Ben Gurion Airport Concourse E
Aug 27, 2017, 1:50 pm
#1
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Ben Gurion Airport Concourse E
Are there already any news concerning the opening date of concourse E? Also will it be offering any specific features such as finally a good and spacious lounge for non EL AL passengers like a designated "Star Alliance" Lounge, considering the amount of Star Carriers flying to TLV. Ok, there are also various One World and Sky Team carriers flying to TLV but if I am not mistaken Star Alliance has the most passengers
Aug 28, 2017, 3:50 am
#2
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Haven't seen anything indicating when E will open, just that it will be opening "soonish," and that they expect to reach 18M pax next year, so likely want it by then.
There will be a lounge, but I haven't seen or heard anything that it would be *A specifically, even though that would be nice.
There will be a lounge, but I haven't seen or heard anything that it would be *A specifically, even though that would be nice.
Aug 28, 2017, 5:33 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
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They already had 17.9M last year, and this year already 11.2M (end of July) vs. 9.6M last year, so I have a feeling 18M will be hit before the end of this year...
Aug 29, 2017, 8:10 am
#4
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IIRC, the 3 concourses were designed for 10MM passengers? No wonder its a zoo.
I really hope they build a star lounge or a UC/Polaris club, the Dan lounges are really substandard these days.
I really hope they build a star lounge or a UC/Polaris club, the Dan lounges are really substandard these days.
Aug 29, 2017, 8:16 am
#5
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I believe it was built for 10M pax but designed for 12M (meaning there was room for an additional 2M, expecting lower averages).
I wouldn't expect a UC and certainly not a Polaris lounge. I've heard nothing of a planned *A lounge, but a *A operated or TK operated lounge is much more likely than a UA operated lounge.
Does anyone know why they started with B, C, D, and not A? Is it because they didn't want to start by building a concourse immediately to the left upon entering the rotunda, for space consideration, but figured they'd keep the letter available in case they expanded?
Has there been any talk of adding concourse A?
I wouldn't expect a UC and certainly not a Polaris lounge. I've heard nothing of a planned *A lounge, but a *A operated or TK operated lounge is much more likely than a UA operated lounge.
Does anyone know why they started with B, C, D, and not A? Is it because they didn't want to start by building a concourse immediately to the left upon entering the rotunda, for space consideration, but figured they'd keep the letter available in case they expanded?
Has there been any talk of adding concourse A?
Aug 30, 2017, 2:43 am
#7
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I believe it was built for 10M pax but designed for 12M (meaning there was room for an additional 2M, expecting lower averages).
I wouldn't expect a UC and certainly not a Polaris lounge. I've heard nothing of a planned *A lounge, but a *A operated or TK operated lounge is much more likely than a UA operated lounge.
Does anyone know why they started with B, C, D, and not A? Is it because they didn't want to start by building a concourse immediately to the left upon entering the rotunda, for space consideration, but figured they'd keep the letter available in case they expanded?
Has there been any talk of adding concourse A?
I wouldn't expect a UC and certainly not a Polaris lounge. I've heard nothing of a planned *A lounge, but a *A operated or TK operated lounge is much more likely than a UA operated lounge.
Does anyone know why they started with B, C, D, and not A? Is it because they didn't want to start by building a concourse immediately to the left upon entering the rotunda, for space consideration, but figured they'd keep the letter available in case they expanded?
Has there been any talk of adding concourse A?
Aug 30, 2017, 3:20 am
#9
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Already opened, though still not yet for arrivals. They need to expand T1 already though. Not that many gates and not too many check-in areas. But some of the biggest growth in TLV is from the LCCs who are going to T1
Aug 30, 2017, 3:26 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
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Presumably arrivals are just bussed to T3 and enters next to immigration? so not such a big deal if they have enough desks open, and maybe make a proper queueing system...
Aug 30, 2017, 3:51 am
#11
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Correct, all T1 arrivals are bused to T3. The issues are:
- The majority of the biometric kiosks that people use to save time are long before entering the immigration hall, so all T1 arriving pax are forced to use the very few kiosks there, making the lines long for Israelis
- They never have enough desks open and there is no line system at all
- Because the baggage handling is separate in the different terminals, the addition of the T1 flights cause baggage delays (extra bags with no additional staff - when they open T1 arrivals, they won't be shifting handlers from T3 to T1, they'll be hiring new staff)
- Occasionally, customs decides to check everyone, and they have like 2 people working. So any additional flight causes more of a backlog
Aug 30, 2017, 4:11 am
#12
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
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I would say this is probably the biggest problem, processing of Israeli PAX shouldn't take long, but every time I was flying through it didn't seem like anyone cares, and you could use the Israeli passports queue with any passport, and PAX zigzagging between the "queues" is only making it worse.
Most PAX on LCC don't have checked in baggage, how long does it take to receive baggage?
Most PAX on LCC don't have checked in baggage, how long does it take to receive baggage?
Aug 30, 2017, 5:18 am
#13
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I would say this is probably the biggest problem, processing of Israeli PAX shouldn't take long, but every time I was flying through it didn't seem like anyone cares, and you could use the Israeli passports queue with any passport, and PAX zigzagging between the "queues" is only making it worse.
Most PAX on LCC don't have checked in baggage, how long does it take to receive baggage?
Most PAX on LCC don't have checked in baggage, how long does it take to receive baggage?
As for LCC, the number who take luggage is lower than legacy carriers, but not 0. Wife just landed on a T1 flight, 40-seater plane. She waited 35 minutes for the stroller/carseat. And legacy carrier pax also get extended waits as such.
Aug 30, 2017, 5:46 am
#15
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Could be worse though, in AMS during summer you can easily wait 40-45 minutes or more for your bag...