did any one travel by ELAL

[sudha_vadlamani]

Can anyone tell me about experience in ELAL.Service,safety,baggage claim,food Etc.I am trying to bring my parents in feb.That was the only airline i could get through advantage miles through american.Please let me know.Thanks.

[csingh]

Hi Sudha!

I don't know much about the service onboard ElAl...how good or bad that is considered but one thing to keep in mind is their security procedures....
If your parents are first time travellers, I would NOT recommend ElAl just because of that....they have lengthier and more stringent security procedures than any other airline; plus I've heard people say they tend to interrogate 'foreigners' more thoroughly and that can really intimidate first time travellers!
Obviously, it is a very safe airline...but the security measure could cause your parents quite some anxiety and discomfort...

[sudha_vadlamani]

Thank you very much Singh for ur input.Appreciate it.

[patlu]

what is ELAL?

[sudha_vadlamani]

Hi
ELAL is Israel airlines.

[boldm28 (dumb shit)]

just drop the idea of getting anyone from india from ELAL cause iur parents will be grilled till toasted first by indian authorities and then here , donnt try to save a few hundred bucks , its aint worth it

u might have to regret it afterwards
BOLD M

[sudha_vadlamani]

Thanks for ur input appreciate it.I am just curious to know if u,ur family or friends had any personel experience.My husband says it is safe airlines and nothing to worry about.can u give me ur ph# or email id to contact u.I am confused.

[csingh]

Hi sudha,

I understand you are worried about your parents travel plans...we all, as we grow older, start to get really protective of our parents and worry about every little thing that they need to do! Complete role reversal, right?? :D

Anyway, ElAl is a reasonably good airline, obviously (like your husband says) a very safe airline...so if it's the only one you are getting tickets on, and you're getting a good deal; then I suggest take it..

I take it your parents speak English; so they should be just fine...just let them be prepared for the security checks by telling them they ask ALL the passengers a lot of questions before boarding the flight& at the transit point (Tel Aviv, is it?). Their bags might be searched after x-rays.

The kind of questions they can expect (I'll try to find out more from friends who are still working...my brains are a little rusty right now):

1. Where are you travelling to? Who are you going to meet? Where do they stay? How long will you stay? is this your first visit to the US? (so make sure your parents know all about where you stay/work etc., but I guess that ground was already covered when they went for their interviews for visa).

2. Who packed your bags? Since the time you packed your bags and now, have your bags been out of your sight ever? (the answer should be never, always with us)...Has anyone given you any gifts to carry ? (NO) Are you carrying a cell phone?
They might show you a chart with pix of knives, nail files, box cutters, guns (!!) and ask you if you have any of those in your bags (I guess the reference here is to your Cabin baggage rather than checked baggage; but still not a good idea to carry box cutters or guns in your checked bag :D )

3. questions about themselves...where do you live, what do you do etc etc...

Tell your Mom not to wear a lot of jewellery; if she has a lot of it to keep it in her cabin bag, as setting off the metal detector alarms is not a good idea...

and anyways, all these are extreme measures, so your parents might just get a couple of routine questions and no baggage searches!

I'll ask around from some ElAl employed friends about the "latest trend" and keep you posted.
Don't worry!

[sudha_vadlamani]

Hi CSingh:

Thanks for the information and encouragement. Yes. My father can speak English but I am not sure how he will do in an "interrogation" setting.

My husband says that there is not much to worry since they do not fit the profile, are close to or in their 60's and are traveling solely for tourism purposes and meeting our family.

If one was willing to buy a revenue ticket, there are plenty of seats and options and I am trying to see if I can avoid that. I am trying to purchase a ticket for them using advantage miles on American and that is the reason I am constrained with ElAl (Swiss and British, the other partners are completely booked).

Can you give me as many details as you can about the types of questions asked so that I can prepare my parents to answer them correctly and also prepare the baggage in such a way that there should not be a scope for any additional checks etc. (such as not carrying anything sharp in the carry on luggage to start with).

appreciate your time and response.

Sudha

[csingh]

Hi Sudha,

Don't worry, I'm sure it will be an okay flight...just give me a day or two; have emailed a couple of my friends who still work at the airports; they should have some pointers for you.

Well, don't worry about the interrogation and tell your dad also not to worry. See, we both know that your parents are not travelling to spread terrorism or for any other nefarious purpose.... :rolleyes: ; so his answers to the security staff will be honest and direct; and yes their age too....so all in all, it should not be too much of a hassle for them...

so I think you should go ahead and book your parents tickets.

