Matmid changes as of October 1, 2018
 

What a shame... Elal is really moving toward being a low cost company.
Some really bad changes for GL, PL or even TP...
When you buy cheapest economy fares (lite) :
No bag allowance (not even flycard premium 50% off on first luggage),
No free advanced seat selection,
No economy plus seating (except PL and TPL), not even economy plus for Classic fares if GL !
What is the point of these cards if you only get advantages when flying full fare or business class?! (when you already get all benefits because you paid for it !!)

Changes to Matmid (major devaluation)
 

https://www.elal.com/he/FrequentFlye...s/default.aspx

Just got an e-mail about changes to Matmid and it ain't pretty. They've lost their minds. I think I'll pretty much be abandoning the program, my Fly Card Premium, and loyalty to the airline altogether after this.

An award flight to Larnaca in economy for 150 points + $60 cash + taxes? No thanks.. I'll stick with the 10 euro Ryan Air flights, or one of the 6 other carriers that service that destination at bargain basement rates.

And UP flights will still be departing from T1, so no King David Lounge for elites or paying business class passengers. But wait a minute... El Al in all its kind generosity has afforded these top elites the right to pay their way into lounges abroad on the return leg! See below:

• בהמשך העברת פעילות מותג UP לאל על ​, הטיסות ליעדים: ברלין, בודפשט, פראג, קייב ולרנקה, ימשיכו לפעול במסלול נוסע מלא, דרך טרמינל 1. על כן, לא יתאפשר אירוח בטרקלין המלך דוד. ​
• חברי מועדון הנוסע המתמיד במעמד טופ פלטינה, פלטינה, זהב ונלווים יוכלו להתארח בטרקליני חו"ל ביעדי: ברלין, בודפשט, קייב, פראג ולרנקה, בתוספת תשלום, כפי שנהוג כיום ביעדים אלו​.​​

Golds now have to pay for preferred/econ. plus seats to Europe, although still free for long-hauls.

I just read it too. Right now it is only for European flights. I wonder how long it will take until it also affects flights to the US. I see it is the beginning of a slippery continuum. Someone then will need to remind me, why I shouldn't be flying Delta. JFK-TLV.

In true ElAl style, they haven't bothered to proof read before publishing the new redemption information online.

Different rates on the Hebrew page to the English one, and some rates on showing more expensive on the FlyCard rates than the regular rates.

Total mess!!!!

Hebrew:
http://www.flyup.com/he/FrequentFlye...oint-0118.aspx

English
http://www.flyup.com/en/FrequentFlye...oint-0118.aspx

I don't understand why the flights will still be operating out of T1 if they are meant to be fully LY operated flights? And then I'm guessing no Biz class either?

The whole thing is a joke.

wait are they actually planning on refitting the planes ?

I'm impressed with how complicated an airline w/38 aircraft can be: 3 brands, one of which has 2 spellings, different award amounts for virtually any destination.

I wouldn't be surprised if not.

I'm so lost - if they still fly out of T1, there's no lounge access, there's only paid lounge access on return, and it still operates as an LCC, how is this not UP?

And how exactly does LY think a TPL will respond to being forced to pay for checked luggage?

I still think the real problem is the insane pricing.
I tried to price them recently on a few selected dates ->
TLV->HKG-on biz - CX around 3k LY 6K!!!!! this is insanity
TLV->X->LAS on biz - BA around 3.2K (with AA TATL with their amazing C product) LY.... 6K!!!!!

I did not try the new C on LY but even if it as good as the new C on CX or AA the price difference is a joke.

Apparently they are but very slowly. At first the planes will operate in the same configuration as they did with UP, offering rows 21-27 as preferred seats.
Later on seats will be replaced with space saver ones, and business class will be added, but not before 2020...

This is very bad. I don't like it at all. Should we sign a petitions? Can you make one for me?

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