OT: When is Israel likely to open its borders?
Apr 25, 2021, 1:25 pm
#76
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 64
This is not even remotely correct. If you fly on Thursday and your flight is cancelled and you refuse rebooking on Friday, you all of a sudden become responsible for your added delays on every airline except El Al. I think you are underestimating the number of religious people who fly exclusively on El Al because of this and many other issues. There are agreements between various factions of Haredim and El Al which give them exclusive customers.
Apr 25, 2021, 3:18 pm
#77
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,639
Applications for an entry permit must be submitted three weeks before the intended trip and no later than 10 business days before the flight. (Requests submitted outside this time frame, too soon or too late, will not be handled properly!)
The Los Angeles consulate serves the following states: Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. Since you live in the Pacific Northwest, a region served by the San Francisco consulate, Alaska, Northern California (Districts 1-21), Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, I have no idea whether the Los Angeles consulate will process an entry application for you should you choose to apply there. It's probably worth making a phone call.
Apr 25, 2021, 5:36 pm
#78
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Posts: 20,639
I just read this article in The Times of Israel. Israeli bureaucracy at its finest;
Want to visit your Israeli grandchildren after a year of separation? Get in line
There is a Facebook group for people in your situation. You may find some very useful advice there:
Want to visit your Israeli grandchildren after a year of separation? Get in line
***
Potential visitors need to email their local Israeli consulate with a single PDF file, no larger than 10 megabytes, with photocopies of their own passports and that of the person they want to visit, proof of the family connection — with an apostille, until recently — as well as proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, affidavits that they will enter quarantine, proof of health insurance valid in Israel, valid plane tickets, and that’s all before they even get on a plane to Israel. It’s not surprising that many people have had their applications rejected.
That’s what happened to Shayna Smilovitz’s parents, who had applied to the Israel consulate in San Francisco hoping to get to Israel as soon as possible after Smilovitz gave birth in November.
***
Her parents made sure to get all their paperwork emailed to the consulate well ahead of their planned April 13 flight. They were prepared, said Smilovitz, but the same couldn’t be said of the consulate, which didn’t approve their application as fast as they’d hoped. “You could tell they didn’t have their act together.” said Smilovitz, 36, who’s currently on maternity leave from her job at Facebook. “I get it; all the consulates were probably scrambling.” The elder Smilovitzes were eventually advised to resubmit all their documents. They were given the go-ahead 24 hours prior to their flight, and are now getting to know their 5-month-old granddaughter.
***
Potential visitors need to email their local Israeli consulate with a single PDF file, no larger than 10 megabytes, with photocopies of their own passports and that of the person they want to visit, proof of the family connection — with an apostille, until recently — as well as proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, affidavits that they will enter quarantine, proof of health insurance valid in Israel, valid plane tickets, and that’s all before they even get on a plane to Israel. It’s not surprising that many people have had their applications rejected.
That’s what happened to Shayna Smilovitz’s parents, who had applied to the Israel consulate in San Francisco hoping to get to Israel as soon as possible after Smilovitz gave birth in November.
***
Her parents made sure to get all their paperwork emailed to the consulate well ahead of their planned April 13 flight. They were prepared, said Smilovitz, but the same couldn’t be said of the consulate, which didn’t approve their application as fast as they’d hoped. “You could tell they didn’t have their act together.” said Smilovitz, 36, who’s currently on maternity leave from her job at Facebook. “I get it; all the consulates were probably scrambling.” The elder Smilovitzes were eventually advised to resubmit all their documents. They were given the go-ahead 24 hours prior to their flight, and are now getting to know their 5-month-old granddaughter.
***
Apr 26, 2021, 2:33 am
#79
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: Amtrak Guest Rewards (SE), Virgin America Elevate, Hyatt Gold Passport (Platinum), VIA Preference
Posts: 3,134
I would seriously reconsider using El Al unless you are religious. El Al is on a very bad situation and there is very little chance things will remain stable with flight schedules, and things may be cancelled last minute. The worst part is, if it happens, El Al will hold your money without regard for the law.
Apr 26, 2021, 4:25 pm
#80
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Apr 27, 2021, 9:01 am
#82
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, D.C.
Programs: UA Premier 1K: PlAAtinum; DL SM, MM; Marriott Gold; CO Plat Emeritus; NW Plat Emeritus
Posts: 4,776
As expected, Birthright coming back in a big way...
Birthright resuming trips to Israel for vaccinated or recovered US Jews from May
Apr 27, 2021, 10:45 am
#83
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,928
Feb, 1979. My flight arrived at TLV. In those days, of course, there was no such thing as swiping your passport in a machine to enter the country. You had to stand in line. I looked for the shortest line, got into it and soon learned that it was a mistake -- the line barely budged.
