EL AL Matmid - Price comparison between BA and LY on LHR-TLV route

Hi all

Relatively new FT-er and first time poster in El Al forum.

I have always flown LY to TLV but, now being BA staff was wondering if anyone knows how they justfiy being SO expensive to TLV, always more than LY! That means higher cost with less security/ peace of mind. I just don't get it!

I am happy to keep flying LY as it holds a special place in my heart but my ID90 will kick in eventually and this quesion will become more relevant!

Thanks

BAWatersideGuy welcome to FT.

1. Glad you've come over to post on the LY board but why did you not post this in the BA forum where it clearly belongs? :confused:

2. Sorry but to say BA is always more expensive than LY is simply not true.

Try pricing up TLV-NYC on LY and BA and come back tell us what you've found...

When it comes to premium cabins BA wins hands down in terms of product and pricing.

3. Your statement re less security and peace of mind on BA is also nonsense and a very "old fashioned" thing to say.
Does LY have the edge in terms of on board security? of course it does as it hasn't got much of a choice but do you really think flying BA is less safe? do you really think BA should be cheaper because they are not as safe?

BAWatersideGuy welcome to FT.


Try pricing up TLV-NYC on LY and BA and come back tell us what you've found...



two different products, so you shouldnt compare them.
yes, the destination is NYC, but with Elal you take a night flight , sleep and arrive for a new day, you dont loose any work day. with BA its different.

BAWatersideGuy welcome to FT.

2. Sorry but to say BA is always more expensive than LY is simply not true.

Try pricing up TLV-NYC on LY and BA and come back tell us what you've found...



Just booked TLV-LHR in economy, BA was way cheaper.

Hi all

Relatively new FT-er and first time poster in El Al forum.

I have always flown LY to TLV but, now being BA staff was wondering if anyone knows how they justfiy being SO expensive to TLV, always more than LY! That means higher cost with less security/ peace of mind. I just don't get it!

I am happy to keep flying LY as it holds a special place in my heart but my ID90 will kick in eventually and this quesion will become more relevant!

Thanks

BAWaterside - is this some sort of reverse psychology stunt? If it is then there's no need as we all know here that BA is cheaper than ELAL. I'd be very interested in you finding me a scenario when it’s the other way around (not including promotions of course).

I just flew TLV-NYC-TLV this week on BA in CW because it was almost $800 cheaper than LY Business!

BA's hard product in C trumps LY any day. Price-wise as well.
Only plus LY has in the overnight option on Long Haul.
But - if I was faced with flying TLV-NYC by day, I would chose BA over LY even with the stop in LHR.
Oh - and one more thing: the Hermolis meal in Club World rocks! That's what they serve for flights departing LHR. Unfortunately BA uses El Al's Borenstein garbage out of NYC.

BAWaterside - is this some sort of reverse psychology stunt? If it is then there's no need as we all know here that BA is cheaper than ELAL. I'd be very interested in you finding me a scenario when it’s the other way around (not including promotions of course).

I just flew TLV-NYC-TLV this week on BA in CW because it was almost $800 cheaper than LY Business!


I'm sory to have upset people but my original post was an innocent one in good faith...

In my (apparently limited) experience, BA has always been more expensive than LY. Please note this is only economy and from LHR as that is the only route and class I have ever flown.

In terms of safety, I was not referring to feeling safe on the plane but the additional security on the ground in terms of the gate/ check-in questioning .etc I am not saying BA are "not as safe" but that I would have thought that the additional security levels set-up by LY would cost more and that this would be passed on to the passengers.

I stand corrected on all fronts and thank you for the barrage of abuse!

:confused:

Apologies also for posting in the "wrong forum"

Thanks anyway

I'm sory to have upset people but my original post was an innocent one in good faith...

No reason to feel bad. You're simply looking at the problem from opposite sides of the fence.

Most airlines charge more for tickets in their home markets. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that people prefer to fly with an airline where they can freely communicate with the crew in their own language, that most people simply trust their fellow citizens more than foreigners, the fact that many people are members of their "own" airlines frequent flyer program and may be willing to spend more to fly with them, etc.

To make a long story short: If you buy a ticket in London, BA and VS will often be the most expensive airlines. If you buy a ticket in Tel Aviv, LY will often be the most expensive option.

If you read a few other forums on FlyerTalk, you'll see that Dutch people often complain that KLM is very expensive, Germans complain that Lufthansa is expensive, etc.

