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Delta is traditionally very stingy with saver award space to Tel Aviv, especially in business class, and especially for partner airlines to book.
After American entered the market with incredible award space, I wrote in January about how Delta opened the floodgates on partner award availability.
Now things are even better, as Air France is allowing Delta awards to be booked on their site, without needing to call in.
You can book one-way Delta coach awards for 29K Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles and Delta business class awards for 72K Air France/KLM Flying Blue miles. There are no fuel surcharges.
There are also free changes and cancellations for flights through 9/30 due to COVID-19. Cancellations or changes normally cost 45 Euros.
This will work nonstop from JFK or via connections from other US cities.
You can transfer AMEX, Barclays, Capital One, Chase, or Citi points instantly to Flying Blue!
On the Air France site, it will give the number of seats available if there are less than 9. Otherwise there are at least 9 award seats available:
Coach awards:
If you click on flight details you can see if the plane features Delta’s new business class suites by checking if the flight is operated by a A330-900neo:
The Air France rates are much lower than what Delta charges using their miles:
Delta One suites:
You can read more about Delta’s A350 suites here and in this trip report. Note that the A330 suites used on the Tel Aviv route are a bit narrorower than the A350 suites.
Want to book? I’ve done the legwork to find which dates have award space.
Dates with JFK to Tel Aviv Delta business partner award space:
May 22
July 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30
August 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 27, 28
September 2, 9, 22
October 18
December 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31
January 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31
February 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
Dates with Tel Aviv to JFK Delta business partner award space:
May 15, 17, 29
June 10, 20, 24
July 1, 3, 5, 14, 15, 17, 22, 24, 25, 30, 31
August 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 27, 28, 30
September 3, 4, 11, 21, 22, 23, 28
October 21
November 3, 6, 25
December 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26
January 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31
February 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8
Dates with JFK to Tel Aviv Delta coach partner award space:
April 23, 24, 29
May 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
June 1 through 21, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29
July 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26 through 31
August 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 26, 27
September 2, 4, 9, 10, 11
October 6, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 26 through 31
November 2, 3, 6, 7, 11 through 18, 21 through 30
December 1 through 11, 14, 16, 30, 31
January 1 through 29, 31
February 1 through 7
Dates with Tel Aviv to JFK Delta coach partner award space:
April 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 29
May 3 through 31
June 1 through 30
July 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 16, 17, 24, 26
August 6, 7, 13, 14, 17, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31
September 4, 10, 20, 21, 22
October 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31
November 1 through 17, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30
December 1 through 27
January 4 through 31
February 1 through 8
Want to earn Flying Blue miles?
- You can transfer AMEX, Chase, Or Citi points to Flying Blue at a 1:1 ratio, Capital One points to Flying Blue at a 1:1.5 ratio, or Marriott points to Flying Blue at a 60K:25K ratio.
If you, a member in your household, or an authorized user has one of the following Chase cards, you can transfer points into miles:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred has a 60K signup bonus, earns 2 points per dollar on dining/travel, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.25 cents each for paid travel or pay yourself back categories ($95 annual fee). Read more here.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve has a 50K signup bonus, earns 3 points per dollar on dining/travel, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.5 cents each for paid travel or pay yourself back categories ($550 annual fee with $300 travel credit). Read more here.
- Chase Ink Preferred has a 100K signup bonus and earns 3 points per dollar on shipping, advertising, and travel, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1.25 cents each for paid travel or pay yourself back categories ($95 annual fee). Read more here.
Chase no-annual fee cards that are fantastic for earning points, but require one of the cards above for points transfers include:
- Chase Ink Cash has a record high 75K signup bonus and earns 5 points per dollar on cable, TV, telecom, cellular, office supply stores, and gift cards from office supply stores, plus 2 points per dollar on dining and gas ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
- Chase Ink Unlimited has a record high 75K signup bonus and earns 1.5 points per dollar everywhere ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
- Chase Freedom Flex has a 20K signup bonus and earns 5 points per dollar on groceries for 1 year, plus 5 points on rotating categories, 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited has a 20K signup bonus and earns 5 points per dollar on groceries for 1 year, at least 1.5 points per dollar everywhere, 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
AMEX cards with transferable Membership Rewards points to miles include:
If you or a friend has one of the following Citi cards, you can transfer points into miles:
- Citi Premier offering 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in 3 months, 3 points per dollar on airfare, hotels, travel agents, groceries, gas, and dining. $95 annual fee.
