EL AL Matmid - [GONE] ~ $353 roundtrip to Israel!

Saw a lot of this posted on my social network feeds this morning. I verified a sample fare on Expedia. Not sure if it's a mistake and/or how long it will last...

http://www.theflightdeal.com/2012/08/06/el-al-us-tel-aviv-israel/

http://kollelbudget.com/hot-round-trip-ticket-from-jfk-to-tel-aviv-for-as-low-as-353-including-tax/

Yep! We have a big thread in the MR forum going. I posted a BOS deal, and other have chimed in with deals from DFW, NYC, and ORD, too.

It's an offer I couldn't refuse. :)

...and my condolences to the LY employee whose head is going to roll on account of this little oopsie.

Two questions:

1) How many miles will you earn on American (what class of service is it)?
2) What's the easiest way to see choice of layover airports?
3) How do you book as stopover and not layover?

Two questions:

1) How many miles will you earn on American (what class of service is it)?
2) What's the easiest way to see choice of layover airports?
3) How do you book as stopover and not layover?

That's three (3) questions :D

Some reports the glitch has been fixed.

probably has.

Link:

Dirt Cheap Tickets On El Al To Be Honored (http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking-news/dirt-cheap-tickets-el-al-be-honored)

Great Job by El Al honoring these without putting up a fuss.

Was it not a mistake at Expedia? Isn't it for them to pay the price?

Anyone know if name changes will be allowed?

Also... any chance El Al will offer some sort of bonus for canceling? Have 2 extras that I don't need and figured maybe they'd throw in some sort of voucher to let go of them...

Was it not a mistake at Expedia? Isn't it for them to pay the price?

No, this was not an Expedia error.

I booked 3 sets of tickets by cheapoair.com, but on 1 res I made a mistake with the CC #, the ticket is booked, how can I make sure it will not cancel? (cheapoair.com said they can't change the CC)

Was it not a mistake at Expedia? Isn't it for them to pay the price?

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/137032/Major+Pricing+Glitch+With+El+Al+Tickets+-+Trips+To+Israel+Sell+For+For+$337.html

"EL AL had submitted winter promotional fares correctly to an outside company which is responsible for filing airfares for many airlines. That company posted incorrect EL AL fares on several travel web sites. On a daily basis, any published airfare consists of the basic fare, a fuel surcharge and taxes. In this situation, the fuel surcharge was omitted."

Even made it to the Israeli media:
http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/392/960.html?hp=1&cat=402

Was it not a mistake at Expedia? Isn't it for them to pay the price?

Given these tickets were sold on Orbitz, Cheaptickets, Expedia, Vayama, Priceline and various other sites, it is pretty obvious that it was not a mistake at Expedia and thus Expedia is not liable for the situation.

The fares were not mistake fares. The fuel surcharges were subject to adjustment and disappeared in large part for a part of a day, but the fares themselves were 100% legitimate. The OTAs named above are not responsible for the fuel surcharge adjustment/disappearance that was instrumental to this deal.

[If the airlines weren't so greedy and using fuel surcharges to have their cake and eat it too, fuel dumping and outcomes such as that with these tickets wouldn't be what it is.]

LY and the fare-loading and fuel surcharge-adjusting party are those responsible for such outcomes; and it is their expense to eat any costs not covered by insurance they've acquired. Expedia did just fine yesterday.

Even made it to the Israeli media:
http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/392/960.html?hp=1&cat=402

Where is that picture from? loads of people surrounding the aircraft?
Is it possibly from that flight to EWR which made a emergency landing a few months ago?

I booked 3 sets of tickets by cheapoair.com, but on 1 res I made a mistake with the CC #, the ticket is booked, how can I make sure it will not cancel? (cheapoair.com said they can't change the CC)

If the CC is wrong the ticket won't be issued.
HB:FVI4500030012345678+D0119 AMT RECEIVABLE CAD 682.16
INVLD ACCT NUMBER
(This is a fake number)

If the CC is wrong the ticket won't be issued.
HB:FVI4500030012345678+D0119 AMT RECEIVABLE CAD 682.16
INVLD ACCT NUMBER
(This is a fake number)


But its issued, I have etiks

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/137032/Major+Pricing+Glitch+With+El+Al+Tickets+-+Trips+To+Israel+Sell+For+For+$337.html

"EL AL had submitted winter promotional fares correctly to an outside company which is responsible for filing airfares for many airlines. That company posted incorrect EL AL fares on several travel web sites. On a daily basis, any published airfare consists of the basic fare, a fuel surcharge and taxes. In this situation, the fuel surcharge was omitted."
Guess that 3rd party may be coming to the party in paying up to El Al.

