EL AL Matmid - purchase El Al economy>business upgrade: possible and cost?

I'm considering flying to Israel for a weekend in March. The ticket would be purchased in economy, in O class. The fare rules are pasted below.

How possible is it to pay for an upgrade for these overnight NYC<>TLV flights, and how much would the upgrade cost? I remember reading here that El Al sold upgrades for about $250 each way to a business class seat with no special service, but I don't know whether that's always if there's space or just in cases of making money where they'd otherwise do op-ups.

If not, how might I pay for or prereserve the exit row seats? I have status on AA but not on LY. Obviously, I can reserve such seats on AA or on a oneworld partner, but that would necessitate a connection (in LHR/AMM etc.) and possibly only being able to fly in the exits on half the legs of the itinerary.

Many thanks in advance.


El Al LY OL3USA3M NYC to TLV
General notes

BASIC SEASON SECOND LEVEL SUPER/SPECIAL O
APEX FARES
Between THE UNITED STATES and ISRAEL FOR ROUND TRIP FARES

Eligibility restrictions

NOTE -
UNACCOMPANIED INFANT- NOT ELIGIBLE

Seasonal restrictions

FOR TRAVEL ON/BEFORE 19OCT 12
PERMITTED 05JAN 12 THROUGH 27MAR 12 OR 16OCT 12 THROUGH
19OCT 12 ON THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.

Flight restrictions

THE FARE COMPONENT MUST INCLUDE TRAVEL VIA EACH
TRANSATLANTIC SECTOR ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
LY FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 4999
LY FLIGHTS 7000 THROUGH 9999.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL WITHIN AREA 1
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
AA FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 5599
AA FLIGHTS 8400 THROUGH 9999
ANY AS FLIGHT
B6 FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 2999
B6 FLIGHTS 4000 THROUGH 9999
DL FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 6799
DL FLIGHTS 7000 THROUGH 7399
LY FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 4999
LY FLIGHTS 7000 THROUGH 9999
ANY QX FLIGHT
US FLIGHTS 001 THROUGH 4799
US FLIGHTS 8901 THROUGH 9999
WS FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 4999.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND EUROPE
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
AA FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 5599
AA FLIGHTS 8400 THROUGH 9999
LY FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 4999
LY FLIGHTS 7000 THROUGH 9999.
NOTE -
TRAVEL BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPE ON
AA/LY PERMITTED IN ONE DIRECTION ON DIRECT OR NON-
STOP FIGHTS ACCORDING TO SPECIFIED ROUTING AND
MUST BE PRICED MANUALLY.
SEE STOPOVER/TRANSFERS FOR SPECIFIC ROUTINGS.
AND
IF THE FARE COMPONENT INCLUDES TRAVEL BETWEEN EUROPE AND
ISRAEL
THEN THAT TRAVEL MUST BE ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
LY FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 4999
LY FLIGHTS 7000 THROUGH 9999.
NOTE -
WHEN TRAVEL ON AA IS MADE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATE
S AND EUROPE THEN TRAVEL BETWEEN EUROPE AND ISRAEL
MUST BE ON LY AND MUST BE PRICED MANUALLY.

Advanced reservation/ticketing restrictions

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SECTORS.
NOTE -
WHEN RESERVATIONS ARE MADE AT LEAST 15 DAYS BEFORE
DEPARTURE TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 3 DAY
S AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE.
OR - RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SECTORS.
WHEN RESERVATIONS ARE MADE AT LEAST 4 DAYS BEFORE
DEPARTURE TICKETING MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN 1 DAY
AFTER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE.
OR - RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS AND TICKETING MU
ST BE COMPLETED AT THE SAME TIME.
DIFFERENCE COULD EXIST BETWEEN THE CRS LAST
TICKETING DATE AND TTL ROBOT REMARK.
THE MOST RESTRICTIVE DATE PREVAILS.

Minimum stay requirements

TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO EARLIER THAN
THE FIRST SUN AFTER DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL
SECTOR.

Maximum stay requirements

TRAVEL FROM LAST STOPOVER MUST COMMENCE NO LATER THAN 3
MONTHS AFTER DEPARTURE FROM FARE ORIGIN.
NOTE -
EXTENSION OF MAX STAY FOR MEDICAL REASONS IS NOT
PERMITTED.

