Mar 12, 2017, 10:04 am
Earning Frequent Flyer miles/points in Israel
Jun 9, 2006, 2:06 am
#46
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It would be good except:
1) I bought my Gold status with the Amenity and don't stay at SPG properties all that often. The vast majority of my stays are at Hyatts.
2) I'd have to change NIS to USD in order to pay the card off since I don't have USD income. (Although currently my charges are all converted to USD before conversion to NIS so that might not matter anyway. Hmmm.)
3) I have the AAdvantage M/C for using while in the US this summer.
1) I bought my Gold status with the Amenity and don't stay at SPG properties all that often. The vast majority of my stays are at Hyatts.
2) I'd have to change NIS to USD in order to pay the card off since I don't have USD income. (Although currently my charges are all converted to USD before conversion to NIS so that might not matter anyway. Hmmm.)
3) I have the AAdvantage M/C for using while in the US this summer.
Jun 9, 2006, 4:17 am
#47
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Originally Posted by yosithezet
2) I'd have to change NIS to USD in order to pay the card off since I don't have USD income. (Although currently my charges are all converted to USD before conversion to NIS so that might not matter anyway. Hmmm.)
3) I have the AAdvantage M/C for using while in the US this summer.
3) I have the AAdvantage M/C for using while in the US this summer.
If so, I think you will find it much less expensive to make a few large wire transfers each year to put money into that account.
Jun 12, 2006, 1:33 am
#50
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
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Originally Posted by Dovster
Agreed, but there is no conversion rate on items which are priced in dollars (such as airline tickets, Duty Free shopping, and hotel-bought Cokes).
Jun 12, 2006, 1:58 am
#51
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hotel bought cokes cost about 500% over the normal price!
I suppose if you are the cigarette dealer for your kibbutz you could do OK but then again, you'll need a lot of sales....
I suppose if you are the cigarette dealer for your kibbutz you could do OK but then again, you'll need a lot of sales....
Jun 12, 2006, 2:55 am
#52
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Originally Posted by entropy
still, if you are buying a lot of stuff in Israel, in NIS, Amex's 2% conversion fee plus really bad rates gets you.
Jun 12, 2006, 5:51 am
#53
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
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Originally Posted by yosithezet
Well the idea here is not to use it in Israel but to use it on things you are purchasing which will eventually pass through dollars before getting converted into NIS. I spend a good amount of time in hotels in Asian countries. When they charge my Israeli CC the charge goes from local currency into USD and then from USD into NIS. So if I were to stop it at USD with a US CC and then transfer NIS to a USD into US account I could then potentially earn points/trips at a more favourable rate.
Jun 12, 2006, 6:08 am
#54
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Originally Posted by apirchik
You can open a USD back account in any Israeli bank (parallel to your NIS account) and make the CC charge in USD. This way is the best to avoid the CC company ridiculous change rate and rating system (local - USD - NIS).
Jun 12, 2006, 6:19 am
#55
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Originally Posted by apirchik
You need to do A LOT of duty free shopping in order to get your miles
Originally Posted by entropy
hotel bought cokes cost about 500% over the normal price!
Still, I am not urging this as a way of getting Starpoints except, as I noted, 11 times in the first year. You will collect 6000 points in bonuses that way (as well as a dollar for each point spent). Total cost: $38.50.
Of course, you can buy those 6038 points directly from Starwood, or at least most of them. It would cost you $300 for 6000 points -- and you don't even get the Cokes.
Jun 12, 2006, 7:14 am
#56
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3.50, that's a bargain 
I had a glass of your Yiron the other day at Bugsy, it was very good.
I was a big fan of the DL 50,000 sign up + 50(or 25k) after spending 25k. I only need 7k more of 'fake' spending to get there....
Do you know if there is a card with the milemiglia? if one could manage a good CC 'scam' with them it might be worth it to try for the 80k reward to TLV.
I had a glass of your Yiron the other day at Bugsy, it was very good.
I was a big fan of the DL 50,000 sign up + 50(or 25k) after spending 25k. I only need 7k more of 'fake' spending to get there....
Do you know if there is a card with the milemiglia? if one could manage a good CC 'scam' with them it might be worth it to try for the 80k reward to TLV.
Jun 12, 2006, 7:28 am
#57
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
Posts: 4,172
Originally Posted by yosithezet
But I'll still need to convert my NIS salary into USD so I might as well do it in a way that I can earn points/miles with a US card.
Jun 12, 2006, 7:30 am
#58
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
Posts: 4,172
Originally Posted by Dovster
Not really. By buying one IBM ThinkPad (at a much lower price than I would have paid in a usual Israeli computer shop) plus $200 worth of cigarettes, I got over 1,100 Starpoints in the last year.
Any laptop would be much cheaper in the USA than in the TLV dutyfree. I would not but a computer directly from the shelf but customize it a little anyway.
Jun 12, 2006, 7:34 am
#59
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Kfar Saba, Israel
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Originally Posted by Dovster
Not quite. At the Tel Aviv Sheraton they cost $3.50. In most Tel Aviv bars they run about $2.45.
Jun 12, 2006, 7:37 am
#60
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Originally Posted by apirchik
You can buy a 1/2 liter coke bottle accross the street from the Sheraton for 5 NIS (about $1.10).