El Al Reviews

[123-Rosh]

Someone just posted to YWN a great review of El Al.
Thoughts?

https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2090881/mailbag-ignore-the-haters-el-al-is-fantastic.html

[Dover]

I actually agree with him. The service and care on the actual flight I do find amazing. However, their customer service, call centers and anything before or after the flight is absolutely terrible. Unreachable via phone and no response via WhatsApp, email or online help. For that reason I avoid them whenever possible.

[Moshe Green]

Someone just posted to YWN a great review of El Al.
Thoughts?

https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2090881/mailbag-ignore-the-haters-el-al-is-fantastic.html

what he does write:
he has a special needs kid
what he doesn't write:
which class he's in

enough said

[TimT]

I’m surprised elal advertises on YWN.

[JlmBoi]

I've said this here before - booking with an agent eliminates half the issues with Elal.

[Dan]

I've said this here before - booking with an agent eliminates half the issues with Elal.

And booking with DL/UA eliminates all the issues with Elal

[JlmBoi]

And booking with DL/UA eliminates all the issues with Elal

If booking biz Elal def has its perks.
Food, wine, KDL...
Unless someone is flying many times a year I think the chance of issues while on board is not that different between airlines.

[Dan]

If booking biz Elal def has its perks.
Food, wine, KDL...
Unless someone is flying many times a year I think the chance of issues while on board is not that different between airlines.

Is LY Regal SKML actually better than UA Fresko?
Is the VS contract lounge in JFK better than UA Polaris?

[JlmBoi]

Is LY Regal SKML actually better than UA Fresko?
Is the VS contract lounge in JFK better than UA Polaris?

I love the elal food, especially ex tlv. Re the lounge, I haven't been in UA, but there's no way the kosher food is better there.

[Dan]

I love the elal food, especially ex tlv. Re the lounge, I haven't been in UA, but there's no way the kosher food is better there.

I hear the argument ex-TLV.
ex-NYC seems weak though.
To be fair, I have never flown LY.

[JlmBoi]

I hear the argument ex-TLV.
ex-NYC seems weak though.

Yes it is a different equation.
I think American would have a good edge in the hard product if they had only the good seats. The uncertainty of the graveyard seats kills it. The 777 is underrated.

[Dan]

Yes it is a different equation.
I think American would have a good edge in the hard product if they had only the good seats. The uncertainty of the graveyard seats kills it. The 777 is underrated.

I prefer Polaris (and presumably LY) seating when traveling with family to both of AA's configurations.
However LY has airbag seatbelts in J, so that's a no-go with carseats.

[shmooz]

I've said this here before - booking with an agent eliminates half the issues with Elal.

Agreed, with elal, it's all protectzia, how good the agent is, who they know on the inside, in order to get a good seat or hold the ticket. We always use an agent for elal.

With United I feel it's more a known system based on status and the rules are more or less the same for everyone within that status.

[ExGingi]

Yes it is a different equation.
I think American would have a good edge in the hard product if they had only the good seats. The uncertainty of the graveyard seats kills it. The 777 is underrated.

+1000

I'll take a roomy 777 J seat over a crammed 787 or 330 or 350 seat. And you are right about the luck of the draw with AA as far as those seats. The bad seats are horrendous.

And while I haven't ever flown LY in J (and haven't used them in over 22 years), I would be open to giving them a shot if not for what I see/read/hear about them (and realizing that the badly needed DNA change never happened with the new owners).

[JlmBoi]

And while I haven't ever flown LY in J (and haven't used them in over 22 years), I would be open to giving them a shot if not for what I see/read/hear about them (and realizing that the badly needed DNA change never happened with the new owners).

There's anecdotal bad stories about everyone... I can share some myself.
Book with an agent and give it a go. Won't kill you.

[ExGingi]

There's anecdotal bad stories about everyone... I can share some myself.
Book with an agent and give it a go. Won't kill you.

As I said, I am willing to give it a try, but at this point my travel needs to EY are much less than they were in recent years. When the time comes I will book whatever makes the most sense. Everything else being equal I am not likely to choose LY.

[m65]

And booking with DL/UA eliminates all the issues with Elal

UA has plenty of their own issues as well
i spnt 50 min on hold with them just recently, after they screwed up bad on my ticket, and werent willing to fix it.
with elal after all the heartache there is always someone who can pull the right string for u, with UA lav davka
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=129115.msg2584340#msg2584340

[Dan]

UA has plenty of their own issues as well
i spnt 50 min on hold with them just recently, after they screwed up bad on my ticket, and werent willing to fix it.
with elal after all the heartache there is always someone who can pull the right string for u, with UA lav davka
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=129115.msg2584340#msg2584340

Sounds like you're a TA. Obviously you have ways to get through to LY.
Also, next time just DM UA. They're the best DM CS in the industry.

[tavster]

I actually agree with him. The service and care on the actual flight I do find amazing. However, their customer service, call centers and anything before or after the flight is absolutely terrible. Unreachable via phone and no response via WhatsApp, email or online help. For that reason I avoid them whenever possible.

+1
I've flown in J across most airlines, and to me LY has by far the best in-flight service across any western airlines. And that was already the case way before i became TP with them.

As i already wrote, i was at a TP meeting with management a few weeks ago. Most travelers had a million complaints about LY (delays, lack of good connecting network, mehadrin food, you name it). The only thing everyone agreed is that the service that TP get are unmatched by any other airlines (some folks in the room were also GS, HON etc).

They have a lot to improve, but IMHO service to elites and J isn't one of them