El Al Israel Airlines

✅ Verified Review | Tel Aviv to Zurich. The check-in was very pleasant. The lady took great lengths to tell me I did not need to check-in my bag and could take it on board. I proceeded through the rigorous Ben Gurion Security control. I expected extra special security for EL AL but it was the same as for other airlines. The seat pitch was comfortable and better than Swiss. There was no in seat entertainment. Breakfast was served with a choice. I chose the omelette that was delicious. The flight arrived on time. I hope to fly EL AL again in the future, I felt EL AL made me feel very welcome onboard.

✅ Verified Review | In October I arranged a trip with El Al from Tel Aviv to Los Angeles for myself, my wife and my daughter (seven years old). I was to fly to LA at the beginning of November. My wife was to fly out on Thanksgiving with my daughter. My wife was then to return to Tel Aviv a week later, and I was to return to Tel Aviv at the end of December with my daughter. I had no complaints about my flight to LA in November, aside from the '90s vintage entertainment system with several channels of movies on loops. The plane was comfortable enough and clean, with relatively good food and no trouble with the service. Then, due to an internal dispute, El Al arbitrarily canceled the flight my wife and daughter were to take to Los Angeles, providing no solution whatsoever and destroying our plan. We were notified of the cancellation a few hours before the flight, when they were already packed and ready to leave, leaving little time to make other arrangements. We were on the phone for hours trying to reach El Al, but nobody answered. My wife and daughter were crushed and upset. To salvage the rest of the trip, I had to scramble to book alternate flights with United and had to spend several thousand dollars on alternate flights—way beyond the cost of the original flights. I had to rebook my own return flight with United instead of El Al because my daughter obviously can't fly alone. There was no other option but to cancel the trip and return home. El Al was nowhere to be found throughout this traumatic experience. It wasn't until several weeks later that we received a refund for my wife's and daughter's flights. El Al refused to offer any compensation of any kind for the trouble or distress caused, or the additional cost incurred. After a month and a half of wrangling with El Al's customer service, the only compensation offered was a partial credit for the return flight I could not use, which could only be used for a single ticket with El Al. El Al's management and personnel are apparently highly irresponsible and incompetent, putting their own internal disputes above customer service. I highly doubt we will ever fly with El Al again. **ASK TICKWT

✅ Verified Review | Zürich to Tel Aviv with El Al. I read lots of bad reviews about this airlines, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised by my flight. Staff in Zurich were really friendly, soufganyiots (donuts) were served to passengers in the boarding area, cabin crew was friendly, and food more than edible.

✅ Verified Review | I took yesterday a flight from Tel Aviv to Hong Kong with El Al. The economy cabin seats are smaller than regular Economy on other airlines. The flight was late and no one appeared to care! The inflight entertainment system is terrible and from the 90s! My ticket cost:$2600, and this will be the last time for me with El Al.

✅ Verified Review | Tel Aviv to Brussels. As a frequent flyer of El Al, I've learned to deal with the sometimes outdated plane interior, long waiting lines at Ben Gurion Airport (both for check-in and security), delays and the absence of a proper inflight entertainment system on European flights. However on our last two flights with El Al, the cabin crew managed to reach an ultimate low for service standards. The night (early morning) flight from Tel Aviv to Brussels was packed with screaming kids and (praying) men, who hijacked the plane to turn it into one big playground. For 5 (early morning) hours we had to suffer from the constant aisle traffic, loud screaming and ultra-orthodox men and kids bumping into other passengers. Although El Al can't be blamed for screaming kids and annoying passengers, they should be able to cope with it. Unfortunately the crew decided not to act upon our (and others) requests to stop the mayhem. Even more so, the El Al crew encouraged the behaviour by announcing that everyone should get their drinks at the back of the plane, dramatically increasing the amount of aisle traffic and people bumping into us. For the rest of the flight the cabin crew did not visit passengers or provide any services to them. If you needed something you were to get it yourself from the back of the plane. Our flight back to Tel Aviv was much better, albeit that the flight attendants were particularly unfriendly and unorganized. When handing out meals, several rows were 'missed' and did not receive a meal. Apparently something went wrong with some of the meals. In the end we did not receive a meal. After notifying the crew, we got an unfriendly "there isn't any left". No alternatives were offered. Upon return home we filed a complaint with El Al as an opportunity to take away the bad feeling we were left with after the 2 dreadful flights and numerous service failures. Unfortunately El Al's customer service did not have the courtesy to contact us, despite several follow ups. It has now been over 5 weeks and I doubt we will ever hear from them. I do however know that we will not use El Al again. A company treating its customers in such an arrogant way is not worth my money.

✅ Verified Review | Took this flight to go from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv in November 2016. Check in was efficient although the usual high security procedures. Check in staff very unfriendly. Seats were comfortable, food was good. The only thing that was really unpleasant was the mood and the friendliness of the cabin crew. No smile on their faces and questions are asked very unprofessionally. Instead of asking if I ordered a special meal they just said "what's your name, what's your name, your name". They obviously don't enjoy their work. Next this I will go with Lufthansa for a lot less money.

✅ Verified Review | Toronto to Tel Aviv with El Al Israel Airlines. Horrible experience. Booked a baby crib, triple checked crib was available for us and was assured it is. Got on the flight and the crib is taken "Because the plane got changed". Had a 6 month old baby on my lap for over 11 hours. Also, when I book an El-Al flight I expect to fly with El-Al plane and crew, and not some chartered falling apart plane. In 2016, inflight entertainment should be the norm, especially when EL-AL advertises it. Spanish crew were nice and food is decent.

Flew from Amsterdam to Tel Aviv with El Al and will never fly with them again. The regular schedule flight has the lowest charter service levels. The cabin was overcrowded, with almost no leg space and narrow seats (I'm 60 kilos, not obese). Not enough space for luggage in cabin storage. The crew only did one cold beverage run. If you want tea or a second cup of water - you have to go to the stewardess and ask for it. Hard to judge about the entertainment, since no one offered headphones, even for a charge. Blankets are short in supply - first grabs first keeps. Only one pillow was detected. No seat swapping, not even for the obese disabled man stuck by my side (near the toilet). Security is good, but other companies offer it too. So, what's El-Al's excuse?

✅ Verified Review | Tel Aviv to Amsterdam. We arrived at the airport at 2:00AM. We did electronic check-in which took 5 mins. We boarded the airplane at 5:00 and took off at 6:00. The seat was comfortable, and it had a headrest that you can lower, higher or fit to your head! After the takeoff we got beverages and 45 mins into the flight we got our food. You can choose your food when you purchase the ticket. The food was really good and IFE also great. You can download EL AL's app into your phone and watch movies, play games, see the map and even you can chat with other passengers without internet. (The planes has an internet connection). We landed at Amsterdam after a great flight.

Tel Aviv to London Heathrow. Travelling with an infant yet no chance of securing a bulkhead seat and no seatbelt for the child. Shockingly bad value in premium economy. Nothing to separate it from standard economy: neglible leg room difference, still 3 seats in a row etc. Drinks service laughable: the only alcohol was red wine; no beer, no white wine, no spirits. Soft drinks served in little paper cups without ice. Check in was a nightmare of queuing for nearly 2 hours at the national airport to simply complete pre-check in security for the national airline. Israel should be ashamed. Quite honestly, from start to finish the worst airline experience I have ever had.