El Al 787 Dreamliner Master Thread

[AJK]

No idea.

Also... airlines that have RH on 787:

VN is 21.

KL is 20.25.

AM takes cake at 20.

[damaxer91]

Here's my take...

As someone who has flown El Al pretty regularly over the past decade+, I couldn't be happier with the new business class seats.

1-2-1 proper flat bed seats on a Dreamliner is a dream come true and anyone complaining about the small details doesn't realize what a game changer this is for El Al

For 99% of El Al flyers, the only complaint will be the cell phone reception issues when on the ground

[PlatinumGuy]

+1

[tavster]

Couldn't agree more

[PlatinumGuy]

Code: [Select]

SPML - SPECIAL MEAL - FOR FIRST CLASS BOOKINGS :      UPDATED:08JAN17         
                                                                               
  WHEN REQUESTING SPECIAL MEALS, OTHER THAN THOSE PREVIOUSLY LISTED USE         
  SPML SSR FOLLLOWED BY FREE TEXT .                                             
  EXAMPLE:                                                                     
  SR SPML-GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST WITH VEGETABLES NO ONIONS                     
                                                                               
 - FOR BUSINESS CLASS BOOKINGS:                                                 
 WHEN REQUESTING SALAD MEAL, OTHER THAN THOSE PREVIOUSLY LISTED, USE SPML .     
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 IN CASE OF OTHER REQUEST IN FREE TEXT, MEAL WILL NOT BE PROVIDED.             


That's awesome. I'm flying next week let's try Fleish Cholent mit Kishka

[chff]

That's awesome. I'm flying next week let's try Fleish Cholent mit Kishka

F class only

[ilherman]

F class only

Yeh that's exactly what my source told me. ..... Like We offer now in first class.

[Dan]

Can't wait for your upcoming trip report from the new J (make sure it's ex-TLV so you can review the King David too). I think you may actually be pleasantly surprised. It may not be as bad as you think.....

If I didn't eat mehadrin only I would probably enjoy it a lot indeed.

[yandmk]

If I didn't eat mehadrin only I would probably enjoy it a lot indeed.

Um... The standard food on El Al is at least as "mehadrin" as the Waldarf Astoria Jerusalem.....

[Dan]

Um... The standard food on El Al is at least as "mehadrin" as the Waldarf Astoria.....

How so?
There is no mashgiach on the plane and there are many reports that the crew uses the oven to heat up their own food.
The OU themselves say to order a mehadrin meal due to that issue.

The WA has mashgichim and they say that only mehadrin food is used in the hotel.

[aygart]

How so?
There is no mashgiach on the plane and there are many reports that the crew uses the oven to heat up their own food.
The OU themselves say to order a mehadrin meal due to that issue.

The WA has mashgichim and they say that only mehadrin food is used in the hotel.

Also, does ElAl even claim to only use mehadrin ingredients?

[Dan]

Also, does ElAl even claim to only use mehadrin ingredients?

I think ex-NYC they do and ex-TLV they don't, but CMIIW.

[aygart]

I think ex-NYC they do and ex-TLV they don't, but CMIIW.

I guess if ex-NYC they are using American hechsherim then that would be the case but not ex TLV

[yandmk]

How so?
There is no mashgiach on the plane and there are many reports that the crew uses the oven to heat up their own food.
The OU themselves say to order a mehadrin meal due to that issue.

The WA has mashgichim and they say that only mehadrin food is used in the hotel.

Interesting point. I've never heard about the oven issue before. Only regarding the food, I heard from a pretty decent source, that the kashrus level of the non-mehadrin is basically the same as the mehadrin with LY, and is made in the same kitchen, only that the mehadrin is sealed.
But is that really what will stop you from reviewing their product? I can't see why the non-mehadrin food should be so much better. I'm not saying this from experience - I've only tried one -  but why would it be so different?

[Dan]

Interesting point. I've never heard about the oven issue before. Only regarding the food, I heard from a pretty decent source, that the kashrus level of the non-mehadrin is basically the same as the mehadrin with LY, and is made in the same kitchen, only that the mehadrin is sealed.
But is that really what will stop you from reviewing their product? I can't see why the non-mehadrin food should be so much better. I'm not saying this from experience - I've only tried one -  but why would it be so different?

Oven issue is a famous one, even their frum pilots say as much.

I've never seen any reason to go out of my way to pay a ton of miles and YQ for an inferior product in the past and I don't see how this changes anything. People say the non-mehadrin food is a treat, I've never heard that about the mehadrin food.

I'm booked on UAs 77W in J for 140K. I don't see any reason to change that.

[yandmk]

I'm booked on UAs 77W in J for 140K. I don't see any reason to change that.

