Ben Gurion Airport Concourse E
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
With all the Star Alliance flights out of TLV, I'd think that even one Star Alliance airline could open a lounge and it'd be a profit center. I checked a random date in March, and counted 30 Star Alliance departures (UAx3, ACx1, ETx2, LXx2, OSx2, LHx6, TKx9, A3x3, LOx1, and SNx1). In the summer, there's easily an additional five or so flights.
Is there enough OW to justify? Regardless, what would you do with non-aligned airlines?
#51
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Israel/United States
Posts: 1,234
One of the reasons the LY lounge is nice is because it isn't that overcrowded. They would have to be idiots to ruin their lounge! ( yes, I know they can be, but sometimes they DO use their brains.) Hopefully, as someone who only used the KD, this will be one of those times. I also think they may feel that if people want to use KD, let them fly LY!
#52
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Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
One of the reasons the LY lounge is nice is because it isn't that overcrowded. They would have to be idiots to ruin their lounge! ( yes, I know they can be, but sometimes they DO use their brains.) Hopefully, as someone who only used the KD, this will be one of those times. I also think they may feel that if people want to use KD, let them fly LY!
#53
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
I criticise the Dan lounges in TLV often but let's be honest, there are some many lounges out there in countries that are also dependent on foreign investments (who doesn't these days, anyway), that are no less mediocre.
#54
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,928
I dunno, most airports, particularly if they're the primary gateway into a country are treated like they make an important impression on the people flying thru them. In a country that is heavily dependent on foreign investment, particularly high-tech but other industry as well, it is important to give a good impression (not just the hoi-pollloi, they actually get a great airport, architecturally) but the lounges are a joke.
True, the lounge seats are more comfortable than those in the rest of the terminal -- but not very much so. If the King David and Dan lounges were shut down I really would not miss them.
#55
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,762
TLV really doesn't need lounges. Yes, I usually go to one but only because I fly Biz and get free entry. In TLV I grab a free Coke and some slices of cake, but that is about it. If I am hungry, I go to the food court. I spend some time in the Duty Free. There is free wi-fi throughout the airport. I smoke and the smoking areas are far from the lounges, so I generally stay near them instead of going back to the lounge.
True, the lounge seats are more comfortable than those in the rest of the terminal -- but not very much so. If the King David and Dan lounges were shut down I really would not miss them.
True, the lounge seats are more comfortable than those in the rest of the terminal -- but not very much so. If the King David and Dan lounges were shut down I really would not miss them.
As for other countries... I don't care about them, I *do* care about Israel . (which is why I'm embarrassed about LY, Dan lounges, etc. I don't care about TAP Air Portugal )
#56
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869
There’s another point here to consider. TLV is not a transit airport. Most of its passengers are either starting or ending their journey in TLV. Hence, one will not find himself many hours waiting in TLV.
#58
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,928
Only those flying LY can check in that early. Most of the other airlines don't man their desks until 3 hours before departure. Thus nobody flying on those airlines won't be able to get to the lounge for four hours anyhow.
#60
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: TK E+, RJ S, AZ E
Posts: 1,869