Author Topic: Choosing an airline for Israel  (Read 2063 times)

Offline doublejay

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Choosing an airline for Israel
« on: October 31, 2019, 03:49:24 PM »
After today's warning article about El Al (Link below) I am more determined to post my question (please direct me to post if it exists).

I need to start travelling from TLV to NYC (preferably EWR) fairly frequently (4-8 yearly). I am looking for economy direct flights. I don't see a good choice besides for El Al (even with all it's issues).

El Al has great schedules and lots of flights (especially to Newark).

United is usually more expensive and out of TLV flies mid-day (terrible) or 11:30pm which is not as good IMO as the 12/1am options of El Al. They also have worse return times (for example flying out of NY on Thursday afternoon/evening to arrive for Shabbos isn't possible with United).

Delta seems to have one flight per day and it's to JFK (much less convenient) and the Motzei Shabbos flight is often astronomically expensive and, like United, you can't fly from NY on Thursday for Shabbos. I also had a horrendous encounter with my last Delta flight to Israel with my family (I did get 5 $200 GCs after writing a long complaint letter but I can at least conclude that bad service can be had with Delta too).

So what real choice do I have? Purposely take a layover in Europe to fly a better airline?







p.s. Article link: (https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/airlines/el-al/el-al-settles-cancels-settlement-defamed-passengers-flight-002-tricked-flying-greece-shabbos/#comment-1430512)

Offline davidrotts63

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2019, 03:58:33 PM »
Fly LY
(Quit) pulling out the flowers, and watering the weeds. -Peter Lynch

Offline Muhammad

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2019, 04:17:17 PM »
UA 84 is perfectly fine on Thursday

Offline Muhammad

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2019, 04:18:38 PM »
LY is probably less reliable on a Thursday then UA

Offline doublejay

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2019, 05:53:18 PM »
UA 84 is perfectly fine on Thursday

You lose Thursday as a work day.

Offline Dan

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2019, 05:58:02 PM »
You lose Thursday as a work day.
Can't rely on LY getting you to TLV on a Thursday afternoon/evening flight.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline Ergel

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2019, 06:56:58 PM »
Can't rely on LY getting you to TLV on a Thursday afternoon/evening flight.
This. I fly 6 or 7 times a year from YYZ on Thursday, would never take LY
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

Offline Proisrael

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2019, 08:29:10 AM »
Pretty sure Delta has added a second daily flight to TLV

Offline ejb123

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2019, 01:58:19 PM »
Kanfei Nesharim?

Offline grodnoking

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #9 on: November 01, 2019, 02:04:33 PM »
I'm not who you think I am.

Offline shwarmabob

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2019, 02:14:44 PM »
Kanfei Nesharim?
do they have a FF program?

Offline ejb123

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2019, 02:15:41 PM »
do they have a FF program?

Not sure, but the best KSML...

Offline Dan

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Re: Choosing an airline for Israel
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2019, 02:19:50 PM »
Pretty sure Delta has added a second daily flight to TLV
It's seasonal.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.