- Citi Prestige offering 50,000 points for spending $4,000 in 3 months, 5 points per dollar on airfare and dining, and 3 points per dollar on hotels. $495 annual fee.
Citi no-annual fee cards that are fantastic for earning points, but require one of the cards above for points transfers include:
- The Citi Double Cash card offers 2% cash back or 2 points per dollar spent everywhere that can be transferred into ThankYou points. If you also have a Citi Premier Card you can transfer points into miles. No annual fee.
- The Citi Rewards+ Card offering 15,000 points for spending $1,000 in 3 months. This card can’t transfer points on its own, but can transfer points if you have one of the Citi cards above. This card automatically rounds up rewards earned on every purchase to the nearest 10 points, meaning you earn 10 points on a $0.50 Amazon balance reload. Earn 2 points on $6K in annual spending at supermarkets, 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, and a 10% points rebate when you redeem points, up to a 10K points rebate per year. If you also have a Citi Premier Card you can transfer points into miles and get a 10% points rebate on transferred or redeemed miles. No annual fee.
Capital One cards with transferable Membership Rewards points to miles include:
- Capital One Spark Miles offering 50,000 miles for spending $4,500 in 3 months, 2 miles per dollar everywhere. Global Entry/Pre-Check Membership. $0 intro annual fee, then $95 annual fee.
- Capital One Venture offering 60,000 miles for spending $3,000 in 3 months, 2 miles per dollar everywhere. Global Entry/Pre-Check Membership. $95 annual fee.
Marriott cards with transferable points to miles include:
- Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Consumer Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express®Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card
- Here is a comparison of all Marriott cards.
Will you book any Delta awards to Israel?
How does DL J compare to Polaris?
Personally I prefer Polaris, but YMMV.
How is it compared to AA business to tlv ?
American has multiple business class configurations, so it’s hard to compare.
But I’m not a fan of American in general. Too many poor experiences.
What are the pros and cons to each one?
i dont see any delta flights
Route, date, class?
I don’t see delta flight
Route, date, class?
If I need to cancel a Delta flight purchased though KLM/Flying Blue, will I be receive a Delta 12 voucher? Or I can Rebook on Delta? Or a KLM 12 month voucher.
Thanks
Read the post?
I’m looking to book Feb 2022, you only mentioned through 9/30
“Cancellations or changes normally cost 45 Euros.”
What do you get when you cancel? Refund, or voucher?
Refund
And if purchased using points?
@Dan I know it’s not the best card out there, but why don’t you mention the Flying Blue card as a way to earn Flying Blue points?
How is it better than options from AMEX, Chase, and Citi?
Hey Dan, a side question, but I need to cancel an United international flight (Israel) for my whole family. Is there some way to avoid the $240 per ticket cancellation fee?
There are no change fees now, call.
Thanks for answering. There’s no change fees but there are cancellation fees. If there’s a way to avoid them then I’d much prefer to cancel.
For an award ticket?
Was booked with ultimate reward points
And that cancel fee will get your points back?
Yes
Connections to Miami do not show up. Keeps forcing you to AF or VS even when available
Try FLL or PBI?
If I book for Shavuos and end up unable to get into E”Y, I’ll be able to cancel for a full refund of my points, but I’ll then be left with Flying Blue miles which may no longer be redeemable on Delta at all or possibly only at bad valuations, correct? I’m assuming there’s no workaround and that’s the risk I take for trying to get this deal, correct?
Correct.
I’m not finding any business class fares direct on Delta.
Coach fares direct on Delta are very hard to find.
Anything this year for Pesach or Shavuos?