Ok so basically I've flown in AC's seat but never US.
The price differance is about $300 so it's not a deciding factor for me.

On AC I'm looking at YUL-FRA(P) FRA-TLV(P) TLV-YYZ(Z) YYZ-YUL(Z)
On US I'm looking at YUL-PHL(A) PHL-TLV-(Z) TLV-PHL(Z) PHL-YUL(A)

One advantage of US is 2 F class segments which means 1500 for the transborder segments (so 3000 for YUL-PHL-YUL)
3k miles are also not a deciding factor.

So my fellow Flyertalk'ers who should I fork my $$ over to?

Hi,

Going with US will involve going through US customs and immigration twice ( outbound using the preclearance at YUL and on the return at PHL coming back from TLV ( plus Canadian customs/immigration at YUL) which could be time consuming.

Is going through US customs twice worth the extra miles to you?
Regards

TBS

For me the extra 20 mins I'll spend in a CBP line up aren't really an issue, if the US seat is better than AC and service is good then I wouldn't mind.

So I guess what I'm really asking is forget everything else except the seat and service, who would you choose?

Nobody else to offer advice?
I've bough the ticket on US.

Better take US Airways nonstop from PHL-TLV-PHL is a easier. You don't have go through YUL. Because it will spent more much time. Instead. just flying PHL-TLV is a right choice for you.

I'm guessing the OP is YUL based.

Personally, it would depend on the schedule and your ability to sleep on planes. If you can sleep well on the plane, then take the US flight and you can get a full night of sleep in. If you can't/don't, I like the flight through FRA which brakes up the trip, but neither leg is long enough for a full night of sleep.

OP here, and indeed I am based in Montréal.
My sleeping on planes is quite spotty, sometimes I can, other times I can't.

I've taken AC to Israel before and thought it was a pretty good option, if I'm in a premium cabin the length of the flight is less of a concern.

I agree with what you say about making the stop in Europe, but to be honest I've flown round trip YUL-TLV about 12 times now, most of the time via Europe but on my most recent trip (July/August) i did YUL-EWR-TLV and I think I prefer to just get on the plane and go straight from North America. Just seems like less of a shlep to me personally.

I hope US will please me, I don't fly them very much, never flown them long haul. Although, for $2750 CAD taxes in YUL-PHL(A) PHL-TLV(C) TLV-PHL(J) PHL-YUL(A) I can't complain!!

Perhaps, if you want find a cheap fare. Try to fly on Transaero from YYZ-DME-TLV. There is cheap fare.

Cheap fares are great but not the deciding factor for me.