But its issued, I have etiks

Then you should be safe.

Where is that picture from? loads of people surrounding the aircraft?
Is it possibly from that flight to EWR which made a emergency landing a few months ago?

The picture was probably taken of a group flight of Olim (new immigrants) coming through the Nefesh B' Nefesh organization.

These flights are deplaned at the old terminal 1 where there are no jetways and the passengers go down to the tarmac.

There is a ceremony, speeches and family reunion on the tarmac and then inside the terminal.

If you look closely you can see a sign on an easel on the bottom left.

As someone who was at a similar ceremony, that is probably a "welcome"
sign

Then you should be safe.

Got an email from cheapoair.com that my tickets was canceled

Is the document number under the eticket tab of El Al considered the E-ticket receipt number?

Congrats to those who grabbed this. Enjoy your trip, and be sure to raise your glass to FlyerTalk while you're there!

FYI for anyone who got one, LY is now saying they might not honor them after all.

I dont think El Al has a choice.
Once they said that they would honor them, they cant back track.

With 5000 tickets sold El Al will loose out financially because of it..so i dont blame them for trying to backtrack, but its too late.

From El Al on Twitter and Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=460150634007087&set=a.128098047212349.15013.116106135078207&type=1

EL AL Israel Airlines is announcing that the tickets which were purchased on a variety of travel internet sites and ticketed earlier this week (on August 6th) will be honored. In addition, EL AL is offering a more convenient option to anyone who has been ticketed at one of these low fares on flights from the USA to Israel.

The tickets that these passengers are currently holding are for travel via a stopover in Europe in both directions. However, to better accommodate these passengers, EL AL is offering a choice to travel nonstop roundtrip to Israel from New York (JFK or Newark) for an additional cost of $75 each way. Yet another choice is that EL AL is offering a full refund without penalty to anyone wishing to cancel their tickets. To take advantage of the nonstop flights or to cancel, passengers holding these tickets should email EL AL between August 14 and 31, 2012 via email to flydirect@elalusa.com and an EL AL representative will respond to the request."

Kol Hakavod!

Very classy.

Some airlines should follow their lead. @:-)

Bravo El-Al!

Those of us who know El Al and what's happened know exactly what is going on here. El Al is on the hook for the mistake and is being forced to pay other carriers for their portion of the cost. So they are offering an incentive to people to move over to their hardware only to reduce the loss.

El Al doesn't have a choice - they have to honor the tickets. It's not out of the goodness of their hearts.

Those of us who know El Al and what's happened know exactly what is going on here. El Al is on the hook for the mistake and is being forced to pay other carriers for their portion of the cost. So they are offering an incentive to people to move over to their hardware only to reduce the loss.

El Al doesn't have a choice - they have to honor the tickets. It's not out of the goodness of their hearts.

As true as that may be. This approach is much more appreciated than if they tried to cancel, and people having to file DOT complaints to get them re-instated etc etc. Bravo to them.

As true as that may be. This approach is much more appreciated than if they tried to cancel, and people having to file DOT complaints to get them re-instated etc etc. Bravo to them.

+1 We all know whats going on here, but lets at least give them credit!

As true as that may be. This approach is much more appreciated than if they tried to cancel, and people having to file DOT complaints to get them re-instated etc etc. Bravo to them.


I agree they could have honored the tickets the ugly way, but they didn't. I don't begrudge them the ability to try to make it as painless for themselves as possible by offering people options.

I'd wager El Al execs flying non-rev in F wouldn't dream of scarfing every flanken meal depriving the other F passengers of a choice.

I'd wager El Al execs flying non-rev in F wouldn't dream of scarfing every flanken meal depriving the other F passengers of a choice.

Anybody understand?

Anybody understand?

Guide for the Perplexed:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileageplus-consolidated/1375177-ua-execs-gobble-best-food.html

I'd wager El Al execs flying non-rev in F wouldn't dream of scarfing every flanken meal depriving the other F passengers of a choice.
Even more so. El Al execs aren't allowed to fly F.

I've flown with the CEO and he was in C while there were several empty seats in F

Glad LY did the smart thing here.

I'd wager most people would prefer to spend the $75 OW to get nonstop and not screw around with EU connections; LY gets to not pay the other airlines. Its a win-win.

+1 We all know whats going on here, but lets at least give them credit!

Agreed. Good on them!

Credit where credit due, LY did the right thing here.

I just can't bealive I missed it...

Credit where credit due, LY did the right thing here.

I just can't bealive I missed it...

?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:rolleyes::confused::eek::mad::(

I agree they could have honored the tickets the ugly way, but they didn't. I don't begrudge them the ability to try to make it as painless for themselves as possible by offering people options.

