Arkia to start flying to U.S.

[TzviR]

Correct. I’m guessing they’ll be taking a huge hit on this.

Unless they can make their prices more competitive

[yochai]

any reviews on this first flight?

They had the whole boarding area NYC-themed, and served (kosher?) hamburgers and French fries.
https://www.ynet.co.il/vacation/flights/article/hji50ast1e

[shapsam]

Unless they can make their prices more competitive

Which could hit them even harder if they try that and still fail.

LY/UA/DL have slightly deeper pockets than Arkia, Lol

[fresar]

IMO, this won't last long with UA and DL back in the market.

The market to North America is huge, now with visa free for Isrealis, it's even bigger. If they don't have big delays I can see them being successful

[lover of truth]

The market to North America is huge, now with visa free for Isrealis, it's even bigger. If they don't have big delays I can see them being successful

any half well-off israeli has us visa anyway
the budget fliers either way wont pay for direct and take the cheapest stopover flight, maybe before pesach for large families that pay more for direct, obviously no enough to sustain a route

[fresar]

any half well-off israeli has us visa anyway
the budget fliers either way wont pay for direct and take the cheapest stopover flight, maybe before pesach for large families that pay more for direct, obviously no enough to sustain a route

There is no cheap normal stopover’s anymore,

not sure why people here are so so negative on this new route, every new route is good for competition and price

[yfr bachur]

any half well-off israeli has us visa anyway

Only if they've been to the US in the last decade.
It's not something that you just apply online for. It's quite a pain and costs real money too
Visa free definitely changes the equation for many people.
 

There is no cheap normal stopover’s anymore,

That's a result of flight timings, they are not timed well for the trans Atlantic flights bec they wont overnight in Israel.
When the early morning EU flights come back, so will the normal stopovers.
Until then $1200 return direct IS competitive.

[mevinyavin]

My SIL was on the first JFK-TLV flight Sunday afternoon.
She reported:
Very short wait at JFK because she checked in online, even though she didn't have a PDF or print of her boarding pass (She arrived about 2.5 hours before the flight).
Maybe three people who were not frum Jews on the flight.
Staff very friendly.
Seats tiny (though I told her to expect it), "smaller than United" (whatever that means).
Worth the price versus any other option (she paid $600 plus $15 for a carryon and $15 for an aisle seat in the back).

I forgot to ask about the food. I'll try to ask her at some point.

[lover of truth]

My SIL was on the first JFK-TLV flight Sunday afternoon.
She reported:
Very short wait at JFK because she checked in online, even though she didn't have a PDF or print of her boarding pass (She arrived about 2.5 hours before the flight).
Maybe three people who were not frum Jews on the flight.
Staff very friendly.
Seats tiny (though I told her to expect it), "smaller than United" (whatever that means).
Worth the price versus any other option (she paid $600 plus $15 for a carryon and $15 for an aisle seat in the back).

I forgot to ask about the food. I'll try to ask her at some point.

didn't know there were so many frum people in hi-tech..

[mevinyavin]

didn't know there were so many frum people in hi-tech..

Maybe they were all on the flight away from EY.

[esh]

Any way to add global entry number to ticket? Called them but the rep had no clue what i was talking about. Will i be able to add in the airport?

[yelped]

Any way to add global entry number to ticket? Called them but the rep had no clue what i was talking about. Will i be able to add in the airport?

Assuming you mean Pre check because to use GE when entering the US you don't need to have it on your ticket.

Anyways, the airline has to participate in the pre check program and I'm sure Arkia doesn't.

[ShimonFly]

Looks like they'll use the aircraft to fly to Amsterdam on Fridays with all seats being sold, sadly the return lands on Shabbos
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/cs-tkh

[esh]

Assuming you mean Pre check because to use GE when entering the US you don't need to have it on your ticket.

Anyways, the airline has to participate in the pre check program and I'm sure Arkia doesn't.

I was reffering to GE, didnt know it doesnt have to be on my ticket.

[esh]

I booked through chase. Its messed up, chase doesnt give an Arkia confirmation number (9 digit number starting with a 1), so you cant access your itenerary. Cant choose seat, add bag, select meal.... Arkia says call travel agent, chase says call Arkia

[shapsam]

I booked through chase. Its messed up, chase doesnt give an Arkia confirmation number (9 digit number starting with a 1), so you cant access your itenerary. Cant choose seat, add bag, select meal.... Arkia says call travel agent, chase says call Arkia

Arkia won't look it up with the name and flight number?

[S209]

I have 5 flying in about a week, I’ll let you know how it went.

[esh]

Nope... can only manage flights booked through their site. They finally said through whatsapp that the chase confirmation is correct but can only manage it online a day before the flight at check in

[yochai]

Who does Arkias baggage handling inJFK and how do I reach them?

[~King Lake~]

Who does Arkias baggage handling inJFK and how do I reach them?

Anything with this?