T3 lounges state
Apr 30, 2019, 9:16 am
#16
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid, BA Executive Club GfL, GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,085
BA claim that the IAA are demanding unreasonable amounts of money for the use of the E lounge. I guess BA aren't the only airline who think that way, which explains why B and C are bursting at the seams.
Apr 30, 2019, 9:18 am
#17
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: UA 1K; LY Gold; DL Gold; BA Bronze
Posts: 2,266
I was let into the E lounge on an IZ business class ticket. And I can’t imagine IZ paying more than BA (etc) for lounge use...
May 1, 2019, 12:57 am
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,930
How does that work? Whenever I checked in as either a status or front cabin passenger, I was given an invitation by the airline to use the lounges. The dragons never asked to see my ticket, only the invitation and my passport.
May 1, 2019, 5:51 am
#22
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
May 2, 2019, 12:20 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Jerusalem
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,281
May 10, 2019, 11:49 am
#26
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 71
I don't know if there are that many airports with this many Star Alliance flights and neither a Star Alliance carrier-operated or alliance-operated lounge.
A bit of an imperfect science, but TLV handled about 23 million passengers last year. Taking a look at the Wikipedia list of Europe's busiest airports, numbers 1-27 (Heathrow to Athens) processed more passengers than TLV in 2018.
Of these 27, only ten don't have a Star alliance or carrier-operated lounge: Madrid, Barcelona, London-Gatwick, Moscow-SVO, Paris-Orly, Dublin, Moscow-DME, Palma de Mallorca, Manchester, and London-Stansted. Star Alliance carriers certainly have more capacity out of TLV than the majority of these airports, besides perhaps MAD or BCN (although without doing the math, I think TLV might have more Star Alliance passengers departing on an average day).
Of course, EU airports split departures into Schengen and non-Schengen, so in some cases not all Star Alliance passengers would have access to member- or alliance-operated lounges. The unique thing about TLV is that nearly all passengers would have access.
It's likely just a case of high operating costs in Israel and an airport operator that has an overly-close relationship with an incumbent lounge provider... a real shame.
A bit of an imperfect science, but TLV handled about 23 million passengers last year. Taking a look at the Wikipedia list of Europe's busiest airports, numbers 1-27 (Heathrow to Athens) processed more passengers than TLV in 2018.
Of these 27, only ten don't have a Star alliance or carrier-operated lounge: Madrid, Barcelona, London-Gatwick, Moscow-SVO, Paris-Orly, Dublin, Moscow-DME, Palma de Mallorca, Manchester, and London-Stansted. Star Alliance carriers certainly have more capacity out of TLV than the majority of these airports, besides perhaps MAD or BCN (although without doing the math, I think TLV might have more Star Alliance passengers departing on an average day).
Of course, EU airports split departures into Schengen and non-Schengen, so in some cases not all Star Alliance passengers would have access to member- or alliance-operated lounges. The unique thing about TLV is that nearly all passengers would have access.
It's likely just a case of high operating costs in Israel and an airport operator that has an overly-close relationship with an incumbent lounge provider... a real shame.
Jul 27, 2019, 5:59 am
#27
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,712
So I thought I hit the jackpot today when I approached the E lounge (flying C) and its door was open. Not meant to be. The nice lady at the desk was very clear: the lounge is for LATAM C customers only. So yes: of the three lounges in TLV, one is closed for Shabbat and another is for a single airline only.
I double checked in the C lounge. Indeed, it seems that LATAM was the only airline willing to pay Dan (or Rashat? not sure) for the E concourse lounge. On the other hand, Rashat's contract with Dan requires that the lounge be open all day, so it's open, there's an agent at the desk, and it's kept empty.
As mentioned, B was closed and C was overcrowded, and as usual, the restrooms were a disgrace. Oh, and the lousy Grants in the hidden cabinet was downgraded to JW red.
First world troubles, for sure, but still annoying. Especially as this is so Israel.
Shuly
I double checked in the C lounge. Indeed, it seems that LATAM was the only airline willing to pay Dan (or Rashat? not sure) for the E concourse lounge. On the other hand, Rashat's contract with Dan requires that the lounge be open all day, so it's open, there's an agent at the desk, and it's kept empty.
As mentioned, B was closed and C was overcrowded, and as usual, the restrooms were a disgrace. Oh, and the lousy Grants in the hidden cabinet was downgraded to JW red.
First world troubles, for sure, but still annoying. Especially as this is so Israel.
Shuly
Jul 28, 2019, 1:22 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2012
Programs: UA 1K/MM, EK Gold, CX Silver
Posts: 880
Is there anything that would help? If frequent flyers all complained to the airlines about the state of the lounges? Could we encourage that here?
I have stopped using them in TLV in general (I don't usually have access to LY). Recently flew with my grandson - he couldn't believe the difference between Dan lounge and LH Senator lounge in Munich.
I have stopped using them in TLV in general (I don't usually have access to LY). Recently flew with my grandson - he couldn't believe the difference between Dan lounge and LH Senator lounge in Munich.
Jul 29, 2019, 1:47 am
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
Is there anything that would help? If frequent flyers all complained to the airlines about the state of the lounges? Could we encourage that here?
I have stopped using them in TLV in general (I don't usually have access to LY). Recently flew with my grandson - he couldn't believe the difference between Dan lounge and LH Senator lounge in Munich.
I have stopped using them in TLV in general (I don't usually have access to LY). Recently flew with my grandson - he couldn't believe the difference between Dan lounge and LH Senator lounge in Munich.
Jul 29, 2019, 2:09 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: EL AL Matmid, BA Executive Club GfL, GGL/CCR, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,085
I think that complaining has a limited effect. That being said if frequent J flyers on BA, LH, UA would write letters to the respective companies, complaining and suggesting less frequent purchase of J tickets - that can potentially have some effect, at least creating awareness that there is a problem in TLV.