[Israel Rejects Hanoi On Security Grounds, Route Will Not Operate] El Al Launching Flights To Hanoi, Manila, And Seoul, Here’s How Many Miles You’ll Need

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Update, 8/13: El Al is canceling the Tel Aviv to Hanoi route due to failure to receive security permission for the route.

Notably, Arkia currently operates the same route, but it does so on wet-leased planes that operate without its own plane or crew.

El Al notes that it still plans on launching service to Buenos Aires on 11/29/26, Seoul on 3/7/27, and Manila on a date to be determined.

An El Al spokesperson shared this statement with DansDeals,

“As the required security approvals for operating the route have not been granted by the security authorities of the State of Israel, acting under the direction of the Israel Security Agency, EL AL is required to cancel the launch of the Hanoi route.

EL AL announced today (Thursday) that it will not be able to operate its non-stop route to Hanoi, Vietnam, which was scheduled to begin service in October.

The decision follows notification from the security authorities of the State of Israel that the required approvals to operate the route using Israeli aircraft and Israeli crews cannot be granted.

Before announcing the launch of the route, EL AL followed the standard approval process and received preliminary approvals from the relevant authorities, including the security authorities. After completing its operational and commercial preparations and investing significant resources in launching the service, the company was informed that the flights could not be approved. Without the required security approvals to operate the route as planned, EL AL has no choice but to cancel its launch.

We apologize to customers who have purchased tickets and are offering a flexible travel policy that includes several options:
* Fly to Hanoi via Bangkok with a connecting flight operated by another airline, at no additional cost.
* Change to another destination within the EL AL network, close to the original flight date (up to three days before or after), in the same class of service and subject to availability.
* Receive a full refund or a credit voucher for future use.

Flight cancellations will be processed gradually according to scheduled departure dates. Customers will begin receiving dedicated notifications regarding their flights starting next week.”

Were you booked to fly on this route?

Update, 5/7: Tel Aviv to/from Seoul flights are now on sale, with 3 weekly flights starting 3/27/27. 

Delta is the best way to book, with coach for 40K and business for 70K miles each way:

Qantas charges 43.5K for coach, 85K for premium, and 108K for business each way:

Air France Flying Blue charges 51.5K for coach and 68.5K for premium, and 124K for business each way:

Virgin Atlantic charges 62K for coach and 84K for premium, and 150K for business each way:

You can also book the flight with 67K Etihad miles in coach, 74K in premium, or 120K in business, though you’ll have to call to book.

The Manila flights are not yet available, this post will be updated when they go on sale.

Originally posted on 2/8:

El Al announced that it will launch several new flights to the Far East.

It will fly 3 weekly flights to Hanoi, Vietnam, starting 10/24 on a 787-9 Dreamliner. Those flights are now on sale.

It will fly to Seoul, starting in March 2027. Flights will go on sale in May.

The Manila flight details will be announced later.

I’d love to see the airline offer flights between the US and the Far East with a free stopover in Tel Aviv. It would be a fun way to combine two trips into one!

El Al expects to have another refurbished 777 come back online in the coming months and will receive more 787s in the coming years, so it won’t have to make any cuts to existing routes to support the new routes.

The flight times are surprisingly short. Tel Aviv to Hanoi is blocked at 9:35 and Hanoi to Tel Aviv is blocked at 11:10.

Arkia just started flying this route last month, and flight times have been longer than that. Notably, Oman has been blocking Israeli overflights to the Far East and India since October 7th. El Al says that the Hanoi flights are being planned without assuming it will be able to fly over Oman, but the flight scheduling seems to suggest otherwise.

Partner award availability on the new route is excellent.

Delta is the best way to book for business class, with coach for 40K and business for 70K miles each way:

Qantas charges 34.7K for coach and 90K for business each way:

Air France Flying Blue charges 44.5K for coach and 107.5K for business each way:

Virgin Atlantic charges 52K for coach and 125K for business each way:

If you have El Al Executive status or a FlyCard, coach is 40K and business is 104.8K. Oddly enough, availability appears to be worse than with partner airline miles.

You can also book the flight with 60K Etihad miles in coach or 100K in business, though you’ll have to call to book.

Will you fly on these new routes?

You can instantly transfer miles to all of these airlines, except for El Al:

If you have the following Citi cards, you can transfer points into miles at the best transfer ratio:

• Citi Strata Premier® Card is offering a 60,000 point bonus for spending $4K in 3 months, 3 points per dollar on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, gas, EV charging, and dining. 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. $95 annual fee. View Rates & Fees here. Citi is a DansDeals partner. Read more about this offer here. 
• Citi Strata Elite℠ Card is offering a 75,000 point bonus for spending $6K in 3 months, 6 points per dollar on restaurants (including gift cards) on Friday and Saturday evenings, and 3 points at other times, and 1.5 points per dollar everywhere. Earn 12 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions and 6 points per dollar on airfare booked on CitiTravel.com. Earn a $200 annual splurge bonus ($400 in first cardmember year) at the stores of your choice, $300 annual credit ($600 in first cardmember year) on 2+ night hotel stays, $200 annual ($300 in first cardmember year) Blacklane credit, Global Entry/PreCheck, Priority Pass Lounge membership, and 4 annual (8 in first cardmember year) Admirals Club passes. $595 annual fee. View Rates & Fees here. Citi is a DansDeals partner. Read more about this offer here.

