By Ari Klein · Last updated . Facts on this page are verified against live sources on the date shown - see the note at the bottom for which ones.
Newark is the one U.S. gateway where two different nonstop strategies sit side by side: United and El Al. The mistake is searching one airline program, seeing a bad number, and assuming the route is impossible.
Search United MileagePlus and Aeroplan for United’s EWR-TLV nonstop, then search Flying Blue and Qantas for El Al’s nonstop. Compare points and cash on the final screen. Do not transfer until the exact seat is visible.
Ranked: the four searches to run
-
United MileagePlus - widest access to United seats. United says MileagePlus members can book any open United or United Express seat with miles, including the last seat, but the price is dynamic. Chase and Bilt transfer to United at 1:1. Search one way at a time and use the calendar to see whether moving a day changes the price.
-
Air Canada Aeroplan - fixed partner logic when partner space exists. Aeroplan can book United’s nonstop only when United releases partner award space. If it appears, compare Aeroplan’s points plus its C$39 partner booking fee with United’s live dynamic price. Amex, Chase, Capital One, and Bilt all reach Aeroplan.
-
Flying Blue - easiest flexible-points path to El Al. Flying Blue can book El Al partner awards. It takes transfers from Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, and Bilt, so it is the broadest bank-points option for the El Al nonstop.
-
Qantas Frequent Flyer - fixed-chart El Al comparison. Qantas prices El Al by distance and takes transfers from Amex, Capital One, and Citi. It can beat a high Flying Blue result, but partner space is the hard part. Use the full Qantas-El Al walkthrough before moving points.
Which bank points work
| Your points | United nonstop | El Al nonstop |
|---|---|---|
| Chase | United, Aeroplan | Flying Blue |
| Amex | Aeroplan | Flying Blue, Qantas |
| Capital One | Aeroplan | Flying Blue, Qantas |
| Citi | LifeMiles backup | Flying Blue, Qantas |
| Bilt | United, Aeroplan, LifeMiles | Flying Blue |
That table is why the best program depends on where your points already live. If the balances are split across banks, use the full Tel Aviv transfer cheat sheet.
The booking workflow
- Search EWR-TLV one way on united.com with miles selected.
- Search the same date on aircanada.com with points selected.
- Search the El Al nonstop on Flying Blue and Qantas.
- Write down the full result for each: points, taxes, cabin, change rules, and whether it is actually nonstop.
- Transfer only after the winner is still visible on a fresh search.
- Book immediately.
Watch the airport code. New York searches sometimes mix Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia results. If you want the nonstop from Newark, force EWR as the origin instead of searching “NYC.”
If the nonstop is dry
Do not accept a miserable two-stop routing just because it is the first result. From the New York area, also check JFK El Al and Delta options, then one-stop Star Alliance routings through Toronto, Montreal, Frankfurt, Vienna, or Zurich. The backup-routes guide ranks the connection options.
Ranked: the cards that fit EWR-TLV
- Chase Sapphire Preferred - reaches United, Aeroplan, and Flying Blue. Apply now
- Bilt Mastercard - reaches United, Aeroplan, Flying Blue, and LifeMiles with no annual fee. Apply now
- Amex Gold - reaches Aeroplan, Flying Blue, and Qantas. Apply now
Route status verified September 20, 2026 on United’s live EWR-TLV route page. United award rules verified on MileagePlus Air Awards. Award space and prices change continuously.