View Poll Results: Shall we have a gathering the week of January 20?
Sure! Monday late afternoon/evening
3
18.75%
Achla! Tuesday late afternoon/evening
2
12.50%
Beseder. Wednesday late afternoon/evening
4
25.00%
Tov. Thursday late afternoon/evening
5
31.25%
Feh! I have to work late every day. Friday morning!
3
18.75%
Hey! Can you invite someone from EL AL to join?
8
50.00%
Ma Pitom! No thanks! I don't want to meet this bunch of friarim!
3
18.75%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll
EL AL Forum Gathering? Week of Jan 20
Jan 15, 2013, 9:18 am
#33
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,930
I've got a real problem with this. On one hand, I would really enjoy meeting all of you. On the other hand, not only is Tel Aviv a three hour trip for me (and TLV even more), but I am not really an El Al flyer.
While I have a Matmid number, I do not get on an El Al flight unless it is the least expensive major airline which services a particular route (eg: TLV-MXP non-stop).
Why? Look at my 2012 experience as an example. I had three itineraries to the States:
TLV-JFK-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-MCO (several days in MCO), MCO-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK-SEA (several days in SEA), SEA-SLC-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK (several days in NYC), JFK-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
Each of these itineraries cost me about $3000 plus 50,000 SkyMiles to be upgraded. (I was upgraded at booking on each leg except the short SLC-LAS one, and I was put in Economy Comfort for that.) The SkyMiles that I paid out were about what I received for making the trips, so that evened out.
My TATL flights were all in lie-flat seats, allowing me to to sleep about half the distance. Additionally, I earned enough MQMs to become Platinum until March 2014. This gives me, among other things, the ability to upgrade my next two itineraries without using SkyMiles (and those SkyMiles do not disappear after 3 years).
My total tab for the three trips was about $9000. If I had taken equivalent trips on LY, I suspect that I would have paid a lot more and may, at most, become Matmid Silver.
If I thought that there was even a small chance of my being able to convince El Al to become a viable alternative during a meet in Tel Aviv, I would, indeed, make the 6-hour round trip.
As it stands, however, the most I can say is that I am a "long-shot possible" for this meet.
While I have a Matmid number, I do not get on an El Al flight unless it is the least expensive major airline which services a particular route (eg: TLV-MXP non-stop).
Why? Look at my 2012 experience as an example. I had three itineraries to the States:
TLV-JFK-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-MCO (several days in MCO), MCO-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK-SEA (several days in SEA), SEA-SLC-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK (several days in NYC), JFK-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
Each of these itineraries cost me about $3000 plus 50,000 SkyMiles to be upgraded. (I was upgraded at booking on each leg except the short SLC-LAS one, and I was put in Economy Comfort for that.) The SkyMiles that I paid out were about what I received for making the trips, so that evened out.
My TATL flights were all in lie-flat seats, allowing me to to sleep about half the distance. Additionally, I earned enough MQMs to become Platinum until March 2014. This gives me, among other things, the ability to upgrade my next two itineraries without using SkyMiles (and those SkyMiles do not disappear after 3 years).
My total tab for the three trips was about $9000. If I had taken equivalent trips on LY, I suspect that I would have paid a lot more and may, at most, become Matmid Silver.
If I thought that there was even a small chance of my being able to convince El Al to become a viable alternative during a meet in Tel Aviv, I would, indeed, make the 6-hour round trip.
As it stands, however, the most I can say is that I am a "long-shot possible" for this meet.
Jan 15, 2013, 11:57 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SEA (previous locations: DTW, TLV, EWR, BOS)
Programs: AS: 75K; DL/NW: Plat; DL SC: Lifetime; Hyatt: Diamond; HH: Gold; SPG: Plat;
Posts: 3,383
Late afternoon/early evening works for me. Next Wed would work just fine.
Somewhere with beer would be preferred. Even better if LY foots the bill!
Somewhere with beer would be preferred. Even better if LY foots the bill!
Jan 15, 2013, 1:58 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: NYC Area
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 1,312
I've got a real problem with this. On one hand, I would really enjoy meeting all of you. On the other hand, not only is Tel Aviv a three hour trip for me (and TLV even more), but I am not really an El Al flyer.
While I have a Matmid number, I do not get on an El Al flight unless it is the least expensive major airline which services a particular route (eg: TLV-MXP non-stop).
Why? Look at my 2012 experience as an example. I had three itineraries to the States:
TLV-JFK-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-MCO (several days in MCO), MCO-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK-SEA (several days in SEA), SEA-SLC-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK (several days in NYC), JFK-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
Each of these itineraries cost me about $3000 plus 50,000 SkyMiles to be upgraded. (I was upgraded at booking on each leg except the short SLC-LAS one, and I was put in Economy Comfort for that.) The SkyMiles that I paid out were about what I received for making the trips, so that evened out.
