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I love the “new” El Al

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I love the “new” El Al

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Old May 11, 2019, 10:43 pm
  #1  
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
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I love the “new” El Al
ok, everything may not be perfect but I think El Al has improved its image:
- a modern fleet on both short/medium and long haul flights (provided the 744s do leave the fleet and the 777s do get their cabin retrofit)
- a more dynamic image: a nice livery update, some special liveries (retro livery, San Francisco /Las Vegas livery)
- new routes
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Old May 12, 2019, 12:34 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
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Then if they join an alliance (*A or OW), I’ll consider.
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Old May 12, 2019, 1:12 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
Posts: 1,712
Personally, I couldn't care less about the livery or the "image". I care about comfort. I end up avoiding El Al most of the times because their schedules suck (as they fly 5.5 days a week) and because their long-haul business class is sub-par. I will surely fly them more when these two issues are rectified (most probably, not in my life time).

Shuly
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Old May 12, 2019, 2:55 am
  #4  
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Join Date: Feb 2008
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Originally Posted by shuly
Personally, I couldn't care less about the livery or the "image". I care about comfort. I end up avoiding El Al most of the times because their schedules suck (as they fly 5.5 days a week) and because their long-haul business class is sub-par. I will surely fly them more when these two issues are rectified (most probably, not in my life time).

Shuly
Their flying 5.5 days a week is not an issue for me since I observe Shabbos.
As for their long haul Business Class, what’s wrong with their 1-2-1 Business Class on their 787s?
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Old May 12, 2019, 7:46 am
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HFA
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Originally Posted by LY777
As for their long haul Business Class, what’s wrong with their 1-2-1 Business Class on their 787s?
They're currently not even half their widebody fleet; and equipment changes can happen at any time. I also read very mixed reviews about the seats (as well as heard complaints from friends etc.), but this is more a matter of personal taste.

Shuly
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Old May 12, 2019, 3:48 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: 30,000 Feet
Programs: LY Top Platinum, AA Platinum, Hertz President's Circle
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Originally Posted by LY777
As for their long haul Business Class, what’s wrong with their 1-2-1 Business Class on their 787s?
The 787 Business Class cabin and seat are very cramped, near claustrophobic. More privacy than the 777 or 747, but quite tight. Better night sleep on the older planes.
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Old May 12, 2019, 7:31 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Israel/United States
Posts: 1,234
Originally Posted by LatusElAl
The 787 Business Class cabin and seat are very cramped, near claustrophobic. More privacy than the 777 or 747, but quite tight. Better night sleep on the older planes.
i am very happy with the new seats. I like that I can be by a window and have direct aisle access. I like I can squish my pocketbook into a corner and feel its secure. I have no problems sleeping.

I have one complaint. Being used to flying upper deck on the 747 - the passenger: lav ratio is worse.
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Old May 13, 2019, 2:24 am
  #8  
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
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Originally Posted by LatusElAl
The 787 Business Class cabin and seat are very cramped, near claustrophobic. More privacy than the 777 or 747, but quite tight. Better night sleep on the older planes.
That’s 1-2-1 config, I guess it is hard to have a better config on a 787?
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Old May 13, 2019, 2:47 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Israel
Programs: Elal Silver, AirCanada Aeroplan, AA AAdvantage, KLM Flying Blue, Continental OnePass, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 529
Originally Posted by shuly
Personally, I couldn't care less about the livery or the "image". I care about comfort. I end up avoiding El Al most of the times because their schedules suck (as they fly 5.5 days a week) and because their long-haul business class is sub-par. I will surely fly them more when these two issues are rectified (most probably, not in my life time).

Shuly
Flying their livery only 78% of the time puts Elal at a financial disadvantage vs any other airline. But I will continue to use them where appropriate.
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Old May 13, 2019, 5:06 am
  #10  
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Join Date: May 2005
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There really is no new EL-Al.

They may have some new planes and hard product, but they have turned their FF program into a seriously bad program for most passengers. Nothing to love there....
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Last edited by clubman; May 13, 2019 at 8:59 pm
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Old May 13, 2019, 7:32 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Gateshead
Programs: BA Gold, ELAL Top Platinum
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Side question, If EL AL were to join an alliance, which one would be best?
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Old May 13, 2019, 9:02 pm
  #12  
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Originally Posted by tedcruz
Side question, If EL AL were to join an alliance, which one would be best?
I guess many here would say Star, but I actually think OW since their options out of TLV to the US are limited, offering nothing direct.
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Old May 14, 2019, 12:41 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Programs: LY-PL, A3-*G
Posts: 1,680
Originally Posted by LY777
ok, everything may not be perfect but I think El Al has improved its image:- a modern fleet on both short/medium and long haul flights (provided the 744s do leave the fleet and the 777s do get their cabin retrofit)- a more dynamic image: a nice livery update, some special liveries (retro livery, San Francisco /Las Vegas livery)- new routes
Why I like LY even less:
In Y the dreamliner is worse than the 777 (and 747)
The new matmid rules are terrible

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Old May 14, 2019, 3:03 am
  #14  
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
Originally Posted by clubman
I guess many here would say Star, but I actually think OW since their options out of TLV to the US are limited, offering nothing direct.
Assuming QR does not create insurmountable obstacles, why would BA and IB cannibalise their traffic?
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Old May 14, 2019, 5:12 am
  #15  
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Originally Posted by BATLV
Assuming QR does not create insurmountable obstacles, why would BA and IB cannibalise their traffic?
The question was which Alliance would be best. Not which one is actually likely to happen... :-)
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