Originally Posted by
NYTA
I am moving to TA from NY in July. I am already platinum on Delta and just got comped by ElAl although I have to say that I am appalled by ElAl's platinum - they don't seem to understand customer service. I am gold on AA, at least for now.
Anyway, my business will take me to the US probably twice a month and London maybe once a month - in the US to NYC and SFO primarily. For now I am paying for the tickets myself so super discounted (and ElAl won't upgrade me despite being Platinum) but will likely get arrangements soon where clients will pay for either full fare coach or biz class tickets.
I have a family of four and plan to bring them all to SFO once a year.
So the big question is: should I try to max out ElAl, stick with Delta or maybe try to get comped on Continental now that they are joining the star alliance which gives me Lufthansa, Austrian and CO to the US. Alternatively, I can get comped on AA and then use my AA number when flying ElAl.
Thoughts from the wisdom of this group? This is my first post here so thanks.
Dont stick with DL since SkyTeam doesnt fly tlv-lon and you will have to use AF or KL in order to get to london, which their business class is actually an economy class with middle seat blocked.
Try joining BA, CO or BD.
1.BD WILL AUTOMATICLY UPGRADE YOUR STATUS. Starting from May, their twice daily TLV-LHR will be operated by A330 with their flat 80" business class seats. To the US - BD offers wide codeshare agreement with UA (so you will be able to fly lhr-sfo under bd code) and after CO will join the STAR ALLIANCE you will also be able to fly TLV-LHR-EWR or TLV-EWR direct.
until CO will join the star alliance in order to flyto NYC with them you will have to fly TLV-LHR-ORD-NYC/EWR or TLV-LHR-IAD-NYC/EWR.
2.AS WELL AS BMI, IF YOU CHOOSE CO THEY WILL ALSO UPGRADE YOUR STATUS. If you decide to match status at CO use LY's one since CO wont upgrade your status based on dl's one until they leave sky team.
you will be able to fly TLV-EWR-SFO under they code (EWR-SFO may be operated by UA) or TLV-LHR-SFO (operated by BD and UA), but please pay attention that you wont be able to gain CO points on BD flights before they join STAR ALLIANCE.
3. Althought BA will not upgrade your status, it will be very easy for you to gain gold one. after one BUSINESS flights to the US you will get silver status. Then your status points will be zero again, and after 2 more business return flights to the US youll gain GOLD status.
They offer good connections in all days to and from the EAST COAST ands good connection to the WEST COAST in all days. good connections from the WEST COAST to TLV are only available THURSDAYS (you will have to leave the US by wednesday).