El Al Israel Airlines

Customer Reviews

3 star Skytrax Rating
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Seat Comfort 12345
Staff Service 12345
Value for Money 12345
Customer rating from 296 reviews
5/10
3 star Skytrax Rating
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1/10

"they treated me horribly"

(United States)

Trip Verified | Boston to Tel Aviv. When checking I was the 5th one in line to get my boarding pass and pass through security I understand you get questioned for security purposes but I was standing for 2 hours getting questioned one after another that’s all because on my US passport it said My nationality said I’m Kazakhstan - they treated me horribly and were so rude and made a huge problem on why I’m flying from Boston and not New York. I honestly don’t see why you can treat an innocent person like this! So finally I pass security after 2hrs of being questioned and got in line to get on airplane. So while boarding they asked me to come aside and into this security room and I asked the guy if there was a problem he rudely replied yes we do have a problem and told me I was supposed to be here at 730 and shut the door. I was never told to go anywhere after waiting for so long - in security room they check my bag and asked to check me id. So when I finally arrive to Israel when. Walk-in out after I had my luggage they made me walk through security all over again nothing was upsetting as this you have ruined my whole trip made it stressful to come to Israel and fly back home, how much tears I have shed to just come visit my sister who had been living in Israel since 2012 and see my friend on her wedding day.
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteBoston to Tel Aviv
Date FlownOctober 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
6/10

"good part was the cabin crew"

(Israel)

Trip Verified | Paris CDG to Tel Aviv, leaving CDG at 22:30. The boarding was a mess as unfortunately it happened many time in El Al. It started late, no clear row for Business vs Economy, no priority for business or seats location, boarding all the aircraft in one call including wheelchairs. Security after gate and right before the aircraft was a mess as well. The good part was the cabin crew (professional with very good service at business) and the full flat bed in the aircraft for this night flight.
AircraftBoeing 767-300
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Seat TypeBusiness Class
RouteParis CDG to Tel Aviv
Date FlownNovember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
6/10

"so many technical problems in one flight"

(Israel)

Trip Verified | I love the 767 as its not super big and for sure offers a better flight experience than the 737 all versions El Al offer to Paris. The economy is 2x3x2 so the windows seats are preferred by far from the middle one. I choose Economy + which offers a few more cm in space and a welcome kit including a bottle of water, basic amenity kit and basically that’s it. Same seats and same food as economy. The aircraft looked ok and yes we know it's an old one but first impression was ok. Then came the second impression. Many technical problems with the entertainment system during the flight so basically after 3-4 times the crew reset the system, they told us – we will not have sound today during the flight and we are sorry. In addition the reading lights were on all flight as they couldn't turn it off. The crew were ok and nice, but so many technical problems in one flight was not easy for them as well.
AircraftBoeing 767-300ER
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Seat TypePremium Economy
RouteTel Aviv to Paris CDG
Date FlownNovember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
8/10

"Service was superb"

(Israel)

Trip Verified | I flew business class to fly the night flight from Milan to Tel Aviv with El Al Israel Airlines. It leaves Milan at 23.00 and arrive at 04.00am, for those hours I don’t see any other option than the business class. The 7373-900 ER is a new aircraft with free WIFI built in and the entertainment system also uses internal wifi – Dream Stream. The seats are 2X2 =as domestic business seats – better that what other European airlines offer. The seat is hard but still not a real business class seat. Service was superb and very nice crew.
AircraftBoeing 737-900ER
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Seat TypeBusiness Class
RouteMilan to Tel Aviv
Date FlownNovember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Wifi & Connectivity 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
1/10

"if possible, never again"

(Netherlands)

Verified Review | Amsterdam to Tel Aviv. My 2nd consecutive flight with EL AL, if possible, never again. EL AL 'Lost & Found' at Ben Gurion airport is ONLY interested in getting the customers out of the way as quickly as possible; that was my experience both times. They don't listen to the customer's requests or details. This 2nd time I didn't even get a toothbrush. I had to explain that my luggage would arrive on the next flight (see explanation further below), I told the assistant 3 times and only then did she bother to check her system. 1st flight to Israel with EL AL: I explained my travel schedule but they took the luggage to my 2nd address, therefore I didn't see it for 3 days until I arrived. They told me they would call beforehand, they never did. When I called them the day after my arrival, they said it was already with a driver who was already in the North. 2nd flight to Israel with EL AL: Whilst flying, the stewardess told me beforehand that my luggage would arrive with the following flight (I was 1 of the first people to check in!). I was requested to go straight to Lost & Found after clearing customs. This time I only gave them the address in Tel Mond where I would be staying first. I told the assistant at Lost & Found where I would be staying AND I showed her the exact address on my phone (it was typed). The following day I called Lost & Found. The girl on the phone was in a hurry and she said that the driver would call me. I had to tell her 3 times to slow down and please listen. I wanted to double-check the delivery address, then she insisted that I was staying in Tel Aviv and not Tel Mond. I had to convince her that was not true. She then gave me the courier's telephone number upon my request and just before she hung up, I double-checked the address again. Only then did she notice that she gave me a number for the Tel Aviv courier. I was put on hold twice, then I got a different number; unfortunately, that courier told me he wasn't working. I called Lost & Found again to explain; a different girl (this time) also insisted that my address was in Tel Aviv. The previous customer assistant didn't change the information in the EL AL system. She connected me to the previous assistant, again I was put on hold, then I got the correct number. Regarding luggage: if you don't pro-actively chase up EL AL, then things will almost certainly go wrong.
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteAmsterdam to Tel Aviv
Date FlownNovember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
8/10