Stopover restrictions

1 STOPOVER PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION IN TLV AT USD 25.00
EACH.
AND - 1 STOPOVER PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION IN EUROPE.
AND - 1 STOPOVER PERMITTED IN EACH DIRECTION IN NORTH
AMERICA.
NOTE -
FOR MANUAL PRICING INVOLVING CARRIERS OTHER THAN
LY/ THE BELOW CONDITIONS USING THE SPECIFIC
CARRIERS AND CITIES APPLY.
ONE STOPOVER IN EUROPE IS PERMITTED ONLY ON THE
DIRECT OR NONSTOP FLIGHTS OF AA/LY
TRAVEL ON CODESHARE FLIGHTS AA PERMITTED.
WHEN EUROPE STOPOVER IS TAKEN MANUAL PRICING MAY
BE REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPECIFIED ROUTING
AS SHOWN -
----
1/ PERMITTED ROUTINGS VIA EUROPE EITHER OUTBOUND
OR INBOUND -
BETWEEN AND POINT IN USA CARRIER
BRU AND NYC OR CHI ON AA
------------------------------------------------
FRA AND CHI OR DFW ON AA
------------------------------------------------
LON AND BOS/CHI/DFW/LAX/
MIA/NYC ON AA
------------------------------------------------
MAD AND MIA ON AA
------------------------------------------------
PAR AND BOS/DFW/MIA/NYC/CHI ON AA
------------------------------------------------
ROM AND CHI/NYC ON AA
------------------------------------------------
ZRH AND DFW/NYC ON AA
------------------------------------------------
MIL AND NYC ON AA
2/ PERMITTED FLIGHTS BETWEEN EUROPE AND NORTH
AMERICA
CARRIER PERMITTED FLIGHTS BETWEEN
EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA
AA 0001-5599/8400-9999
LY 0001-4999/7000-9999

Transfer restrictions

IF THE FARE COMPONENT IS ON
ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING
AA FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 5599
AA FLIGHTS 8400 THROUGH 9999
LY FLIGHTS 0001 THROUGH 4999
LY FLIGHTS 7000 THROUGH 9999
UNLIMITED TRANSFERS PERMITTED ON THE FARE COMPONENT FREE
FARE BREAK AND EMBEDDED SURFACE SECTORS PERMITTED ON
THE FARE COMPONENT.
NOTE -
FOR MANUAL PRICING INVOLVING
THE TRANSFER IN EUROPE IS ONLY PERMITTED BETWEEN
LY AND AA
DIRECT OR NONSTOP FLIGHTS.
CODESHARE FLIGHTS OF AA
NOT PERMITTED.
MANUAL PRICING WHEN ENTIRE ITINERARY NOT ON LY.
SEE STOPOVER FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

Combinability

ADD-ON CONSTRUCTION IS ADDRESSED IN MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS - CATEGORY 23.
END-ON-END
END-ON-END COMBINATIONS PERMITTED WITH FARES WITHIN AREA
1. VALIDATE ALL FARE COMPONENTS. SIDE TRIPS NOT
PERMITTED.
OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS
FARES MAY BE COMBINED ON A HALF ROUND TRIP BASIS
-TO FORM SINGLE OR DOUBLE OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE
TRIPS.
OPEN JAWS/ROUND TRIPS/CIRCLE TRIPS NOTE -
SIDE TRIP COMBINATIONS NOT PERMITTED.
PROVIDED -
COMBINATIONS ARE WITH ANY FARE FOR CARRIER LY IN ANY
RULE IN TARIFF
IPRA - USA/CANADA-AREA 2/3 AND GUAM-AREA 2 VIA
ATLANTIC
IPRAI - BETWEEN THE USA/CANADA-AREA 2/3 VIA
ATLANTIC.

