What Would You Change About El Al/Matmid (2021 Edition)?

[tavster]

I guess it's pretty clear if you take the meme literally.  The question is if that's the intended meaning here 

+1. That's what I meant

[Dan]

Bump for 2022

[PlatinumGuy]

Multiple tiers of award availability - on par with AA's 180k US/TLV

Transparency of upgrade list like every American carrier (for EXTRA's benefit and other upgrades)

Priority security in TLV (this is likely out of their control)

[tavster]

Multiple tiers of award availability - on par with AA's 180k US/TLV

Transparency of upgrade list like every American carrier (for EXTRA's benefit and other upgrades)

Agreed.

Priority security in TLV (this is likely out of their control)

This is indeed out of their control.

But maybe they can sponsor Arbel for their elite clients.

I remember a time where HON were getting free VIP service at the airport. Maybe something to think about.

@Dan so far all the 2021 suggestions still apply

[Dan]

Bump

New program must be getting close to launch...

[tavster]

Bump

New program must be getting close to launch...

I've heard that before 
Hopefully it won't be worse than the current program

[Dan]

I've heard that before 
Hopefully it won't be worse than the current program

Based on our June meeting, things seemed to be going in the right direction (burn down the ground and start again).

[tavster]

Based on our June meeting, things seemed to be going in the right direction (burn down the ground and start again).

Over a year ago they started hinting that they would drop the points systems and the 3 year expiry. But that's just converting the current system into a miles currency.

We'll see what else they come up with

[Dan]

Over a year ago they started hinting that they would drop the points systems and the 3 year expiry. But that's just converting the current system into a miles currency.

We'll see what else they come up with

Should be a full revamp, both for better and worse.

[Spoon]

Should be a full revamp, both for better and worse.

Cc?
Transfer partners?

[yandmk]

I hate to argue with the professionals here, but I'm just wondering....
Why would they shake up their whole mileage program to be more in sync with US mileage programs etc when that's not really their elite base?! The vast majority of their elites are Israelis who's home airport is TLV. No matter what kind of program they make, it will be hard for an American to earn top tier elite status with LY and it frankly isn't very worth it either unless the only place a person flies is to Israel and he flies there very often. An American frequent flyer will always do better with status of a local carrier than a foreign carrier.
While an American may need a PhD to figure out the Matmid program, their Israeli elite flyers have all the ins and outs and tricks figured out and revamping it will totally confuse them and probably upset them.
With that said, joining a big alliance, would probably benefit those on both sides of the Atlantic. But I doubt joining an alliance would require them to redo the whole system they have now of earning and redemption.
(As a side note, personally working as a travel agent based in Israel with many clients holding elite status with LY, over the years I've learned many lucrative sweet spots of the matmid program. That doesn't mean that there's no room for improvement. But revamping it sounds like a huge step [in the wrong direction?])
I'd love to hear the counter argument 😃

[yandmk]

And regarding their lack of a decent branded US credit card, similar answer. The credit card industry in America is huge, and the bar for competition was raised very high. Therefore, us-based Banks and loyalty programs need to offer very attractive sign up bonuses and benefits to stay in the credit card business. The Israel credit card system is completely different from the roots. There's barely a lucrative credit card for earnings out there that beats El Al. Israelis will open up a credit card for a mere 100 NIS shopping credit at their local grocery 😢.

(Maybe not so related, but it also works different in the way payments work. In the US, you need to make a minimum payment, and if you're late, you can pay fees and high interest. In Israel, while you can pay for actual purchases divided into monthly payments, the money gets auto-deducted from your linked bank account on the chosen day of each month. If I understand it correctly, the banks don't have the same room for profit from late fees and interest fees, and therefore can't offer very lucrative awards either.)

[Dan]

...............

[yochai]

(Maybe not so related, but it also works different in the way payments work. In the US, you need to make a minimum payment, and if you're late, you can pay fees and high interest. In Israel, while you can pay for actual purchases divided into monthly payments, the money gets auto-deducted from your linked bank account on the chosen day of each month. If I understand it correctly, the banks don't have the same room for profit from late fees and interest fees, and therefore can't offer very lucrative awards either.)

+1000
The whole point industry is funded by those who pay interest and late fees.
I’m Israel, credit cards are basically debit cards which charge monthly instead of immediately. There’s very little incentive for the banks to offer points for opening these cards. When I lived there, I was using a CAL Miles & More card because that was the only no AF card offering any type of points. I earned a measly 1 point per 50 shekel!

[Dan]

...............

2AM ET on DansDeals.com.

[ExGingi]

2AM ET on DansDeals.com.

Should we lose sleep over it?

[Dan]

Should we lose sleep over it?

When is the last time you flew LY

[ExGingi]

When is the last time you flew LY

February 2000. But I am open minded. When circumstances change I do change my mind, what do you do young man?

(And even though I can count on one hand the number of times I flew ELAL since my first flight in 1983, that might still be more than you have flown with them to date). I also do have family members that don't have negative experiences seared into their memories, or might not be as picky.

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/DansDeals/status/1598088991773200392

[grobyak]

Scholars will be analyzing this tweet for its complexity...


...if it violates human rights in regards to gezel sheina