El Al Israel Airlines

Bangkok to Tel Aviv. After the friendly attentive Thai service from Melbourne to Bangkok El Al was a stark contrast. The security at Bangkok was excessive. I appreciate the need for tight security but only non-Jewish/Israelis were cross-examined. The guy doing the questioning was rude. I was made to wait for about half an hour then taken to a downstairs room - with no explanation of what was happening. My bags and shoes were taken into a separate room for inspection. I felt the entire time that I was a criminal. Onboard the flight was totally packed and the FA's did the bare minimum. I didn't get my vegetarian meal - but luckily the breakfast meal was vegetarian (kosher) and quite tasty. I will avoid flying EL AL at all costs in the future.

The check-in security procedure is far too invasive including asking to see photographs on my camera itinerary on my laptop receipts etc. I understand the need for security but looking at personal photographs and items on my laptop is beyond ridiculous. The onboard service is mediocre food below mediocre and the quality of aircraft is below average - on two 6+ hour international flights we were subject to viewing in-flight entertainment on projection screens at the front of each section of the aircraft. My luggage was left in Tel Aviv even though there was a 5 hour layover.

AMS-TLV-AMS. The security procedures were not too tedious or invasive security people were friendly. We flew Melbourne to Amsterdam by a separate booking and one of my suitcases was lost before the El Al flight. Schiphol staff filed the complaint and told us to follow it up in Tel Aviv. The plane was an old 737 the food was not so good neither was the quality of the service. In Tel Aviv the lost and found department not only helped handle the luggage problem but gave me and my wife free toiletry kits with T-shirts underwear and all the basics not just a cheap disposable type. The luggage arrived to the place where we stayed safe and not tampered with. The flight back was still with 737 but better service and food. El Al FAs might appear rude not paying enough attention but you do need to know how to talk to them. Overall I'd rather fly a European or Asian airline but El Al is acceptable when required to go direct to Israel.

LHR-TLV return. The flights were busy but check in and security both ways quick and efficient. The staff questions were y polite and professional as were flight staff. The planes - ageing 767s - had no proper entertainment system but a better leg room pitch than usual in economy these days. Food quite poor. Overall: a much better experience than I had feared.

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.

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.

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.