Well, I didn't really want to tell anyone either! We are going to China in October, and I initially found two different A fares, one of which was as above, and the other MUCH more expensive. However, as it is fully refundable we paid up for the tickets at the lower price which means that they can't come along and say that A class now costs $x more!

In fact, our original plan was to buy I class and upgrade with points, but when I saw the A class fare I booked right away!

If you want to get this type of info, I recommend http://www.expertflyer.com which can get you full bucket class availability and fare information for almost all airlines and live seat maps for many (but not EL AL). I have no connection with them other than being a very satisfied user.

I guess that I ought to add that it is possible to get good prices on unusual routings as well. For example, for about $3900 you can go First from TLV to PEK with British Airways (going via London).

Wish there was a way to hide the thread. It is far too expensive for my blood.

I found a ticket like that...it was 3700
I orderd it...
now they told me it's 5200...

what can I do

By the way... how comes they have A that is less then D ,I C ?

LiorM

F--k, I should have paid for the ticket, now that fare is GONE!

Nothing now. I suspected that was a possible option, as when I checked it in March (for flying in October) there were two types of A class quoted. One was indeed 5000+ USD. I thought that with a RESERVATION they could always say that the price of A class is now such and such more, but that if the ticket was actually paid for that could not be done. I checked it was fully refundable and bought two (for myself and my wife) IN MARCH!!!! I reckoned I had nothing to lose and everything to gain (except for the minimal interest the money would have earned in 6 months). The bottom line is that if you discover any such bargain and the ticket is fully refundable, buy it immediately and don't just make a reservation.

One of the quirks of airline booking systems. Remember though that there are only 3 A class seats on an EL AL 777 and 40 business class seats, so the 3 A's will go quickly (and that includes points upgrades - which are expensive on New York and Far East routes). Such anomalies exist with all airlines. Take a look earlier in this thread and ask how BA can charge only $3900 for First from TLV-PEK via LHR when First from LHR-PEK is about $7200 and their cheapest business class price is $4265 (even WT+ - 'premium economy' is $3814).

don't they need to tell you that the fair is going to vanish and you need to buy the ticket?

I still have it on A class but now I will pay I price 4200 and 1400 points...
s---t

I don't think so. You booked 'A' class. You can't book ALEE3M (which is the fare basis code). So if there are two quoted A class fares they can pull one and tell you that the new fare is the only available A class fare. As I said before, airlines do this sort of stuff all the time, so you have to be one step ahead of them!

How? cheapest fare I can find on any date I play around with, is $7,724.44 with BA from TLV.

Well, it did exist a few weeks ago, and my relatives have paid for tickets at that price. But then these things come and go ...