Change conditions
 

Change conditions with El Al are (in Economy, Classic fare / Booking Classes O to Tel Aviv and U for the flight back) as follows:

Flexibility in changes and cancellations: *Passengers who purchased or will purchase a flight ticket until August 31, 2022, can change the ticket free of charge (fare differences may apply) for departures until December 31, 2023, except for Lite fares …

In case of ticket change, possible differences in fare will be charged.

Change conditions
· Changes allowed

· Change fee: CHF0





I tried to contact El Al to find out, how many times it is possible to change flights. I know that Lufthansa Group only allows one change. So, for example if I can't travel in fall because of restrictions, I could only postpone my visit once. If it's then again not possible to enter a country, I would lose money.

During the pandemic El Al had way more generous change and cancellation conditions than Lufthansa Group. One of them, that it was possible to change flights multiple times. However, conditions changed fundamentally between spring - when I last booked a trip - and now.

I am wondering if somebody knows more details.


Second question: I plan to take El Al to Tel Aviv and to meet there with a group for a guided tour (they take another flight with another carrier). I plan to extend my stay on an individual basis and will not travel back home with the group. What are the advantages and disadvantages of booking my flight directly on El Al's website compared with letting book the flights by the tour operator?

Thank you in advance for your help.

In terms of issue number 1- essentially there is no change fee- you will only be charged for fare differences. HOWEVER----i was not able to move class. So i want to change 1 leg of my flight, to a different date, and I was flying Prem. Economy- the new date was $500 more . To avoid paying that, i was willing to just take a Economy seat- It would not let me do that. The only way I could do that would be for me was to cancel the ENTIRE flight, get an EL AL credit (which takes time to get) and rebook with the credit for the dates/seat class I wanted. There doesnt appear to be limitations in the sense of how many times- you can cancel, get a credit, and rebook, cancel get a credit and rebook. Its slow process and sometimes the credit doesnt always appear when you want it to.

I cant speak to issue number 2

Thank you so much for your answer.

I am flying "only Economy", there isn't an Premium Economy available on this flight. But I would be on different booking classes for outbound and return flight (O and U).

With this tariff I would pay about USD 170 for a cancellation. Therefore, I would try to postpone my trip in case that it's not possible to travel.

From what I understand, you can change a ticket purchased before the end of August, but hen it becomes a "new" ticket if changed after then.
As to the issue of booking directly....it depends upon the in built charge with your tour. I would always buy my own ticket in your circumstances as it would give me control, rather than giving that to a TA albeit through a group trip organiser.

Thank you davidcamp6 for your answer. I didn't think about a postponed ticket becoming a new one.

But I contacted El Al by messenger - and already got the answers needed. Very quick and good service!

Tickets can be changed if it's classic/ flex (not lite) without paying a change fee, and there is no limit for changes as long as the difference in price is paid if there is one. There is no credit if the ticket costs less.

Cancelation fee may apply according to terms / booking class / route.

Flexibility in changes and cancellations is at the moment limited until August 31, 2022. I didn't ask if the airline will extend their policy or if they will be modified. I make sure to book before end of August.