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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Sweet Spot Sunday: Book El Al flights to Israel with Qantas points
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Quick summary
El Al, Israel's flag carrier, operates nonstop flights from several North American cities to Tel Aviv, with the best value found on routes under 5,800 miles.
Booking El Al flights using Qantas points can offer significant savings, especially for economy class, compared to other loyalty programs.
Qantas uses a distance-based award chart, so the number of points required depends on the specific route's mileage.
Minimal fees are incurred when booking El Al flights with Qantas points, as fuel surcharges are not applied.
What to consider
The best deals are for flights from Boston, Newark, New York City or Toronto, as these routes fall under the 5,800-mile threshold.
Qantas's search tool does not allow filtering by airline, price or stops, which can make finding the ideal flight less straightforward.
Mixed-partner itineraries may include fuel surcharges, so nonstop El Al flights offer the lowest fees.
What you'll miss from the article
Step-by-step instructions for searching and booking El Al awards with Qantas points, plus tips for maximizing value.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
El Al is the flag carrier of Israel. Its hub is located (as you’d imagine) in Tel Aviv, and currently serves six airports in North America:
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City.
Miami International Airport (MIA).
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ).
The airline has a notoriously bad loyalty program — but that doesn’t mean you can’t easily fly it for free. It’s one of the most convenient options to get to Israel — and it can be one of the cheapest if you use Qantas points to book it.
Let’s take a look at how to use Qantas points to book El Al flights, and why you’d want to in the first place.
Why it’s special
Qantas utilizes a distance-based award chart. That means the farther you fly, the more you’ll pay. Here’s a look at its partner award chart, which it implements for El Al flights.
(Screenshot from qantas.com)
Depending on your U.S. origin airport, you’ll spend the following to get to Tel Aviv:
Between 37,800 and 50,000 points in economy.
Between 70,800 and 93,500 points in Premium Economy.
Between 90,000 and 119,200 points in business class.
The sweet spot here is any flight under 5,800 miles. That relegates you to these choices:
Boston.
Newark.
New York City.
Toronto.
If you fly from any other airport, you’re better off using a different award currency.
Generally, your biggest savings will be in economy. Spending 90,000 points for a business-class seat is higher than many airlines such as United Airlines and American Airlines charge — but the ability to spend as little as 37,500 points for an economy ticket to Israel is solid.
For example, an economy flight on other airlines would cost:
Another reason this is a great deal is that Qantas doesn’t incur fuel surcharges when booking with El Al. So you’ll pay minimal fees when booking this seat.
How to book this award
Step 1. Estimate your flight distance (optional)
Because Qantas uses a distance-based award chart, you can know what you’ll pay for your flight before you even begin the booking process. Simply head toGreat Circle Mapper and enter your origin and destination airports.
A flight from New York City to Tel Aviv is a distance of 5,677 miles. That means the flight should cost:
37,800 Qantas points in economy.
70,800 Qantas points in Premium Economy.
90,000 Qantas points in business class.
(Screenshot from gcmap.com)
Step 2. Enter your travel information on the Qantas site
Navigate to the Qantas website and input your desired route.
When searching, be sure the “Use points” toggle is switched. You’ll have to log into your account to search for award seats. Selecting “Flexible with dates” is always helpful, as well.
(Screenshot from qantas.com)
Step 3. Find dates with your desired cabin
The Qantas search tool leaves plenty to be desired. You can’t filter by airline, price or number of stops — but the award calendar does show you which dates offer economy, Premium Economy, business class and first class. If you’re interested in, say, business class, this shortens your hunt for the perfect flight.
Select a date and click “Continue.”
(Screenshot from qantas.com)
Step 4. Find an El Al flight
An El Al flight between the U.S. and Israel is nonstop and will therefore be sorted at the top of the results page when available.
However, you may find El Al seats that include a connection lower on the page. For example, your first leg may be to London with British Airways, then on to Tel Aviv with El Al. If you select one of these mixed partner flights, beware of fuel surcharges.
(Screenshot from qantas.com)
How to earn points for this award
The easiest way to earn Qantas points quickly is by transferring flexible rewards points. Your options are:
Because El Al has such an inconvenient and mediocre frequent flyer program, there’s really only one viable option if you’re looking to fly El Al for free: Book it with Qantas points.
If you keep your flights under 5,800 miles in distance, you can get a great deal on coach flights — and a competitive to slightly overpriced seat in Premium Economy and business class.
Qantas points are easy to earn, and El Al is a comfortable nonstop way to reach Tel Aviv. If you’ve been wanting to try the airline out, there’s no better way to do it than with Qantas points.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
