El Al Israel Airlines

I flew El Al for the first time this past week and will never fly this airline again. I was seated next to the galley and the attendants left the curtain open at all times. I kept closing it so I could get some sleep since it was a 1 am flight but the attendant always opened it again. There was so much noise on this flight that I could not get to sleep at all. The reservation desk of El Al made a mistake with my return flight and it took 2 hrs at the airport for them to fix it. The food was the only good thing about this airline.

New York JFK-Tel Aviv Tel Avi to Newark. On the way to Israel B744 old seats old LCD screens with poor quality image. Food okay flight attendants nice and polite. JFK is a nightmare to connect. EL AL security personnel polite. One complaint is that they kept the lights on to allow them to sell Duty Free items for another hour. TLV-EWR newer B777 but not with IFE on demand. Service for dinner only a sandwich since it was a midnight departure. I got a Gluten Free meal which was nice and actually had a taste. The seats on B777 were nicer. EWR much easier to connect. Check in staff in Tel-Aviv excellent. My father in law was 83 they allowed us to go to a special check in desk where the security personnel came and cleared us instead of standing a long line.

Tel Aviv-London Berlin-Tel Aviv in old B757. Cabin crew very friendly and attentive. However there's a big minus for the old plane in the rear of the cabin the noise is almost unbearable. The security check on the flight to Israel was quite surreal the cross- questioning and other things made me feel like in a James Bond movie; however the security personnel friendly. My bag was opened and searched without me but everything arrived in one piece in Tel Aviv.

Tel Aviv to Frankfurt on B767-300. On the bad side the flight was delayed for approx 2 hours due to a technical problem on the incoming aircraft. However we were given accurate information and breakfast was offered in an airport café. Aircraft was old but in good condition and clean. Seat comfortable and seat pitch fine. Staff friendly and attentive serving water during the flight. Hot meal was fine. Headphones free of charge IFE limited to old overhead monitors showing a recent movie.

MAD-TLV Business Class B737-800. On the positive side attentive crew and excellent lunch service. Entertainment program enjoyable. Seat from the old generation but comfortable. Service and comfort would shine more with an upgraded airplane. On the preventive side some flights form the USA and South America connecting in Madrid with ELAL to TLV do not have enough time for luggage to be transfered and go through ELAL strict security process which includes passengers recognition of each piece. This is due not so much for the extra time for ELAL security but mainly for slow luggage transfer and baggage claim at Barajas airport.

C-class Luton-TLV and return TLV-LHR. Out on a tired 757 with far from state-of-the-art seats and antique IFE cheerful crew decent food. Smooth security screening at Luton. Easy clearance through newish T3 at TLV. Return on a 777 - again fairly weary but with an excellent crew. I know my experience is not in accord with others but I found nothing really to complain about other than a somewhat tired collection of aircraft.

CDG-TVL-FCO. CDG-TLV on B777. Aircraft reasonably new and IFE acceptable though not brilliant. Long boarding delays due to what seemed like poor organisation and passengers not following instructions. Econony class was reasonably comfortable. Food not bad. TLV-FCO on an old B737 IFE limited and quite poor and seats were not as comfortable as the B777. The service was reasonable and security whilst thorough and overbearing was not as bad as I had thought that it would be.

I did not enjoy my flights from JFK-TLV-JFK. The meals were OK lack of legroom was appalling. The IFE was passable but nothing on demand just a few movies on a cycle. El Al is too permissive with the amount of carry-on luggage permitted. But the big problem is the passengers who treat the aircraft like a city park wandering the aisles clustering in conversation groups to the point of ignoring the crew’s instructions. El Al needs to enforce some decorum. Crew did their best to smile but seemed to have given up on any hope of more civility. Nice snacks in the galley throughout the flight.

Bangkok to Tel Aviv. Very old aircraft dirty and many features/items not working. Entertainment system appalling still projecting movies onto bulkhead screen and only radio options in seat. Too much cabin baggage allowed. Food surprisingly good although no frills like other carriers. Sparing with water but available on request. Lots of children on board so all bulkhead bassinets taken. Cabin crew did their best generally cheerful and accommodating. Long flight time but didn't have too many options to get to Tel Aviv was also expensive for economy class ticket. TLV security measures - be prepared and stay calm!

Airplane dated and small seats but crew friendly. Breakfast good other meals fair to poor. At airport in NYC I was interrogated and my companion taken in a private room and his bags searched. Fine with us - I feel safer.