I arrived at TLV at 340am for my 610am flight. In TLV, there are 4 check-in "zones". There's no real method or organization, they kind of just jumble airlines together. There's a monitor listing the zone for each airline. The monitor listed Iberia as being in "D," which was strange to me because "D" is only El Al operations but I proceeded to "D". Naturally, security was clueless as to why I was in D. I explained the monitor listed Iberia in D. They gave me the routine security check and told me Iberia is in C. I went there. No sign of Iberia. No sign of Iberia in B or A either. Then I come across a sign pointing straight, beyond the main check in floor saying there were 10 desks in back. I follow it, sure enough Iberia is at the very end. There were 4 coach desks and 1 premium desk. There was one person in line at the premium desk. It was 15 minutes after we arrived that the solo traveller who wasn't checking a back finally finished check-in. And I don't know when he arrived. My brother and I approach the desk. The agent was polite, but slow. I told him that the monitor listed Iberia check-in in zone D and asked why. He volunteered no information and didn't apologize for the fact that we had to shlep 3 heavy bags across the airport. Not his fault if the airline or airport authorities screwed up, but an apology for the error would be nice. He also informed us that our plane had been downgraded from Business Club, iberia's mid-haul business product, to Business Class, the domestic Europe business product. A real let down for a 5+ hour flight.
TLV has passport control upon exit, with no premium line. TLV security screening also has no premium line. Luckily, they both move quickly. We were finally thru and went to the Dan Lounge.
Nobody has ever credited the Dan Lounge with being half-decent. They remodeled it, and it's still half-decent at best. Seriously, why spend the money remodeling if it's still a dump. They added a few outlets, but it still needs thrice as many. And for some reason my iPhone only charged when held in a specific position. The Dan Lounge remains tiny and packed, especially at 4am during the early morning bank of flights to Europe. The offerings, lousy cakes, tiny yogurts, canned soda and bottled juice haven't changed. Unfortunately, neither has the ...... wifi. They also seem to have gotten rid of the first class section, not that it was actually exclusive or special. Not much else to say on the Dan Lounge front. The only good thing about the renovation is that the bathrooms are nicer. Still no showers though.