Simchas Torah War - Flights Discussion Thread

[Jacob88]

LH group cancelled all flights through 8/8. Now UA passengers are really stuck, unless they can get on Aegean via ATH.
https://www.ynet.co.il/vacation/flights/article/s1lg2jtf0

Do we actually think Aegean wont cancel given everyone else seems to be doing so...

[metsguy]

Cross posting due to time sensitivity.

ITA canceled flight from FCO to TLV. Any chance (or data points) on getting rebooked on EL AL. I know there are some DPs from Delta rebooking on El AL so curious if ITA will too considering they are also Sky Team. On hold with them, just want to know if there is precedent. FWIW Flight originated in the US and FCO was the stopover on the way to TLV. Flight was supposed to take off in a couple hours so stuck in FCO now. There is an EL AL flight tomorrow from FCO.

Flights were booked directly with ITA using a CSR. Any chance (or data points) on if  they would cover a new flight or do we think goes under the act of war and it would be excluded?

[Shmueli]

Air India and FlyDubai cancelled as well.

Know a bunch of ppl flying to Thailand via DEL after 9 Av (myself included). Hope this doesn't mess us all up!

[tavster]

Air India and FlyDubai cancelled as well.

Know a bunch of ppl flying to Thailand via DEL after 9 Av (myself included). Hope this doesn't mess us all up!

I don't want to jinx it - but during the last 'Iranian' episode right before Pessah, Air India cancelled everything right away and it took them weeks to get things back on track.

They were super unhelpful with rebookings etc

[Shmueli]

I don't want to jinx it - but during the last 'Iranian' episode right before Pessah, Air India cancelled everything right away and it took them weeks to get things back on track.

They were super unhelpful with rebookings etc

Ouch. What are potential alternatives assuming LH, Swiss and Austrian are out?

[Shmueli]

Air India and FlyDubai cancelled as well.

Know a bunch of ppl flying to Thailand via DEL after 9 Av (myself included). Hope this doesn't mess us all up!

Is there any sort of travel insurance that I can purchase now, that would pay for a new ticket if my flight gets cancelled?
Would have to cover even under "special circumstances / security risk" or whatever they call it..

[AsherO]

Is there any sort of travel insurance that I can purchase now, that would pay for a new ticket if my flight gets cancelled?
Would have to cover even under "special circumstances / security risk" or whatever they call it..

CMIIW, but I don’t think any insurers offer this. You would get a refund but there likely won’t be any flights available (or El Al at a higher price where they won’t pay the difference).

[Shmueli]

CMIIW, but I don’t think any insurers offer this. You would get a refund but there likely won’t be any flights available (or El Al at a higher price where they won’t pay the difference).

This thing is too long for me to read, but it looks like it may cover up to $1000 for trip disruption.
Could be excluded in one of the many exclusions at the bottom but I don't have the head to read it all.

https://api.nibtravelinsurance.com/products/v2/wn/insuranceContract/39/pds?preferredDocumentFileType=HTML&planId=265&lang=en&countryCode=ISR#section-3-travel-disruption

[yochai]

Cross posting due to time sensitivity.

ITA canceled flight from FCO to TLV. Any chance (or data points) on getting rebooked on EL AL. I know there are some DPs from Delta rebooking on El AL so curious if ITA will too considering they are also Sky Team. On hold with them, just want to know if there is precedent. FWIW Flight originated in the US and FCO was the stopover on the way to TLV. Flight was supposed to take off in a couple hours so stuck in FCO now. There is an EL AL flight tomorrow from FCO.

Flights were booked directly with ITA using a CSR. Any chance (or data points) on if  they would cover a new flight or do we think goes under the act of war and it would be excluded?

Elal isn’t part of sky team. You may have luck with Air France but don’t count on it.

[be happy]

This thing is too long for me to read, but it looks like it may cover up to $1000 for trip disruption.
Could be excluded in one of the many exclusions at the bottom but I don't have the head to read it all.

https://api.nibtravelinsurance.com/products/v2/wn/insuranceContract/39/pds?preferredDocumentFileType=HTML&planId=265&lang=en&countryCode=ISR#section-3-travel-disruption

When requested Israel
Sorry, we’re currently unable to provide cover for Israel. Please remove it from your quote.

[Shmueli]

When requested Israel
Sorry, we’re currently unable to provide cover for Israel. Please remove it from your quote.

That's when you want to travel to Israel? Or from?

[be happy]

USA to Israel

[Zali]

United officially cancelled flights. And won’t rebook on LH

[UKinNYS]

chatting to United, "Per updated policy No reprotection is being offered on these flights" Ie. not rebooking on other airlines, (not even able to book *A partner Aegean to ATH) only option offered is other United flights eg. from Athens to Newark leaving me to find my own way from TLV to ATH

@Dan how rigid is this policy? anyone had luck otherwise?

[Darth1]

Huca Huca Huca Huca, on my 8th agent yesterday I got rebooked through ATH on Agean. (Chat on 2 browsers and a phone agent all simultaneously.)

[Darth1]

Make sure you know the flight numbers and times of the flights you want to take and proactively tell them to put you on that specific route.

[Shmueli]

USA to Israel

Interesting.
I checked from Israel-Thailand and it allowed me purchase coverage.

I emailed them about my case specifically and this was their response...

"Thank you for contacting us!

As per Section 3: Travel Disruption
This section details the cover provided if, following specific Insured Events listed in this Section 3 below, your trip is disrupted after you leave home. Also, cover applies only when the Insured Event is sudden, unforeseen, unavoidable, outside your control and occurring after we issue your Certificate of Insurance. If an event is not specifically listed, there is no cover under this section.

You must purchase the Explorer Plan to claim certain benefits for the Insured Events as shown below and in the Summary of Cover.

 I hope this information helps. "

I emailed them back to get a more direct answer and for more details on what "after you leave home" means.

[yochai]

Do we actually think Aegean wont cancel given everyone else seems to be doing so...

Obviously we can’t know for sure, but Aegean can make a short turnaround in TLV due to the short distance.
Charter flights to vacation destinations from TLV are all operating as scheduled.

[YED]

If anyone is stuck in the states due to the situation, we can help out with getting you on to an ELAL direct flight.
If you are booked on Delta but can't manage to get rebooked on ELAL (because of the lack of open seats on ELAL flights), we can try to get that done for you by contacting delta directly on your behalf.
PM via DDF for more info.

ELAL has lowered their one way fares due to the situation, we where able to book one way tickets for some of our clients for as soon as yesterday and this upcoming Sunday for as low as $995 (although not all flights where at that rate)

[Shmueli]

If you trying to get out of Israel, you can fly ELAL to LCA on Sun for $278 and then ask UA to reroute you from there home on partner airlines.