There was a young woman who checked your passport (while you finally managed to get to her). When I was third in line, I was able to see and hear her. Not only was she physically repulsive but her personality was even worse than her looks. She was giving everybody a very hard time, asking tons of questions (which I later learned she had no business doing), and when I finally was able to hand her my passport, she asked me what my nationality was. (Apparently my having an American passport did not give her a hint). She then asked why I wanted to enter the country (my A-1 visa as a new immigrant also, apparently, did not tell her anything). Next, she asked me my age. (My birthdate was in my passport.) She asked if I had family or friends in Israel, I told her I did not.
She asked my profession. I said, "Journalist". Then she asked me my marital status. When I told her, "single", she almost froze up, looked carefully through my passport, and I could almost read her mind: Journalist...34-years-old...Jewish...moving to Israel...single...no family or friends in the country.
Her demeanor changed immediately. She managed to put a smile on her face, told me I would have to go to the Jewish Agency Office, but it was difficult to find so she would take me there. With a number of people still waiting in line, she left her booth to guide me. On the way there, she said that being alone in Israel could be very difficult but if I needed any help, I could call her. She wrote her name and her telephone number on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
When she left me at the Jewish Agency Office, my first act was to throw that piece of paper in the trash can.
Apr 27, 2021, 11:07 am
#84
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Earth
Programs: AA - EXP 1MM, Marriott/SPG Plat, Hilton Gold, BA, DL, TWA Royal Ambassador
Posts: 309
We're scheduled to arrive on June 6th..... Paperwork needs to be in no earlier than 3 weeks ahead of time.......
Apr 28, 2021, 2:43 am
#85
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 281
and when I finally was able to hand her my passport, she asked me what my nationality was. (Apparently my having an American passport did not give her a hint). She then asked why I wanted to enter the country (my A-1 visa as a new immigrant also, apparently, did not tell her anything).
Apr 28, 2021, 3:41 am
#86
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
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Apr 28, 2021, 6:23 am
#87
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Apr 28, 2021, 8:18 am
#88
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Apr 28, 2021, 11:18 am
#90
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Montréal
Programs: Air Canada, Hyatt
Posts: 1,376
OT, but your post reminded me of it:
Feb 1979. My flight arrived at TLV. In those days, of course, there was no such thing as swiping your passport in a machine to enter the country. You had to stand in line. I looked for the shortest line, got into it and soon learned that it was a mistake -- the line barely budged.
There was a young woman who checked your passport (while you finally managed to get to her). When I was third in line, I was able to see and hear her. Not only was she physically repulsive but her personality was even worse than her looks. She was giving everybody a very hard time, asking tons of questions (which I later learned she had no business doing), and when I finally was able to hand her my passport, she asked me what my nationality was. (Apparently, my having an American passport did not give her a hint). She then asked why I wanted to enter the country (my A-1 visa as a new immigrant also, apparently, did not tell her anything). Next, she asked me my age. (My birthdate was in my passport.) She asked if I had family or friends in Israel, I told her I did not.
She asked about my profession. I said, "Journalist". Then she asked me my marital status. When I told her, "single", she almost froze up, looked carefully through my passport, and I could almost read her mind: Journalist...34-years-old...Jewish...moving to Israel...single...no family or friends in the country.
Her demeanour changed immediately. She managed to put a smile on her face, told me I would have to go to the Jewish Agency Office, but it was difficult to find so she would take me there. With a number of people still waiting in line, she left her booth to guide me. On the way there, she said that being alone in Israel could be very difficult but if I needed any help, I could call her. She wrote her name and her telephone number on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
When she left me at the Jewish Agency Office, my first act was to throw that piece of paper in the trash can.
Feb 1979. My flight arrived at TLV. In those days, of course, there was no such thing as swiping your passport in a machine to enter the country. You had to stand in line. I looked for the shortest line, got into it and soon learned that it was a mistake -- the line barely budged.
There was a young woman who checked your passport (while you finally managed to get to her). When I was third in line, I was able to see and hear her. Not only was she physically repulsive but her personality was even worse than her looks. She was giving everybody a very hard time, asking tons of questions (which I later learned she had no business doing), and when I finally was able to hand her my passport, she asked me what my nationality was. (Apparently, my having an American passport did not give her a hint). She then asked why I wanted to enter the country (my A-1 visa as a new immigrant also, apparently, did not tell her anything). Next, she asked me my age. (My birthdate was in my passport.) She asked if I had family or friends in Israel, I told her I did not.
She asked about my profession. I said, "Journalist". Then she asked me my marital status. When I told her, "single", she almost froze up, looked carefully through my passport, and I could almost read her mind: Journalist...34-years-old...Jewish...moving to Israel...single...no family or friends in the country.
Her demeanour changed immediately. She managed to put a smile on her face, told me I would have to go to the Jewish Agency Office, but it was difficult to find so she would take me there. With a number of people still waiting in line, she left her booth to guide me. On the way there, she said that being alone in Israel could be very difficult but if I needed any help, I could call her. She wrote her name and her telephone number on a piece of paper and handed it to me.
When she left me at the Jewish Agency Office, my first act was to throw that piece of paper in the trash can.