Value of El Al Points
Jan 10, 2012 | 3:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 76
Value of El Al Points
I just did some analysis I thought I would share:
Based on fuel surcharge cost $75 you can pay with 150 points = $0.50 per point
You can purchase points from the website for = $1.00 per point
Reward ticket is 1400 points at average price of between $900-$1100 per economy ticket = $0.65 to $0.79 per point
Price of a roundtrip ticket using points is 1400.
Based on earnings you get per trip it is around 100-200 points per leg, it takes between 7-14 one way trips to earn 1400 points.
Overall, it is generally a bad idea to pay the fuel surcharge using the points as you are valuing them at 50 cents verse the 70 cents they are actually worth.
The recent sales offer of 900 points + $150 for a roundtrip is essentially a wash based on current market prices. Considering the average fare in the winter falls to around $800-$850, each point is really worth $.072. Slightly above average but nothing to be super excited for.
It is a smart move by El Al though because customers think they are valuing their points higher by using the average prices of $900-$1,100. If we use $1,100 the points are worth $1.05. Meaning you could purchase points at $1.00 and be making a profit essentially.
Well I hope this is helpful for someone. I did the analysis anyways so thought i would share.
Based on fuel surcharge cost $75 you can pay with 150 points = $0.50 per point
You can purchase points from the website for = $1.00 per point
Reward ticket is 1400 points at average price of between $900-$1100 per economy ticket = $0.65 to $0.79 per point
Price of a roundtrip ticket using points is 1400.
Based on earnings you get per trip it is around 100-200 points per leg, it takes between 7-14 one way trips to earn 1400 points.
Overall, it is generally a bad idea to pay the fuel surcharge using the points as you are valuing them at 50 cents verse the 70 cents they are actually worth.
The recent sales offer of 900 points + $150 for a roundtrip is essentially a wash based on current market prices. Considering the average fare in the winter falls to around $800-$850, each point is really worth $.072. Slightly above average but nothing to be super excited for.
It is a smart move by El Al though because customers think they are valuing their points higher by using the average prices of $900-$1,100. If we use $1,100 the points are worth $1.05. Meaning you could purchase points at $1.00 and be making a profit essentially.
Well I hope this is helpful for someone. I did the analysis anyways so thought i would share.
Jan 10, 2012 | 7:51 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: 30,000 Feet
Programs: LY Top Platinum, AA Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 881
Thanks for putting the time in with this analysis.
For me, the only correct use of Matmid points if for upgrading purposes. In that case its 1 point = $1.00.
For me, the only correct use of Matmid points if for upgrading purposes. In that case its 1 point = $1.00.
Jan 10, 2012 | 12:27 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: LY GL
Posts: 425
but you can also pay 250$ + 300 points.
so taking the other option is much better than the first one, even if you have only 1 point and pay 299$ for the rest of the points.
but note, that S class + 550$ + 550$ almost if not equal to the price of W/J class ticket.
Jan 10, 2012 | 12:29 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: LY GL
Posts: 425
I just did some analysis I thought I would share:
Based on fuel surcharge cost $75 you can pay with 150 points = $0.50 per point
You can purchase points from the website for = $1.00 per point
Reward ticket is 1400 points at average price of between $900-$1100 per economy ticket = $0.65 to $0.79 per point
Price of a roundtrip ticket using points is 1400.
Based on earnings you get per trip it is around 100-200 points per leg, it takes between 7-14 one way trips to earn 1400 points.
Overall, it is generally a bad idea to pay the fuel surcharge using the points as you are valuing them at 50 cents verse the 70 cents they are actually worth.
The recent sales offer of 900 points + $150 for a roundtrip is essentially a wash based on current market prices. Considering the average fare in the winter falls to around $800-$850, each point is really worth $.072. Slightly above average but nothing to be super excited for.
It is a smart move by El Al though because customers think they are valuing their points higher by using the average prices of $900-$1,100. If we use $1,100 the points are worth $1.05. Meaning you could purchase points at $1.00 and be making a profit essentially.
Well I hope this is helpful for someone. I did the analysis anyways so thought i would share.
Based on fuel surcharge cost $75 you can pay with 150 points = $0.50 per point
You can purchase points from the website for = $1.00 per point
Reward ticket is 1400 points at average price of between $900-$1100 per economy ticket = $0.65 to $0.79 per point
Price of a roundtrip ticket using points is 1400.
Based on earnings you get per trip it is around 100-200 points per leg, it takes between 7-14 one way trips to earn 1400 points.
