows as if only half the necessary points were used – but the ticket looks confirmed.

Thoughts?

Where can I fly from in Europe using Qantas points to fly Business directly to PHL or EWR?

I have not been able to find anything so far.

i transferred 300k on the 25th. still no bonus from Qantas:(

@dan
Since qantas is very responsive in fixing problems and bugs on their site. Myabe you can ask them to improve their customer service? lets hope they will fiv that problem too

Why should the 44%+15-30% stack? it says clear in the T&C that in will not.

I do plan to use points within the next year. Here are my 3 questions: 1) Can I book tickets for family members? 2) If I will need to fly on specific dates is it too risky to transfer as availability to book with points is limited? 3) is there a bonus for transferring Citi TY points or only AMEX?

All this is great but you are missing one vital point: El Al is a lousy airline to fly with, arrogant crew, terrible time keeping and very mediocre food. Even the new Dreamliners are not that great in Business.

The $73 tax from Toronto and back, is that in Canadian dollars or USD?

I’m hearing of folks who are encountering error messages when attempting to link their Amex MR account to their Qantas FF account. Qantas FF number is 10 digits. They call Amex. Amex says they are aware of the issue. I’ve not seen it reported anywhere. Any ideas?

Is there a way to contact MR and get my bonus changes from 20% to 44 % ?

Just wondering are the taxes/fees more expensive when booking a reward flight in economy vs Business. I’m getting a 45 GBP fee ($57 USD) when booking an economy award.

Do you have a write up about using quantas points for destinations other then TLV ?

I transferred over points a few times over the past month and always got my extra points from Qantas within 2 days. I transferred more points over 3 days ago and did not get the extra 20%. It could be just that it is taking longer or it could be that they stopped giving it. I am only writing this as a heads up. I am hoping I will still get the extra points but just a word of caution if you are transferring a lot of points and only doing it to get the extra 20%.

I transferred 150,000 AMEX points yesterday and received the additional 20% – totaling 180,000 points on Qantas. So far I have not receive the additional 20% from Qantas?

i transferred 6/25 and 6/27
so far no bonus from qantas

If I transfer the 500 points and sign up for the promos as you suggest will I get any offers by the Sunday deadline that will give me more that the 44%? Also, if I transfer the 500 points and then transfer another 150k on Sunday, will I get the 44% promo on both or will the transfer of the 500 points “use up” the bonus offer?

I got my 20% from AMEX, but NOTHINGbadditional after that from Qantas. I think that was an error on their part and they stopped giving those extra points once transferred to their account.

transferred on the 25th and no additional Bonus ! 🙁
seems that the deal is gone………

I paid for tickets. Quantas won’t issue the ticket until the apis is completely filled out, the toddler and infant don’t have passports yet and they won’t accept the document until completely filled out . Any way around it?

Transferred on the 25 and still didnt get any bonus points:( can I contact Qantas and try to get it?

BH Transferred posted on 24 credit posted on 25, transfered posted on the 28 just posted credit bonus on Jul 1. Seems the transfers go random as they are overloaded. Looks like everyone’s credits will eventually post as they get to it

After giving up hope by reading the recent posts, I checked my account this morning and lo and behold, the extra 20% was posted to my account. So don’t give up hope!

I just saw that I did get the extra 20% from a transfer I made on june 27. I did not call them.

Just got the extra 20% as well, I transferred on the 29th at 11 pm. initially after seeing the posts yesterday that they may not give it, I added more points to be safe, if they bonus those as well I will have an influx in Qantas.

Great News!
Extra 20% just posted today after making the transfer Yesterday.

Cant figure this out. I made 2 transfers, , one of June 25 and one of June 27. The one from 25th I didnt get bonus points yet but the one from the 27 I just got.

i received my bonus thanks to Dan

I made two transfers to Qantas from Amex, both on June 25th. The second one got the bonus yesterday, the first one has not. I’m on hold with Qantas to try to get the bonus for the first. Does anyone know why I can see my Qantas reservation on the El Al website, but not on the El Al app?

I transferred points from AMEX to Qatas on 6/27. I immediately received my 20% bonus. Then yesterday, without my contacting Qantas, Qantas up those points by 20%. Thank you Dan.

Looking forward to flying business class.

I transfered points from AMEX on friday 6/28 received the extra 20% today.
Thanks Dan.