I will get back to you in a day or two with 'updates'; if at all there are any, but mostly it is what I listed in my previous post...questions about the purpose of your trip, your baggage, about you...

Later then! :)

[csingh]

Hi Sudha,

Ok, this is what I know...about security checks first:

Your parents MAY be questioned at the following places:
1. As soon as they get into the check in line or when they get their baggage x-rayed (ElAl staff will be standing there and will ask to see their passport and ticket and may ask the kind of questions I listed in my previous post).
2. Before boarding their flight. As they get in line to board the flight, ElAl will do its own security check and ask some more routine questions. Their security check comprises a metal detector and frisking and a search of all cabin baggage (same as BA, just slower and more careful).
3. When they get off the plane at Tel Aviv, someobdy will check their passports as soon as they deplane.
4. Before boarding their connecting flight (same procedure as in India).

I'm told they tend to scrutinize young, non-israeli travellers more than elderly/ middle aged travellers, so your parents should not worry too much.
Secondly, tell them to answer calmly, without getting annoyed or irritated and without panicking. Their security staff is trained to be suspicious of everybody and they can pick out people who are nervous or evasive. If they ask your mom anything, your Dad can tell them that she is not very fluent in English (but I'm told that usually their security staff, atleast in India, can speak a few local dialects).

So tell them not to worry about the security checks. Everybody is questioned, a few more than the others but nothing to worry about and it is a very safe airline.

About their baggage:
1. Tell them to carry suitcases on which they can put their own locks. Preferred over suitcases which have built in locks or combination locks. Reason: IF (in the remote possibility), that the suitcases are broken open for checks (doesnt really happen but might just happen, so lets be prepared for the worst), a suitcase with an external lock only gets the lock broken, the security staff can secure it with plastic ties; but if your combination lock or self lock is broken, then the whole suitcase becomes useless.
I prefer suitcases that have zippers where you can put the zipper ends together and put an external lock; and then I leave the side lock (the built in one) unlocked.

2. Since it is your parents first visit, I would suggest they be extra cautious with what they carry. Later on, once they are seasoned travellers they can judge for thelmselves what can or cannot be carried safely. For instance, stuff like masalas, ghee, oil etc...best avoided for the simple reason that what the baggage checkers cannot identify, they might confiscate (they are especially suspicious of unknown powders and liquids). Of course, this does not apply to toiletteries in the manufacturer's packing (so they shouldn't be scared of carrying their shampoos, hair oil etc :)
Same goes with sharp, metallic objects, but then again, nail cutters, nail files in their checked baggage will be okay...

usually, baggage that doesn't look suspicious in teh x-ray is not opened for a physical check.

Just to give you an example: my in-laws were carrying a copper lampshade in their baggage and my mom in laws bp monitor. They were made to open their bags because something round and metallic showed up on the x-ray with a battery operated device next to it!!! :D
of course, it didn't show up as an explosive, but they still made sure it was something inane and safe!!

Tell your mom to wear a minimum of jewellery because if the metal detector alarms go off, she will be required to take off her jewellery and then walk thru the detector again. A friend's mom was bringing all her wedding jewellery for her and decided to wear it all to keep it safe and ended up having to take off diamonds and precious stone jewellery worth lakhs in front of everyone :) ; it's safer in your cabin bag!

Hope that helps you, even if a little bit. Like I said before, this is all worst case scenario; actually its more likely that their luggage will reach unopened and they with minimal security questions!

Let me know if I can help you with anything else!

[sudha_vadlamani]

Hi sigh!
Thankyou very much for your time.You gave me all the details i needed i really appreciate your help.We already blocked the tickets.We just have to go ahead and ticket them.I cannot ask u more but i have one more question.Do u think it's a good idea to ask my parents to get some home made pickles packed and sealed.Once again thanks.

[csingh]

Hmmm...you know the funny thing is that a lot of times you read about people's pickles (of all the things) getting confiscated!!

I guess there's no harm in your parents bringing a little over, sealed and packed. Tell them not to bring a lot, maybe 2-3 packs...
actually a lot of people bring a whole lot more than that and never have a problem but there are others who bring just one jar of, lets say oil, and have to remove it from their bags!!

So its really a toss up...let them bring it with them. In all likelyhood they will have absolutely no problems...

[sudha_vadlamani]

Thankyou very much singh.

[csingh]

Hi Sudha,

You're welcome! Glad I could help....

I'm sure your parents will have a good trip over....do let us know how their experience was once they reach!