The Ultimate Israel Mileage Award Chart

Dan
Can you keep doing these for popular destinations?
For example Hawaii?

@Yobo yahoo:
Take a look at the very first link in this post 😀

I ran into problems trying to book a coach ticket to Israel with Flying Blue. The AF flights book in “X” but, the connecting domestic flights on DL book in “N”. So, Flying Blue said the 25K one way price would not apply since they are different classes and I would have to pay more. In other words unless you are leaving from a AF or KL city, you have to pay more even if saver space is available on Delta. Have you ever heard of this?

@Dan perfect timing! Just decided I’m going for sukkos…. I’m in Miami, should I be going through nyc or I could find through Miami? And thanks gr8 post for my sis that will be going from nyc….:-)

@Al:
Nope.
Just tried a search from CLE and it priced out just fine, 25K FB miles:
http://i.dansdeals.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/fb3.png

@Josef.koney:
You can find from MIA, just use the tips I wrote in the post.

When flying on El Al, is it possible to earn frequent flyer miles on any other program besides Matmid?

@Jamie:
Nothing worthwhile now that the El Al-American partnership ended.

Can you book a free trailing flight on an award ticket as well?

@Anonymous:
Yes, depending on the airline.

Dan,
how do I book a trailing flight with united?

8. Find award availability before transferring miles. Once they’re transferred they can’t be reversed!

any advice on what to do when transfers from points to airlne miles take a day or two and you are thereby risking the award flight no longer being available

@Dan: sounds like from your post only United?

Is there a post that discusses open-jaw in more detail?

@Avi:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/booking/flight/searchAward.aspx?SB=1&SD=MD&CS=N

Or call.

@Anonymous:
Pray 🙂

@Anonymous:
Any airline that allows for stopovers.
Look in the notes column.

@Mark:
Probably in other posts.
Basically though you may find award space for Newark-London and Paris-Tel Aviv.

You can book Newark-London (Open jaw), Paris-Tel Aviv (Destination), Tel Aviv-Newark (Stopover), and Newark-Anchorage 6 months later all on one 85K United award.

If we already have booked United award tickets for an upcoming trip, will United allow me to add a trailing flight after the fact? If so, are there additional fees?

@Dan, that’s because the segment from JFK-TLV is on DL, so there is no mixing of fare classes. See what happens if you fly from JFK to TLV via CDG or AMS.

@ADub:
That would be a change of destination, a $100 fee.

@Al:
Odd. Call back and ask for a supervisor? Probably will take several HUCAs…

I find that there is good Alitalia availability in business class when booking with Delta miles. Taxes are not bad either (about $90 roundtrip). Same avaiblity is there when using AirFrance miles but the mileage savings (140K vs 125K) is offset by brutal fees.

Ironically, often times DL and AF show Alitalia availability, but when you call Alitalia they don’t show it – even though it is their own planes.

Very annoying – since booking via Alitalia would save some serious miles

Dan,
would the add on for united work with paid tickets or only award tix?

@G:
If AF or DL can book the Alitalia business flight for 125K/140K then so can Alitalia for 80K.

Issue is that their call center is probably the worst in the industry (AF isn’t much better) so you’ll need to call 10 times (and never at night) in order to find someone than knows how to search for and book the award.

@Avi:
Only awards.

dan i’m confused… is ANA or Aeroplan the cheapest for Star Alliance?

@shoobi:
ANA is best for United. (Though United cardholders get expanded availability with United miles only)

Aeroplan is best on the airlines for which they can book travel without a fuel surcharge (See *) if you only have AMEX points.

Otherwise United is better as they can book on more airlines with no fuel surcharges.

Can you explain a bit more how to use citi points? You wrote they transfer….?

what is the best airline to transfer amex points if one is looking for united flights from nyc to TLV or NYC to west coast

Hi Dan,
Regarding flying blue expiration, if I fly on a paid flight with delta and credit the miles to flying blue will I get just 20 month extension or my miles will never expire?
Thank you!

@Anonymous:
They transfer to airlines like Air France and Singapore as the chart indicates.

@Anonymous:
ANA is best for NYC to TLV on United flights.

@Shimon:
20 month extension.

