TLV Security

Old Nov 6, 2012, 3:33 pm
  #16  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MUC
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Good to know! ^

One other thing I read today: There are companies offering VIP departure services for TLV, which consist of an express lane treatment and a PA escorting the pax through the multi-stage departure screening process.
I am surely not considering myself a VIP, but judging by the cumbersomeness of the TLV departure process I am wondering if shelling out 100 bucks for this service would make sense for the 6am departure (thus saving an hour --> more sleep).
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Old Nov 6, 2012, 6:49 pm
  #17  
Ari
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Originally Posted by TT-Jones
Thanks for your replies!

I have never been to Israel before, and as LH was asking for skyrocketing fares (EUR 1600+), I am travelling on Air Berlin in Economy this time. No status. Yuck.

Based on your input, I will indeed be at TLV at 3am then. Is this a generally busy time or is that "sleepy time with only one counter/lane/post/window open"?
3:30am is ok for November at that hour.
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Old Nov 8, 2012, 9:14 am
  #18  
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I flew out of TLV one January morning a few years ago...minimal lines. Arrived at the airport around 5am for my 8am departure and wound up spending a couple hours in the lounge. I was in business class on Austrian Airlines, though.

The guy and girl questioning me were polite and professional. I also had scary squiggly Arab stamps in my passport (did a tour of the middle east on that trip and flew home from Israel). They asked about them, but on the whole it was a pretty painless experience.
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Old Nov 10, 2012, 4:17 am
  #19  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
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One more comment on TLV

If you are coming on business bring a business card from the person you re visiting with an Israel address.

Your screening on first visit will likely be longer than subsequent visits...this was certainly my experience.

Screening Of electronics is thorough ...the X-ray picture is matched to known X-rays in software. I travelled to TLV one week after release of Ipad2 with one in my bag....and thy didn't have the X-ray yet. The delay to clear this item was 90 minutes and 4 escalations of rank. They are exceptionally professional and polite IMHO.

I also have stamps from Middle East countries which they usually Ask about these travels.
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Old Nov 10, 2012, 1:32 pm
  #20  
Ari
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Originally Posted by LaserSailor
The delay to clear this item was 90 minutes and 4 escalations of rank. They are exceptionally professional and polite IMHO.

I also have stamps from Middle East countries which they usually Ask about these travels.
Those two things are related.
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Old Nov 10, 2012, 11:07 pm
  #21  
 
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Originally Posted by Ari
Without a previous incident-free experience in TLV,
When you say "incident-free," do you mean "You got on a plane leaving TLV and the plane arrived safely at its destination"? Or do you mean "You went through security screening at TLV and no major issues were raised; they didn't flag anything or rate you as a security risk; etc."?

Originally Posted by LaserSailor
If you are coming on business bring a business card from the person you re visiting with an Israel address.
I'm sure this will help, but you should bring a "Security letter" from the company you're visiting. I was asked multiple times why I was in Israel on business and the company I was visiting (the same one I worked for) did not provide me with a security letter.
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Old Nov 11, 2012, 6:55 am
  #22  
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Translate it as "first timers" for brevity...

Ari...It could have been related but I had a history and contacts..they even told me exactly what was going on and why. I stated that obviously if they were uncomfortable with this device I would leave it behind, but the official at the point ( top rank) said she was determined to clear me and my property..

It might have helped that I've mastered 1000 words of Hebrew that I used liberally...

I try to do that with every place I go, with Iceland being the exception...absolutely brutal language....
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Old Nov 11, 2012, 3:42 pm
  #23  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Thanks to all of you for the detailed and thorough comments!

I am now prepared with:
- An invitation letter from the company I am visiting --> should be helpful on arrival.
- A "Security Center Registration" which the company I am visiting performed on my behalf --> should be helpful on departure.
- Printed return itinerary as well as hotel reservation.

As I have no Arab stamps in my passport, I think I should be good.

Will report back!
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Old Nov 13, 2012, 7:46 pm
  #24  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: MUC
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So here I am, sitting in the DAN lounge and reporting back.

Arrival:
The invitation letter was key. Border officer read it, nodded, done.

Departure:
Arrived at the airport at 3am, and was done with the entire procedure (from exiting the taxi to entering the lounge) in 33 minutes.
Very friendly staff everywhere, except for the Border officer this time: Grumpy, but without causing any issues.

The "Security Center Registration" proved to be extremely helpful as it cut the interview down to 2 minutes plus a registration check. And I was lucky to be assigned to one of the shortest lines for the interview / bag scanning in the first place.

The El Al line (Section D) would have probably taken an hour of waiting time alone. It was heavily crowded.


So thanks again for the advice, hopefully these posts will help future TLV travellers to be well prepared for efficient and stress-free travel.
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