I find it very stupid that elal points are only valid for 3 years, making it very difficult for someone like me, who fly's elal approx. Twice a year, to recieve a award ticket.

I instead use my quantas frequent flyer card [which are partners with elal, on thier european routes, and also a one world alliance member], who's points never expire as long as their is an activity in the account once every 3 years, and also allow family transfers, making it very easy to earn award flights.

Why can't elal do the same, so i can so desperatly use my matmid card?

So desperatly...?

How many points to you usually earn on your two yearly trips?

200 points, and a award ticket needs 900 points

So 100 points per flight I assume?

Your option are to either pay the difference in miles you need, so if you have 600 points and need 900 you can pay for the $300, but with taxes the way they are not sure you would save much on the ticket once you pay for it all (although taxes have come down recently)

Your other option is to use the points for upgrades (always the best value) but you would have to buy a more expensive Economy ticket then you usually do.

You do have a third option and that is to travel with a different airline where your miles won't expire.
On BA for instance as long as you have some sort of activity within 3 years your miles stay alive...

Where do you usually travel to in Europe?

AFAIK, most European Airlines have expiry date for their miles.

It's a business decision of the airline, which as might as I don't like I understand.

The thing is that if you live in Israel, have an Israeli CC, you can get some more points of that, plus the hotel which you stay in once in a while, you can get to the 900 points mark.

Also, once in a while they have promotions (like now) where the ticket is only 650 pts to zone C (west Europe) rather than 900. A fair deal I would say.

But in any case, do your math. If you'll get free flights faster on QF, go with them (also AA has FF agreements with LY). Personally, I think that QF program is better for most Israelis who fly only once a year, but it depends on the exact class.

Personally, I think that QF program is better for most Israelis who fly only once a year, but it depends on the exact class.[/QUOTE]

ON QF YOU GET THE FULL AMOUNT OF POINTS, NO MATTER WHAT BOOKING CLASS YOU HAVE

ON QF YOU GET THE FULL AMOUNT OF POINTS, NO MATTER WHAT BOOKING CLASS YOU HAVE[/QUOTE]

The best option may be something which gives more points for higher classes (e.g., 200 status points on LY may be still more than just 4000 RDM in QF).

If OP usually flies on Y, then after two years, he can get an upgrade for C.

The thing is that the majority of pax get only 50 pts per OW (100 for RT) in flights to zone C, so for them QF is better (if they do not get SL). Otherwise, if they are after different things, Matmid maybe be more suitable.

I used to be able to see which points were expiring within 6 months and if I wasn't traveling, I would donate it to one of their causes. I no longer see when points are expiring. Anyone know why?

I get an automatic email alert titled "Frequent Flyer Points that are about to expire from your account" with the points that will expire in the next 4 months.
Also, you can find at the bottom of the on

3 first operations of Points to redeem (Before expiration)

Date of
Transaction Type Description Points Type Points Earned RemainedPoints
15/03/2006 Point Silver Tier Promotion on Flt 0027 Extra 20 20
15/03/2006 Flight NML LY0027 Q Tel Aviv Yafo - Newark Basic 200 45
26/04/2006 Point Silver Tier Promotion on Flt 0028 Extra 20 20

Never had points around long enough to be in danger of expiring but I imagine that the removal of this was a customer service software enhancement.