Is Amex or Chase better for flights to Israel?

For Israel specifically, Amex has the edge: it is the only bank that transfers to Qantas (the best way onto El Al) plus ANA and LifeMiles. Chase counters with United - the only nonstop saver option - and both share Flying Blue and Aeroplan. Serious travelers carry one of each.

Which Chase points transfer to airlines that fly to Tel Aviv?

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 to United (nonstop Newark-Tel Aviv), Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Aeroplan, British Airways, Iberia, and Virgin Atlantic (which books Delta nonstops) - all usable to reach TLV. Chase does not transfer to Qantas or El Al's partners beyond that list.

Which Amex points transfer to airlines that fly to Tel Aviv?

Amex Membership Rewards transfer 1:1 to Qantas (books El Al), Flying Blue, Aeroplan, ANA, Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways, and Iberia. Amex no longer transfers to El Al's own Matmid program - that partnership ended January 1, 2021.

Should my spouse and I get the same card or different ones?

Different ecosystems. One of you on Chase (United nonstop saver space), one on Amex (Qantas, Flying Blue, breadth). Two programs on the same dates is how families actually find 4-6 award seats - see our family guide.

Amex vs Chase: Which Points Actually Get You to Israel?

The credit card blogs treat “Amex vs Chase” like a personality quiz. If Israel is where you fly, it is not a quiz - it is arithmetic. Which bank’s points can actually land you at Ben Gurion? Here is the honest comparison.

The short answer

Amex reaches more programs that book Tel Aviv flights, including the only card path onto El Al (via Qantas). Chase owns the single most valuable seat in the market - United’s nonstop Newark-Tel Aviv saver award. If you can only pick one, pick Amex for breadth. If you can pick two, you want both, one per spouse.

The transfer map to Tel Aviv

Programs that book TLV flights, and who transfers to them:

Program	Best use for TLV	Amex	Chase
United MileagePlus	Nonstop saver from Newark (80k business, cardholder-gated)	No	Yes
Flying Blue	Promo sales, Europe-zone pricing to TLV	Yes	Yes
Aeroplan	Star Alliance partners via Europe	Yes	Yes
Qantas	El Al nonstops at fixed chart prices	Yes	No
ANA	Cheap Star Alliance round trips	Yes	No
Avianca LifeMiles	Lowest business-class mileage prices	Yes	No
British Airways Avios	Via London (when flying)	Yes	Yes
Iberia Avios	Via Madrid	Yes	Yes
Virgin Atlantic	Books Delta nonstops	Yes	Yes

One correction to old advice you will find everywhere: Amex has not transferred to El Al’s own Matmid program since January 1, 2021. Any site still telling you otherwise is recycling a dead fact. Matmid is now earn-by-flying only - the full picture is in how to book El Al with points.

Where Amex wins

El Al access. Qantas is the only realistic card-points path onto El Al metal, and only Amex (plus Capital One and Citi) transfers there. For a community that often wants the El Al nonstop - the schedule, the food, the Shabbos-friendly timing - this alone can settle the question.
Breadth. ANA and LifeMiles give Amex holders the two cheapest business-class paths to TLV.
Grocery math. The Amex Gold earns 4x at US supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year, then 1x) and 4x at restaurants. In a community where the grocery bill is the biggest line in the budget, no card fills a points balance faster.

Where Chase wins

The nonstop. United flies Newark-Tel Aviv nonstop, and saver-level business space at 80,000 miles is real - but only visible to United cardholders and elites. Chase - and, less usefully for most households, Bilt - are the only two banks that feed United.
The ecosystem. Freedom cards earn 5x in rotating categories and the points pool into a Sapphire for transfers. Two-player households build balances very fast.
Simplicity. One Sapphire Preferred, one Freedom, done.

What about Capital One, Citi, and Bilt?

All three transfer to Flying Blue; Capital One and Citi also reach Qantas, and Capital One reaches Aeroplan and LifeMiles. Capital One’s Venture X is a legitimate third player - especially its flat 2x earning on the bills that do not fit a bonus category. Bilt is also the only bank besides Chase that transfers to United 1:1 - worth knowing for renters. Neither Citi nor Bilt reaches Qantas though, so the El Al sweet spot still belongs to Amex and Capital One.

The verdict for an Israel-first household

Start with Amex Gold. The 4x grocery earning matches frum household spending exactly, and the points reach every program on this page except United.
Add Chase Sapphire Preferred for player two. Now you hold the United nonstop option too.
Layer a Sapphire Reserve or Amex Platinum later for lounges on the way out of JFK or Newark - the lounge access can transform the departure day with kids.

For card-by-card earning rates and welcome bonus strategy, see our best credit cards for flights to Israel rankings. If the whole mishpacha is flying, read the family playbook next.

Ranked: the first three cards for Israel travel

Amex Gold - the grocery machine; transfers to Qantas (El Al), Flying Blue, Aeroplan. Apply now
Chase Sapphire Preferred - unlocks United nonstop saver space; pairs with Freedom cards. Apply now
Capital One Venture X - 2x everywhere, Qantas + Flying Blue + Aeroplan access, lounge access included. Apply now

Transfer partner lists verified September 2026 against The Points Guy’s Amex partner guide and Chase’s published Ultimate Rewards partner list. Earning rates per issuer terms. Programs change partners - check before you apply.