Delta or ELAL to Israel

Active Poster Joined: Mar 28 2010 Posts: 82

Has anyone flown Delta to Israel on airplanes with individual TVs? I want to try to avoid shlepping DVDs for my kids!

Advice: Fly ELAL - going 11:50PM coming back 1 AM...where I think they have the indv. TVs

or Delta leave 7PM come back midnight - not sure about TVs

Flying with DH and 2 little kids!!! not looking forward to the flights and time change!!

Gold Member Joined: Dec 10 2007 Posts: 2288

I recently read an article in the Yated by someone who flew to EY for a few days. There was fog & flights were delayed. His crew could not fly because they would not have gotten enough sleep, so they had to stay over an extra day. He noted that El Al did fly shortly after the fog lifted because, being on home base, they were able to just bring in another crew.

His lesson from the experience was, when flying to France, fly Air France, to England, British Air, and (lehavdil?) to EY, El Al, to avoid such possible extended delays.

El Al probably has the best security, and I doubt they are using body scanners. I would ask about other airlines (here we can start another interesting thread...)

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 3592

You can find out on the airline's website what plane they use for the flight and whether it has individual TV screens or not.

DH is a frequent flyer. For many years he was loyal to El Al and I am still grateful to them for the great work they did in getting DH and everybody back to Israel for Rosh Hashana after 9/11.

However, eventually the poor customer service (and he was Gold/Platinum at the time) and higher prices finally got to him.

Now he uses a variety of airlines, whatever is cheaper and has better connections. He generally travels from Israel to Miami or Chicago and tries to avoid changing at JFK - Newark or Europe or Philly (US Air) are easier. Actually he's on a Lufthansa flight at this very moment - something I would not do, but he's a big boy and makes his own decisions.

Gold Member Joined: Aug 10 2008 Posts: 1221

Gold Member Joined: Sep 13 2008 Age: 39 Posts: 2031

I saw a PBS special that featured a segment on the El Al cargo hold. It's built to contain (ch"v) a bomb. And no one is going to think you're a terrorist for wearing tefillin... and I think it's important to support airlines that won't fly on Shabbat.

Posted: Thu, Feb 10 2011, 2:57 am Post subject: re: Delta or ELAL to Israel

Delta has also been bumping people and other nightmares (w/o reimbursement, making them pay a ransom for alternate flights, etc) lately
Ask around

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 22 2004 Posts: 9754

Delta from JFK uses old, gross planes. No TVs. If you fly out of Atlanta you will have a nicer plane with TVs.

But hopefully your kids will sleep if you fly so late...
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The ability to Google does not make you learned.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 23 2007 Posts: 2419

Depends where you are flying from.

If you are flying from JFK, then generally Delta has older planes on that flight and no ind tvs

If you are flying via Atlanta--then they fly 757s and they not only have ind tvs but on demand service. Its also a bigger plane/more comfy.

Since we often fly through ATL, and are silver on Delta we try to fly Delta since we have a much better experience. But coming from NY I prob would not

Senior Member Joined: Sep 20 2006 Posts: 153

Not related to Delta vs. ELAL but just wanted to say that when I flew recently with my 3 young children (5, 2 and 6 months at the time), my return, afternoon flight was a million times better than the night flight on the way there. I don't know if an afternoon flight is an option for you, but for us it was so much easier - the kids were not overtired and cranky and unable to sleep in the uncomfortable seats, I was able to handle them better while not overtired etc. HTH!

Posted: Thu, Feb 10 2011, 3:21 am Post subject: re: Delta or ELAL to Israel

like the other posters said - flying out of new york you will have the older planes, and the terminal is a lot more crowded and overwhelming when you have to check in.
flying through atlanta was really nice- people are more helpful, and you get the nicer planes with individual tvs

Posted: Thu, Feb 10 2011, 3:45 am Post subject:

We just booked with British Air from EY to Boston. Once I paid DH found some article which said that British had movies. He wasn't thrilled about it and I am going to have to make sure my older kids don't figure that one out, but if you are looking for them it could be a good thing.

It was by far cheaper than Delta or ElAl.
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Liba, mommy to Zlata Tova 5/6/98, Tziporah Faiga 1/12/01, Esther Rivka 7/13/04 and Avraham Chaim 7/2/2006

Senior Member Joined: Dec 11 2008 Posts: 132

If you are flying from NY - El Al flights from JFK do not have individual screens and the planes are older. The flights from Newark have newer planes with individual screens. I liked El Al over Delta when flying with kids. If you decide to fly with a stopover be aware that many airllines - such as British and Iberia only allow you one free suitcase per person.

Active Poster Joined: Mar 28 2010 Posts: 82

OP here - Thank you everyone for your replies!!! We are flying from JFK and direct only(obviously stopover would be cheaper, but when its such a long flight and you have kids...its not an option).

BUT do you think (being that the TV situation is on the important side - along with good times flying with kids) that we're better off getting earlier in the evening(with Delta) and shlepping DVDs or much later flight(midnight) where theres more of a chance to have those TVs!!

Platinum Member Joined: Sep 22 2004 Posts: 9754

Active Poster Joined: Mar 28 2010 Posts: 82

All booked on ELAL! Hope the flight goes by quickly!!!

Thank you all for your advice!