Citi no-annual fee cards that are fantastic for earning points, but require a Citi Strata Premier or Elite Card for points transfers at the best ratio:

• The Citi Double Cash® Card is offering a rare 20K bonus for spending $1,500 in 6 months, and offers 2% cash back or 2 ThankYou points per dollar spent everywhere. If you also have a Citi Strata Premier or Elite Card you can transfer points into miles. No annual fee. View Rates & Fees here. Citi is a DansDeals partner. Read more about this offer here.
• The Citi Strata℠ Card is offering a 20K bonus for spending $1,000 in 3 months, and offers 3 points per dollar on the category of your choice as well as supermarkets, select transit, and gas and EV charging, plus 2 points per dollar on restaurants. If you also have a Citi Strata Premier or Elite Card you can transfer points into miles. No annual fee. View Rates & Fees here. Citi is a DansDeals partner. Read more about this offer here.

AMEX cards with transferable Membership Rewards points to miles include, select benefits require enrollment via your AMEX account. Terms apply to offers on this page:

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express is offering 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership and offers 2 points per dollar spent on up to $50K spending annually 1 point per dollar thereafter, plus transfer points to airlines and hotels and keep AMEX points alive. Terms apply. Read more here.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is offering as high as 300K bonus points for spending $20,000 in the first 3 months, as well as monthly credits, lounge access, and much more. Terms apply. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Read more here.
• American Express® Business Gold Card is offering as high as 200K bonus points for spending $15,000 in 3 months, monthly business credits, Walmart+ membership, up to 4 points per dollar spent with a $150K annual spend cap, and more benefits. Terms apply. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Read more here.
• Business Green Rewards Card from American Express is offering 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on the Business Green Rewards Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Terms apply.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering as high as 175K bonus points for spending $12,000 in the first 6 months and offers monthly credits, lounge access, and much more. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Find Out Your Offer! Terms apply. Read more here.
• American Express® Gold Card is offering as high as 100K bonus for spending $6,000 in the first 6 months, monthly credits for Uber and Grubhub, and more. Terms apply. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Read more here. 
• AMEX Green Consumer Card is offering a 40K bonus for spending $3,000 in the first 6 months and offers up to $209 in annual CLEAR Plus® credits, plus transfer points to airlines and hotels and keep AMEX points alive. All information about the AMEX Green Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.

If you, a member in your household, or an authorized user has one of the following Chase cards, you can transfer points into miles:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a 75K signup bonus for spending $5K in 3 months, earns 2 points per dollar on travel, 3 points per dollar on dining, gas, EV charging, vacation rentals, streaming, and online groceries, 5 points per dollar on Chase Travel℠ and Lyft, has a $100 hotel credit, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1 cents each for paid travel ($95 annual fee).
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® has a 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. ($795 annual fee) Read more here.
• Limited time offer: Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ has a 200,000 bonus points signup bonus after you spend $30,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening ($795 annual fee). Read more here.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has a 100,000 signup bonus for spending $8K in 3 months, and earns 3 points per dollar on up to $150K of annual spending on shipping; social media and search engine advertising; travel; internet, cable, and phone services, can transfer all Chase points into miles, and points are worth at least 1 cents each for paid travel ($95 annual fee). Read more here.

Chase no-annual fee cards that are fantastic for earning points, but require one of the cards above for points transfers include:

• Highest offer ever: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has a $1,000 signup bonus in the form of 100K points for spending $8K in 4 months, and earns 1.5 points per dollar on business purchases ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
• Highest offer ever: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a $1,000 signup bonus in the form of 100K points for spending $8K in 4 months. This card earns 5 points per dollar on the first $25,000 in combined purchases on cable, TV, telecom, cellular, and office supply stores, plus 2 points per dollar on dining and gas on up to $25,000 in purchases ($0 annual fee). Read more here.
• Chase Freedom Flex has a 20K signup bonus for spending $500 in 3 months, plus 5 points on rotating categories, 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here. All information about the Chase Freedom Flex Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a $200 signup bonus in the form of 20K points for spending $500 in 3 months, 1.5 points per dollar everywhere, 5 points per dollar (marketed as 5% cash back) on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, and 3 points per dollar on dining and drugstores ($0 annual fee). Read more here.

Capital One cards with transferable miles include:

• Capital One Venture Business Card: Earn a one-time welcome bonus of 100,000 miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, $50 annual travel credit, $50 annual software/advertising credit, Global Entry/PreCheck, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $95 annual fee. Read more here.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 bonus miles for spending $4K in 3 months, plus 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $95 annual fee. Read more here. 
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 bonus miles for spending $4K in 3 months, plus earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10K anniversary bonus miles, Global Entry/Pre-Check, Capital One lounge & Landing access, Priority Pass™ Lounge membership, Hertz President's Circle status, free lounge access and status for free additional cardholders, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $395 annual fee. Read more here.
• Capital One Venture X Business is offering 150,000 bonus miles for spending $30K in 3 months. Also receive a $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel, 10K anniversary bonus miles, Global Entry/Pre-Check, Capital One lounge & Landing access, Enhanced Priority Pass™ Lounge membership, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. $395 annual fee. No foreign transaction fees. Read more here.
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is offering 20,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in 3 months, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. No annual fee.
• Limited time offer: Capital One Spark Cash is offering a $250 Capital One Business travel credit plus $1,000 cash back (convertible to 100,000 miles) for spending $10,000 in 3 months, 2% back everywhere, $40 MLB redemptions, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. Read more here.
• Limited time offer: Capital One Spark Cash Plus is offering a $500 Capital One Business travel credit plus $2,000 cash back (convertible to 200,000 miles) for spending $30,000 in 3 months, plus get another $2,000 cash back for every $500K spent in your first year, 2% back everywhere, $40 MLB redemptions, annual fee refund when you spend $150K/year, and more. No foreign transaction fees. $150 annual fee. Read more here.

HT: tavster, via DDF