Hi, in no particular order:
1) As a BA GGL it would have been better to do TLV-JFK through LHR with BA as the situation is dynamic and irrops is likely; GGL support > IB support without IB status. Simiar concept with EL as you are plat.
2) Likewise, I wouldn't book this through chase, just makes more irrops more painful, even though on the day irrops shouldn't be relevant. I understand it was probably a good value use of the chase points, superficially.
3) JFK agent's english, go to the adjacent counter?
3) What was the situation on the day of the MAD-TLV canx? Was it an airspace closed situation, or was it just that IB service canx-ed. Were other IB TLV in the next few days all canx-ed, and BAs?
4) this recent thread suggests EL flights are very full from LHR, presumably it would be similar for exJFK? On the day of your canx, was there even any available for EL's JFK services on that day or even upcoming days?
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...isruption.html
5) Whilst it sounds like had there been no un-check in roadblock, the original phone agent would have been able to immediately do the rebooking on ElAl, would it really have worked anyway? Was there availability (see above). Does IB guidelines even allow agents to rebook into EL (as an AA codeshare)? See post below. Typically uncheck-in can be done on the phone (though with IB status, not sure if without); however not sure if this is different for ex-US as maybe CBP needs a list as US has no exit controls and uncheck in may not be that easy over the phone. Dunno.
6) Re-routing to LHR (after the DoB to MAD); I guess this was a standard ticket change request and not as a consequence of the TLV canx/MAD DoB, and so has to be done with Chase. Not surprised it didn't work. The "they agreed to put me" is more "they agreed to try to change the ticket".
7) DoB to MAD; without knowing the situationa at the time (see 3); it makes sense to DoB, by default, all pax going to TLV through MAD if there was no availability MAD-TLV. Not everyone can enter the EU and there's no transit hotel in MAD T4S. Everyone is already in the US, presumably legally, though true may run short of their US stay conditions, but it's still better, and allow IB to work out the rerouting options.
8) Right to care cost saving, interesting. NYC is prob > LHR > MAD. So max cost saving would be get everyone to MAD. But then as said in 7) not everyone can enter EU (or UK), so the DOB is not related to RtC costs. However, I'm not sure how on the hook IB is for RtC costs for a nonEU-EU-nonEU; EU261 canx/delay comp will not apply due to the routing not ending in the EU, not sure about RtC at non-EU origin.
9) If getting back to TLV (in time) was critical, I would have paid the $ for EL. If getting back to TLV was not time critical, I still would not book through chase, and not IB but BA as a GGL. I would have stayed in JFK/NYC and let IB deal with the rebooking, hoping IB will pay the RoC costs, although be prepared for it to be not; it's a dynamic situation and any travels planning should factor in these known-unknown costs.
10) Maybe IB owes you reimbursement for the self paid JFK-LHR and LHR-TLV (assuming you have not cancelled the original ticket). It's probably good IB had not offered you re-routing options, you can't no-show a flight they put you on that they have not put you on. On the other hand, typically free-style self book and seek reimbursement requires asking the airline whether they will rebook you into that service, and having the airline say they won't and only then can you DIY and seek reimbursement.