Very accurate statement and well worded Red Chili. To BAWatersideguy, just because people didn't agree doesn't make them correct either. Look at the evidence and make your own determination. You'll be wrong some times and correct others. People can be quite hostile on certain topics on FlyerTalk. Don't take it too personal and keep sharing your experiences. You might also learn how to make the most out of your experience.
I moved from LY to CO for my NYC-TLV runs and can't believe I stuck with LY for all those years. I thought it was ok service but realized after I was just not opening my eyes. Once again this is my own opinion and others will not share it.
Comparing LY's direct flight to BA's connecting flight is not wise either. Direct flights are often more expensive on LH international flights between popular destinations. When you add in a connection via a high traffic airport on competitive routes. LHR-TLV isn't that competitive but LHR-NYC sure is.

No reason to feel bad. You're simply looking at the problem from opposite sides of the fence.

Most airlines charge more for tickets in their home markets. There are several reasons for this, including the fact that people prefer to fly with an airline where they can freely communicate with the crew in their own language, that most people simply trust their fellow citizens more than foreigners, the fact that many people are members of their "own" airlines frequent flyer program and may be willing to spend more to fly with them, etc.

To make a long story short: If you buy a ticket in London, BA and VS will often be the most expensive airlines. If you buy a ticket in Tel Aviv, LY will often be the most expensive option.

If you read a few other forums on FlyerTalk, you'll see that Dutch people often complain that KLM is very expensive, Germans complain that Lufthansa is expensive, etc.

Thanks for your post.
I think you made a very good point and it makes a lot of sense!

Very accurate statement and well worded Red Chili. To BAWatersideguy, just because people didn't agree doesn't make them correct either. Look at the evidence and make your own determination. You'll be wrong some times and correct others. People can be quite hostile on certain topics on FlyerTalk. Don't take it too personal and keep sharing your experiences. You might also learn how to make the most out of your experience.
I moved from LY to CO for my NYC-TLV runs and can't believe I stuck with LY for all those years. I thought it was ok service but realized after I was just not opening my eyes. Once again this is my own opinion and others will not share it.
Comparing LY's direct flight to BA's connecting flight is not wise either. Direct flights are often more expensive on LH international flights between popular destinations. When you add in a connection via a high traffic airport on competitive routes. LHR-TLV isn't that competitive but LHR-NYC sure is.


Thanks. I just wanted to set the record straight as to what I was saying in the first place. I'm not upset!

Also I was not comparing a direct flight to a connecting flight as I am in London and so the LY and BA flights are both always direct LHR-TLV.

That was for clubman.

Thanks. I just wanted to set the record straight as to what I was saying in the first place. I'm not upset!

Also I was not comparing a direct flight to a connecting flight as I am in London and so the LY and BA flights are both always direct LHR-TLV.

In terms of safety, I was not referring to feeling safe on the plane but the additional security on the ground in terms of the gate/ check-in questioning .etc I am not saying BA are "not as safe" but that I would have thought that the additional security levels set-up by LY would cost more and that this would be passed on to the passengers.

Airlines do their pricing based on the market demand not based on the costs. LY can't charge more than BA unless customers are willing to pay more more the LY product. Customers don't care about how much costs the airline has when they select the airline they want to fly.

two different products, so you shouldnt compare them.
yes, the destination is NYC, but with Elal you take a night flight , sleep and arrive for a new day, you dont loose any work day. with BA its different.

Not exactly. Sure the LY night flight and BA are not the same product but for many reasons, not just the one you noted. Also, LY have a day flight too which means you "lose a day" of work. Personally I don't see it as a lost work day, particularly if you are flying in comfort upfront as you can use the time to get work done without being disturbed by emails and phone calls. When flying LY in the past I sometimes got 10 hours straight of work done on board (leaving on the 10.40am flight) only breaking for food and a bit of a rest.

Overall I would say that if your destination is NY then the direct flight of LY has an advantage over an indirect flight such as BA but only in that sense. In all other aspects BA trumps LY and with that I mean: hard product, meal service, and most importantly pricing. If you can save a few hundred dollars or sometimes more than $1000 by flying indirect, many people would consider this justified, most likely including your CFO, CEO, etc.

For me, the point is mute as mostly my destination is Chicago or elsewhere, not NY. So it's a no brainer - fly in comfort all the way to your destination or near enough via London rather than to NY and then to have to continue to your destination from NY with a dinky plane after a LH flight.