Overall, it is generally a bad idea to pay the fuel surcharge using the points as you are valuing them at 50 cents verse the 70 cents they are actually worth.
The recent sales offer of 900 points + $150 for a roundtrip is essentially a wash based on current market prices. Considering the average fare in the winter falls to around $800-$850, each point is really worth $.072. Slightly above average but nothing to be super excited for.
It is a smart move by El Al though because customers think they are valuing their points higher by using the average prices of $900-$1,100. If we use $1,100 the points are worth $1.05. Meaning you could purchase points at $1.00 and be making a profit essentially.
Well I hope this is helpful for someone. I did the analysis anyways so thought i would share.
during winter,elal doesnt sell long haul to NYC for 800-850. the regular price is 1000$+
and during peak season, you can snag E class tickets, and the regular price is about 1400$+
plus - for a business traveler, going to NYC without a weekend stay is 2400$+ but you can still use the same 1400 points.
Jan 16, 2012 | 3:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: TLV
Posts: 69
during winter,elal doesnt sell long haul to NYC for 800-850. the regular price is 1000$+
and during peak season, you can snag E class tickets, and the regular price is about 1400$+
plus - for a business traveler, going to NYC without a weekend stay is 2400$+ but you can still use the same 1400 points.
and during peak season, you can snag E class tickets, and the regular price is about 1400$+
plus - for a business traveler, going to NYC without a weekend stay is 2400$+ but you can still use the same 1400 points.
Last edited by bittul; Jan 16, 2012 at 3:19 pm
Jan 18, 2012 | 10:07 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 3
American Express Membership Rewards Ratio
Incredible deal!! You can now transfer Membership Rewards (MR) points from American Express and get more Matmid points than ever: 50MR = 1Matmid now instead of 70MR =1Matmid. And the minimum transfer amount is now 1000MR instead of 1050. This is a new negotiated full time rate between American Express and EL AL- not a limited time promotion.
A roundtrip economy class ticket from New Yorks JFK or EWR to TLV is now 70,000 Membership Rewards points instead of 98,000- a savings of almost 30%. If you're not already a member, Amex Membership Rewards Cardmembers can sign up for the Matmid Club for FREE at http://bit.ly/ifLaH0! Transfer Membership Rewards points @ http://goo.gl/i0dSD or call 800-297-3276 and plan your trip to Israel today.
A roundtrip economy class ticket from New Yorks JFK or EWR to TLV is now 70,000 Membership Rewards points instead of 98,000- a savings of almost 30%. If you're not already a member, Amex Membership Rewards Cardmembers can sign up for the Matmid Club for FREE at http://bit.ly/ifLaH0! Transfer Membership Rewards points @ http://goo.gl/i0dSD or call 800-297-3276 and plan your trip to Israel today.
Jan 18, 2012 | 1:21 pm
#8
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 24,773
Based upon the following post, the answer appears to be yes:
EL AL is aware of the cyber war against Israel throughout the past two weeks and the company is closely monitoring the hacker activity. We are taking precautions on the activity of the company's website - as a result, there may be some disruptions in the activity of the site. We greatly apologize for any inconvenience.
Jan 18, 2012 | 5:20 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: UA, LY
Posts: 13,179
Incredible deal!! You can now transfer Membership Rewards (MR) points from American Express and get more Matmid points than ever: 50MR = 1Matmid now instead of 70MR =1Matmid. And the minimum transfer amount is now 1000MR instead of 1050. This is a new negotiated full time rate between American Express and EL AL- not a limited time promotion.
A roundtrip economy class ticket from New Yorks JFK or EWR to TLV is now 70,000 Membership Rewards points instead of 98,000- a savings of almost 30%. If you're not already a member, Amex Membership Rewards Cardmembers can sign up for the Matmid Club for FREE at http://bit.ly/ifLaH0! Transfer Membership Rewards points @ http://goo.gl/i0dSD or call 800-297-3276 and plan your trip to Israel today.
A roundtrip economy class ticket from New Yorks JFK or EWR to TLV is now 70,000 Membership Rewards points instead of 98,000- a savings of almost 30%. If you're not already a member, Amex Membership Rewards Cardmembers can sign up for the Matmid Club for FREE at http://bit.ly/ifLaH0! Transfer Membership Rewards points @ http://goo.gl/i0dSD or call 800-297-3276 and plan your trip to Israel today.
That proves nothing IMO. For all we know, he/she could simply be posting what the website said because he/she felt it was relevant. It would be great to hear otherwise though...