Update: Many of the dates have been snapped up, I’ve updated the available dates below.
In the good news department, it seems that only Alitalia’s night staff is incompetent. I made 3 phone calls to them 2 nights ago when I posted this and they weren’t able to see the award space.
Today a DDF’er reported that he was able to book this morning via Alitalia for just 80,000 miles round-trip in business class as per my suggestion in this post. Unlike when booking with Delta or Flying Blue, they do tack on a $275 fuel surcharge (plus $46 in taxes that everyone charges=$321), but that’s well worthwhile considering the mileage savings.
Note that Alitalia allows free date changes but they do not allow award cancellations.
I just called Alitalia myself a few minutes ago and the rep also had no issue seeing the award space.
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Originally posted on 04/01:
Delta typically is very stingy with business class award seats, especially so to Tel Aviv. They have 3 levels of award prices and often flights to Tel Aviv are at the highest level or not even available at all. Hence the name, Skypesos.
Currently though there are a surprising number of saver award dates available.
Delta offers the best business class from NYC to Tel Aviv with lie-flat seating and direct aisle access for all passengers.
-You can book a one-way for 62,500 Air France Flying Blue miles or a round-trip for 125,000 miles. Points transfer instantly from American Express Membership Rewards. You can also transfer from Starwood with a 25% bonus, though those points aren’t instant. There are no fuel surcharges for Delta flights.
-You can book a round-trip for 140,000 Delta miles. Delta does not allow for one-way award redemption. Points transfer instantly from American Express Membership Rewards. You can also transfer from Starwood with a 25% bonus, though those points aren’t instant. There are no fuel surcharges.
-You can book a round-trip for 120,000 Virgin Atlantic miles. Points transfer instantly from American Express Membership Rewards and from Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can also transfer from Starwood with a 25% bonus, though those points aren’t instant. There are no fuel surcharges.
-You can book a round-trip using 120,000 Korean miles, though that would have to be booked over the phone. Points transfer instantly from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
-You can theoretically book an round-trip for just 80,000 Alitalia miles, though in several test calls their agents were too incompetent to search Delta award flight availability. Points transfer instantly from American Express Membership Rewards but call them first to see if they can book it for you. You can also transfer from Starwood with a 25% bonus, though those points aren’t instant. A $275 fuel surcharge will be added.
Saver award dates from JFK-TLV in business class:
April: 1
July: 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 30
November: 26, 27, 30
December: 7, 8, 9, 10, 27, 28, and 29.
January 2015: 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 19, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29
February 2015: 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 18, 19, and 26.
Saver award dates from TLV-JFK in business class:
July: 2
November: 26
December: 8, 9, 11, 17, 20, and 24.
January 2015: 17,
February 2015: 5, 10, 11, and 12. 14
Even if you can’t book a round-trip with this, you can still book a one-way via Air France and book a return trip with miles from another airline that allows for one-way redemption like American (partners with El Al and USAirways) and United (partners with Air Canada and several European carriers that also fly to Tel Aviv).
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
Dan is any way i can contact you directly ?
Is there any way to xfer miles from AA to Delta or United?
Is Delta business class worth the extra 5k points over BA/US Airways or is it just better since it leaves from JFK?
What are the fees, aside from points for this flight?
@David:
They say that if you put your SS# and phone number, Dan will call you within 4 hours.
Dan,
Can you please list the cancellation policies of each of the above? Thanks!
Its 1:11am go to sleep
From which programs can you transfer to Alitalia miles?
SPG
@flyer:
No.
@MaaYanky:
JFK is a lot better than PHL for anyone from NYC.
Plus with this (glitch?) it’s also more available.
@MeirS:
Please include your birthday and mother’s maiden name as well.
With Alitalya just do HUCA 1(800) 223-5730 I found a agent that not only found award availbilty RT on delta but is even holding the ticket for 72 hours for me, you do have to have a Alitalia account (don’t have to have miles in them) and there is $324.00 tax wich is well worth the 45k miles u save using any other program. Also there cancelation policy is terrible so only book if ur sure.
