TLV 3am til 8:30am advice
 

Trying to confirm my research. (Barring an itinerary change,) I land at 2 or 3 am on Swiss, currently catching an 8:30 on Royal Jordanian.

(1) Although a transit of sorts, I assume I'll have to clear customs/immigration in bound and then security to get to my outbound? Any shortcut here to stay inside security area?

(2) Looks like my best bet is to just hang at the airport via Priority Pass and the 24 hour David lounge in Terminal 3?

(3) Assuming #1 is correct, I can't check in until 5:30am (3 hours in advance), so, what's best option to kill time until I can get thru security to the lounge?

Thanks.

1- Although I go thru TLV a # of times every year,I have never transited it. That said;

2- Ive noticed that before one starts the long journey down the ramp to CBP that on the left side is a sign for those in transit. If its opened at that time I dont know hopefully someone does. However do a search as I remember it has been discussed in the past, dont recall how old the thread or posts maybe.

3- if you should have to enter Israel, once thru (I assume no checked bags) theres not much in the arrivals hall, Id head upstairs to the Departure level and walk past the wall(s) behind the check-in counters(youd do this later anyways to get to the Gate area), and there may be a bunch of stores open, if not simply take a seat at atable on enjoy the free WiFi.

B- you can always hire a cab to take you around Tel Aviv and show you some sites to kill the time, or hire him to take you to and back from Jerusalem but most sites lights will have been shut by then and its 45 mins each way. If it was me Id enjoy the WiFi

Bases on previous reports, you can go down to transit security where you will have to press a button to call someone (I can't imagine there are many transit PAX in TLV), that of course is only relevant if you have no checked bags or they are checked through.

The Dan lounge is nothing fancy, don't expect any sort of decent breakfast, and it will most likely be very crowded until about 6AM.

Thanks to both of you. I am encouraged to know I might get to do a transit -- need to do more research or hope for a ferral to the thread -- wasn't able to find that FT thread, but will search again. I am discouraged that the Dan lounge isn't exciting, but a place to relax and get some scrabbled eggs and maybe lie on a couch would be fine, even if no shower and fancy meal.

No scrambled eggs, or eggs of any sort, you can see some pictures here ... https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-...l#post27779893


Also not much in form of relaxing before 6AM as it will be very crowded and noisy, after that you should be fine.

It may not be packed after 6am, but I never found the Dan lounge to be so called comfortable or relaxing like in many European or Asian lounges

Granted its better then being by the gate but nothing great

OP there arent type of seating or beds to lie down on and get some ZZZs either

ugh, thanks for the frank assessments. If this itin sticks at least I know what to get myself ready for (and warn my wife!)

The other week when I was leaving I went into the lounge grabbed a couple of drinks and found a gate area that was empty and relaxed.

If you are able to avoid going thru CBP then by all means do so , if you're checking bags make sure you dont have to claim them and recheck them, I guess you can ask whomever comes to the Transit room to handle you what the case is. If you will have to go thru CBP for whatever reason and arent on a very strict budget, do give some thought about heading into Tel-Aviv to blow a few hours. I did this recently when transiting Milan for 6 .5 hrs. 1st and probably only time I will be in that city

I do the same when hitting a town for a long transit (and will even be doing this on my way to TLV when I have several hours to kill in Zurich). In this case I'll land at like 3am and depart at 830am, so probably not worthwhile to go into town (and I'll have time in Tel Aviv before ending the trip). Because I land on one ticket and "transit" to another airline on another ticket, I'm not sure what CBP will be required (carry on bags only).

Well, if you do end up leaving the airport for those several hours, please come back and report your experience with immigration, would be interesting to hear.

Personally I don't think it's worth it at the middle of the night.

I wasnt trying to push it. Just that some folks dont relish hanging out for 5-6 hrs, in an airport. In this case a cab to grab some food in TA or a walk along or on the beach, would refresh me. To others its a burden Had there been a lounge with showers, real food, a quiet room to lie down and catch some ZZs etc etc I would probably op for the lounge.

Im also talking where I wasnt able to remain land side. The only time it back fired on me was SIN where I didnt know that I had to claim my bag and that there was no way to recheck it till UA opened up. Was hoping to run into town for a few hours via taxi only option.

the 2 separate tkts will probably take you out of being an in transit passenger, is my guess.

Looking at the timeline, say you are out of the airport by 03:30 (could take longer depends on immigration of course), grab a cab to Tel Aviv and you are there by 03:50.

Theoretically, he should be at the airport 3 hours before the flight, but let's call it 2 (and the airport will be busy at this hour, especially with summer holidays, and OP will have to explain to security his unusual trip to Tel Aviv...), add 20 minute taxi ride and we are at 06:10.

No doubt you can find good food even then, and a walk on the beach is very nice... I guess OP will have to decide if he feels adventurous enough for that :D

I dont disagree and my 1st mention was before the OP said they will be traveling on 2 separate tkts. DP he doesnt have any layover whatsoever, as hes arriving at his destination on tkt #1 and flying out starting tkt #2

That alone may clog everything up, if they tell CBP they will be there for a week and a note is made in the record (Ive known it to happen when a friend brings along from Europe their non Jewish house worker, children caretaker). Once they answer 5 hours I wouldnt want to behind them on that line, as you wont be moving anytime soon.

I assumed it was all 1 tkt and that too would have raised the flag but easier to explain why you routed that way. 2 separate tkts I dont think they see too many of them, looking forward to the OPs post after they went thru TLV to see how things played out

Could very well be a lounge will be a moot point and hopefully 5 hrs will be enough in follow up security. If it goes fast they may simply escort them into Departures even before RJ opens rather then let them into the Country. I guess alot depends on the make-up of those flying

Its rare that I find myself with a layover of 2+ hrs so it usually doesnt come into play what to do to kill the time

Thanks, all. I hadn't considered the possible extra security attention if I left and came back. I'll report back on how it goes (or if I'm able to get my award tickets changed to get me into AMM and out of TLV or vice versa instead of in/out TLV which is all I could find). I knew FT would have good advice.