Flights to Jerusalem Your Complete Guide to Routes and Airlines

Flights to Jerusalem Your Complete Guide to Routes and Airlines - Key International Routes and Major Airlines Serving Ben Gurion Airport (TLV)

So, when you're looking at flying into Ben Gurion (TLV), which, let's be honest, is the main gateway, you gotta figure out which airline is actually making the trip worthwhile for you right now. Think about it this way: TLV is a hub that’s seen some serious turbulence lately, meaning flight schedules aren't as smooth as they used to be, and you might see carriers popping back in after taking a break. We're talking about major players, of course, like you’d expect—the big European carriers such as Air France and British Airways, plus the big Gulf names like Emirates and Qatar Airways, who usually run high-frequency routes connecting East and West. And I’ve seen news that some, like Norwegian for instance, are restarting key European connections, like Copenhagen, which is a good sign things are slowly normalizing, maybe. But honestly, if you're eyeing specific international lanes, you’re going to need to cross-reference those routes directly with the airline's current timetable because the landscape is shifting daily based on, well, everything going on. You can’t just assume that just because they flew it last year, they’re flying it this week; that’s just not how it works right now, you know? We need concrete proof on the specific route pair, not just a general statement, because that’s where the rubber meets the road when you’re actually booking.

Flights to Jerusalem Your Complete Guide to Routes and Airlines - Maximizing Value: Strategies for Booking Flights with Miles and Points

You know that feeling when you finally find a flight but the price tag makes you wince? It’s even worse when you’re looking at a long-haul trek to Ben Gurion, where cash prices can swing wildly depending on the season. But here’s the thing: your credit card points aren’t just a rainy-day fund; they’re your ticket to cutting that cost down to almost nothing. I’ve spent a lot of time digging into the math, and honestly, the real magic happens when you stop thinking about points as fixed cash and start looking at transfer partners. Take the Chase Sapphire Reserve, for example. You could book through their portal for a flat 1.5 cents per point, which is fine, but you’re probably leaving value on the table. Instead, imagine moving those points to a partner like United or Virgin Atlantic—sometimes you can snag a business class seat for the same amount of points a portal would charge for economy. It sounds complicated, I know, but think about it like a puzzle where the pieces actually fit better if you turn them a certain way. You might also look at Capital One’s big welcome offers, which can cover a round-trip ticket to Israel almost entirely if you time the transfer right during a bonus period. And don’t forget about those "hidden" fees; while miles cover the fare, you’ll still have to shell out for taxes, which can be a bit of a gut punch if you’re flying through London or Paris. I’m not saying it’s effortless—you’ll likely need to spend some time cross-referencing availability on different sites—but the payoff is a flight that feels practically free. Let’s look at how to actually pull the trigger on these bookings so you aren't just staring at a high balance without a plan.