After reading many comments about TLV security I was pleasantly surprised by my experience this morning. I departed Jerusalem Central bus terminal at 6:05 a.m., arrived at Terminal 3 at 7:10 a.m. And was through security and immigration and sitting in the Dan lounge at 7:30 a.m. The trick I suppose is to have online check in boarding pass and non checked luggage. There were three extremely long lines in the check in area for passengers with checked luggage but I was directed to go directly to a security check towards the gate to get a stamp on my passport with no wait. From there I went directly through the screening area that took about 10 minutes. There was no wait at immigration. BTW, Dan lounge was better than expected. Only alcohol, however, was beer. Maybe wine comes out at lunch time. Although EWR flight isn't until 11:30 a.m. I decided to spend time in the airport lounge rather than a hotel room. So, maybe my good fortune is merely in timing.

Good for you but I think you didn't meet their profile for further inspection/interrogation which allowed you quick passage through the process.

That appears to be the case.

Good job!! Stay away from Israeli security. You don't want go to ticket counter. You don't have answer security question. Don't go near Israeli security. Just stay out of it.

My personal experiences with TLV security is that they are professional, courteous and very thorough. My Israeli contacts suggested I turn up about 2 hours before my flight. My bags were thoroughly security checked before they could be checked in, they were run through an X-ray machine and then opened in front of me by a security officer who had the image of the bag in front of her. I was asked a few questions about my stay in Israel, a few items in my bag looked at and then off to check-in. I guess it took about 3 minutes or so.
The regular security check before you go airside was very simple, I guess you have been profiled before you get there.

Not checking does not mean much, it all depends on who you were with, where you went, what you did, etc. As TLV security is professional, courteous and very thorough - even when asking the same question three times, three different ways.

If you don't talk to them, you don't get the sticker on your passport, so how do you get into the xray/wmtd area?

For those who has first hand experiences at tlv, with all the profiling and such, how many hours should i allocate for security prior to my flight? Im a southeast asian 30 gay male with a flight to ist. Thanks

supatight80,

Don't sweat it too much. The security lines only open three hours prior to departure, so there is no point in arriving sooner than that.

Just go to the Turkish Airlines check-in area. I'm guessing that you will be interviewed by two different staff. Then your checked baggage will go through a CT scanner.

You will then be asked to go to an area where they will likely hand-check your carry-on baggage, perhaps your checked baggage.

The rest is easy: you'll pass through a very easy metal detector and hand luggage x-ray, brief passport control, and that's it.

There is a remote chance that you'll be selected for screening of your clothing, but this is rare, and it would still be conducted quickly and--reportedly--with dignity. I've never been through anything like this myself, but others have said that they are unerringly polite.

Many Southeast Asians visit Israel, it is a gay-friendly destination, and there are frequent flights between Tel Aviv and Istanbul. The security staff are accustomed to people from Southeast Asia, they would not be interested in your sexual orientation, and Turkish Airlines has many flights a day from Tel Aviv.

I hope that you have a very pleasant trip to Israel, and that your experience with security at Ben Gurion Airport is not too burdensome. Remember, only a small handful of passengers are subjected to "high level" scrutiny.

Tisa naima
("Have a pleasant flight.")

Being gay is certainly not an issue. If anything, it's probably helpful as most terrorists likely aren't willing to admit that they're gay!

Thanks so much really appreciate the feedback

I just arrived at tlv airport from mnl-sin-ist-tlv on business class on singapore airlines/turkish so was first in line at immigration. Unfortunately got secondary screening upon arrival. I know its all about racial profiling...just dont get why...i really wouldnt care less being interrogated upon arrival, which happened as i have aaaalllll the time in the world upon arrival (1 hour secondary).

Just more worried leaving tlv as i have a tight flight schedule to ist then Ath....but seriously, im a homo....upon leaving tlv, which is more of my concern, should i tell them im a fairy just to avoid missing my flight??? I just dont get why i was singled out,...yes i get it, im alone, 34 yo, southeast asian male visiting tlv.....but a HOMO POOFTY??? Please advise upon existing.....more worried about missing my flight...,any advise would greatly be appreciated....just worried about missing my flight as i have a very hectic flight schedule upon departure from tlv....

Ps: my passport is canadian...