1) For the soft product (which most say beats all the competition on this route)
2) You can't say so much gossip on an airline that you refuse to even give a chance
3) To report to your tens of thousands of readers who would love to hear your professional analysis and comparison to the other airlines. I don't think it's even fair journalism to always write a one-sided view because your being stingy on 30k miles (the difference on a o/w) that you practically earn in a jiffy. Especially when that is the most flown route by your readers. I believe even Lucky said he plans on reviewing it when they start flying.

[Dan]

1) For the soft product (which most say beats all the competition on this route)
2) You can't say so much gossip on an airline that you refuse to even give a chance
3) To report to your tens of thousands of readers who would love to hear your professional analysis and comparison to the other airlines. I don't think it's even fair journalism to always write a one-sided view because your being stingy on 30k miles (the difference on a o/w) that you practically earn in a jiffy. Especially when that is the most flown route by your readers. I believe even Lucky said he plans on reviewing it when they start flying.

1. Are you serious? The vast majority of people say the service is horrendous, even worse than typically horrendous Israeli service that you expect. Even more so if you're frum. There have been hundreds of LY horror stories posted in DD comments, DDF, and DDFB.

2. I don't gossip Saying their current J is a joke, their website is a joke, and their mileage program is a joke compared to the competition isn't gossip.

3. I'm not a journalist or an airline reviewer. I happen to write my experience traveling when I have the time. Lucky's entire kuntz is reviewing flights.

[aygart]

1. Are you serious? The vast majority of people say the service is horrendous, even worse than typically horrendous Israeli service that you expect. Even more so if you're frum. There have been hundreds of LY horror stories posted in DD comments, DDF, and DDFB.

2. I don't gossip Saying their current J is a joke, their website is a joke, and their mileage program is a joke compared to the competition isn't gossip.

3. I'm not a journalist or an airline reviewer. I happen to write my experience traveling when I have the time. Lucky's entire kuntz is reviewing flights.

1. Even j?

[yandmk]

1. Are you serious? The vast majority of people say the service is horrendous, even worse than typically horrendous Israeli service that you expect. Even more so if you're frum. There have been hundreds of LY horror stories posted in DD comments, DDF, and DDFB.

There happens to be a thread here on DDF (paging TimT) of many people giving raving reviews as well. But let's put aside the style to bash LY, it's no secret that every airline has plenty horror stories. Being in the line as a TA for a few years already, I've seen pretty much everything. And I can say that my (clients) worst horror stories have actually been will DL, CX and UA etc.. In the DL incident where they denied boarding to a J class revenue paying passenger from TLV (and they even admit afterward that they completely erred) and no matter how much fighting including a DOT complaint they wouldn't compensate more than 20k Skypesos, makes Ilherman's incident with LY look like a joke. While almost every passenger who was placed on a leased aircraft who sent a decently written complaint to LY this past winter got compensated with free flight vouchers (at least business passengers). I'm no fan of LY. I can write my own book of horror stories, but what I do recognize is that they are all the same garbage. They all mistreat and take advantage of their customers. But for some reason, my LY elite clients seem more committed to LY than my *A elites are to *A. There must be some charm there....

2. I don't gossip Saying their current J is a joke

true

their website is a joke

They renewed their website a couple of years ago already....

and their mileage program is a joke compared to the competition

1) That's to the US. Their award chart to Europe (especially during promotions) can be a real steal.
2) You forget to mention that availability with LY puts all of them together to shame...

Bottom line, everyone sees what they want to see. And you for example will refuse to see anything positive in this airline. That you didn't fly LY until today, was totally understood. From here on, I believe it's all ego...
I said my piece......

[aygart]

There happens to be a thread here on DDF (paging TimT) of many people giving raving reviews as well. But let's put aside the style to bash LY, it's no secret that every airline has plenty horror stories. Being in the line as a TA for a few years already, I've seen pretty much everything. And I can say that my (clients) worst horror stories have actually been will DL, CX and UA etc.. In the DL incident where they denied boarding to a J class revenue paying passenger from TLV (and they even admit afterward that they completely erred) and no matter how much fighting including a DOT complaint they wouldn't compensate more than 20k Skypesos, makes Ilherman's incident with LY look like a joke. While almost every passenger who was placed on a leased aircraft who sent a decently written complaint to LY this past winter got compensated with free flight vouchers (at least business passengers). I'm no fan of LY. I can write my own book of horror stories, but what I do recognize is that they are all the same garbage. They all mistreat and take advantage of their customers. But for some reason, my LY elite clients seem more committed to LY than my *A elites are to *A. There must be some charm there....trueThey renewed their website a couple of years ago already....1) That's to the US. They're award chart to Europe (especially during promotions) can be a real steal.
2) You forget to mention that availability with LY puts all of them together to shame...

Bottom line, everyone sees what they want to see. And you for example will refuse to see anything positive in this airline. That you didn't fly LY until today, was totally understood. From here on, I believe it's all ego...
I said my piece......

Part of their commitment is ideological in their allegiance to Israel.