Indeed. Sounds like making the best of the situation for all involved. If not wanting to take up the offer, there is no requirement to take up the offer.

^^ to LY.

Kol Hakvod. Even though I am not one of the lucky ones, I take my hat off to Elal. You just bought a loyal flyer by simply doing the right thing.

I just found my way here because I read a short bit of news on the error fare in the newspaper and wanted to see what it was about.

Reading about Al El's reaction, all I can say is "wow, that's the way to go!" ^

First time in a long time that LY made a wise business and marketing decision. I bet it will even pay off in the long term.

I wonder if El Al is going to give out seats on 001 during the prime dates (Thanksgiving, Chanukah etc) or try and stick everyone on the day flights which generally don't sell out anyways.

Anyone want to estimate what % of people who got in on this deal would have flown to Israel on LY this winter anyways? If not, then I think LY is doing a big favor to the Israeli economy. If you thought it was tough getting a good deal on a hotel room during past winter.......

I wonder if El Al is going to give out seats on 001 during the prime dates (Thanksgiving, Chanukah etc) or try and stick everyone on the day flights which generally don't sell out anyways.

Anyone want to estimate what % of people who got in on this deal would have flown to Israel on LY this winter anyways? If not, then I think LY is doing a big favor to the Israeli economy. If you thought it was tough getting a good deal on a hotel room during past winter.......


I am one such person (four if you count my husband and kids). Well, I should say we were going to make our best effort to go, anyway. I had been desperately kayaking multiple times a day + fare alerts, etc. waiting for a good opportunity to take the kids to see saba and savta. :) That's how I found the fare one morning and almost choked.

We were also TRYING to plan (if prices were reasonable) a solo trip for my husband, as well. We also got one for him to do that.

Hi. I was able to rebook to non stop flights on the phone, and the agent was very generous with the changes I requested. I wrote about it in my blog. I am not allowed to give the direct link here, but you can see it by googling: Will Run For Miles.

I wonder if El Al is going to give out seats on 001 during the prime dates (Thanksgiving, Chanukah etc) or try and stick everyone on the day flights which generally don't sell out anyways.

Anyone want to estimate what % of people who got in on this deal would have flown to Israel on LY this winter anyways? If not, then I think LY is doing a big favor to the Israeli economy. If you thought it was tough getting a good deal on a hotel room during past winter.......

My wife and I had no plans to visit Israel. We are now going because of this deal. I would say this is a boon to the Israeli economy.

El Al had a good idea in offering people the $75 fee to switch to non-stop flights. The advantage to El Al is that the non-stop flights are pure El Al flights. The connecting flights were flying on another airline for the US -> Europe leg. That meant that El Al would be paying real money to the code-share airline for the people who fly on those connecting flights.

Instead, for the ones who transfer their tickets to the Non-stop El Al flight, El Al can instead remove the small number of frequent flyer seats which might have been available on those flights, as well as some of the other low-fare buckets. And that way they can minimize their losses on this deal.

You don't have to wait till tomorrow morning to change your itinerary. I just called twice, wait time within 5 minutes. First one would only allow me to add one day to my return flight from TLV to JFK. I thanked him, hung up and called again. Spoke to a lady who said I could change it two days ahead. I will receive booking class "W" . I wanted Flight 1, flight leaving at 1 A.M but she said only flight is the 9:40 A.M one. Charged $75. If you want to upgrade to business class, it is an extra 1900 odd dollars.

My wife and I had no plans to visit Israel. We are now going because of this deal. I would say this is a boon to the Israeli economy.

Enjoy your visit!

I've been trying to call, but it keeps hanging up.

I finally got through and made my changes. :D Even though our costs have gone up quite a bit for the trip, it's still way under TRUE pricing, and we're flying 100% cahol-lavan now, so that's good, and I feel good knowing El Al isn't completely taking a bath on our tickets.

Win Win, I think.

I finally got through and made my changes. :D Even though our costs have gone up quite a bit for the trip, it's still way under TRUE pricing, and we're flying 100% cahol-lavan now, so that's good, and I feel good knowing El Al isn't completely taking a bath on our tickets.

Win Win, I think.

what did you change to? were they able to accomodate you from BOS? Good for you , enjoy the trip!!!

what did you change to? were they able to accomodate you from BOS? Good for you , enjoy the trip!!!

No, they did not transport me from BOS.
I just realized, though, that we do actuallt still have one codeshare leg.

