Middle East - TLV pre-check in seating/sleeping

Hi there,

I have an early flight leaving TLV at 05.30 AM on Saturday morning. With the 3 hrs. minimum check-in time, I would need to be at the airport latest by 02.30 am.

With the prospect of anyway getting minimal sleep, I decided to skip the hotel for my last night. Rather, I would have dinner and drinks in Tel Aviv, and then head out to the airport around midnight.

Are there any seating areas or a café prior to check-in/security, where I could settle down for some hours? Is it even allowed to hang out in airport so long before checking in? I'm leaving with LX (as *G), but I gather from other threads that check-in is first opening 3 hrs. prior to departure.

Som advice here would be much appreciated:-)

Thanks

There are plenty of eating places and coffee shops at TLV that are open 24 hours a day and that you don't have to go through security to get to.

If you go to the departure level there are shops behind the check in counters.
Just go through one of the passageways and return later to the security line and check in.

You can also take the elevator down to the G level (arrivals). There are 2 coffee shops there

Yup - follow badatz's advice. I'll be in that same 05:30 LX flight on Wednesday morning (in 1 week), and plan on doing just that.

@ badatz and joshwex90: Thanks for your advice. I will find try to find a seat, so I can dose off a bit. I guess that's life if you are cheap and save on the hotel.

Btw, do any of you know, why flights for Europe depart at these crazy hours?

There was a discussion on the LX board about this flight, and it has something with people getting to Europe in time for the work day (similar to DL, CO, US, and LY flights to both EWR and JFK, 5 flights in total to NYC/PHL all departing at or around midnight).

It may also have something to do with LX and LH needing their aircraft at specific times for other flights.

do any of you know, why flights for Europe depart at these crazy hours?You think that's crazy? There was a time last year when the LX/LH morning flights left at 04:30!

The main reason is that a lot of people are connecting onto other destinations especially on LH.

To the OP, re-reading your post, I'm not so sure how many places will be open. I don't fly on the Sabbath, so I suggest hearing from non-Sabbath observers about the situation in TLV on Saturday morning, but Kosher places won't be open, and a bunch of places there are Kosher.

Heading straight to a business meeting, after having no sleep and a departure at that hour sounds pretty tough. I'm anyway visiting on vacation.

As I'm non-Jewish I will not have any issues with shabbat, but a bench or a seat somewhere would suffice, as I plan on getting dinner in the city. Thanks for your advice. Looking very much forward to experience Israel (and TLV by night). Thanks.

Heading straight to a business meeting, after having no sleep and a departure at that hour sounds pretty tough. I'm anyway visiting on vacation.

As I'm non-Jewish I will not have any issues with shabbat, but a bench or a seat somewhere would suffice, as I plan on getting dinner in the city. Thanks for your advice. Looking very much forward to experience Israel (and TLV by night). Thanks.
What I meant was many places in TLV are closed on Shabbat, but I wish you luck. You will definitely have places to relax and just sit before security

I too do not eat out on the Sabbath. However, since I have found it hard to find a Kosher place in Tel Aviv, I am confident that it will be very easy to find multiple non-Kosher restaurants that are all open on the Sabbath,

I too do not eat out on the Sabbath. However, since I have found it hard to find a Kosher place in Tel Aviv, I am confident that it will be very easy to find multiple non-Kosher restaurants that are all open on the Sabbath,
In Tel Aviv (the city), yes. In TLV (the airport), not so easy. That's what I was referring to.

Looking very much forward to experience Israel (and TLV by night). Thanks.

Enjoy! My advice would be to have a late dinner (11ish) and go out for some drinkies/partying until 2A, and then hop a cab to the airport. Don't hang out at the airport from 12, it is a great airport but its not *that* interesting.

entropy, that could be problematic if OP has luggage

entropy, that could be problematic if OP has luggage
its not like I travel with a backpack. Most hotels are used to the late night/early morning nonsense. Just check it with the hotel until you want to leave.

You think that's crazy? There was a time last year when the LX/LH morning flights left at 04:30!

The main reason is that a lot of people are connecting onto other destinations especially on LH.

The early flights connect with the West Coast USA flights.