ELAL FF Program Update...
Nov 17, 2014 | 8:45 am
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,857
Though availability aint so great on LY either. My father-in-law is thinking of switching to UA. A nice benefit of UA is that there's expanded availability for Premiers. So while a lowly Silver might have more availability of standard Y awards, GS have expanded availability of saver F (and obviously a sliding scale in between). Not to mention that miles don't expire as long as there's any activity on the account (otherwise 18 months of non-activity).
Nov 17, 2014 | 9:47 am
#107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: UA, LY
Posts: 13,179
And you have the expanded benefit (as you mention) of an alliance to deal with (one of UA's biggest benefits is their online award search tool)
Nov 18, 2014 | 10:04 pm
#108
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Israel (some of the time)
Programs: BA GGL, CCR; AF/KLM FB Silver; M&M LH FTL; LY GLD; HH Diamond; SPG Gold; A-Club Silver; Avis PCI
Posts: 2,054
Nov 18, 2014 | 10:09 pm
#109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 13,004
LY's response to that article looks incredibly familiar, now where have I heard that being repeated over and over again...? 
Oh yes, right here in this thread by their rep...
Oh yes, right here in this thread by their rep...
Nov 25, 2014 | 2:31 am
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TLV/LHR
Programs: BA GGL, IHG Diamond Elite Amb, HH Diamond, Avis PC, Hertz PC, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 13,004
Dec 6, 2014 | 7:20 pm
#112
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Posts: 765
I dunno.
Most people I spoke with were pretty annoyed at the changes.
In the meantime, they are full swing into marketing the FLY Card, dumping all this marketing material and applications all over the seats etc.
At the end of the day, if there is enough interest in the card, it could be a source of some ancillary revenue for EL AL.
I just dont get the sense that people actually care about getting another credit card.
Most people I spoke with were pretty annoyed at the changes.
In the meantime, they are full swing into marketing the FLY Card, dumping all this marketing material and applications all over the seats etc.
At the end of the day, if there is enough interest in the card, it could be a source of some ancillary revenue for EL AL.
I just dont get the sense that people actually care about getting another credit card.
Dec 7, 2014 | 4:12 am
#113
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid Platinum, BA Club GfL, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,203
Well, we already had Diners cards, so we cancelled them and got the new Fly Cards, although I am not sure how much use they will be for us now, as we are in the process of moving from EL AL to BA ...
Dec 8, 2014 | 12:33 am
#114
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 162
If you are able to redeem at the current promotional rate it comes out to $28,500 in spending for a ticket to NYC (for Fly Card premium holders), $21.3K to YYZ. So that's a pretty decent deal, even compared to US CC's.
Of course most people haven't had the card long enough to spend that much. In fact my bank will only start issuing it this week.
Of course most people haven't had the card long enough to spend that much. In fact my bank will only start issuing it this week.
Dec 17, 2014 | 1:36 am
#115
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Israel
Programs: BA Gold, LY PL, PC Platinum, RCCL Diamond
Posts: 261
After last flight from JFK which was 100% full on all 3 classes I:
1. Gave up on trying to understand how ELAL fills the planes on such ridiculous prices and bad hard product
2. Switched all my long haul flights to other companies - C fares are almost the same as LY Y (well actually S class) fares!!!!
So long and thanks for all the fish
1. Gave up on trying to understand how ELAL fills the planes on such ridiculous prices and bad hard product
2. Switched all my long haul flights to other companies - C fares are almost the same as LY Y (well actually S class) fares!!!!
So long and thanks for all the fish
Dec 17, 2014 | 2:18 am
#116
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid Platinum, BA Club GfL, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,203
After 10 years as a PL with EL AL, I am also moving - to BA. On average $500 less for a direct, full tier points earning business class flight TLV-LON, and about $2000 less for a business class flight from TLV-NYC (albeit via London and not direct). With EL AL I always took F to New York as their business class hard product was so pathetic. With BA I find their business class seats better than EL AL's F product both for sitting and for sleeping.
Dec 21, 2014 | 1:24 am
#117
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Israel
Programs: BA Gold, LY PL, PC Platinum, RCCL Diamond
Posts: 261
Some ELAL prestige Rep (cant remember her name 
) just called me to say congrats that I have reattained PL for next year. I told her that after (not sure how many) several years of PL I will probably not gain it again next year.
I explain the reasons:
1. New program has devalued points per $ in LY in between 40-60%
2. ELAL pricing is crazy (TLV-LAS in S cost MORE than TLV-LAS in C in BA!!!)
3. Very low level C product (not to mention the awful F)
She did not have much to say as an answer. I encouraged her to look into this forum for more information and thoughts of fellow FTs
) just called me to say congrats that I have reattained PL for next year. I told her that after (not sure how many) several years of PL I will probably not gain it again next year.I explain the reasons:
1. New program has devalued points per $ in LY in between 40-60%
2. ELAL pricing is crazy (TLV-LAS in S cost MORE than TLV-LAS in C in BA!!!)
3. Very low level C product (not to mention the awful F)
She did not have much to say as an answer. I encouraged her to look into this forum for more information and thoughts of fellow FTs
Dec 21, 2014 | 9:42 am
#119
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYZ
Posts: 765
People are always coming and going to and from TLV. There are people that go from JFK and TLV and back all within 3 days....short trips etc..
Not everyone wants to fly with a stopover. Thats also a consideration for alot of folks.
Dec 21, 2014 | 10:40 am
#120
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: UA, LY
Posts: 13,179
But if more and more paid C pax are leaving, I just don't see how they will fill up planes in 3 years. Many who "love" LY are non-full fare Y pax or the once/twice year/every other year C pax. That's just not enough.
I'm curious how many of their pax are really paying for C, and doing on a consistent basis. Or does LY have enough "fans" to not need FFs?
I'm curious how many of their pax are really paying for C, and doing on a consistent basis. Or does LY have enough "fans" to not need FFs?