Dec 9, 2013, 6:21 am
Last edit by: sabbasolo
Feel free to pitch in with edits for content, additional posts and threads to be linked in the wiki, or general clean up - but please be as accurate and clear as possible!
WELCOME TO THE FLYERTALK EL AL MATMID THREAD! THIS IS A COMMUNITY-MAINTAINED WIKI FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT EL AL, MATMID, ELAL.COM, AND THE LY FT THREAD. PLEASE READ FIRST BEFORE POSTING!
This thread is FLAME-FREE! Please recognize newbies who are posting here as well, and respond accordingly!!
Help me understand FlyerTalk and EL AL Matmid Forum lingo!
Flying with EL AL?
Frequent flyer with EL AL?
Need to contact EL AL?
Want general information about EL AL?
EL AL Online:
Important Threads From the Matmid forum!
Another FT thread: Traveling in Israel, for help navigating transportation in Israel
And from EL AL's website: Fly a Lot? EL AL Offers You a Ticket Pack
Upgrade to Premium Classes On-Board Your Flight!
Have a question? Do a SEARCH! Before posting a new thread, search first! There are 2 ways of searching FlyerTalk!
WELCOME TO THE FLYERTALK EL AL MATMID THREAD! THIS IS A COMMUNITY-MAINTAINED WIKI FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT EL AL, MATMID, ELAL.COM, AND THE LY FT THREAD. PLEASE READ FIRST BEFORE POSTING!
This thread is FLAME-FREE! Please recognize newbies who are posting here as well, and respond accordingly!!
Help me understand FlyerTalk and EL AL Matmid Forum lingo!
Flying with EL AL?
- OLCI with Express Check-in
- Choosing the Right Seat
- Preferred Seats on EL AL (F seat with C service; C seat with Y service; Y seats with extra legroom)
- Luggage Allowances, Excess Luggage Fees, and Infant Seat/Stroller Guidelines
- On-board IFE and connectivity
- Flying With Infants
Frequent flyer with EL AL?
Need to contact EL AL?
Want general information about EL AL?
- Welcome to EL AL!
- Ben Gurion International Airport, EL AL's main hub
- Fare Classes
- Where can I find information on EL AL's Fleet?
EL AL Online:
Important Threads From the Matmid forum!
- Flying EL AL, and want to guested into the King David Lounge? See TLV King David Lounge Get-togethers, started by yosithezet.
- Want to know where there are King David Lounges or partner lounges around the world? See ELAL KD Lounges/Lounge Access across the world, started by sn1ke.
- Want to know how to earn more Matmid points using your credit card? See Earning LY Matmid points with Israeli CCs, started by yosithezet.
- Do LY have plans to add Premium Economy and overhaul the cabin? See LY Premium Eco and cabin overhaul?
- Comparing Business Class on Lufthansa (LH) and EL AL: El Al or Lufthansa to TLV?
- Want to know how to redeem Matmid points for an upgrade? How does one redeem for upgrade on LY?
- Want more information on the AA/LY relationship? See American Airlines and LY / EL AL Israel Airlines Codeshares (consolidated) from the American AAdvantage forum
- Travelling on a codeshare flight but LY metal and want to use your Matmid benefits? See Travelling with LY on an LX ticket - can I use my PL benefits?
- What are the best seats on LY's 744? Seating advice: LY 744: row 34 or 21?
- Beware! Flexible fare on EL AL may not be as flexible as you think! Total Economy vs Semi Flexible - what's the difference in flexibility?
Another FT thread: Traveling in Israel, for help navigating transportation in Israel
And from EL AL's website: Fly a Lot? EL AL Offers You a Ticket Pack
Upgrade to Premium Classes On-Board Your Flight!
Have a question? Do a SEARCH! Before posting a new thread, search first! There are 2 ways of searching FlyerTalk!
- Inside the specific forum, click on "Search this Forum" for results from within the El Al Matmid forum. To search all of FlyerTalk, click on "Search" located above the forum.
- By using Google. Duh! To search FT using Google, first type "site:www.flyertalk.com," and then a space, and then type what you want to search. (Leave out the quotation marks and comma!)
The EL AL FAQ (Newbie Questions Welcome - Flame Free)
Dec 20, 2015, 2:41 am
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
I am debating to purchase a ticket with EL AL (economy special fares) from EWR to TLV or from United. I tried to look at the EL AL point system, but could not figure out how many points I would receive from this flight.
I wonder if I should just fly with united and earn miles there that I know I can use.
Any suggestions? If this would be my only flight with EL AL, what I could do with the points accrued? Thanks in advance.
I wonder if I should just fly with united and earn miles there that I know I can use.
Any suggestions? If this would be my only flight with EL AL, what I could do with the points accrued? Thanks in advance.
May 18, 2016, 12:31 am
#108
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,414
Jul 13, 2016, 11:38 pm
#109
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: LON, TLV & NYC
Programs: Way Too Many
Posts: 363
Gold Check In and Lounge?
Hello,
I have just become Gold on EL AL.
My newbie questions are:
Can I check-in on an economy ticket in at the business class check-in or equivalent? If so, where is this check-in section at Ben Gurion?
Do I get access to myself and a guest on the same flight to the King David Club TLV?
I have a flight with AA from NYC-ZRH-TLV connecting with EL AL at ZRH in Y - Do I get access (and a guest) to a lounge at ZRH with the Gold card.
According to the KDL thread there is a lounge in ZRH do Golds with guest on Y get access?
Thanks to all those answer.
J
I have just become Gold on EL AL.
