tom139

Hi all

I'm due to be flying to TLV next week and got told by friends a month ago that the airport was a nightmare for arrival and departure. Does anybody have any recent experiences here? Is the purchase of a Fast Track service for arrival and departure recommended?

Many thanks

Chris9642

I have heard some reports recently of it being quite bad (for both arrival and departure) - most of the fast track services have now suspended bookings for the rest of August due to high demand - we managed to get our hotel Concierge to get us one organised thankfully.

corporate-wage-slave

I went through TLV a few weeks ago. Getting through TLV as an arriving passenger on BA's evening flight was easy and I was on the train platform within 12 minutes of arrival. Just remember to scan the passport at the bank of machines by the rotunda area - you need the slip of paper to proceed to the main passport area. Departing (afternoon BA flight, just as Shabbat was about to start) was much busier. I was HBO so I needed to get a clearance slip to proceed to security. There is a well marked desk for this in the middle of the check-in area which serves all airlines. That took a 20 minute queue since there were some problem cases in front of me. My own scrutiny (older white male Christian, frequent traveller) took seconds. Security - clearly a busy day - was well organised and I was through in under 10 minutes. So overall it wasn't too bad. I didn't need any fast track service, indeed just arranging that would have taken far more time than it would have saved.

bisonrav

I went a month or so again. Arrival quite easy, departure had a queue right round the terminal for security (make sure you have a barcode from the HBO section if HBO before joining) but moved quite quickly. You also have the exit screening to factor in, I had a ridiculously easy time of it, but a friend on a separate trip had the full interrogation, and it can take a while. Arrive early basically, 4 hours is recommended.

2358

Went though last month, we found the VIP services were sold out for 2 months. Arrival was relatively easy - busy but flowed quickly, follow CWS’s advice on getting your passport scanned before you see the passport official. Luggage took less time to come through than at Heathrow. We arrived very early for our return, initial, ie pre checkin security took just over an hour, but then we had to wait for the checkin desks to open, so no point getting to the airport too early! After checkin, a long line for security, but it did move. - probably took 40 mins. Lounge was very crowded.

tedcruz

I've been flying this route every couple of weeks recently, and it is currently the best it has been. Queues have gone right down and it is no longer chaos. I think the HBO line is in zone W and one doesn't need to have a physical BP and can use there phone to get through security. There is a fast track lane on the right side of the main security lane which isn't so clearly marked.

davidcamp6

As said above ( in particular CWS) the main change is that you no longer receive your cartouche in the old passport control rather you go to a scanning machine just before you leave the rotunda area.
Arrivals has been pretty good since they opened up last November, departures is getting better and last week it was announced that the statistics match the improving passenger experience.

Jzlerner

Been in and out TLV about twice a month this year.

Arrivals:
​​​​​​Never had any issue with arrivals taking too long. Once of the plane you go through a bunch of corridors. Just before the main walkway (above the main terminal, looking into the floor below) they'll be a few passport machines. Put your passport down, look at the camera and it'll issue you with a blue visa slip. Israel's solution to stamping passport. This slip is VITAL. You won't be allowed through without it and they check it at passport control 5 minutes later. It's also required for hotels and things like that so they know if you're a tourist or citizen and what tax to charge so don't lose it. After passport control straight into baggage hall. After there walk through customs and out into arrivals hall. From there there's taxis, buses and trains (highly recommend) and car hire options.

​​​​​​
Departures
If this is your first Israel experience you'll find there's an "interview" stage before bag drop even if HBO. Although as CWS points out there is a separate line for interviews for HBO. If not HBO look at the big screens to find which counter your flight is and queue by the security in that area. This is a quick interview, why were you in Israel, who packed your bags, where you going etc. They'll put a sticker on the back of your passport, do not take this off until you are on the plane. They'll also tag your luggage showing you passed security. After that bag drop/check in as normal. Then real security. Laptops out, no liquid amount limit, not do they have to be removed or in special containers. After security passport control, similar to arrivals computers. Then into main concourse and then to gate.

Things to note:
AFAIK there's no fast track security. There is a couple of fast track security options. One for a couple hundred $ is a guy who just walks you to the front of any line. The other is the fattal terminal. Separate VIP terminal for private flights or they'll just ferry you to the plane in a nice car. Having done both the fattal terminal is a bit over the top and very expensive but nice to have a separate terminal, no queues etc. The guy who escorts you to the front is cheaper and has the same affect albeit your in a very busy concourse afterwards.

Hope this helps

Jzlerner

One thing to add, as Israel is primarily Jewish the quietest days are Friday night/Saturday= Jewish Shabbat. Significantly less people and less flights.

Also if someone could enlighten me as to if/where the fast track security is that would save me a lot of time!

Chris9642

We wanted to use Fattal Terminal next week but were told it was also completely full and not taking bookings until September

corporate-wage-slave

I normally shy away from "is it worth it?" threads, but I have to say $550 seems off the scale ludicrous to me. TLV is at the moment not as slick as LHR T5 but more slick than T3, concentrating on departures here, in other words it's about the same as most large airports, as a generalisation. The Dan lounge is perfectly comfortable with a reasonable range of food and drink. So I'd really query this sort of expenditure.

Jzlerner

Yep. I'd argue that the Dan lounge is adequate rather than perfectly comfortable. Fattal is just not worth it unless TLV is crazy busy or someone else is paying for it. One little "life hack": email [email protected], match BA gold/GGL to ElAl platinum. Allows you access to king david lounge (bigger and better) when flying any airline, not just ElAl. Very helpful in TLV as no other lounges.

kingcole974

We are doing a city break to TLV in November having taken part in the part pay with Avios offer a couple of months back. Will be in WTP for the first time in years but figured that fine for sub 5 hours. Actually started in JER to save APD and ending up paying £400 for both of us, so a great way to grab 190 tier points each as well.

My question though is we are thinking of renting a car. I've driven in some challenging countries. What should I expect in TLV? My plan is to rent from a city location after a few days then do a day trip to Jerusalem and finally drive up to the Dead Sea for a couple of nights, before leaving there the the 4pm flight home with an airport drop off.

Any pitfalls other than the warnings above about allowing extra time?

davidcamp6

TLV - don't drive in the city, its a pain and with the building of the light rail it is getting worse in some parts,. It can take you just as long to navigate TLV from the main hotel areas than it can to drive to say, Latrun. To go to Jerusalem, get the train from TLV, then light rail down to Old City. As to the Dead Sea, unless you pick up a rental in Jerusalem take an organised tour.

BONDY

I've been through Tel Aviv a few times this year. My other half lives there and I live in England so I am becoming a frequent visitor. I would echo CWS comments on travel in to Tel Aviv. However, if you have luggage and must go to a check in desk then it does seem to be more "hit and miss". One time ahead of a BA flight there was almost no-one ahead of me anywhere and another time (in July) for a Finnair flight, the whole pre-security area was very busy. Lines moved but not at pace and queues were long. I really encourage hand baggage only for outbound. But even then allow plenty of time for the bag screening (took me 30 minutes from joining the queue to leaving the bag screen area)

Hope this helps

BONDY