even if the flight is not booked out in Y they would give upgrades to SEN/HON members at TLV?
Not officially, but in reality it normally works out. They don't wait until Y is 100% full before upgrading.
This does not work if you order a special meal...
even if the flight is not booked out in Y they would give upgrades to SEN/HON members at TLV?
No. They would give upgrades to the GL/PL/TPLs. But if you are SEN/HON you can request and receive PL/TPL status from LY and have it granted for 6 months.
I have a friend who 'oscillates' between EL AL and British Airways, flying to London nearly every week of the year. He tends to stick with each of the airlines for 2-3 years. Guess what? BA would match his EL AL Platinum with BA gold, and EL AL would do likewise even before the current highly publicised program was launched. The only difference was that in the past you needed to make a special application and now at least EL AL have an organised way of doing it.
If EL AL is trying to get FFs from other airlines it can only mean that there is more competition in this area, which can only be a good thing for the travelling public.
I have a feeling u guys didnt follow the link in the original thread starter.
This thread is talking about how LY asked travel agents to send them info on pax with other airline's FF program, and offering $1000 to the one that sends the most names.
Not on the EL AL staus match
I have a feeling u guys didnt follow the link in the original thread starter.
This thread is talking about how LY asked travel agents to send them info on pax with other airline's FF program, and offering $1000 to the one that sends the most names.
Not on the EL AL staus match
I contacted El Al today to take advantage of the offer and they said it was only valid in February. Oh well!
As usual with LY, nobody really knows what's going on.
Past story: long long time ago (in a galaxy far way), LY had a promotion with Diners Club - order Platinum Diners, get free LY Matmid account + 100 points. Me and a friend started our Platinum cards, and opened LY account. no points credited (though the account was opened free of charge). I let it go (as I did not actually plan on flying LY at that time). The friend continued to nag them, until they gave him 50 points.
Current story: Sent all the stuff for the status match promotion for me and my statistically significant other on Monday (this monday!). I'm FTL with LH, she's been flying a lot in 2008, but not all of it in the same airline/alliance (she used to be CO gold in 2008). LY agent calls back: he gave me GL, but only TL for her (the promotion clearly said that you get SL if you've flown more than twice in 2008, the lady has flown so many times). Couldn't argue too much with the agent.
So:
A. Call again, and tell them that you know the promotion is still running.
B. If they insist - insist more.
C. If nothing else works - disconnect and call again (and btw, you just need to fax all the "proofs" to 03-7604043).
good luck!
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I FlY, therefore I am? ** Keeping Track
Another reason to not use travel agents! I book all my flights directly with the airlines and in 80-90% of the time am in a better pricing than the TA. The other 20 % the ticket is the same price as the Agents.
On a further note, an agent that actually did this would probably be liable to have his or her license revoked and face prosecution under the data privacy acts of several nations. This has probably all been voiced, but I felt like adding my voice
Regarding El Al seeking info from travel agents about the names, addresses, mobile phone numbers, emails & travel plans of their clients: I wonder if 3rd parties like Travelocity, Hotels, etc. sell their reservation information. It's got to be worth a lot to some advertisers.
Is such an offer legally correct? Normally a TA should be obligated to protect personal data. And even if he is not obligated in a legal sense I'd not like to do business with a TA who doesn't care about my privacy.
Is such an offer legally correct? Normally a TA should be obligated to protect personal data. And even if he is not obligated in a legal sense I'd not like to do business with a TA who doesn't care about my privacy.
Do note that privacy laws in Israel are different than in other western countries. Even though in practice we enjoy the same amount of privacy as in France (for example), there are less legal barriers preventing the invasion of privacy (even though there are some trials to add/reduce privacy going on at the moment). Moreover, as Israel has no constitution, we have no constitutional right for privacy.
And of course, if your TA shares your information, you should take your business elsewhere.
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I FlY, therefore I am? ** Keeping Track
Do note that privacy laws in Israel are different than in other western countries. Even though in practice we enjoy the same amount of privacy as in France (for example), there are less legal barriers preventing the invasion of privacy (even though there are some trials to add/reduce privacy going on at the moment). Moreover, as Israel has no constitution, we have no constitutional right for privacy.
And of course, if your TA shares your information, you should take your business elsewhere.
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I am 100% sure that my TA protects my data in the way I want and need it. No need to take my business elsewhere so far and I hope it stays that way
Yet another reason not to do business with an airline that treats its customers like dirt.
I've never seen ruder FAs & ground staff and been treated in a worse manner on a consistent basis than with El Al. Heck, I once even had a purser physically grab my CAT out of my hand and threaten to gate check her or have me thrown off the plane if I didn't give him my laptop bag instead despite the fact that I had paid the airline $150 to take her on the plane. The airline's response to a subsequent letter? Not even an apology.
I gave up on them 3 yrs ago. Since then, my company's travel department knows that I'd rather paddle a kayak across the ocean than sit on one of their planes.
They simply don't deserve to be in business given the way they treat their customers.
Yet another reason not to do business with an airline that treats its customers like dirt.
I've never seen ruder FAs & ground staff and been treated in a worse manner on a consistent basis than with El Al. Heck, I once even had a purser physically grab my CAT out of my hand and threaten to gate check her or have me thrown off the plane if I didn't give him my laptop bag instead despite the fact that I had paid the airline $150 to take her on the plane. The airline's response to a subsequent letter? Not even an apology.
I gave up on them 3 yrs ago. Since then, my company's travel department knows that I'd rather paddle a kayak across the ocean than sit on one of their planes.
They simply don't deserve to be in business given the way they treat their customers.
They have improved loads over the last few years, although the ground security especially in Heathrow, the higher rank they become the more disgusting they become
They have improved loads over the last few years, although the ground security especially in Heathrow, the higher rank they become the more disgusting they become
I haven't seen it. My girlfriend had the misfortune of flying a leg with them this past Spring out of Zurich after connecting in on a Swiss flight. After the interview at the gate, she happened to mention to the security agent (older guy) that she would be in the lounge. He didn't have to respond at all, but he chose to do so. He went on to basically yell at her and tell her she had no right to use the lounge as a Star Alliance Gold status holder because there was no Swiss lounge in the terminal, only an El Al lounge, and she had no status with El Al. There was a Swiss lounge, needless to say, and she even came back with a picture on her phone to show him. He yelled again at her.
It was so bad, that one of the other security agents quietly went up to her and said he felt bad that she had to go through that. Apparently, they all know this guy treats customers like dirt and some even feel bad for it.
I am 100% sure that my TA protects my data in the way I want and need it. No need to take my business elsewhere so far and I hope it stays that way 
