newbie here, but follow you all like gods..question
May 11, 2011 | 10:20 pm
#1
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Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 30
newbie here, but follow you all like gods..question
i have been following you all for the past year, got every credit card and deal recommended, even buying coins..my question is what is the best way to plan my trip...i have tickets to istanbul, but need to travel from IST tel aviv stay a week, on to costa rica stay 3-4 days and home to CLE...i have miles on AA CO BA...please help..paying for all my hotels with venture points..i have learned so much from all of you..i am now obsessed with points
May 11, 2011 | 11:58 pm
#3
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So you already have a one-way ticket to IST, and are now looking to use miles for one-ways from IST to TLV; TLV to SJO; and SJO to CLE; is that correct?
In what class of service do you wish to travel?
So you already have a one-way ticket to IST, and are now looking to use miles for one-ways from IST to TLV; TLV to SJO; and SJO to CLE; is that correct?
In what class of service do you wish to travel?
May 12, 2011 | 2:03 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 30
coach....i have gained all these miles from FT advice, just not sure of the ins and outs of booking, getting the best bang for your buck....we really aren't locked into anything after visiting the holy lands.. we would like the best deal to go somewhere to relax for a few days..i have been doing so well up to know, just feeling stupid now
May 12, 2011 | 2:53 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Skyteam, OneWorld, AMEX
Posts: 127
1st thing is prob to book your ticket THROUGH IST instead of TO IST one-way. I used Skyteam for LAX-TLV with a stopover in VIE (and open-jaw out of PRG to TLV) for minimum mileage. I would check both the one-way options and the stopover option but I'd guess the stop-over is the best bet.
You have to find an airline in the alliance that stops in Europe to transfer you to TLV (BA for example). Not sure about how to plan it with your airlines but I did AF through CDG oneway and KLM through AMS on the return with DL miles. MAYBE your open jaw could be the return (really not sure) such that you can get the CLE-IST(stopover)-TLV-SJO ticket with a similar amount of points - then you would have to do the SJO one-way return, which I think is pretty cheap (in points) on AA.
Try this series of posts:
http://thepointsguy.com/2011/04/how-...orld-alliance/
You have to find an airline in the alliance that stops in Europe to transfer you to TLV (BA for example). Not sure about how to plan it with your airlines but I did AF through CDG oneway and KLM through AMS on the return with DL miles. MAYBE your open jaw could be the return (really not sure) such that you can get the CLE-IST(stopover)-TLV-SJO ticket with a similar amount of points - then you would have to do the SJO one-way return, which I think is pretty cheap (in points) on AA.
Try this series of posts:
http://thepointsguy.com/2011/04/how-...orld-alliance/
May 12, 2011 | 9:45 am
#6
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milesmama, have you already ticketed your trip to IST? The answer to that will affect the advice to be given.
milesmama, have you already ticketed your trip to IST? The answer to that will affect the advice to be given.
May 12, 2011 | 9:48 am
#7
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(Duplicate post.)
(Duplicate post.)
Last edited by guv1976; May 12, 2011 at 9:51 am
May 12, 2011 | 10:57 am
#8
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If the flight to IST has already been ticketed and cannot be changed, I would recommend using an AA oneworld award for something like:
IST-AMM-TLV-MAD-SJO
for 60,000 miles per person in Coach. IST-AMM-TLV would be on Royal Jordanian; TLV-MAD-SJO would be on Iberia. You would have some flexibility on routing, as the oneworld award is distance-based. So from TLV, you could also fly TLV-BUD-JFK-SJO, or TLV-MAD-MIA-SJO, or TLV-BUD-CDG-MIA-SJO for the same mileage. (If you're going to LIR and not SJO, you would need a routing via MIA.)
On a oneworld award, you would also be permitted to stopover at various points along the way, so if you wanted to see some of Europe on your way to Costa Rica, you could do so. But you are also free to forego stopovers, and just connect at intermediate points.
For the trip from Costa Rica to CLE, use either AA or BA miles to fly on AA. AA charges 17,500 miles for the one-way; BA charges either 17,500, or 20,000: check the BA one-partner award chart to make sure. There are no BA fuel surcharges assessed for travel on AA between Costa Rica and CLE.
If the flight to IST has already been ticketed and cannot be changed, I would recommend using an AA oneworld award for something like:
IST-AMM-TLV-MAD-SJO
for 60,000 miles per person in Coach. IST-AMM-TLV would be on Royal Jordanian; TLV-MAD-SJO would be on Iberia. You would have some flexibility on routing, as the oneworld award is distance-based. So from TLV, you could also fly TLV-BUD-JFK-SJO, or TLV-MAD-MIA-SJO, or TLV-BUD-CDG-MIA-SJO for the same mileage. (If you're going to LIR and not SJO, you would need a routing via MIA.)
On a oneworld award, you would also be permitted to stopover at various points along the way, so if you wanted to see some of Europe on your way to Costa Rica, you could do so. But you are also free to forego stopovers, and just connect at intermediate points.
For the trip from Costa Rica to CLE, use either AA or BA miles to fly on AA. AA charges 17,500 miles for the one-way; BA charges either 17,500, or 20,000: check the BA one-partner award chart to make sure. There are no BA fuel surcharges assessed for travel on AA between Costa Rica and CLE.