Why is it that the airlines offer far more availability to TLV but very little space from TLV back to the US?
Any flights from florida for similar miles?
Dan, what other cases is alitalia cheaper than other skyteam members
@Nate: $324 is large fuel surcharge. It’s maybe worth it if you’re not swimming in miles for those who are and don’t want to spend money it’s not worth it.
@David: Dave ain’t your personal travel agent
What would be good use of delta miles, to israel or otherwise? need to use them too!
ok, i just looked at the dates to fly with my family from Mia-tlv mid july through end of july – for single seats they want 127k & first they want 185k , but when i go to purchase for my family of 7 , the prices go up substantially even though it shows plenty of seats available – anyone know a way to get around that ?
@mia flyer:
Clearly there are a few seats for the lower mileage but not 7 of them. See how many you can get for the lower rate and buy the rest at the higher rate.
Im getting a tax fee from american express to transfer points yo delta skymiles?
Is there a way not to get a fee? Or book an awards ticket without this fee through american express?
I need to be in Israel June 26th. I am having trouble finding availability with purchasing a ticket using points. Without any snarky responses, does anyone have any helpful advice? And Dan- as always, thank you…very glad I get every tweet.
@ joe no way around that fee (dont waste miles to pay fee )
@Anonymous: Your wrong I have millions of miles either way 45k miles you can sell for a lot more then $324 so if your gonna spend the extra 45k miles to book with somebody else then just sell the 45k miles and you will have for the taxes and extra change.
@Joe: Use your Amex points transfer to a different airline that can book the delta flight (Alitalya Air France) and book with them
@Anonymous:
Your wrong I have millions of miles either way 45k miles you can sell for a lot more then $324 so if your gonna spend the extra 45k miles to book with somebody else then just sell the 45k miles and you will have for the taxes and extra change.
Reply
@anyone
Are there any tickets available from tlv to NY or surrounding areas for Pesach? I my daughter is off from seminary now and has to be back by April fools 29 th. Please help. She was originally fine with staying but now she is feeling very homesiitck. Out
Avi, encourage her to stay. its once of a lifetime aopportunity. she will be happy she did.
never come back. being single, young, with friends, in israel for yom tov.
When she found out the rest of the family is going to NY she suddenly became home sick. Are there any flights available? My father-in-law probably had a bajillion Amex points.
So call your shver now. he will know how to do it.
i still think she will be happy if she stays. homesick is passing, and looking back, staying for yom tov is once of a lifetime experience.
“You can book a round-trip for 140,000 Delta miles. Delta does not allow for one-way award redemption. Points transfer instantly from American Express Membership Rewards. There are no fuel surcharges.”
Is this Business? How I go by this? And Points transfer instantly from American Express Membership Rewards, but there is a $99 tax fee, correct?
@David: ya dans cell is 1800-dandeal
I booked with Alitalia when the day before this was posted and had no problem tax was $324
Need some help please. Just called Alitalia after opening an account with them. Their rep said that I can’t use or transfer delta points( I have 90,000). I asked him to look up delta award availability. He said I need to call delta to do that. How can I proceed?
@Helene: HUCA
@Helene:
You can’t use Delta points calling Alitalia airline. You can book/call with Alitalia miles and fly on Delta
@Helene: The rep is correct you cant transfer delta points, you can only transfer from amex. And they can check availability
Hi Dan I think u shud start a 1-800 number where you charge a consulting fee of $2.99¢ to 5.99 per minute for each question people ask!!
where does one see how many miles is needed on alitalia ?
@dan i just called alitalia & gave them the week of July 13 from Mia-tlv and they have zero seats avail for miles for any class !!1 that includes delta & air france as well
am i missing something? if they allow date changes then why does the availability matter? Will they only allow date changes to the dates we now see are available?
@g:Obviosly you can only change to a different date if there is availability on that date.
if I have a lot of points on a chase ‘thank you’ card – can those be transferred to any of these flight deals, or must you have a special credit card to accumulate delta points?
Hello Dan;
What is the most economical way to get from ewr (nyc or phl) to tlv for Lag Bi’omer? (may 4 – 12)?
Thank you