When El Al Award Space Is Dry: Backup Routes to Israel Through Europe

No award seats on the nonstop? How to reach Tel Aviv on one award through Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich, Paris, or Amsterdam - and who flies each route now.

Facts verified September 2026 Independent, community-run

The El Al nonstop is the trip everyone wants, and some weeks it simply is not there on points. That does not mean the trip is off. It means you route through Europe - on one award, with one ticket, often for the same miles. This is the map.

The short answer

When the nonstop is dry, search Aeroplan (for Lufthansa, Austrian, SWISS) and Flying Blue (for Air France, KLM) from your home airport straight through to TLV. Both programs price the connection on the same award, both transfer 1:1 from Amex and Chase, and both show far more seats to Israel than any nonstop ever will.

Who actually flies to Tel Aviv right now

Last verified: September 9, 2026. Route suspensions have been the story of the last two years, so re-verify before booking:

The two programs that do the work

Aeroplan (Star Alliance): Lufthansa, Austrian, SWISS. One award, US to TLV with the connection included - roughly 40,000 points in economy or around 75,000 in business on partners, each way. Watch the surcharges: Lufthansa Group carriers pass through a few hundred dollars on premium awards. Transfers from Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Bilt at 1:1.

Flying Blue (SkyTeam): Air France, KLM. Same idea, one award through Paris or Amsterdam. Standard rates vary, but when Israel prices in Flying Blue’s Europe zone - as it does as of September 2026 - economy can start in the mid-20,000s, and monthly Promo Rewards can take 25% off that. Transfers from every major bank at 1:1.

How to search it (the part people get wrong)

  1. Search the whole trip, not the pieces. JFK-TLV on aeroplan.com or flyingblue.com - let the system build the connection.
  2. If nothing shows, search segment by segment. JFK-FRA, then FRA-TLV. Finding seats on each half tells you the space exists; then call to book it as one award.
  3. Mind the layover. Under four hours is comfortable. Over ten is a shalom bayis decision, especially with kids - some hubs (Vienna, Zurich) are painless; Paris CDG with six suitcases is a character-building experience.
  4. Keep Shabbos in mind. A Friday arrival connection gone wrong can turn into Shabbos in a European airport hotel. On winter Fridays, build in a longer buffer or fly Thursday.

When to skip Europe and pay for the nonstop

A brit on Tuesday morning. A levayah. A family of six in yom tov week where the connection risk is not worth it. Sometimes the honest answer is that the nonstop cash fare - as ugly as it is - is the right buy. Points are a tool, not a religion.

For the nonstop itself, start with how to book El Al with points. Flying the whole mishpacha? The family playbook is built for exactly this problem.

Ranked: the best cards for Europe-backup awards

  1. Chase Sapphire Preferred - 1:1 to Aeroplan and Flying Blue, the two programs on this page. Apply now
  2. Amex Gold - 4x on groceries, same two programs plus ANA and LifeMiles. Apply now
  3. Capital One Venture X - 2x everywhere, transfers to Aeroplan and Flying Blue. Apply now

Route status verified September 9, 2026 via Lufthansa Group’s published schedule update, Reuters’ Middle East service tracker, and KLM/Air France resumption announcements. Award prices per current program charts. This page’s route list changes with the news - check airline status pages before booking.

Frequently asked questions

What do I do when there are no award seats on nonstop flights to Israel?

Search for one award that connects through a European hub. Lufthansa via Frankfurt or Munich, Austrian via Vienna, SWISS via Zurich, Air France via Paris, and KLM via Amsterdam all fly to Tel Aviv as of September 2026, and Aeroplan or Flying Blue can price the whole trip on a single award.

Which European airlines fly to Tel Aviv right now?

As of September 2026: Lufthansa (Frankfurt and Munich), Austrian (Vienna), SWISS (Zurich), Air France (Paris), and KLM (Amsterdam, currently with a short technical stop in Larnaca). British Airways is suspended until late October 2026 and Air Canada until mid-January 2027 - always check current status, because this changes fast.

Which points book a connecting award to Tel Aviv through Europe?

Aeroplan covers Lufthansa, Austrian, and SWISS on one award. Flying Blue covers Air France and KLM. Both transfer 1:1 from Amex and Chase, so you can search before committing a single point.

Is flying to Israel through Europe worth the extra hours?

Usually, yes. The connection adds three to six hours but multiplies your award seat options many times over - and for a family that needs four or more seats, it is often the only realistic play. Price the nonstop first; take Europe when the nonstop is dry or the price is silly.