In 1966 I was a kid traveling alone from London to New York with an Air India ticket. BOAC now British Airways did the check-in. The Agent wanted to charge me "Excess Baggage."

I don't even think that I had enough money to pay it. I knew that El Al had a flight to New York so I told her I wanted to switch to LY. I also knew that LY did not use BOAC to do the check ins.

She was surprised and got quite flustered and told me "You can switch to El Al but I will telephone them and tell them that you are on your way with Excess baggage."

I went to the EL AL check-in and they said nothing and charged zippo. I love El Al. Always have.