Information on EL AL Flights

EL AL is Israel’s flagship airline, headquartered at Ben Gurion International Airport. The airline’s name translates from Hebrew as “Skywards.” It serves destinations in the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.

EL AL has a strong reputation for safety and security. It is the only airline in the world operating aircraft with anti-ballistic missile technology.

Because of the airline’s strict security protocols, I recommend arriving at the airport at least three hours before departure to check in and undergo screening. Arrive even earlier during peak travel seasons, like holidays and summer.

The airline’s all-Boeing aircraft fleet includes long-haul Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners, and its mid- and short-haul flights operate on Boeing 737s.

I find EL AL’s cabin experience meets an excellent standard. The airline’s cabin crew is professional and friendly.

EL AL classes and services

EL AL provides three classes of service on most widebody planes: business, premium, and economy. Four Boeing 777s feature a two-class setup: business and economy. Narrowbody planes have business and economy classes.

EL AL business class on long-haul flights

EL AL's Boeing 787 Dreamliner business class offers comfortable lay-flat seating in a 1-2-1 configuration, providing aisle access for all. Center seats alternate between pairs together and apart, with dividing panels for privacy.

The Dreamliner's business class seats are 20.5” wide and extend to a 72” lay-flat bed. They offer a 16" HD touchscreen display for in-flight entertainment and Universal AC and USB-A sockets.

EL AL offers alternative business class seating on its Boeing 777 planes. Most feature angled-flat seats, which means that while the seat extends to a flat bed, the feet are angled slightly down. They are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration and set 75-76” apart.

I don’t like side-by-side seats in business as they make getting around awkward, but between the angling and separation, it is possible to get out to the aisles on this plane while others are sleeping. Even so, I recommend booking the front row on these planes, which is in a 2-2-2 configuration, or one of the window twins.

The in-flight entertainment on these 777s is wireless and transmitted to passengers’ personal electronic devices. In-seat power keeps devices charged during the flight.

Some of EL AL’s Boeing 777 planes are in an upgraded 1-2-1 configuration, similar to the Dreamliner cabins. These offer fully lay-flat seats with embedded in-flight entertainment screens and power outlets.

EL AL premium economy on long-haul flights

EL AL offers a pleasant, separate premium economy cabin on its Dreamliner aircraft and its upgraded Boeing 777s. I find premium economy provides good value for money and is more restful for longer flights than economy tickets. The key is whether an airline offers a truly differentiated experience, as EL AL does.

The premium cabin is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. The 18.7“-wide seats feature a 4-way adjustable headrest and an 8” recline, which is adequate for sleeping. Seats are set 38” apart, which means ample legroom even for taller passengers. You can enjoy in-flight entertainment on a 13" HD touchscreen display and charge your devices with Universal AC and USB-A sockets.

EL AL economy long-haul flights

EL AL economy class on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft is arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration. The 17.1”-wide seats are set 31” apart and offer a 5” recline. You’ll find a 12" HD touchscreen display for in-flight entertainment and Universal AC and USB-A power sockets.

Economy class on the airline’s standard Boeing 777s is arranged in a 3-3-3 configuration, except for the last row, which is 2-3-2. Note that seats 57J/K have limited recline and may be uncomfortable to sleep in for longer journeys. The airline’s upgraded Boeing 777s are arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration, though the back rows are 2-4-2.

The airline offers EL AL Space and Extra Space seats on select rows, which provide extra legroom. The Extra Space seats are located behind bulkheads and exits. Space seats offer a 34” separation between seats. These extra comfort seats can be reserved for a fee, but they are also available without a cost to the airline’s Frequent Flyer Club members and Flex ticket holders.

EL AL short- and mid-haul flights

Flying with EL AL on short- and mid-haul flights is similar to flying with leading US full-service carriers. The airline’s business class on its Boeing 737s is like a US domestic first class. It features comfortable recliner-style seating in a 2-2 configuration. Seats are 20” wide and set 42" apart, with a 10” recline. Universal AC and USB-A sockets are available.

