By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated
Use Skyscanner to find the cash price baseline before redeeming miles — knowing the cash fare tells you whether an award redemption delivers good value for your route and dates.
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Compare hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Eilat. IHG, Marriott and Hilton all have properties in Israel — consider paying for one night with points and the rest in cash to stretch your rewards further.
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Browse hotels in Israelvia Booking.com
Award travel to Israel is genuinely good value — a round-trip economy fare from New York to Tel Aviv typically costs $800–1,200 in cash, and business class runs $3,000–5,000+. At those prices, frequent-flyer redemptions can deliver 4–10 cents per mile in value, well above the 1–2 cents you get redeeming for domestic flights. Here is how to choose the right programme and when to book. For a cash-fare baseline first, see the cheap flights to Israel guide.
Several structural factors work in your favour:
United is the most versatile choice for US-based points collectors.
Flying Blue’s Promo Rewards promotions are the single biggest variable in Israeli award travel. Each month Air France and KLM discount 25–50% off selected routes — Israel (CDG and AMS hubs are natural stopovers) frequently appears.
Qantas is a strong option for Australians and anyone with Amex MR or Capital One miles to spare.
El Al’s own loyalty programme is most useful if you hold the co-branded Matmid credit card in Israel or transfer from Amex MR.
| Credit card programme | Transfers to (Israel-relevant programmes) |
|---|---|
| Amex Membership Rewards | United, Flying Blue, Qantas, British Airways Avios, El Al Matmid |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | United, British Airways Avios, Air Canada Aeroplan |
| Capital One Miles | Flying Blue, Turkish Miles&Smiles, Qantas |
| Citi ThankYou | Flying Blue, Turkish, American AAdvantage, Avianca LifeMiles |
| Bilt Mastercard | United, American AAdvantage, Air Canada Aeroplan |
Most transfers are 1:1 ratio and instant to near-instant, but verify current ratios before initiating — they can change. Transfers are always one-way and non-reversible.
Best months for award space:
Avoid (for award availability and pricing):
Book as early as possible: El Al opens award availability 11–12 months in advance on many routes. United does the same for partner awards. For peak dates, set alerts and book the moment the window opens.
IHG, Marriott and Hilton all have strong Israel footprints. For a full overview of accommodation options across all budgets, see the Israel accommodation guide; for the most notable 2026 luxury openings including the InterContinental Jerusalem and Six Senses Tel Aviv, see new luxury hotels Israel 2026.
IHG One Rewards
Marriott Bonvoy
Hilton Honors
These are approximate ranges for one-way economy from North America in 2026 — verify current award charts at each programme’s website before booking:
| Programme | One-way economy (approx.) | One-way business (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| United MileagePlus | 42,500–56,000 | 70,000–110,000 |
| Flying Blue (promo) | 12,500–20,000 | 30,000–50,000 |
| Flying Blue (standard) | 25,000–32,000 | 55,000–70,000 |
| American AAdvantage | 40,000 | 57,500 |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | 37,500 | 70,000 |
For European origins, rates are lower — Flying Blue promo can price the Paris–Tel Aviv leg at 7,500–10,000 miles one-way economy in promotion windows.
All award rates quoted above are approximate ranges based on research in July 2026. Most major programmes now use dynamic pricing, which means the actual miles required on your specific dates may differ. Always verify the current award cost at the programme’s website before transferring any points or miles. Points transfer is permanent and non-reversible — never transfer to a programme before confirming live award availability for your specific dates.
Currency-conversion fees, carrier-imposed fuel surcharges, and airport taxes apply on top of the miles. On some programmes (especially British Airways Avios), cash surcharges on partner bookings can reach several hundred dollars for long-haul flights — factor these in when comparing redemption value.
It depends on the program and origin. United MileagePlus prices economy from North America at approximately 42,500–56,000 miles one-way (dynamic pricing — check united.com for current rates). American AAdvantage charges around 40,000 miles one-way economy. Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) runs promotional fares as low as 12,500–20,000 miles one-way during its monthly Promo Rewards sales. Qantas Frequent Flyer prices one-way economy from North America around 37,500 points. All programs price up for peak travel periods — verify at the airline website before booking.
For flexibility, United MileagePlus is a strong all-round choice — El Al is a Star Alliance partner, so United miles book El Al flights and United now flies Newark EWR, Chicago ORD and Washington Dulles IAD to Tel Aviv. For low mile counts, Flying Blue Promo Rewards (Air France/KLM) can be exceptional value if you catch a promotion window. For Australians or those with Qantas points, Qantas Frequent Flyer offers competitive redemption rates on partner carriers.
Yes — El Al Matmid is the El Al loyalty programme. Points earn on El Al flights and transfer in from American Express Membership Rewards (the El Al Matmid Credit Card in the US; ratio approximately 1,000 Amex MR = 20 Matmid points). El Al uses a semi-dynamic award chart, so redemption rates change. El Al is also a Star Alliance member, meaning United MileagePlus, Lufthansa Miles & More and other Star Alliance programmes can book award seats on El Al flights — often a better redemption rate than using Matmid directly.
Yes. American Express Membership Rewards transfers to United MileagePlus, Flying Blue, Qantas, El Al Matmid and British Airways Avios. Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United MileagePlus and British Airways Avios. Capital One Miles transfers to Flying Blue and Turkish Miles&Smiles. Citi ThankYou transfers to Flying Blue, Turkish and Avianca LifeMiles. Transfer ratios are usually 1:1 but can vary — verify the current ratio at the card issuer website before initiating a transfer.
January through March and October through November are the lowest-demand periods for Israel flights — saver-level award space is more available, and even dynamic-pricing programmes tend to price lower during these windows. Avoid redeeming around Passover (March–April), the Jewish High Holidays (September–October), and late December, when award availability shrinks and dynamic prices rise sharply. Book as far ahead as possible: El Al and United open premium cabin award space at 11–12 months out.
Yes. IHG One Rewards has the most Israel presence — the InterContinental Jerusalem opening late summer 2026 (237 rooms, luxury tier), plus several Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza properties in Tel Aviv. Marriott Bonvoy has the W Tel Aviv, Renaissance Jerusalem, Sheraton Tel Aviv and others. Hilton Honors has several properties including the DoubleTree in Tel Aviv. All three programmes accept points transfers from American Express Membership Rewards, making it possible to combine flight and hotel redemptions from one card.
By The Visit Israel Editorial Team · Last updated