My newbie questions are:
Can I check-in on an economy ticket in at the business class check-in or equivalent? If so, where is this check-in section at Ben Gurion?
Do I get access to myself and a guest on the same flight to the King David Club TLV?
I have a flight with AA from NYC-ZRH-TLV connecting with EL AL at ZRH in Y - Do I get access (and a guest) to a lounge at ZRH with the Gold card.
According to the KDL thread there is a lounge in ZRH do Golds with guest on Y get access?
Thanks to all those answer.
J
Last edited by jonnny; Jul 14, 2016 at 12:03 am Reason: Lounge in ZRH
Jul 14, 2016, 1:08 am
#110
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 12,955
To answer your questions jonnny
Yes, As a GL you can use the 'Shalom' service regardless of your class of travel.
It's located at the very far right of the departure level at T3 (the actual check in desks are in a separate area behind the regular desks).
You get KDL access, and as a GL are allowed to take in up to 20 guests per year.
You certainly get access to the lounge at ZRH, but note it's a 3rd party lounge, so I'm not sure what the guests access rules are there (someone else here might be able to clarify that).
Yes, As a GL you can use the 'Shalom' service regardless of your class of travel.
It's located at the very far right of the departure level at T3 (the actual check in desks are in a separate area behind the regular desks).
You get KDL access, and as a GL are allowed to take in up to 20 guests per year.
You certainly get access to the lounge at ZRH, but note it's a 3rd party lounge, so I'm not sure what the guests access rules are there (someone else here might be able to clarify that).
Jul 14, 2016, 5:52 am
#112
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: LY-PL, A3-*G
Posts: 1,681
I went to the ZRH lounge many times before they changed the rules about companions. In those days you could enter with a guest.
Aug 21, 2016, 3:43 am
#116
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: LY-PL, A3-*G
Posts: 1,681
Aug 21, 2016, 5:28 am
#117
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: LON, TLV & NYC
Programs: Way Too Many
Posts: 363
Haven't been to the Panorama
The lounge itself is next to the Emirates lounge on the second floor of the E gates section. There is a nice open balcony area overlooking the runway so great for Plane spotters.
Bathroom was outside of lounge but near. Food options in the morning consisted of croissants, rolls and baguette alongside fruit juices and the usual drinks. It was clean and quiet when I was there.
J
The lounge itself is next to the Emirates lounge on the second floor of the E gates section. There is a nice open balcony area overlooking the runway so great for Plane spotters.
Bathroom was outside of lounge but near. Food options in the morning consisted of croissants, rolls and baguette alongside fruit juices and the usual drinks. It was clean and quiet when I was there.
J
Aug 21, 2016, 6:45 am
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Haven't been to the Panorama
The lounge itself is next to the Emirates lounge on the second floor of the E gates section. There is a nice open balcony area overlooking the runway so great for Plane spotters.
Bathroom was outside of lounge but near. Food options in the morning consisted of croissants, rolls and baguette alongside fruit juices and the usual drinks. It was clean and quiet when I was there.
J
The lounge itself is next to the Emirates lounge on the second floor of the E gates section. There is a nice open balcony area overlooking the runway so great for Plane spotters.
Bathroom was outside of lounge but near. Food options in the morning consisted of croissants, rolls and baguette alongside fruit juices and the usual drinks. It was clean and quiet when I was there.
J
Aug 22, 2016, 6:19 am
#119
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: AA EXP, TK Elite, LY Top-Platinum, HGP Diamond, HH Diamond, IHGR Platinum Amb
Posts: 280
It's better. It's much larger, for once, but it also serves many airlines so it can be crowded. About the same F&B offerings as far as I could see. The balcony is a great feature if the weather is nice enough.
No showers. Restrooms are public and right outside the lounge. So, same as with the old lounge.
No showers. Restrooms are public and right outside the lounge. So, same as with the old lounge.
Feb 14, 2017, 11:35 am
#120
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MAN,TLV
Programs: Silver:BA,VX,AB, QF. Gold:A3,RJ,AZ,GF, EY,SPG,Marriott,Choice, Carlson. Dia/Plat:HH,IHG,BW,Accor
Posts: 1,965
I do not have a Flycard, so when I search for availability using points from say TLV to JFK, it shows on e.g. 20 March , no availablility. But from my friend's account, it is available as he has a flycard.
Now, When he goes to book, it shows as booking in Class H (rather than class E which are regular redemptions) which is flex.
Now, when looking at the Elal mileage earning chart, it shows that it is possible to earn points from flights booked in class H.
My question is, would a redemption flight such as this, booked into class H, earn miles? Or does the system somehow recognise that this was a mileage ticket?
Because with Air France, for example, they have different levels of redemption too, and if the lowest redemption tickets have gone, and therefore your ticket is booked into a higher class for more miles, it earns miles (though not many).
I just got off the phone with an agent who confirmed that it would not earn miles, but want to know if anyone had experience with this?
Now, When he goes to book, it shows as booking in Class H (rather than class E which are regular redemptions) which is flex.
Now, when looking at the Elal mileage earning chart, it shows that it is possible to earn points from flights booked in class H.
My question is, would a redemption flight such as this, booked into class H, earn miles? Or does the system somehow recognise that this was a mileage ticket?
Because with Air France, for example, they have different levels of redemption too, and if the lowest redemption tickets have gone, and therefore your ticket is booked into a higher class for more miles, it earns miles (though not many).
I just got off the phone with an agent who confirmed that it would not earn miles, but want to know if anyone had experience with this?