Traveled from TLV last week on an 8:AM ELAL flight. We were in Business Class and had only carry on luggage. Arrived at 6:AM and security and check in only took a few minutes. We had plenty of time in the King David Lounge to enjoy a bountiful and delicious breakfast.

Last time that I flew out of TLV, I arrived shortly after 5:00 am for a 7:30 am BA flight on a Saturday morning. After checking in and passing the security interrogation, I had over two hours to kill; I was flying Y, with only carry on luggage, and had no lounge access. It does help if one is obviously Jewish or speak Hebrew.

It is irresponsible to recommend less than three hours to an unknown tourist arriving at the airport at an unknown time.

I will agree with mbgg above and say that it is irresponsible to recommend less than 3 hours to anyone. TLV security DOES and WILL spend extra time with a passenger that concerns them. The 3 hours is meant to ensure that you make your flight even if you do have a secondary check. Security doesn't care if you only leave 2 hours and their checking means you miss your flight. They care that they are 100% satisfied that the passenger is not a security risk.

Don't forget YOU know you are not a security risk, they don't. Can you imagine the potential problems if they cared if you missed a flight. Late passenger, minimal check, overlooked explosive, plane ... or departure area...

I don't speak Hebrew. I was traveling in Business class had only carry on and I obviously had my passport information well-vetted prior to check in. Two hours was sufficient under those circumstances. The security nightmare was transiting Zurich from our El Al Flight. Terrible.

Datapoint ≠ recommendation.

I have a 6 am flight (UGH!) out of TLV on Sunday morning. I am not checking any luggage and I have my boarding pass. If I leave my hotel at 3 am, should I expect that to be sufficient?

The airport is at its busiest on a Sunday morning. As I stated previously, since we know nothing about your background, who you visited and what you did in Israel, it would be irresponsible to recommend anything less than arriving at the terminal three hours before departure.

this article explains it all
 

although the reporter was starting out from LHR and flying LY, I feel it applys to everyone flying out of TLV on any carrier

http://www.zdnet.com/article/trump-a...urity-customs/

if you think your profile will send up the flag , plan on at least 3 hrs and at times that may not be enough.

It should be stressed that this story is valid only if "your profile sends up the flag". The vast majority of tourists go through security with only a nominal amount of questioning.

1 small problem, is most folks wont know if in fact they will be a part of the targeted profile class. Some cant but realize they will be, others wont know till they get there and find out the hard way.

My point was if a person thinks they may fall into a profile that will targeted give yourself alot more time then less time , worst comes to worse they werent targeted and spend some extra time ar BG(TLV). Also if what you plan to do is not something most non frequent flyers would do dont expect the Israelis to understand, as Ive told some folks years ago flying into Europe and back on the same plane immediately raised the flag, since it wasnt something that most folks would do and it took some time till they understood what a mileage run was and why those crazy Yanks would do it. The fact that MRing was normal to those who did it doesnt hold for those looking from the outside in

You also never know if and when it will happen. On one trip, we entered the country @ TLV w/no delay. We left TLV with not more than a few questions. We flew to ETH with a few questions. We were separated and given the Nth degree for quite some time on an ETH/TLV flight, with the respective officers comparing our "stories." Totally unexpected and surprising.

Really? Mrs. Pickles, a US citizen, entered Israel last summer with her biometric passport with no trouble. Has this changed?

Only holders of a biometric Israeli passport or Teudat Maavar (lasseiz passer, Israeli travel document in lieu of passport) can use the kiosks to enter Israel. Anyone else must go to the manned desks.

On exit, any holder of a biometric passport (or TM) can use the kiosks.

Did Mrs. Pickles use the kiosk? Does she have an Israeli passport?

Nu? She did use the biometric kiosks against the wall in the immigration hall with a US passport. The kiosk spit out the little printed card that you stick into the turnstile to get out of immigration. Remember it distinctly as I thought it was pretty cool.

Unless my memory is really bad...