I got a slightly different Email, probably intended for GM's...
particularly enjoyed this nugget:
"Due to the antificpated high volume of incoming calls we suggest you complete your flight arrangements prior to the chaneover to the new system"

http://www.nextopic.com/ELAL/Pages/V...243992_3016706

Have you actually noticed his handle? LY Insider...

actually yes - and i still find it curious that the insider chooses to update the forum earlier than platinums - leaving aside the whole question of "what's new?" - no offense to the forum or insider but it just seems like a case of whacked priorities - jmho

To be fair, I think that EL AL felt that it was important to hear out what was being said by a fair number of frequent fliers here on flyertalk. They gave an employee the job to monitor what was being said here. That employee was not necessarily the one who decides on what mailings to send out to GLs, PLs etc. However, once the decision had been bmade to send out the mailings, he was obviously free to post the internal document here.

I thought that he posted long ago that he is not here officially like the Starwood Lurker but rather as an interested individual who happens to work for LY. Can you clarify please LY Insider? Has LY asked you to monitor and assist on this forum?

Yes, notice that it says that you can upgrade from M, S and Y classes to business class. That was to get people to make the original bookings in M-class and then upgrade to business (subject to availability of Z or D-class). Travel agents would make bookings in Z or D-class and then issue the ticket using the M, S, or Y fare basis even though those seats were not available. There was no way to stop this with Carmel.

FlyerTalk has not made very many waves in the El Al offices. But many of the El Al employees here are very interested in improving the services we give you and helping you have the greatest experience when flying with El Al. We appreciate all of your ideas and insights.

Thank you LY Insider.
It's a shame ELAL officials don't care too much about what their customers have to say on here.
They could learn a thing or two...
BA have their own FT person as do BMI, and some other boards.

At least some of you do care like yourself, and official or not, its nice to have an Insider here! ^

בהמשך לחוזר 25/2008 שפורסם ב- 5.3.2008 ,אנו מבקשים להודיעך כי מתוך הכרה בחשיבותם של חברי המועדון והבנה לצרכיהם,

אל על בוחנת מחדש את מדיניות ההושבה שלה עם המעבר למערכת ההזמנות החדשה –אמדאוס.

אל על תעשה את מירב המאמצים כדי לאפשר גם לחברים במעמד Tl ,לקבל הושבה מראש.

נשוב ונעדכן אתכם בהקדם באשר למדיניות ההושבה.

I got another stupid email from El Al with the subject
" EL AL's Seating Policy Upon Launching The New Reservation System"

saying, in a very convoluted sentence, that LY is reconsidering its seating policy but no changes for now.

I have gotten many of these in the past week. Why send out emails that say you have nothing to say but are thinking about many things?

does anyone else have a problem
 

with the fact that from now on you have to book S class and then upgrade as compared to the current book D and issue an S class with a voucher?

Yes, I have a problem. Basically what it means that if you are planning a trip, the only way to guarantee there will be space available to upgrade into is to pay way in advance for the ticket. El Al seems to have created a method of having all tickets paid for at time of reservation, instead of making reservations months in advance and paying closer to actual departure time. Despite what El Al says, I feel this is a less flexible program.

I hope not. What if I am not silver and I buy a business class seat - I can't get a seat assignment until checkin? Or if I upgrade with points to business class but am not silver - no seat assignment?

You have my vote against it.

I would hope this won't stop LY Insider from continuing to post. In big, disjointed organizations like Elal, the announcement might have been ready and printed and considered public, but the person who controls the email list might have been out, or had a PC problem or just didn't get to sending out the email.