"keeps real business class"

(Israel)

Verified Review | Tel Aviv to Milan. El Al's Boeing 737-900ER are the most modern model before the 737MAX that are now being delivered to airlines (not to ELAL yet). Not too much to expect from 737 offer and narrow body type but EL Al keeps real business class with nice service for pan European flights. The seat configuration is 2x2 and the service is good.
AircraftBoeing 737-900ER
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Seat TypeBusiness Class
RouteTel Aviv to Milan
Date FlownNovember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
3/10

"Seats were tightly spaced"

(United States)

Verified Review | Flight from New York JFK to Tel Aviv was on an aged 747 configured for medium haul, not a 8 hr trip. Seats were tightly spaced with seats that didn’t recline well. Inflight entertainment was like flying 15 yrs ago. Certain channels played specific movies, no individual choices. Avoid flying with El Al if the route uses 747s. Friends flew with El Al but from Newark to Tel Aviv. Completely different experience as they flew on a brand new 787.
AircraftBoeing 747
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteJFK New York to Tel Aviv
Date FlownNovember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
1/10

"lousy ground service"

(Israel)

Verified Review | Lucky the travel agent kept seats for us in advance because the online check-in is really not good on El Al. They don't even give you the choice to pay for a better seat or to upgrade with an additional cost. Lucky we have Israeli passports, so the security check in Luton was fine. Non-Israeli passport holders are subject to harsh security questioning. There was a delay in boarding – more than an hour. The monitors at the terminal kept showing that everything is on time – bad joke. We were sitting at the gate, I was looking for an electricity point to charge my phone, so asked the guy at the gate (not an El Al worker) if I can use the electricity point. He said "sure, it's just another ten minutes till they finish cleaning the plane". So I understood that the ground service company working for El Al at Luton, isn't really a good one. Makes sense, as Luton is a low-cost airport and El Al operates a regular full service commercial flight, bit of a clash between the two. After boarding, the captain announced that due to bad weather the flight was delayed. Really? It was hardly raining all that time. What bad weather was there? Took off 70 minutes late. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv, about 50% of the passengers did not receive their luggage. Yes, approx. 50% of the passengers on the flight. We were told that due to bad weather the luggage could not be loaded on the plane. Again, really? Come on, flights take off when snowing. A few drops of regular, normal English rain can't to that bad to a flight procedure. Just admit that you have a lousy ground service company and that you don't really care about your clients! Friday morning the lost luggage claim was opened. Till now, Saturday night, almost 48 hours later, the tracking website shows "still tracing luggage", the El Al representatives on the phones tell you a different story each time you call. To conclude – last time I flew with El Al was 5 years ago. Now I know why. There are better options at better prices and at better service.
AircraftBoeing 737-800/900
Type Of TravellerCouple Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteLuton to Tel Aviv
Date FlownOctober 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
no
10/10

"Could not have asked for more"

(Israel)

Verified Review | Luton to Tel Aviv will count among my top 3 First Class trips. Everything was provided. Courtesy car arrived at the promised time, met at airport by a porter who took me and my luggage to El Al Security and Check in, then he took me and my cabin baggage to Priority security. The lounge was quiet and ample Kosher Food was available. Priority boarding to plane, small but perfect First Class cabin, wonderful service from the Cabin Crew. Was loaned Bose earphones to listen to inflight music. Fresh and ample breakfast served on china with proper cutlery. Seat reclined to flat bed. Met at door of plane and escorted through Immigration and Customs, taken to courtesy car and driven home. Could not have asked for more.
AircraftBoeing 777
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeFirst Class
RouteLuton to Tel Aviv
Date FlownOctober 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes
10/10

"Overall, it is a smooth flight"

(Taiwan)

Verified Review | Check each passenger thoroughly before check-in. From Hong Kong to Tel Aviv took around eleven and a half hours. Flight attendants are very nice to satisfy passenger's request. Moreover, the Kosher meal taste is beyond my expectation and it is very delicious. Overall, it is a smooth flight. I'll definitely travel with El Al if I have a chance to go to Israel again!
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Seat TypeEconomy Class
RouteHong Kong to Tel Aviv
Date FlownSeptember 2017
Seat Comfort 12345
Cabin Staff Service 12345
Food & Beverages 12345
Inflight Entertainment 12345
Ground Service 12345
Value For Money 12345
yes