boggy13

Hi all, soon travelling in F from TLV on the 0945 departure to LHR.

Have heard conflicting reports as to how long before departure I should be at the airport (due to the famously stringent security screening process at Ben Gurion).

Planning on 3 hours but not sure if F pax get expedited screening?

Any thoughts much appreciated.

LCY8737

I think you can probably do it in 2, but would recommend you stick to the 3 hours. Premium cabin gets you priority part of the way, but depending on the initial risk assessment and the queues at the time it can take quite a while to get through, even in F.

corporate-wage-slave

As an HBO traveller, I turn up about an hour before departure in the usual way, never had any difficulty making the flight, though there is a special screening process for HBO travellers. Now that would make some passengers uncomfortable, but 90 minutes would be plenty. Security from TLV is about the same as well, LHR, on the whole. There isn't a great lounge option in TLV (though it's totally OK for coffee and snack) so turning up 3 hours before seems excessive to me. A lot of people do show up at that time, so mostly you would be better off after the main queues have gone down. If you are from a Muslim faith or heritage then I imagine it may take a few minutes longer but even then I doubt it makes much difference. Perhaps many years ago TLV was seen as a slow or tough airport to get through, my own view is that many other airports have simply ended up in the same place these days. As with any airport, on the days leading up to public holidays in Israel allowing more time would be sensible, particularly if the Shabbat is about to kick in before or after.

Worcester

It takes as long as the Israeli Security people think it should take, I got the extra screening and it took around an hour and a half queueing, having every item in my bags searched, swabbed, x-rayed, the backscatter xray for myself, pat downs, shoes x rayed, and the questioning.

Security staff were very professional and it's not like you are missing much in the Dan lounge.

newyorklondon

Give yourself three hours. If you're unlucky, by yourself, or have visited certain countries, F status will not get you expedited beyond a certain point. And they are perfectly happy to let you miss your flight, as happened to me recently, regardless of cabin.

orbitmic

That's the 100 shekel question. If you are a regular and have been cleared easily before, under 30 minutes for the entire process including check in, in line security interview, and the x ray is the most likely case. If for whatever reason the security people feel that you might present a risk of sort, it can take longer. Interviewing is always very professional and calm but if you have been selected for an increase level of security, you could, for instance, expect a thorough bag search with all items removed (and replaced) and questions which may feel intrusive about what you did, your friends, where you went to school or the countries you visited this year etc. In that sense, 3 hours is a safe bet. As an F pax you'll get a separate queue from the main crowd so it is expedited in a sense in terms of the queuing, but the range of time lengths for the interview itself is exactly the same regardless of how you fly. Needless to say, the more calm, honest, and cooperative you are the faster it goes, the only ones I've heard of which lasted really really long is when people ended up getting mixed up in their own (unnecessary) lies or trying to hide stuff that would not have interested the security guys in the first place (smoking pot in beach parties).

stewaran

I always get sent to the extra screening (HBO or in the past with checked bags), and have never passed through in less than 30 minutes (just the screening),
As mobile boarding passes are not available I always que at check in desks to get a boarding pass. this has also often taken 15 minutes
I do wonder if they think there is something unusual about my profile, but have never spent any time in hostile countries.

edit: as per above posts, the security staff are very professional and not hostile in any way, but they are thorough!

When you arrive at screening do you get pushed to the front as you do not have much time?
Also is there any other way to get your boarding pass?

any tips on getting through quicker much appriciated

windowontheAside

Not sure this is relevant for the OP, but on my recent trips I was given an exit letter by my client there to show to the authorities who then took me to the front of the various queues. Given the volume of people queuing at the time I am sure it saved quite a bit of time.

GeeMac

I agree with C-W-S here. I've been a frequent visitor over the last 12 or so years and with the exception of the pre check-in Q&A session (the length of which is largely queue size dependent), it's not really any different from any other airport I go to/via. I've arrived late once [edit for an El-Al flight to LHR] (2 mins before check-in closes) and still made the flight. In general, my feeling is that the wait times at TLV have improved over the years.

Geemac

GeeMac

Likewise, and I'm yet to be convinced it makes any difference. I still get asked the same questions, regardless of letter or no letter. YMMV
The queue size is the governing factor, more than anything IMHO.
Geemac

corporate-wage-slave

I certainly have spent time in hostile countries, including Iran, Syria and Lebanon - the latter regards itself as still being at war with Israel - but I'm clearly Anglo-Saxon of Christian heritage, I have been visiting Israel for many years and I can speak some Hebrew. But self printed boarding passes do work, so I just take that to the HBO desk at the front, usually there's a quick check that I'm really the person on the passport, has anyone given me anything (etc), and that (plus the usual baggage screening) is it.

newyorklondon

It really varies so much, as detailed above. You'll be questioned before check-in, possibly more than once depending on how you arrive at the airport (i.e. by train there is sometimes an extra set of questioning). This is pretty standard, as detailed above.

Depending on your security assessment, what then happens will determine your fate. You will be given a yellow sticker with a 10-digit bar code on your passport. Look at the first number, it will - usually - be from 1-6. This number will give you an indication of what will come next, but this is still only an indication. Many visitors who are on their own, male, and not frequent visitors to Israel will get a 5, which is the second-highest level (officially), and will result in extra screening (more questions, scanning, possibly having to empty your bags).This is all before the 'standard' security checkpoint. If you get a 6, and have not left enough time, you may well miss your flight, as it might involve a seated interview, and even a personal (strip) search. Which is not enjoyable. You will be asked the same questions repeatedly throughout the process. If a 6, you may be left alone in a secure area for periods of time (I've not experienced longer than 15 minutes) at any point, regardless of your state of undress. Some think this is so that your behaviour can be monitored, others so that further background checks can be made.

F may help if you are given 1-5. But probably will not if you are allocated 6. If you get the royal 6 treatment, you may well get a personal armed security guard who will escort you all the way through to the plane door.

In terms of the bar code numbering, I think 1-2 are for Israelis. 2 and 3 for diplomats. 4-6 for foreigners. If you believe the rumours, there is also a 6T, which means you're probably not leaving the airport that day!

V10

I've had this as well; If I'm not mistaken your host company has to submit details of where you've been etc. 24 hours or so in advance. It certainly made going through an absolute breeze though.

TabTraveller

The only way to ensure you get through reliably quickly is with a pre-clearance security letter or using a VIP service which has much the same effect.

Generally the process isn't much different from other aiports unless you get enhanced screening for whatever reason (which never happens with a letter or VIP service) in which case you can expect it to take 1h+ getting through enhanced security.

newyorklondon

Incorrect (from personal experience).