TLVFred

I must preface this by saying (a) LY F is usually good, especially the food, and the following is rare and (b) it was a very busy day.

Arrived at TLV for LY317 to LHR in F. Business security queue out to near entry door. Colleague and I joined back of the long queue (people near the front reporting 40 min wait). Left my colleague in search of an LY official and found one hanging around between the queue front and check in. Very politiely asked if there was a separate queue for F (knowing there isn't but maybe that may trigger them to do something for us). Checked with supervisor and promptly sent to back of business queue. 1 security member on duty. Why can LHR have a separate security line for F for a max of 6 people and TLV cant?

40 mins later - entered premium check in area. The F line has disappeared ! the red rope gone!

Its just blue rope and 1 business queue.

There is a stand which says F but it points nowhere. To a blue rope but its closed. Here is the game to play

1. Stand by the rope and wait for someone to notice you?
2. Remove rope and go to F check in desk?
3. Make eye contact with F check in person and nod at rope

I did (1) - 10 minutes - not a wink, nod or acknowledgement. Business line keeps moving .
Then did (2) - but F desk full of C passengers
Supervisor on her mobile chatting to a friend
Stood around for another 10 mins as C class people kept joining F desk and as I was 'jumping the queue' weren't at all happy
So tried (3) again and again - saying F class. Everyone too busy
So jumped into a C class queue by a C desk.
23 minutes
Over an hour

I don't get why Business has a queue etc and F you are on your own trying to get served. Why pull the F line (was there in January)

On board -

No drink offered. Had to ask an hour in
No menus (not available)
No chocolates offered
No mints on landing etc
Real couldn't care attutide -had to ask for everything

A really poor experience

I am sure BA would perform much better in F at TLV than this madness

benberg2013

I think the better game would be to simply fly BA.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/el-al...h-airways.html

damaxer91

FYI, when there is a long line a C/F, and I'm flying F, you just inform a security guy that you are flying F and they'll (usually) escort you past the line

That is, when they are actually in the mood of listening

awayIgo

I left Israel on 001 a few weeks ago. I fly C.There was no separate security line for F, but there was definitely a separate check-in line. So, it seems that there is inconsistency.

In terms of security personnel, they are employees by the airport, not El Al. I remember one year a long long line and El Al personnel were arguing with a security supervisor to put more personnel on their business/first line!

BUT, I did have a run a round when I went through the second screening. I walked over to the business line and the man asks me if I am checked in. After I replied in the affirmative and told him I was flying business, he tells me to go over "there" to go through security, that the line I was going to enter was for those who had no checked bags. I walked over and I see it is the regular line. I go back to the man and ask him why I was misdirected. I got a shrug of the shoulders. Seems like TLV is missing the boat in more than one place.

jonnye

Yup - made that decision 16 years ago and have never looked back. Yet still LY renew my Gold every year for some reason, even though i never fly them!

clubman

Well LY may usually have good service in F (although this time sounds dreadful) but they are seriously behind BA, certainly in terms of the hard product which is incredibly dated on LY.