My husband is taking a trip by himself in Nov. We changed that both ways and bought him tickets to get to NY.

we are all taking a trip together in Dec., and we changed only one way out of the roundtrip, and bought ourselves one-ways to get home from JFK on that leg that we changed. So our family trip looks like this:
BOS-LHR-TLV (original ticket routing unchanged)
TLV-JFK on El Al (updated routing) and then separately bought JFK-BOS

Even with the change fee AND buying tickets to/from NYC to BOS, the trip is still coming out at about 600 per person for us, and I am a-ok with that price point. It's still a significant bargain for us. Even before any of this has happened, if I saw a $600 ticket on kayak one morning for BOS-TLV, I would be whistling dixie, so by that yardstick I still win. :) I know the mileage runners among us wouldn't dream of it, but it works for us because we were able to get out of dealing with an overnight layover in London with two little kids. That's priceless. ^

If the CC is wrong the ticket won't be issued.
HB:FVI4500030012345678+D0119 AMT RECEIVABLE CAD 682.16
INVLD ACCT NUMBER
(This is a fake number)

Is that scam? Don't do anything! It's too dangerous out there.

Is that scam? Don't do anything! It's too dangerous out there.

No, it's a real display from my GDS screen.
Amadeus won't let me copy it like Sabre will, however.

Some advice: If you can, come here in late October, November, or early December. These are the months which usually have the nicest weather -- even early October can be very hot and January-February-March is often cold and rainy.

Late December offers good weather but sky-high hotel rates because of Christmas.

(Personally, I will be going in the opposite direction and flying to the States for two weeks in December. I missed out on the cheap flight to TLV, but I can take a train pretty much any time of the year there for about $10.) :cool:

Got my call yesterday. Boy, they sure drive a hard bargain on the change. ;)

I asked for, but didn't receive an upgrade and priority boarding. The agent said, in typical Israeli style, that they've already absorbed the cost of our tickets. If we want the good things, we have to pay. :p

I told him I'll call back, since we're still considering the day stop in Zurich.
They're ok with a 1 way change on my return erev Pesach.

Question. Are there bag fees on El AL?

The 777 seems to be a little better than the 747 (less passengers). Opinions please.

dh

Question. Are there bag fees on El AL?



Your first checked bag in Economy is free up to 23 kg. Between 23 and 32 kilos it will cost you $70. (Alternatively, you can take a second bag weighing up to 23 kilos for that same $70.)

Hand luggage is restricted to 8 kilos. (Forget that 20 kilo carry on that Delta would give you.)

The 777 seems to be a little better than the 747 (less passengers). Opinions please.

dh

I prefer the 744 (less cramped), except if on ECE or ECF.

El Al called me three times in the past week to change to the nonstop. They told me that I have until 9/14 to change. In their latest voicemail, they told me American has has been cancelling flights and it may affect my dates of travel by a week if I need to be re-booked. Of course, I don't believe this - how do they know that American is cancelling JFK-ZRH and LHR-JFK flights 4 months ahead of time?

They called me three times. I called them twice (once before the first call, once between the first and second calls) and spent a good hour or so on hold. In the end, they couldn't offer me non-stops within a couple of weeks of the dates I have (over Christmas and despite Expert Flyer showing availability in G) so I left things as they are.

El Al called me three times in the past week to change to the nonstop. They told me that I have until 9/14 to change. In their latest voicemail, they told me American has has been cancelling flights and it may affect my dates of travel by a week if I need to be re-booked. Of course, I don't believe this - how do they know that American is cancelling JFK-ZRH and LHR-JFK flights 4 months ahead of time?
Because airlines need to do planning. Yes, American cancelled some flights. Here are some dates for ZRH-JFK Nov 23, Jan 22, 24, 29, 31, Feb 5, 7, 12.

They called me three times. I called them twice (once before the first call, once between the first and second calls) and spent a good hour or so on hold. In the end, they couldn't offer me non-stops within a couple of weeks of the dates I have (over Christmas and despite Expert Flyer showing availability in G) so I left things as they are.
I contacted them after I saw the cancellation and they offer me next day on original routing. I didn't take that offer. They call me this week an offer me the non-stop on the same date an I agreed.

So when the switched you to non-stop did they make you pay $75 more each way?

So when the switched you to non-stop did they make you pay $75 more each way?
No, because this involuntary.

They called me Tuesday with another offer to switch to a non-stop for 75 bucks. That offer included either an additional checked bag or a $75 voucher. When I called, I was able to do it on the return one day later than my original booking. (I didn't want to move my outbound a day later, due to some family plans in Jerusalem.)

I tried switching multiple times to the non stop - but they never have anything "available" for any of the dates.

Today I spoke with an agent who was willing to refund me fully, so I just went with that.