Surcharges

IF INFANT UNDER 02 WITHOUT A SEAT.
THERE IS NO CHARGE.
ORIGINATING THE UNITED STATES -
FOR TICKETING ON/AFTER 22NOV 11
A FUEL SURCHARGE OF USD 259.00 PER DIRECTION WILL BE
ADDED TO THE APPLICABLE FARE.
NOTE -
1. THE FUEL SURCHARGE WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE
FARE CALCULATION AREA OF THE TICKET PRECEDED
BY THE LETTER Q IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING AN LY
SEGMENT AND ACCRUES TO LY.
2. CHILDREN AND/OR ANY OTHER DISCOUNT DOES NOT
APPLY -I.E. FULL IMPOSITION OF THE FUEL
SURCHARGE.
3. ITINERARIES INVOLVING MORE THAN 1 EL AL FLIGHT
IN THE COMPONENT WILL BE SURCHARGED ONLY ONCE
PER COMPONENT.

Travel restrictions

VALID FOR TRAVEL COMMENCING ON/AFTER 29NOV 11.

Sales restrictions

TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/AFTER 29NOV 11.

Penalties

CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW.
NOTE -
FOR NON REFUNDABLE TICKETS THE YQ SURCHARGE WILL N
OT BE REFUNDED.
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHARGE USD 170.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
NOTE -
CHARGE IS PER TRANSACTION WITHIN FARE VALIDITY
PROVIDED SUCH CHANGE IS MADE NO LATER THAN THE
DATE ON COUPON BEING CHANGED. MAY ALSO UPGRADE
TO NEXT HIGHER FARE PERMITTED FOR DIFFERENCE PLUS
THE PENALTIES OF THE ORIGINAL FARE PROVIDED RULES
OF THAT FARE ARE MET.
NOT APPLICABLE FOR CHANGE TO THE FIRST COUPON

Endorsements

THE ORIGINAL AND THE REISSUED TICKET MUST BE ANNOTATED -
FARE RESTRICTIONS APPLY - IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX.

Discounts

ACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11 - CHARGE 90 PERCENT OF THE FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - CH
OR - UNACCOMPANIED CHILD 2-11 - CHARGE 90 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - CH
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITHOUT A SEAT - CHARGE 10 PERCENT OF
THE FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - IN
OR - INFANT UNDER 2 WITH A SEAT - CHARGE 90 PERCENT OF THE
FARE.
TICKET DESIGNATOR - CH.
NOTE -
UNACCOMPANIED INFANT - NOT PERMITTED FOR CARRIAGE.

Tour Discounts

TOUR CONDUCTOR - NO DISCOUNT.

Agent Discounts

AGENT - NO DISCOUNT.

Miscellaneous Fare Tags

NOTE -
COMBINATIONS WITH ETH ADD-ONS PERMITTED

Voluntary changes

IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS
ANYTIME WITHIN TKT VALIDITY
CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY
THOSE OF LY INTERNATIONAL FARES
CHARGE USD 170.00 FOR REISSUE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL
FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND
REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED
PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET-
1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON
2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST
BE DOMESTIC
3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT
4. CHANGE IS BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT
5. LY FARES ARE USED
6. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN
PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED
FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF
7. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS
TKT
8. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET
9. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO
DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN
ADD-COLLECT
ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMOUNT.

Application

ROUND TRIP INSTANT PURCHASE FARES FROM THE UNITED STATES
AND ISRAEL FOR ROUND TRIP FARES
APPLICATION
AREA
THESE FARES APPLY
FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ISRAEL.
CLASS OF SERVICE
THESE FARES APPLY FOR ECONOMY CLASS SERVICE.
TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION
THIS RULE GOVERNS ROUND-TRIP FARES.
FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE CAN BE USED TO CREATE
ROUND-TRIP/CIRCLE-TRIP/OPEN-JAW JOURNEYS.
LY- O
FOR SECTORS BETWEEN TLV AND ETH LY RBD G
CAPACITY LIMITATIONS
THE CARRIER SHALL LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED
ON ANY ONE FLIGHT AT FARES GOVERNED BY THIS RULE AND SUCH
FARES WILL NOT NECESSARILY BE AVAILABLE ON ALL FLIGHTS.
THE NUMBER OF SEATS WHICH THE CARRIER SHALL MAKE
AVAILABLE ON A GIVEN FLIGHT WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE
CARRIERS BEST JUDGMENT
OTHER CONDITIONS
35 PASSENGER EXPENSES EN ROUTE

O class is not upgradable. so you cannot pre-upgrade with points. upgrade at the airport - you're not eligable even on a ticket in classes Y/S/M (these are the classes you can upgrade from)