Dan: you wrote that United allows 2 open jaws on a RT. In your example to Mark above, where would you fit the 2nd OJ? After TLV (dest) or after EWR (stopover on way back)? Thanks

@anonymous:
Could do TLV-VIE//BRU-NYC on the return for example.

Great job as usual, Dan! Just one little quibble: “United.com won’t show Brussels flights, etc.” In my experience, Brussels WILL show up in United.
Thanks for everything!

@Chacham:
Of course, I even reported that 😀
Fixed.

Dan you wrote one star alliance option is Singapore via Frankfurt but Singapore’s website doesn’t allow you to search for tel aviv. Suggestions of best way to get from FRA – TLV?

@Israeli:
Search Singapore.com for JFK-FRA availability Search United.com for FRA-TLV availability. Call Singapore or United to book it, though United will probably only have access to book that route in coach.

JNB to TLV is 800 matmid points. TLV to NYL is 1000 matmid points. What would be JNB to NYC on ElAl? Does ElAl allow stopovers in TLV?

@ingvar:
Nope, you would need to book 2 separate awards.
Ridiculous, I know.

@Dan: so TLV-FRA on Lufthansa and FRA-JFK on Singapore if booked through Singapore would price out at 75k round trip?

@Israeli:
Yes, but that will be subject to fuel surcharges.
Book with 85K United to avoid the fuel surcharges.

@Dan: thanks!

@Israeli:
No problem.
Don’t forget you can also book it for 65K ANA plus fuel surcharges.

@Dan: What about South African?

@Dan: Best coach value for TLV-JNB (or anywhere else in Africa) is Lifemiles. It is even cheaper than TLV-anywhere in Europe, so you can use a TLV-JNB or any other African City to get hidden city Europe travel on LifeMiles.

What’s the best way to search for award space for PHL-MAD-TLV using AA miles, since AA.com doesn’t show Iberia? If Avios award space shows up for a flight on BA.com will that translate to SAAver award space? Or do we just need to call AA to find out? Thanks!

@Dan:

What would be most helpful would be a chart combining the cost in miles (converted to US$ at an imaginary fixed rate let’s assume 1 cent) + Fuel surchages.

What I find interesting (though obvious) is that best availability seems to be on airlines that charge fuel surcharges. BA will many times have availability, but those fuel surcharges make it senseless to book. LH also many times have availability, and they incur pretty hefty surcharges on most programs.

I am always looking for the most efficient way to go in Biz NYC-TLV, any hints? Last couple of times were paid fares ($1,520! on TransAero, $2,300 on DL using hidden city, $2,200 on TK)

Also, has anyone heard anything about AA starting its own flights to TLV from JFK (or from anywhere else?) Thanks again.

@Anonymous:
Not a very compelling program.

@ExGingi:
True.

@Kermit:
If it’s on BA.com then AA can book it as a saver award.

@ExGingi:
Would be impossible.
Fuel surcharges vary based on the airline you’re flying, the route you’re flying, and the program whose miles you’re using.

@Kermit:
Nothing of late.

The Hawaii link at top bringing me to this Israel page

@Benji:
Heh. Fixed.

Dan , re post 14 I spoke with united reps (several of them )
They said no stop over anymore
System also didn’t allow it and priced as 2 awards
What am I missing?

@Sl:
Do it online,
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/booking/flight/searchAward.aspx?SB=1&SD=MD&CS=N

Or have United call you:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/20506

Perfect. Thank you for the great update Dan! Funny how I was just posting in your forum last week about exactly this.

HEY DAN thanx again for ur visit to jtown a couple monthes ago
quick q. why cant i search nyc-tlv on singapore air .tlv wont even come up as available city to fly to and from… Im trying to book a united biz thru “singapore miles” thanx

@eli:
You need to search on the Star Alliance websites I mentioned above (or on Singapore.com for JFK-FRA and another website for FRA-TLV) and call Singapore to book.

excuse me i reread the posts..but my question is when you wrote : biz with singapore miles is 115 and no surcharge on united ..how do i book a united operated flight thru fra thanx again

thanx .how will i not be charged for fuelcharges ? as long as i fly one leg united?

@eli:
You don’t, you have call Singapore to book United nonstop EWR-TLV.