Even made it to the Israeli media:
http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/392/960.html?hp=1&cat=402



Where is that picture from? loads of people surrounding the aircraft?
Is it possibly from that flight to EWR which made a emergency landing a few months ago?


The picture was probably taken of a group flight of Olim (new immigrants) coming through the Nefesh B' Nefesh organization.

These flights are deplaned at the old terminal 1 where there are no jetways and the passengers go down to the tarmac.

There is a ceremony, speeches and family reunion on the tarmac and then inside the terminal.

If you look closely you can see a sign on an easel on the bottom left.

As someone who was at a similar ceremony, that is probably a "welcome"
sign


That picture is part of a video of an emergency landing of LY027 on May 2011 (about a year ago):

http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/243/342.html

I cancelled my flight today.I am supposed to leave tonight. El Al offered me a full refund on the non-refundable ticket which included the $75 fee to change to a non stop flight back home. I was also able to receive Travel Bank credit from both AA and Delta for my LAX to JFK and JFK to LAX.

Even the tours I booked offered me a full refund.

What a bummer with the situation in Gaza. I really wanted to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

I cancelled my flight today.I am supposed to leave tonight. El Al offered me a full refund on the non-refundable ticket which included the $75 fee to change to a non stop flight back home. I was also able to receive Travel Bank credit from both AA and Delta for my LAX to JFK and JFK to LAX.

Even the tours I booked offered me a full refund.

What a bummer with the situation in Gaza. I really wanted to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Did you book your ticket through El Al direct or travel agent?

Did you book your ticket through El Al direct or travel agent?

The "mistake" fare for $353 was booked from Priceline. The $75 change fee for non stop on El Al , TLV to JFK was with El Al. A month later, I booked a one way from LAX to JFK on AA and JFK to LAX on Delta.

I spoke to an agent today as well - orig ticket booked through Travelocity - and these were my options for a trip over Thanksgiving:

1. Cancel and receive full refund without penalty
2. Postpone until Nov 29 departure (no later than that date) and pay diff in fare without change fee
3. Postpone to any date after Nov 29 and pay diff in fare AND change fee

Went with Option 1. Oh well.

I spoke to an agent today as well - orig ticket booked through Travelocity - and these were my options for a trip over Thanksgiving:

1. Cancel and receive full refund without penalty
2. Postpone until Nov 29 departure (no later than that date) and pay diff in fare without change fee
3. Postpone to any date after Nov 29 and pay diff in fare AND change fee

Went with Option 1. Oh well.

Im surprised they offered #1 as I believe that UA,US & DL only have offered a change of date for free till 11/29 and after that you have to pay any difference in the fare.So they really could have done a # on those who purchased the Mistake fare but it seems they havent done so and have gone beyond what the US carriers are offering

Did anyone get their refund yet from El Al? 3 weeks and counting.. *sigh*

Did anyone get their refund yet from El Al? 3 weeks and counting.. *sigh*

Yes, i requested for a refund on November 16th. I received the full refund for the mistake fare plus the $75 for the non-stop flight change on El Al on November 30th.

I booked a few of these for my dad. His first trip is comming up in a week. So far I've been able to select his seats online via expedia and add his AA FF# but there isn't an option to add a second FF#, I'd like to add his UA# to credit his LX leg to. Is there even a point? Not familiar with how LY and OW partners work with regards to crediting miles. ie should he be able to earn anything for the LX leg to UA?

I really wanted to visit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

I can offer you the next best thing -- just click on my signature and join us for the Hannuka Do!

Yes, i requested for a refund on November 16th. I received the full refund for the mistake fare plus the $75 for the non-stop flight change on El Al on November 30th.

Oh well. I emailed the El Al Customer Service email.. hopefully this gets me somewhere. Always wanted to try El Al.. not so much anymore. :td:

Hi, everyone. I got on the NYC-TLV mistake fare deal that was going on in August, and our trip is coming up now. At the time we were able to change the outbound flight (for $75) to a direct one, but not inbound. Do you think there is any way for us to change the inbound flight now that so much time has gone by? I am guessing it's a no, but wanted to triple check with others. TIA

Hi, everyone. I got on the NYC-TLV mistake fare deal that was going on in August, and our trip is coming up now. At the time we were able to change the outbound flight (for $75) to a direct one, but not inbound. Do you think there is any way for us to change the inbound flight now that so much time has gone by? I am guessing it's a no, but wanted to triple check with others. TIA

I guess no, but you should call them - I know someone in a similar situation that managed to do such change around a month ago.

You might have a shot with it in February or early March. After that, the flights will be heavily booked until late November and it will be much more difficult.