My TATL flights were all in lie-flat seats, allowing me to to sleep about half the distance. Additionally, I earned enough MQMs to become Platinum until March 2014. This gives me, among other things, the ability to upgrade my next two itineraries without using SkyMiles (and those SkyMiles do not disappear after 3 years).
My total tab for the three trips was about $9000. If I had taken equivalent trips on LY, I suspect that I would have paid a lot more and may, at most, become Matmid Silver.
If I thought that there was even a small chance of my being able to convince El Al to become a viable alternative during a meet in Tel Aviv, I would, indeed, make the 6-hour round trip.
As it stands, however, the most I can say is that I am a "long-shot possible" for this meet.
While I have a Matmid number, I do not get on an El Al flight unless it is the least expensive major airline which services a particular route (eg: TLV-MXP non-stop).
Why? Look at my 2012 experience as an example. I had three itineraries to the States:
TLV-JFK-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-MCO (several days in MCO), MCO-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK-SEA (several days in SEA), SEA-SLC-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
TLV-JFK (several days in NYC), JFK-LAS (a week in LAS), LAS-ATL (several days in ATL), ATL-JFK-TLV.
Each of these itineraries cost me about $3000 plus 50,000 SkyMiles to be upgraded. (I was upgraded at booking on each leg except the short SLC-LAS one, and I was put in Economy Comfort for that.) The SkyMiles that I paid out were about what I received for making the trips, so that evened out.
My TATL flights were all in lie-flat seats, allowing me to to sleep about half the distance. Additionally, I earned enough MQMs to become Platinum until March 2014. This gives me, among other things, the ability to upgrade my next two itineraries without using SkyMiles (and those SkyMiles do not disappear after 3 years).
My total tab for the three trips was about $9000. If I had taken equivalent trips on LY, I suspect that I would have paid a lot more and may, at most, become Matmid Silver.
If I thought that there was even a small chance of my being able to convince El Al to become a viable alternative during a meet in Tel Aviv, I would, indeed, make the 6-hour round trip.
As it stands, however, the most I can say is that I am a "long-shot possible" for this meet.
I share your frustrations and they are the very reason why I refuse to fly EL AL anymore unless and until things change. I also agree with you that the current owners of EL AL and this management team (by management team I do not mean only Shkedy, I mean all of the VP's and managers who have, for the most part, not changed in decades) will likely not be amenable towards change.
However, I still think that it is important for meetings such as the one scheduled in this thread to take place. If enough high yielding frequent fliers (current and past) get together, formulate unified recommendations, and threaten to leave the company in critical mass should things not change, I believe there is a good chance that things may move in the direction of positive change.
It is imperative for all of us who care about EL AL and wish to see it thrive as a proud national airline of Israel stand up and make our voices heard. Meetings such as this one are a way of starting to do just that.
Jan 16, 2013, 11:32 am
#38
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Posts: 765
I cant recall when the last one was.
I also havent flown LY too recently- (the 767-300 aka - a flying tin cattle farm in the air-for 12hrs-no AVOD- its 2013!) as I've been gliding over to DL and AC as of late. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't be interested in flying LY-they just need a better product (also better program). Coupled with an opportunity to meet (and some folks -thank) in person, could be an interesting event ^.
Thanks yosithezet for setting up... sorry I wont be in the country- hopefully someone takes notes.
Jan 17, 2013, 5:03 am
#40
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,020
I'm meeting Liat Sunday morning. I'll let y'all know the time and venue after that. My meeting with her is general in nature. Trying to get them to get more engaged here. But we'll discuss the gathering and then be able to finalize something.
In the event that we do something in Tel Aviv proper, any suggestions as to venue will be appreciated. I'm staying at the Sheraton all week.
In the event that we do something in Tel Aviv proper, any suggestions as to venue will be appreciated. I'm staying at the Sheraton all week.
Jan 18, 2013, 9:57 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: PL LY, PL CO , Gold HH
Posts: 584
I will fly tonight to LAX-LAS with LY so I can not come
One month ago i was invited to Elal HQ to talk infront of a big forum
That they are doing each month and meet some FF
One of the topics that I raised is : listen to the guys in this forum.
And dont just listen, try to answer and have a person from Elal
and not from a PR agency to try to answer.
Have a great meeting and i hope to join next time
Lior
One month ago i was invited to Elal HQ to talk infront of a big forum
That they are doing each month and meet some FF
One of the topics that I raised is : listen to the guys in this forum.
And dont just listen, try to answer and have a person from Elal
and not from a PR agency to try to answer.
Have a great meeting and i hope to join next time
Lior
