Sweet Willie
Mar 19, 05, 10:30 am
Arrived at the ticket counter for El Al at Cairo International Airport only to find a 30’ x 30’ area roped off in front of the ticket counter with 8 metal music stands where agents interviewed passengers once they were let inside this area. We were told to wait on the outside of the rope until we were called. Waited for 20 minutes as agents milled about talking to one another. The only two passengers being processed were an Arab woman who had 15 various sized misc packages and a young American girl who was not happy with the intrusive nature of the agent questioning her and the way they were going through her backpack.
Finally an agent approaches us and motions us to one of the stands. Forget any special treatment if you are business/first class here. Very prolonged interview session (over 33 minutes, we timed it) with the same questions being asked multiple times in slightly different manners. I guess we passed as we were motioned to approach the ticket counter where two ticket agents (with no passengers in front of them) are on either side of the 20’ counter. The first agent we gave our tickets to stated, Oh you are business class, see her and points to the other agent. No other passengers, could you just process my boarding pass is what I’m thinking.
Other agent provides boarding passes and two passes to the CAI international business/first class lounge. A 15’x50’ room with a blaring large screen TV showing a local soccer match and some somewhat comfortable couches. Water, pop, tea and some snacks were present. We hung out until it was about time to get to the gate. Probably should have got to the gate a little earlier as now the Arab woman is trying to get ½ of those 15 packages she started the trip with through the x-ray machine at the gate. We sit down as we know we are in for a long wait at this point. Many minutes later we are sitting down waiting for a bus to take us to the plane. Another 15 minutes goes by and the American girl comes in sans backpack *****ing loudly to her friends.
Bus comes and we get to the airplane. There is no first class for the short 55 minute flight, only 12 business seats and economy.
Captain is out and welcoming passengers on board. Stands next to me and starts chatting about various items, finishes up by patting my shoulder and making the statement about how he was in the military and had the Egyptians running during one of the conflicts. OK....thanks for sharing :rolleyes:
Only other business passengers are a businessman in the first row, Judi and I, and the air marshall sitting across the aisle from me.
Service was very attentive during the short flight with a sandwich on challah bread of goose breast, smoked chicken, roasted red pepper, pesto & mayo spread. For sure one of the best sandwiches I’ve had on an airplane.
We land almost an hour late in TLV due to all the delays at CAI.
Return trip from TLV back to CAI was a whole different story. At TLV check in was a breeze, with the attention/service/expediting given to a business class ticket that you would expect. The designated ticket counter, passes to the Kind David 1st/business lounge. The lounge furniture is very comfortable. Three computer terminals offering free internet access. Lots of juices/water/pop, fruit, snacks, cookies. Clean restrooms.
Finally an agent approaches us and motions us to one of the stands. Forget any special treatment if you are business/first class here. Very prolonged interview session (over 33 minutes, we timed it) with the same questions being asked multiple times in slightly different manners. I guess we passed as we were motioned to approach the ticket counter where two ticket agents (with no passengers in front of them) are on either side of the 20’ counter. The first agent we gave our tickets to stated, Oh you are business class, see her and points to the other agent. No other passengers, could you just process my boarding pass is what I’m thinking.
Other agent provides boarding passes and two passes to the CAI international business/first class lounge. A 15’x50’ room with a blaring large screen TV showing a local soccer match and some somewhat comfortable couches. Water, pop, tea and some snacks were present. We hung out until it was about time to get to the gate. Probably should have got to the gate a little earlier as now the Arab woman is trying to get ½ of those 15 packages she started the trip with through the x-ray machine at the gate. We sit down as we know we are in for a long wait at this point. Many minutes later we are sitting down waiting for a bus to take us to the plane. Another 15 minutes goes by and the American girl comes in sans backpack *****ing loudly to her friends.
Bus comes and we get to the airplane. There is no first class for the short 55 minute flight, only 12 business seats and economy.
Captain is out and welcoming passengers on board. Stands next to me and starts chatting about various items, finishes up by patting my shoulder and making the statement about how he was in the military and had the Egyptians running during one of the conflicts. OK....thanks for sharing :rolleyes:
Only other business passengers are a businessman in the first row, Judi and I, and the air marshall sitting across the aisle from me.
Service was very attentive during the short flight with a sandwich on challah bread of goose breast, smoked chicken, roasted red pepper, pesto & mayo spread. For sure one of the best sandwiches I’ve had on an airplane.
We land almost an hour late in TLV due to all the delays at CAI.
Return trip from TLV back to CAI was a whole different story. At TLV check in was a breeze, with the attention/service/expediting given to a business class ticket that you would expect. The designated ticket counter, passes to the Kind David 1st/business lounge. The lounge furniture is very comfortable. Three computer terminals offering free internet access. Lots of juices/water/pop, fruit, snacks, cookies. Clean restrooms.