Rendezvous in TLV airport

Old Feb 24, 2016, 12:51 pm
  #1  
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Rendezvous in TLV airport

I and my wife will be flying into TLV on different (int'l) flights but arriving within about an hour of each other. So I'd like to plan to meet up with her before we head to Tel Aviv & hotel. Does anyone have suggestions for the best way to do this? We won't have cell service.

Is it possible for the earlier arriver to go to the other's arrival gate or baggage claim before going to passport services? Or better to meet after clearing immigration?

Side note: I've been unable to find a detailed terminal map of TLV. Do any exist out there?

Thanks in advance.
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Old Feb 25, 2016, 3:53 am
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You're unlikely to know which gate (as such) that would be, and you have to first go through passport control to get to baggage claim

There really is nowhere comfortable to wait in before baggage claim, plus you're likely to be questioned if you hang about, so if I were you I would do one of two things:

1. Get your luggage and then wait for her on a bench there, keeping an eye out for the carrousel her luggage will be coming out of once the flight arrives, and meeting her there.

2. Get your luggage, exit to the arrivals halls, get yourself a coffee (exuberantly priced may I add) and wait for her there, which would be fat more pleasant.
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Old Feb 25, 2016, 6:38 am
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I second clubman of not trying to meet before baggage claim.

To meet by baggage claim, once the earlier person has their stuff, assuming the other flight is on time, it shouldn't be too long until you can know which carousel the second flight will be using. Just pick a place to meet by that carousel OR have one person stand still by the carousel with the other walking around until meeting.

Alternatively, immediately after clearing customs into the arrival hall, there's a coffee shop to the left (Arcafe I believe). Hang out there as there are bunches, and have the later arrival know to go right to those benches. It's immediately to the left, so pretty close.

And I agree with clubman again that the latter is much more ideal.
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Old Feb 25, 2016, 7:27 am
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Great, exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you both!
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Old Feb 25, 2016, 2:09 pm
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Originally Posted by clubman
You're unlikely to know which gate (as such) that would be, and you have to first go through passport control to get to baggage claim

There really is nowhere comfortable to wait in before baggage claim, plus you're likely to be questioned if you hang about, so if I were you I would do one of two things:

1. Get your luggage and then wait for her on a bench there, keeping an eye out for the carrousel her luggage will be coming out of once the flight arrives, and meeting her there.

2. Get your luggage, exit to the arrivals halls, get yourself a coffee (exuberantly priced may I add) and wait for her there, which would be fat more pleasant.
There are 3 arriving concourses (fingers) that emptys out into the circular rotunda that leads to the walkway down to passport control. Anyone can walk into any of those 3 from the rotunda, problem would be knowing 100% sure which one you need and which gate the plane will pull into.

In each finger there are toilets and benches besides them so one if they wish to can wait there and then walk to the entrance of the walkdown path to meet up

Ive done that and dont suggest it, the 2nd time my friends flight was delayed by a few hrs and not knowing it.Had I been in the Arrival Hall I would have looked up at the board above the exit doors from baggage claim and known about it.

Although there are benches as well in baggage claim, I dont think customs+ will see it as normal for a person to have their bags on a cart and then simply take a seat, which may result in wasting ones time when you do try and exit as they may want to do a long check of your bags. and it has nothing to do with Israel, I did the same here in the US and as I waited fora friends flight and CBP didnt like it, when I handed over my customs form I was escorted for a complete search, got lucky when the other agent asked why was I there and said they didnt like that I waited for my friends flight to arrive before leaving and yes he too was sent with me. They dont like it when a person does something that they see as not being normal, no matter where you are and thusly assume you are up to something
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Old Feb 26, 2016, 6:02 am
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Originally Posted by craz
Although there are benches as well in baggage claim, I dont think customs+ will see it as normal for a person to have their bags on a cart and then simply take a seat, which may result in wasting ones time when you do try and exit as they may want to do a long check of your bags. and it has nothing to do with Israel, I did the same here in the US and as I waited fora friends flight and CBP didnt like it, when I handed over my customs form I was escorted for a complete search, got lucky when the other agent asked why was I there and said they didnt like that I waited for my friends flight to arrive before leaving and yes he too was sent with me. They dont like it when a person does something that they see as not being normal, no matter where you are and thusly assume you are up to something
I don't think that's the norm. I've seen many people wait in baggage claim because different routings meant meeting people from different flights. That being said, I agree it's not the most comfortable place to wait
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Old Feb 26, 2016, 6:34 am
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Originally Posted by craz

Although there are benches as well in baggage claim, I dont think customs+ will see it as normal for a person to have their bags on a cart and then simply take a seat,
I've done it a few times. With a lot of luggage. Customs or security didn't care.
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Old May 4, 2016, 12:08 pm
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I may add, that in the departures level, the top floor, (floor 3) , there is a "meeting point" which is simply a desk next to entrance 32, with a yellow sign saying "meeting point". You can wait there, on the benches nearby and tell your wife to meet you there.
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Old May 20, 2016, 12:50 am
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Free Internet at TLV

When meeting people in the past I suggested they use the free internet which is available all around the terminal to call me on Skype or WhatsApp or any other instant messaging service after customs.
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Old Jun 14, 2016, 11:59 am
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Originally Posted by y-oh-y
When meeting people in the past I suggested they use the free internet which is available all around the terminal to call me on Skype or WhatsApp or any other instant messaging service after customs.
Forgot to follow up --- this is basically what we did, except before going through customs. It didn't seem to cause anxiety with any of the airport staff (if anyone noticed).
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Old Dec 3, 2016, 6:47 pm
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What do you do if the time difference is three hours between arriving flights of members of your party?
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Old Dec 4, 2016, 1:28 am
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Originally Posted by Dieuwer
What do you do if the time difference is three hours between arriving flights of members of your party?
What day of the week and hour of the day are you arriving? How many people in the party; where and how are you all going from the airport?

There is not much to do in the airport itself except to look at the stores (on the departure level), have a meal or cup of coffee and read a book or newspaper.
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Old Dec 4, 2016, 4:31 am
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Originally Posted by mbgg
What day of the week and hour of the day are you arriving? How many people in the party; where and how are you all going from the airport?

There is not much to do in the airport itself except to look at the stores (on the departure level), have a meal or cup of coffee and read a book or newspaper.
If during the day, you could look into the arbel lounge landside for 60 USD for 2 hours.
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Old Dec 4, 2016, 11:15 am
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Originally Posted by mbgg
What day of the week and hour of the day are you arriving? How many people in the party; where and how are you all going from the airport?

There is not much to do in the airport itself except to look at the stores (on the departure level), have a meal or cup of coffee and read a book or newspaper.
I would be arriving around 4:30 pm on a Saturday. My parents around 7:30 pm.
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Old Dec 4, 2016, 11:59 pm
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Originally Posted by Dieuwer
I would be arriving around 4:30 pm on a Saturday. My parents around 7:30 pm.
since you don't say where and how you are all going to from the airport..... my advice is to bring a good book with you and wait in one of the coffee shops.
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