The economy class cabin is arranged in a 3-3 configuration. The economy seats are 17.5” wide and set 30.1” apart. EL AL Extra Space and EL AL Space rows offer between 35” and 37.9” of separation. Universal AC, USB-A, and USB-C sockets are available to power devices, though the type of sockets varies between 737 planes. I recommend traveling with a power bank, just in case.

Seats on 737-800 jets also have a tablet device holder above the tray table, which makes watching the streamed in-flight entertainment easier.

EL AL bid or pay to upgrade

EL AL offers the opportunity to set your price for a seat upgrade to business class on all flights and premium class on Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights. I find these bid-to-upgrade offers particularly attractive for long-haul flights since they allow you to fly more comfortably for less.

The airline will offer the seats it hasn’t sold in premium or business class up for bid within 24 hours of departure. You make your bid online and will be notified within 6 hours of departure whether your bid was successful.

Passengers flying with Flex economy class tickets can also pay to upgrade at check-in if seats are available.

EL AL also allows passengers to pay to upgrade to empty premium or business class seats onboard, with payment arranged by the crew. Frequent flyer members can pay for the upgrade using points.

These upgrades do not include other premium and business class perks like lounge access and extra baggage allowance.

In-flight dining

All of EL AL’s in-flight meals are Kosher. The airline serves various generous chef-curated dishes on long-haul and mid-haul flights, with two meals served on flights over seven hours. The airline also offers special menus for passengers with specific dietary requirements.

In-flight Wi-Fi on EL AL

EL AL offers in-flight connectivity on some of its aircraft. Wi-Fi is available on all 787 Dreamliner planes and some 737s and 777s operating flights to and from Europe, the Middle East, and North America. However, it is currently unavailable on flights to Africa or the Far East.

The airline offers three Wi-Fi tiers: Basic, Social, and Business. Basic includes instant messaging, email access, and limited browsing on approved sites. Social allows unlimited browsing and short video playback. Business, the priciest tier, offers unlimited streaming, app access, and a VPN connection.

Business class passengers on flights to and from North America get the Business Wi-Fi plan included in the ticket price. The airline’s Top Platinum elite loyalty program members can access Business Wi-Fi on all planes where the service is available, even when flying in economy class.

EL AL lounges

The EL AL flagship King David Lounge is located in Terminal 3 at Ben Gurion Airport, in the Departures Hall, branch D. It offers a comfortable escape to wait for your flight.

The lounge is open to business class ticket holders (not upgraded), elite loyalty Top Platinum, Platinum, Gold Matmid Frequent Flyer Club and King David Club members. It is only open during hours when EL AL flights operate. On Saturdays, the lounge opens one hour after Shabat ends in the evening.

At New York JFK, EL AL business class passengers can access the Virgin Clubhouse in Terminal 4, Concourse A, by gate A4. In Paris, EL AL guests can use the EXTIME lounge in Terminal 2B, near the Relay shop, before passport control. In London Heathrow, EL AL business class passengers can relax at the BLUSH lounge in Terminal 4, near gate 2.

For lounge locations in other cities, check the airline website.

New travel requirements for flights to Israel

Beginning on January 1, 2025, international travelers from visa-exempt countries must have a valid ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) before departing for Israel. Like the US ESTA, this program provides an extra layer of screening for those who have previously been able to travel to Israel with their passport alone.

The ETA-IL began a pilot phase in June 2024, which was voluntary and waived the fee. Starting in 2025, the program will be mandatory for all visa-exempt travelers and will require a nominal fee. I recommend applying for travel authorizations well in advance. I usually apply immediately after I book my ticket.

Other international travelers who must apply for visas to visit Israel are not required to have ETA-IL.

When traveling abroad, you must ensure your passport and documents are current to avoid being refused boarding by the airline.