250$ upgrades for biz seat with economy ticket are only available on select flights i which part of the C serction is declared as economy. this rarly ever happen in the tlv-nyc route.

pre-assign exit rows - you cannot do without gold/platinum/top platinum status with elal.
you can register for those seats on the elal website, and maybe you'll get lucky and get them at checkin for 59$ a seat. (matmid members will be ahead of you in this queue for a preferred seat)

if there is space in biz class, you could upgrade for 700$ on the airplane itself

Obviously, I can reserve such seats on AA or on a oneworld partner, but that would necessitate a connection (in LHR/AMM etc.) and possibly only being able to fly in the exits on half the legs of the itinerary.

Are you aware that you can redeem AA miles for flights on LY.

Actually, room is sometimes available on a JFK-TLV flight for $250 upgrades. I flew on the 26DEC on LY008 and almost the whole downstairs C section was $250 upgrade people. They were playing musical passengers and moving people up and down to get this arranged. ( why it wasn't done prior to boarding--well I guess the answer, its El Al should explain it) Interestingly as I stood over 5 minutes ( by the clock) in the upstairs aisle to get to my seat while a couple putzed around fully blocking the aisle, just glaring at the rest of us as if to say, 'I need to rearrange my carryon contents so you all can just stand in the aisle and wait for me to finish--they ended up being downstairs due to their being $250 upgrade people. When they were moved down they were very concerned that there would also be room for their oversized carryon downstairs too!

Actually, room is sometimes available on a JFK-TLV flight for $250 upgrades.
I assume you're talking about them offering Biz seats with Economy service rather than upgrades to C?

I assume you're talking about them offering Biz seats with Economy service rather than upgrades to C?

as i do not know what happenes inside the plane, i can only comment about the situation prior to check-in. the 250$ offer is rarely seen on the NYC route.

you can see i happen mostly: during holidays, and it does happen more often during july/august.

as i do not know what happenes inside the plane, i can only comment about the situation prior to check-in. the 250$ offer is rarely seen on the NYC route.

you can see i happen mostly: during holidays, and it does happen more often during july/august.

Yes, I am talking about biz seats, economy service--that is why they wanted them all together downstairs. I am 100% sure this is what they were offering. There was a young couple behind me in the check-in line who knew someone and was able to check-in on the shorter business/first line. They were offered the $250 upgrade and they were calling mom in Israel to get her opinion. ( we were at JFK) --but he WAS a good kid. Offered to put my very heavy suitcase on the belt by the check-in agent.

Yes, I am talking about biz seats, economy service--that is why they wanted them all together downstairs. I am 100% sure this is what they were offering. There was a young couple behind me in the check-in line who knew someone and was able to check-in on the shorter business/first line. They were offered the $250 upgrade and they were calling mom in Israel to get her opinion. ( we were at JFK) --but he WAS a good kid. Offered to put my very heavy suitcase on the belt by the check-in agent.

i know what you are talking about, and just mentioed that usually this is not the case on most tlv-nyc flights as we can see them on the seat maps BEFORE the flights. if during checkin they decide to change things - i cannot know about this.

and as i said - there are periods during the year when this is more likely to happen on this route and then it's usually visible thru the seat maps well in advance.

If there is space available after everyone has boarded you can upgrade to business class for $700 for one-way regardless of which fare class you paid for. And you get full business class service.

If there is space available after everyone has boarded you can upgrade to business class for $700 for one-way regardless of which fare class you paid for. And you get full business class service.

Can this only be done on-board, or also at the gate? And at any point on-board?

Can this only be done on-board, or also at the gate? And at any point on-board?

as far as i know, only on board. After all eligable pax got their upgrades.
but it will not harm to notify the people at checkin of your intensions.

Is it possible to pay the $700 upgrade by credit card, or does this require cash?

...and more importantly, is it worth it (on a 777 flight to EWR whose ship number is still unknown to me)?

(Like the OP, I'm on an O fare.)

Thanks!

It is always worth it to upgrade to business.

Yes, I am talking about biz seats, economy service
that's the important part anyways. its not like the 'service' is worth more than a few dozen shekel anyways

One of my questions was answered at check in: the fee may be paid by credit card.