El Al Matmid - OUTRAGEOUS - $10 Charge for Matmid Activity by Phone!!!!

Unbelievable!
LY just announced (only on the Hebrew site) that begining Oct 15th, anything you do with your Matmid account through the Call Center is going to cost you $10 (or 20 points). That includes issuing a voucher, bonus tickets, connecting a voucher to a reservation, everything.

They say the reason they are doing it is is because they have spent SO much money creating Internet tools for these functions, they want to encourage us to use them.

One problem: half the time the web tools DON'T WORK. The LY website is not ready for prime time. Its a piece of junk!!!!! Even right now, they have a bug where anybody changing a seat on a flight is automatically ordered a Veggie meal. Are they kidding about this $10 thing?

What's more - have you noticed that El Al sometime has points to dollars at 1 to 1 but now, more and more, they are making it 2 to 1 when its in their favor and 1 to 2 when its against.

NOT impressed.

The advance notice is quite appreciated. :td:

Where have you seen that? Searched and didnt found...
Anyway i think its ok and not that bad as it looks, i believe at the end
most of the glitches will be fixed, And also the wont charge you every time
you call and so on - I dont think its time to get panicked (yet!)...

If i could do everything via web sites, i would do so.

http://www.elal.co.il/ELAL/Hebrew/MatmidFrequentFlyer/NewsAndDeals/NewAndUpdates_items/news_111009.htm

First, Its from November and not October...
Second, What do you complain about? Its only for services which the
web site provide - So any other thing which cannot be done thru the web is free.

Now, Lets see your math, If you have issues a bonus ticket to Paris
and want to change it to Amsterdam (True Story), Doing it over the phone
cost 35$, from the 15/11 it will cost 45$, Doing it via the web site cost 0$.

Assuming the wouldnt collect the 10$, What would you do? Pay 35$ or do it
thru the web site for 0$

Thanks,
Ebzed

I have just searched all over the English site and I can't find any mention of this charge. Does that mean you have to speak Hebrew to be charged -lol, or does that mean if you only speak English the charge will be a complete surprise.

I have just searched all over the English site and I can't find any mention of this charge. Does that mean you have to speak Hebrew to be charged -lol, or does that mean if you only speak English the charge will be a complete surprise.

Don't you know that everything costs more in Israel if you speak English?
:p:p:p

First, Its from November and not October...
Second, What do you complain about? Its only for services which the
web site provide - So any other thing which cannot be done thru the web is free.

Now, Lets see your math, If you have issues a bonus ticket to Paris
and want to change it to Amsterdam (True Story), Doing it over the phone
cost 35$, from the 15/11 it will cost 45$, Doing it via the web site cost 0$.

Assuming the wouldnt collect the 10$, What would you do? Pay 35$ or do it
thru the web site for 0$

Thanks,
Ebzed

First of all, in general I agree that its preferable to do these things via the web.

BUT - El Al's website is NOT user friendly in the slightest. The instructions are woefully unclear - even in Hebrew. AND the darn thing is regularly broken and is overall defective! Go explain to one of the phone agents that the web function isn't working!

Once people will understand it save them money, they will start to use it a lot..., If you have comments, send feedback to EL-AL.

I have just loged in to my account and tried to issue an upgrade for F.
(I don't take chances with the last minute upgrades on busy flights)

The system told me to login again.
I loged in again.
The system doesn't know me yet... login again.
again and again.
I called Elal and asked for help without the 10$ charge.
The nice lady told me that they don't charge money from GL,PL,TPL.

She did it for me for free:)
See you on the 26th 001 at 2A

LiorM

See you on the 26th 001 at 2A

LiorM

The charges is only from the 15/11, not 15/10, So lets see what happens then.
I might meet you there... Smuggle me some chocolate from F if i wont be upgraded...:p

The charges is only from the 15/11, not 15/10, So lets see what happens then.
I might meet you there... Smuggle me some chocolate from F if i wont be upgraded...:p

I am in F.
I will arive late . But I can take you to the F launage

I am in F.
I will arive late . But I can take you to the F launage

Well, If i will be upgraded to F i will take you to the F lounge! 8-)
I just to finalize my flight details (And make sure the wife is ok with them!)
will keep you updated in pm

Well, If i will be upgraded to F i will take you to the F lounge! 8-)
I just to finalize my flight details (And make sure the wife is ok with them!)
will keep you updated in pm

Great
I never take chances and make the upgrade in advance for full 700 points.

2A all the way