I called last night to complain about not getting the extra 20% and sure enough today the extra points appeared in my account! 400K tunred into 576!

Thanks DAN

Hi Dan,

Is this the best option for me to transfer my Amex points if I plan to travel within the next year with BA to TLV?

i also got 20percent for the 6/27 transfer but not for the 6/25 transfer

I transferred on the 28th and got the Qantas 20% bonus for net 44%

B”H. TY Dan

Transferred on the 29th. Bonus posted on the 1st

I transferred on June 25 and still haven’t received the Qantas bonus. I called today. First the rep said that it takes 6-8 weeks for the 20% to post. I politely explained that that’s not so. She put me on hold for a while and then said it takes 15 days. I again explained that she is incorrect. She then said that she’ll send an email to the correct department and that I should give it until Friday. Any suggestions?

didn’t call yet. trying to sms

Im also a 6/25 non bonus victim…I called twice and both times they said I should take it up with Amex. Any advice?

I’m also still waiting on the bonus for two transfers (two different accounts) made on the 25th. Has anyone seen the bonus post for transfers made on the 25th (as a result of a call or otherwise)? I tried texting but was referred to the 1-800 number for FF questions. Just tried calling now but hours are Australia hours, so need to wait for this afternoon. I sent an email in the interim. Would love to hear the script for anyone who has been successful with a Qantas rep on this glitch.

i have not yet received bonus for 6/25 transfer.

keep us updated

I have just spent hours with the SMS service (which was terrible and terribly slow) and half an hour on the phone. They are both saying that Qantas cannot book SFO–TLV with El Al because the agreement between Qantas and El Al only allows booking award tickets on LY involving the US via EWR or JFK (the SMS person also said LAX and Toronto). Anyone else get this? They are saying that they’re getting an error trying to book it. The seat is available (checked LY site) and they can see it too. But they can’t book it. What the hell???!!!

That is insane!!!! It took 30 minutes to get to this result. So HUCA is easier typed than done. And the guy literally says that’s in the agreement between QF and LY.

QF saying award bookings with El Al can be only to/from jfk or lax. Anyone have a real recent datapoint from other airports? Speculation and huca advice not needed.

I booked tickets Sunday with Quantas EWR TLV and still didn’t receive the itineraries. I tryied emailing from my booking as well which says error every day they say will come within 24 hrs also not in spam folder

I transferred points on June 25. Bonus points just hit my account. Never called them about it.

DP Showing that Qantas is issuing all the bonuses for the transfers on the 25th

For all my fellow June 25 victims: My 20% Qantas bonus was just added to my FF account.

MY 6/25 BONUS WAS JUST ADDED TODAY AS WELL:)

Bonus points are great but not so great when you can’t make a booking… Any DP for real bookings with LY to TLV From MIA, SFO?

I am a bit concerned. I transferred 140k amex points and all went well. I just tried texting them to request flights. Took me 3 and a half hours to exchange about 10-15 messages and essentially they told me that their are no flights available over a 2 days period that I requested, not from JFK nor EWR, not in business, coach or coach plus. I pointed out that the EL AL web site listed multiple flights with award seats available it all cabins and even directed them to specific flights. They told me that that ELAL lists their availability but that Qantas has limited availability in what ELAL designates for award travel and that they had nothing that they can offer me. Did I squander my points?

Did anyone make a transfer on June 30th and not receive the bonus 20% from Qantas? Seems like since I made a transfer 12 noon in the US it was already July 1st in Australia and they wont give 20% bonus

Hi Dan, first I am grateful for all you all your posts, it is very helpful. I have booked a flight using Qantas points, however I have cancelled it within 24 hours but have not received a refund. Please advise, Thank you

Hi Dan! any reason why El Al flights are not showing on Qantas? I checked different dates and nothing shows up.

It looks like they are no longer showing (again!). They used to show then El Al changed their site / access and it disappeared. Then Dan spoke to someone at El Al and it showed up again on Qantas.com. And now it’s gone. This is terrible.

@dan if I book business class with Qantas can I make a change to the booking (different dates) through Elal directly or can I only make the change through Qantas? Asking because availability through Qantas is so limited.

Hi Dan, When I try booking award travel with Alaska or Etihad they charge for an infant as if an adult. Is there any way to avoid this issue? And when booking with Qantas do they also charge an infant as if an adult?
Thanks so much!!!!