The morning of my flight to London I got a phone call from EL AL asking if I wanted a car to the airport. I didn't realize this was something that was available on award tickets, though based on looking at the terms on EL AL's website it appears like this is available to full…
Continue reading: Review: EL AL First Class Lounge Tel Aviv Airport
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@ Tatyana -- She flew Lufthansa business class from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt to Orlando.
The phone number should be formatted (073) 216 0449. (073 is the network operator code, in this case for a generic Cellcom landline or VoIP service). Like many other countries, you drop the leading 0 when dialing in internationally, so for that it would be +972 (73) 216 0449
Award tickets do NOT get chauffer service, only our "Top Platinum" members get it on First class award tickets. The terms clearly say this - "2. Platinum MatmidClub members (TP) utilizing bonus tickets in First Class". TP = Top Platinum.
- Adi from Elal
@Adi Lucky could definitely have status with El Al you only need 5,000 points transferred from AMEX to El Al to obtain status
I still cannot understand how this lounge is beautiful in 2017. The furniture looks a little bit worn and the overall design looks pretty much 2005.
In correct no chauffeur for bonus tickets only if you are a TP memeber.
This is from their Website.
Arrival at Airport
Limousine Service
First Class service begins as you leave home. A chauffeur will pick you up personally at your home, office or other venue of your choice. Simply sit back in comfort and tranquility and let us transport you to the airport. We'll also be waiting for you at your destination, after landing, and a chauffeur will drive you to your hotel or office in town.
On your return flight we will provide you with transportation service to the airport and on your return, from the airport to your home or to any other destination of choice.
Limousine service is easy to order, 24 hours a day through all travel agents or directly through the Shalom Service Lounge, at telephone: 03-9714080/2.
The service is for passengers holding First Class tickets (Full Fare) and for Top Platinum Matmid Club members (TP) utilizing bonus tickets in First Class.
The service is available from your home, your office or any other place of your choice, for direct transportation to/from the airport (with no stops along the way).
Transportation service at overseas destinations is provided for up to 100 kilometers / 62 miles.
The distance for transportation service from Newark Airport to Philadelphia and back has been extended to 161 kilometers / 100 miles.
Passengers who were upgraded to First Class or who are flying on a First Class bonus ticket are not entitled to this service.
The service is intended for customers who have purchased an EL AL flight ticket only.
It's a shame you didn't order at least something from the a la carte hot menu.... if only to get a view of the menu offered. You could have nibbled on something half way and still had room for the inflight options.
A missed opportunity since when do we get this lounge reviewed otherwise?
The alcohol selection is dismal for a 1st class lounge. And the fridge held all of what looks like 4 Heine's, no other beer choice available.
The car service is a great perk, as well as what seems to be a ride to the plane.
It's a $10 bottle of wine. Usually you bitch about these type of things. But I noticed you are heavily inconsistent whether you value something or not based on your mood/happiness about a new place/extra service you get for being a known blogger.
I absolutely agree with George - although they say that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder", the impression that I get from those photos is of a far outdated, tired and uninspiring place. I can't understand how anyone would want to use the adjective "beautiful" to describe such facilities - the scuffed wooden screen around the drinks station is certainly neglected and unloved.
Lucky says that he was the only person in the lounge for two hours - I wouldn't want to spend 15 minutes in that depressing-looking chamber ..... and certainly not by myself.
@Jack I don't think Lucky had status at the time, otherwise he would have pointed it out.
Since Lucky redeemed Qantas points to score the Tel Aviv to London segment, how did he score the chauffeur service?
Also, agree with some of the others, the lounge looks OK, but nothing special for a first class lounge.
CS is generous in his $10 per bottle wine estimate, there is Sauvignon Blanc and there is Sauvignon Blanc this is definitely the latter. On special at $5.99 at your local bottle shop. It is surprising that El Al let their first class lounge fall into such disrepair it looks very 90's, very little comfort.
@grams so, bostonbali was correct in saying Lucky got lucky with the special treatment. Lucky is a famous blogger known to many in the travel industry. They definitely would do whatever to take care of the VIPs. With or without status, it seems that Adi works for El Al, so they knew Lucky would be onboard. They already preplanned to give him the special treatment from hotel pickup to the end of his flight upon arrival.
"has tasty snacks"
I thought you were saving your appetite for the on-board food...
@Jack
Transferring 5K MR to El Al does not get you status. It only gets you access to reduced rate redemptions.
The only way to get status via CC is by putting at least 40K shekel monthly spend on the Fly Card Premium for a year - then you get Platinum.
"This isn’t one of those massages where you sit in one of those uncomfortable chairs, but rather you take your shirt off, and they can use oil depending on your preferences"
Yes, photos, please...
😉