New York – Beginning November 1, El Al economy class customers flying from Israel to North America, the Far East, and South Africa will have to pay an increased fee up from $70 to $100 each way to bring on a second piece of luggage. El Al has not increased the baggage fees for other destinations. Frequent flier members will see their baggage benefit of 140 points increased to 200 points each way.
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Globes reports (http://bit.ly/T2uHUg) that El Al has decided it is “toeing the line with the industry norm” by raising its baggage fees. El Al also plans to raise the fare for upgrades from economy class to business class seats on all destinations where only economy class seating was available for sale. Currently, the cost for an upgrade is $149 or 299 points each way for short or medium-haul trips, and $349 or 699 points for long-haul ones. As of November 1, the short or medium-haul destinations will go up to $200 or 400 points each way, while the longer trips will now cost $450 or 900 points.
The new rates impact destinations on El Al’s own planes and do not include code share flights with other airlines.
This is not such a big deal. If you pack smart, there is no need to check more than one bag. I’m amazed at the junk I see some ehrliche yidden shlepping with them on the flights. I’d rather they charge those passengers the extra fees than raise fares across the board for the majority of flyers who don’t take the kitchen sink with them.
This is to cover the cost for all those cheap tickets they had to accept!
wonderful, as if it wasnt expensive enough
wonderful! now no American tourists will go on vacation induced shopping sprees because they will have this increased “penalty” for excess baggage. Will certainly be helpful to Israel’s economy.
I love el al service but they have a horrible mileage program. I’m a matmid member for over ten years with atleast 25 flights on record and get nothing for it. I’m not considered a gold member cus I only fly 3 times a year. I am seriously thinking of switching to continental.
They’re “toeing the line with industry charges”?
Is there some kind of obligation to charge as much as everyone else?
It’s just airline double-talk, another way of saying,”we CAN screw you, so we WILL!”
Correction:Frequent flier members will see their baggage benefit of 140 points increased to 200 points each way
Is A mistake
Members can pay with points instead of money so its not called benefit its a increase as well
Never liked them to begin off with, no othet airline in the world have such horrible staff, mean and agresive, I shall never fly with them.
Unbelievable- next thing they’ll do is not allow smoking on their flights.
They should use the money towards security cameras at the baggage check in since so many items “FROM” our luggage is stolen. Maybe they can figue out who the thieves are!
Usually when I go to Israel, I go loaded down with luggage on the way in (stuff for my family who lives there) and return light.
Also, Israeli products are WAY OVERPRICED if you buy them in Israel. If I see an item that I like at a souvenir shop, or Dead Sea cosmetics, I can buy it online for half the price. Heck, I can buy it online FROM MY OWN WEBSITE for half the price and get a 10-15% back.
I do like to patronize the little independent shops in Mea Shearim and Mahane Yehuda where you can still bargain. There is a little Persian souvenir store near Ben Yehuda that I always like to visit, that doesn’t sell the same junk you see everywhere else.
How much of this crap is made in China?
i just take 10 pairs of clothes, whats the big deal here?
To #13 - Texas Jew- You mean to tell me that you can’t give up smoking on a long flight? Is it mandatory to have a cigarette, and pollute the air in the cabin, causing discomfort to the other passengers? The cabin air is recirculated, and even passengers in the non-smoking section, will breathe that air. Nearly every commercial airliner in the world, has banned smoking on their flights. Nicotine addicted individuals, are just going to have to go cold turkey, if they think that they can light up on a flight!
I can’t afford to start an airline, which is why I said they can screw us. If I could start my own, they wouldn’t be able to screw me. Elementary reasoning.
Secondly, I don’t fly elal anymore. For $500 bucks extra, I go united business/first. Two 70-lb bags, awesome seats and no anti-semitism!
I flew US Air direct out of Philadelphia last night and it was a pleasure. No drama, no attitude from anyone! Forget ElAl !