@eli:
If you fly one leg United and one leg Lufthansa through FRA and book with Singapore then you’ll pay the fuel surcharge just for the FRA-TLV leg.

Great post, Dan. One other possibility is good for any who have accrued Aegean miles in the past or have friends/family that will let them pool in the same account. They charge fuel surcharges (so, United flights are best) but a round trip ticket to Israel (with one connection) is only 90,000 miles. Nothing transfers into the program but the family/friends pooling makes it easy. Also, it can be booked as one ways.

Thanks @Dan x 2!

thankyou shbbt shlm!

@Dan: Actually dan isnt Singapore just as good as ANA for one ways United award flights? ANA technically does not have one way and the workaround results in more miles one way?

can i still transfer 5k amex to elal and get the lower rate

What is the best way to fly from NYC to TLV with miles on the Chase Saphire and US Airways cards and save the most $$?

It is so difficult to use Avios for Israel! I wanted to fly out on 24 September 2015 for Succos, or even the beginning of the next week, but nothing is showing as available! This is besides for the crazy fuel surcharge I am trying to avoid from NYC (or PHL) to TLV. Please advise.

Hi Dan. Can you help me figure this out? I just called ElAl to ask them which card will get me points, now that I can’t use American. They told me Amex at 50 pt to 1 FF point, Diners & Bank USA @ 40 to 1. I can’t find Bank USA anywhere. On ElAl’s website there’s all kinds of Credit cards like Leumi and Isracard, I just wonder if they’re meant for use in the good ol’ USA.

I do prefer to fly ElAl even if it’s not the best deal. Can you please advise me which card to get!

If I’m flying out of TLV to NYC
how can I take advantage of a trailing flight on my way back?

Ok – Total newbie to all of this. I’m trying to get from Miami to Tel Aviv in July. Would like have 24hr layover in London,Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam – or any cool city on the way back. I have 80K Amex Miles as well as 40K Capital Venture Miles ( another 30K on American ) Looking for best, cheapest ways to get there…. Don’t really know definition of trailing flights or open jaw – so could use some explanation there too….
Help please!

hey, i am completely new to it. i have approximately 70k points on my chase-MasterCard, is there a way i can use it to fly to israel ?

can I book NYC-FCO (stopover) – TLV -NYC for 80K just on Alitalia or you are only allowed the stopover if you are using Skyteam partners? I see the charts and precise rules for the partner flights on their site, but for their own metal they only have a chart for flights originating in Italy… thank you

Can you update this post?

Hello. How come on United’s website, it shows 85,000 miles for one way (not round trip like this post)? I am so confused, and stuck in process of booking a summer trip for my wife and daughter (infant so looking for direct flights).

http://i66.tinypic.com/9t3mfk.png

how many spg points will it cost to fly on ba with LAN miles from lhr to tlv coach ?

OneWorld also has availability on Finnair via Helsinki.

I just priced a business ticket with M&M account with israeli address via EU and it says 92K miles one way. is the “Biz from Israel: 105K nonstop or via Europe” over?

For the above comment, I priced it for April 2017, when I price for dates in 2016 I get the 52K one way price

Dan need your help..
Have amex.. united .. chase.. aa.. points

want to book my parents ny via lon ( kever in lon..or can do it on way back) and back to nyc ( 1 way prefer to be non stop)
have any thoughts esp with flying blue promo- pls help and congrads on being best site..

When it says one way allowed does that mean it’s half the amount of points of round trip or no ?

Is there a post that discusses which Star Alliance carrier is ideal to book with after I’ve found flights I want? For example, if its UA metal, go through Singapore. What about if its on Swiss, or Austrian? Thanks.

@Dan, first of all thanks for all the info, I’ve gone over it so many times and it has really been helpful. Can you add Aegean to this list? It’s on your SPG post but you never updated this list and it’s a great option for Star Alliance.

When can we expect an updated list? I think it’s past due already…

@dan would you be able to do an update? Also average estimates of fuel surcharges? Average availability and given airline? Thanks !! Would be a great post to point all the people “dan cheapest way to get to tlv in April “ lol great dan !!!!

Do you have an update post on this topic?

@Dan how can we posh you to do an update?

Any chance you can update this?

Thanks!