Bottom line is and I've said it before, if LY improved the hard product significantly and became competitive pricing-wise in C to NA I would consider returning.

snark alert:

you could try easyjet. it's only 300 round-trip form London to Tel Aviv

you could try easyjet. it's only 300 round-trip form London to Tel AvivWhat a strange post if you don't mind me saying so... Almost like announcing the length of a piece of string...

300 what? Pounds, dollars? And when, What dates? The prices on easyjet can range from a bargain £150 return to £500+ depending on time of year, how far in advance you book and what's still available (like any other airline really...).

What a strange post if you don't mind me saying so... Almost like announcing the length of a piece of string...

300 what? Pounds, dollars? And when, What dates? The prices on easyjet can range from a bargain £150 return to £500+ depending on time of year, how far in advance you book and what's still available (like any other airline really...).

300 dollars return, many dates in February and March

First on BA:

Concorde Room, Flat bed seat - single seats by the window, vintage champagne, PJs, Annya Hindmarch washbag with REN products.

First on LY:

A pretty poor shared J lounge without hot food, all seats in pairs and not particularly special by modern F standards, some undrinkable Israeli sparking wine (this really annoys me - you can get kosher Laurent Perrier and Laurent Perrier Rose).

I know which one I choose, even if BA is priced slightly higher (and it normally is the same)

First on BANo need to compare BA F to LY F, just compare CW to LY F...

No need to compare BA F to LY F, just compare CW to LY F...

Agreed. LY F is an excellent Business Class.

Agreed. LY F is an excellent Business Class.

100% correct.
And LY C is a fabulous "Premium Economy"!!!

100% correct.
And LY C is a fabulous "Premium Economy"!!!

IMO, LY C is a lot better than many airlines' C. Just not the good ones. For example, looking at SN, LO, OS... LY has a better product. It simple doesn't come close to real C classes (BA, LX, AC, DL, CO...)
F however doesn't compare to any F classes I'm aware of. But as C classes go, it's one of the best. (I happen to love the F service on LY, so I'm more looking at the hard product here...)

I have always flown LY to TLV but, now being BA staff was wondering if anyone knows how they justfiy being SO expensive to TLV, always more than LY! Some more examples for TLV-LHR...

06/02 - 09/02

Economy:
LY: $833
BA: $619

Business:
LY: $1919
BA: $1281

12/03 - 16/03

Economy:
LY: $833
BA: $619

Business:

LY: $1636
BA:$1281

Checking a few other random dates during Feb and March shows BA as consistently cheaper.

I think LY impose the Suterday night rule here while BA do not, but even when removing that "issue" and changing the dates to stay over a Saturday BA are cheaper by at least $100 in Economy and a few hundred dollars in Biz, and let's not forget that most of us that travel for work would rather be home for the weekend...

Hi all

Relatively new FT-er and first time poster in El Al forum.

I have always flown LY to TLV but, now being BA staff was wondering if anyone knows how they justfiy being SO expensive to TLV, always more than LY! That means higher cost with less security/ peace of mind. I just don't get it!

I am happy to keep flying LY as it holds a special place in my heart but my ID90 will kick in eventually and this quesion will become more relevant!

Thanks

I was al El Al Gold Card holder for a number of years before repeated customer service mishaps/rudeness and cancelling of routes finally drove me over to BA. Frankly, there is zero comparison of service on BA, especially if you have status. BA is vastly superior in both hard and soft product. The security issue isn't much, as all flights departing TLV have the same security. I really see no problems with the security at LHR as well. Do you really need the anti-missile system to feel comfortable? :)

I also find BA nearly always cheaper... like you, I flew El Al for many years out of convenience (lots of direct flights for us here in TLV) and out of "patriotism" - well, enough of that. Now all my travel to the states is on BA, and all my travel to Europe is on their respective carriers for direct flights. I kick only enough travel each year to El Al to maintain my lounge access in Tel Aviv (silver + pay for it) as the Dan Lounge is really awful.

Finally, El Al isn't a member of any alliance...so your status is worth exactly zero outside of Israel.

Not sure why easyjet is in the discussion. I suppose we could give you other options like getting a boat with a few friends and rowing there.

Do yourself a favor and skip El Al. Maybe if enough of us do, they will get their act together.

Do yourself a favor and skip El Al. Maybe if enough of us do, they will get their act together.

They won't...