EL AL Israel Airlines review :  8 November 2009 : by Alan McQuillan   (UK)

LHR to Tel Aviv return. Outbound on B777-200ER. Seats excellent, PTV but I didn't bother with it. Economy over 80% full but staff attentive. After take off, served drinks and nibbles followed by meal. Tel Aviv to LHR was a venerable 747 - dated but everything worked. Aircraft was full and cabin crew working flat out. The bargain was the seat upgrade - economy seats are fine but if there are seats free on board you can buy what's really a premium seat with about 48" legroom at bulkhead or exit rows - just $39.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  5 October 2009 : by Linda Notelovitz   (South Africa)

International seats as small as domestic SAA. No drinks served, understaffed, food disgusting. Flying EL AL has been the worst experience of my life. Now I know what it means when they say you get what you pay for. I will gladly pay an extra few thousand rand next time to go another airline - but will never again fly EL AL. They are so concerned about their security issues they forget all about their customers. They make you feel like a criminal and treat you like a dog during flight.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  8 September 2009 : by L Schuman   (US)

EWR-TLV-EWR. First trip on new 777, almost full but we had the center seat empty. Food was good and hot. Comfy seats and minimal noise. Return delayed by an hour due to a broken lavatory door. No empty center seat this time and a "would not shut up" passenger next to me made this flight a lot less comfortable. Dinner good although served at 2-30 am! Used frequent flyer miles and the cost for two tickets was $155.00 US round trip.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  27 August 2009 : by G Wilson   (UK)

LHR to Tel Aviv Economy. Not a particularly memorable flight; long interrogation if you are non-Israeli, pretty old 747 quite dirty. Safety announcements etc. hit and miss, food rubbish. I would rate this as a third world airline to be avoided at all costs.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  27 August 2009 : by A Smith   (Australia)

TLV-BOM, first experience with ELAL. We were told to get to the airport 4-6 hours before departure. The nightmare started when I was checking in. Asked why I am on a one-way ticket on all legs (I flew Air Canada into TLV and was flying to BOM, connecting on Qantas to SYD), and despite being an Australian citizen I was questioned over and over again by a plain-clothed person. When I asked for ID, he flatly refused to show any and I was led to an interrogation room. Apparently they cannot understand the fact that I am an Australian travelling back home to SYD, what is the need for me to have a return ticket?! I am not returning to Israel or Canada, finally after 2 hours I was allowed to check in. I was told my bags would be searched without my presence. After arriving back home, when I went through my bags, found that items that had been gift-wrapped were torn and searched, important documents were thrown about randomly and my bag was just a mess. I understand the security situation etc. but this is just ridiculous. Terrible first (and last) experience. The cabin crew also need to learn some manners - they are extremely rude. This has to be a no-star airline, it is a wonder how it is still classified as a 3-star one.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  21 August 2009 : by Philip Schmidt   (Denmark)

TLV-VIE Boeing 737-800. The cabin was clean and seats comfortable. The food was tasty, although I find it odd they served the drinks 3/4 hour before the food was served. FA's were friendly.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  31 July 2009 : by Steve Felder   (South Africa)

LHR-TLV First Class. Seats reasonably good, equivalent to Business Class on South African Airways. Food OK, but cabin crew lost interest in service halfway through the flight, and were conspicuous in their absence. Usually fly Business Class, and will not pay the extra for First Class again.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  30 July 2009 : by J Strydom   (South Africa)

On a recent trip from Johannesburg to Newark the nightmare started at the check-in counters. I was interrogated for 2.5 hours because I was a teacher and how could I afford to travel abroad!? I was treated like a criminal and even escorted to the aircraft. This was not the end as on my way back the same happened in New York, as in Tel Aviv although I was in transit. Sorry to say this a nation with an attitude towards anybody who is not one of them.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  28 July 2009 : by J Kaye   (Australia)

TLV-LHR on an aging 747-400. Comfy seats but limited legroom. The food was tasteless and overheated and very tiny portion. No beer or wine in economy class and very small TV screen with limited movies. Pressed the attendant button for a drink no one answered after 20 minutes. Went to Galley to get my drink but was reprimanded by a grumpy stewardess. Passengers it seems are not allowed near the Galley. So, a budget airline at best with expensive airfares for the little you get.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  13 July 2009 : by T Stucchi   (Italy)

VRN-TLV-VRN, both on old 767-200. Both flights on time, staff friendly and professional. Meal served on both flights, quite good. Onboard entertainment was pretty good (English movie with subtitles), they sold headphones (5 euros).

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  3 June 2009 : by N Nasev   (Australia)

LHR-TLV return. Security efficient, online check-in service great. Outbound with a well-used B747. El Al seems to have more FAs onboard than other airlines, so always someone visible, and gone are the days of rude service. Return on new B777 with mood lighting and excellent AVOD. If all of El Al's planes were like this then they be 4-star.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  16 May 2009 : by Jonathan Cohen   (UK)

Luton to Tel Aviv. Luton airport was a pleasure as an alternative to LHR and even with El Al's security check-in was quick and I was airside in no time at all. The flight was on a 767-200 which was clean and tidy - given it's age in good condition. Cabin crew efficient and worked hard. I was fortunate to be in business class for the outbound flight and food was pretty much what you would expect and was overall pretty good. Seats the older cradle type but were comfortable and more than adequate for a 5 hour flight. Return flight to Luton was in economy and was fine.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  23 April 2009 : by E Herszaft   (UK)

Travelled for the first time with El Al. Had a choice of cheaper airlines, but chose El Al since I was told that with a baby it will be easier for me if I fly El Al. They are friendly and helpful, my friends said. I did not receive my meal, and did not have a bassinet for the baby. I had to hold my baby the entire flight and ended up starving since I did not get my special kosher meal, and was left without food.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  12 March 2009 : by J Kreutzbereger   (USA)

Delays, lack of quality in food, lack of courtesy of crew member, dirty bathrooms and poor safety attitude made my selection to go to the bottom line.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  3 March 2009 : by Graeme Anderssen   (Australia)

HKG-TLV. The crew were friendly and polite and service efficient (the flight was only half full). B777-200 seats were fine - admittedly having a full row to myself did help. The two meals (dinner and breakfast) were above average for economy. IFE not the best I have come across but adequate, a wider selection of movies would be an improvement. The cabin staff were young and enthusiastic, but again, the flight was half full and their task easier. TLV immigration queue was short and quick - the baggage wait amongst the shortest I have experienced anywhere.

EL AL Israel Airlines review :  1 February 2009 : by D Vespasian   (France)

Zurich-Tel Aviv : missed connection to Zurich so lost Swiss flight to Tel Aviv, instead they put me on El-Al. Have flown El-Al before and was not looking forward to this, even in business. New 737, good seats, interesting wine selection, good staff - they tried and worked hard. The food was less than perfect though.